Art Biotop Nasu
Tochigi Prefecture, Japan • Hotel
Artbiotop's high-end suite villas boast private terraces, gardens, and outdoor jacuzzis. Even amidst the emerging trend of hotels with gardens in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, Artbiotop stands out for its scale, offering a unique phytoncide experience and open air unlike any other. Located in the rural setting of Nasushiobara, Tochigi, just a 1.5-hour Shinkansen ride from Tokyo, the area may initially appear unimpressive with sparse buildings and fields. However, its true charm lies within its valleys, home to private golf courses and luxury resorts like Hoshino Resort. Artbiotop itself is more than just a hotel. It's an art experience and cultural space offering various art activities and operating a large man-made garden named Mizuniwa. The suite where I stayed, unlike the comparatively modestly priced residence rooms, is priced higher but justifies its cost with excellent room conditions and complimentary fine dining. Guests can freely explore Mizuniwa, a garden that challenges traditional Japanese garden concepts with its European scale, designed with deliberately placed water puddles and tree arrangements that bring to life a vibrant masterpiece, reflecting the changing seasons vividly.