The Expedition Hotel Zenagi

There are just three suites at Zenagi, an elegantly restored farmhouse in the Kiso Valley in Nagano, and only one group is welcomed at a time, making it the ultimate private resort.

With "Expedition" in its name, it's no surprise that this is an experiential hotel. Indeed, experiences are the main attraction, and one experience per day is included in the fee. An activity program is available to each guest, with a professional guide provided to consult with you and create a bespoke itinerary. Options include hiking the Nakasendo (also known as the Samurai Trail), canyoning in the beautiful Kiso river gorge, visiting a woodworker's shop with a stunning 1,200 years of history and tradition, enjoying an in-depth Japanese tea experience with a Japanese tea blender, or paragliding to get a bird’s-eye view of the Japanese Alps. Zenagi is a magical place in the Kiso Valley. Let it enchant you.

The property retains its historical features but brings all the modern conveniences of a luxury hotel. Duplex suites incorporate traditional design elements such as washi paper screens and urushi lacquer floors. Bathrooms are tile-lined, featuring Kiso hinoki cypress tubs crafted by local artisans that look out onto a private Zen garden.

In the restaurant reserved exclusively for guests, a one-of-a-kind course dinner is served under the theme “Cook the Forest.” The dinner features wild mushrooms, mountain herbs, foraged plants, and venison (game meats), presented alongside river fish raised in pristine alpine waters and seafood nurtured by the rich forest-fed waters of Ise Bay. The dining experience is crowned by wood-fired cooking finished before your eyes—a truly singular cuisine, infused with the aroma of the forest, found nowhere else.