HOSHINOYA Guguan, the first luxury hot spring resort in Taiwan developed by Hoshino Resorts, will introduce a two-night autumn/winter limited package between November 2023 and February 2024. Guests will get a chance to stay in the largest maisonette suite room available at HOSHINOYA Guguan, named "Sen," which has a private terrace. Inspired by slow travel (*1), a style of travel, local cultural activities and food through the concepts of slow life and slow food can be enjoyed, and learn to slow down the hectic pace of life through a series of exclusive experiences. Through this, guests can achieve a balance between the body and mind.
(*1) Janet Dickinson, Les Lumsdon (2010). <Slow Travel and Tourism>. Earthscan
Background
All over the world, people's ideas and choices about travel have changed from what they were in the past. A dazzling sightseeing itinerary is no longer the mainstream. Traveling now involves slowing down and experiencing local culture. In the spring and summer this year, HOSHINOYA Guguan used slow travel as a theme to lead guests to bask in the beauty of Guguan. This autumn and winter, through slow life and dining as its main elements, guests can continue to experience the local culture and food of Guguan. The main purpose of slow life is to value the time spent with loved ones and to slow down the hectic pace of life to find a balance in life (*2). Slow food refers to a social movement that aims for a food culture that is healthy, does not impose a burden on the environment, and is fairly appreciated by producers (*3), but we realized that we could connect to it by making better use of local and seasonal ingredients. Therefore, in this program, we focused on offering a slow and high-quality stay at HOSHINOYA Guguan.
(*2) Levy, Neil.(2005).〈Downshifting and Meaning in Life〉(PDF)
(*3) https://slowfood-nippon.jp/aboutus/
Characteristic 1) A stay in the Sen Suite
This program includes a stay in the largest maisonette suite room, Sen room type, which has a maisonette layout with a total surface area of 216 ㎡. This room type is characterized by a private tatami (Japanese-style flooring) area and terrace. To make the most of its features, a tea master will make tea, especially for the guests for a private tea ceremony, and a special dinner will be prepared on the outdoor terrace with a view of the perfect starry sky that can only be seen because the location is surrounded by nature. There is also a semi-open-air bath in the guest room that flows directly from the hot spring source, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxing bath whenever and however they want.
Characteristic 2: Dining under the stars from the comfort of your room
Guests can enjoy their dinner on the terrace, where they can spend a relaxing evening from the comfort of their room under the starry skies. The main ingredient used in the course is a seasonal crab called chinche. The head chef skillfully employs various cooking techniques to delicately bring out the rich flavors of the crab itself. For the appetizer, the head chef uses crab meat, perilla leaves and honey-scented yuzu sauce to add flavor and texture. It is paired with locally brewed sparkling Blanc de Blancs with a special citrus and herbaceous aroma which perfectly matches the overall dish. The main dish is a crab hot pot where a dash of smoked salt is added to the crab and chicken broth to enhance the flavor of the umami-rich soup. In addition to using all the crabs, vegetables such as maitake, shiitake, and burdock are added to give it a more complex flavor. After the crab hot pot, a risotto with the crab soup will be prepared, using black rice. On the last day, brunch is arranged in the guest room so that guests can spend a leisurely morning in the mountains.
Characteristic 3: Taiwanese Tea Ceremony
In the tatami area of the guest room, a professional tea master will provide a tea ceremony for a better understanding of the beauty of traditional culture. For this experience, Yunchi Tung, a professor of the Chinese Floral Art Foundation who was selected as Lu Yu's tea brewer, and holds an intermediate certificate in tea sensory evaluation from the Executive Yuan, was specially invited to serve the guests. The tea master first burns incense before serving tea to calm the mind and prepare your senses. The Lishan Oolong tea offered in this program is grown in an elevated area with a temperature difference between day and night and is characterized by a slightly sweet aroma and a refreshing taste without much bitterness. It will be served with salted rice cake with mung bean paste, cheese, and pork, and a traditional Taiwanese sweet cake called zhuang yuan gao.
Characteristic 4: Soothing spa that invites one to a good night's sleep
After dinner, guests can take part in a spa treatment to soothe the mind and body in a tranquil space where the design was inspired by a Japanese tea house. First, guests will take a soak in a private bath in the treatment room to warm the body, stimulate circulation, and loosen muscles so that the effect of the treatment can be maximized (*4). Then, the body will be relieved from fatigue through the treatment to reach a state of comfortable sleep.
(*4) Shinya Hayasaka (2018). <The best way to bathe>. Daiwa Shobo
Example schedule
<Day 1>
2:00 pm Check-in
5:30 pm Dinner (reservation required)
7:45 pm Spa treatment
<Day 2>
9:30 am Breakfast (reservation required)
1:30 pm Taiwanese Tea Ceremony
4:00 pm Soak in the hot springs
5:30 pm Starry Sky Dinner
<Day 3>
10:00 am Taiwanese-style brunch
12:00 pm Check-out
Slow life stay from the Sen Suite at a glance
Hosted on (check-in date): November 6, November 20, December 6, December 18, 2023, January 8, January 22, February 5, February 19, 2024
Price: 215,000 NTD for 2 people (tax included, service charge not included
Price includes: 2-night stay in Sen room type, 1-time spa treatment, 1-time Taiwanese Tea Ceremony, Starry Sky Dinner on the second night, Taiwanese-style brunch on the last day
Capacity: Limited to one group (2 people)
Reservation: through the official website (reservation deadline is at 12:00 pm, 30 days before check-in)
*If canceled within 14 days before the check-in date, 100% of the package fee will be charged.
*Ingredients and beverages may change depending on their availability.
*In case of rain, the starry sky dinner will be moved to an indoor area of the guest room.
Overview of HOSHINOYA Guguan
Address: No.16, Wenquan Ln., Sec. 1, Dongguan Rd., Heping Dist., Taichung City 424, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Number of rooms: 50
Check-in: 3:00pm / Check-out: 12:00pm
Price: From 18,000 NTD per room per night
Direction: Transfer at the Taipei Main Station from the Taipei Songshan Airport, about 90 minutes by car from the Taichung HSR Station
About HOSHINOYA Brand
Luxury hotel embodying the true characteristics of land, history, and culture
HOSHINOYA is an accommodation with distinct themes, conceptualized from each location's land, history, and culture. Woven into these distinct themes is our attention to detail in every aspect from the design to hospitality; contributing to the creation of a one-of-a-kind world of HOSHINOYA. Enrich the heart with the epiphanies of travel through a unique stay experience.
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB,” or other unique lodgings.
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