Autumn in Shigeru Ban’s timber sanctuaries, where architecture frames nature
As the forests of Karuizawa turn crimson and gold, Shishi Iwa House's three architect designed retreats offer the perfect vantage point. From morning light on changing leaves to unhurried afternoons over soba, the collection invites a measured surrender to the season.
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The rooms face outward to the changing trees as if each window were a painting being redrawn daily. Timber walls and ceilings hold the light in warm amber tones, and beyond the glass, the forests of Nagano surrender to autumn’s palette. This is Shishi Iwa House: not one house but a collection designed by Pritzker Prize winners Shigeru Ban and Ryue Nishizawa.
The three houses opened in 2018, 2022 and 2023 respectively, each a distinct architectural gesture within the same philosophy. Minimalist interiors hold carefully chosen furnishings, some crafted from paper tubes, speaking to Ban’s advocacy for sustainable materials. Guest rooms are offered in both Western and tatami styles, their proportions calibrated to frame the view beyond.
Days can flow as one chooses. The retreat is positioned to enjoy Karuizawa’s landscape, with waterfall walks, forest bathing and bird watching among seasonal highlights. Or settle into the quiet arithmetic of autumn: watch the light shift across floorboards, trace the architecture’s timber geometry against the window frame, sit with a bowl of soba. An architecture library and arts programme provide indoor enrichment, while chef Masashi Okamoto serves French Japanese cuisine from seasonal, local ingredients at the restaurant Shola.
The retreat stands an hour west of Tokyo in the national park at Karuizawa. Book through the official website or contact +81 267 31 6658.
Imagery courtesy of Shishi-Iwa House (@mrandmrssmith).
