Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) is delighted to announce the joining of Chalet Ivy Jozankei as their first member hotel in Sapporo’s hot spring resort town of Jozankei, one of Hokkaido’s best-known hot springs areas.
Set right on the banks of Toyohira River amidst the dense forest of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, the ryokan-style hotel’s minimalist design blends Japanese tradition and luxury with every modern convenience. It is developed by iconic Niseko real estate developer Ivy Hospitality Group following their success with Chalet Ivy Hirafu.
Once inside the hotel lobby, the mesmerizing seasonal landscape of Jozankei spread across the wide window of their “yukimidai” (snow-viewing platform) leaves one spellbound. Blessed in rich natural beauty, each season brings a different colour and character seemingly straight out of a painting, from a surreal winter scene, the vitality of the forest that can be felt through varying shades of green and colourful blooms during spring to summer period, to the stunning golden hues of autumn foliage which the Jozankei area is renowned for.
Spread over 5 floors, Chalet Ivy Jozankei’s twenty-six tastefully-decorated suites are divided into four room types ranging from 67 to 137sqm. Every room has its own private tenboburo (an onsen bath with a view of Jozankei area) in addition to a public rotenburo (outdoor onsen). Drawn directly from the Toyohira River, the water from these sodium chloride springs is transparent and contains natural salts that softens the skin and leaves one feeling warm for quite a while afterward. Spring water temperatures are about 60 to 80 degrees Celsius at source and adjusted daily at the hotel according to conditions such as the season, weather and air temperature to provide a comfortable bathing experience. To fully immerse in the wellness experience, in-house Spa Nikur’s unique “Tea-Nature-Aroma” signature program incorporates the traditions of the indigenous Ainu people and natural features of the land to help with healing and relaxation.
Meals served at Dining ZUI are prepared by Executive Chef Takuya Ito, who has served as the official residence chef of the Embassy of Japan in Singapore and head chef at Kyoto Nadaman. Seasonal ingredients from Hokkaido are carefully selected and presented as modern, playful dishes of traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine combining Western ingredients and techniques. Chef Ito’s dishes, which are “simple, fun to look at, and delicious” are best paired with Hokkaido wines and popular Japanese sakes recommended by the hotel’s senior sommelier Kenta Kawaguchi. The teppanyaki kaiseki menu offers a private dining experience.
The hotel is also furnished with a 24-hour lounge, cigar room and a mini theater that can be booked for private use. During the stay, guests are supported from a comfortable distance in the spirit of Japanese “omotenashi” hospitality that characterizes the distinctive ryokan experience.
Bryan Fuji Yamase, General Manager at Chalet Ivy Jozankei comments: “Our property opened in Jozankei Onsen two years ago with the ambitious goal of becoming the highest-grade hotel in Hokkaido. It is a tremendous honor to be an SLH member, and being part of SLH’s brand network gives us the opportunity to make our hotel known internationally. We look forward to welcoming guests across the globe to visit Sapporo and staying with us at Chalet Ivy Jozankei.”
Mark Wong, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, says: “We are delighted to have Chalet Ivy Jozankei join the SLH brand. Our network of 13 member hotels is well-distributed throughout Japan offering a range of varied local experiences. The country is also one of the most in-demand destinations for SLH members. Chalet Ivy Jozankei will no doubt provide an ideal holiday option and a good complement to our current member hotels in Niseko to create a Hokkaido itinerary as we approach this winter season – its location is perfect for those who want to enjoy snow activities at nearby ski resorts such as the Sapporo International Ski Resort during the day and enjoy the hot springs at night.”
A special annual winter event to look forward to is “Jozankei yukitoro” (Path of Snow Lanterns). Held during the early part of February over five days at the Jozankei Shrine just a few steps away from Chalet Ivy Jozankei, 2,000 snow lanterns illuminate the area creating a fairytale-like winter atmosphere. Local residents purchase a snow lantern for 500 yen, write their wishes on the surface of the wax lantern and light up a candle. If the candle does not blow out before they carry it to the Snow Tower, their wishes will come true.
