Interview & Report by Kaede. T / Article by Miki Herme Morita
At the tail end of summer, when the air still carries a lingering warmth and the damp wind drifts through the forest, the OSF team traveled to the woodlands of Niseko, Hokkaido, to visit the luxury villa SHIGUCHI.
Once a well-kept secret among ski enthusiasts, Niseko has in recent years transformed into a world-class resort destination often referred to as the “Aspen of Japan.” Winter draws skiers and snowboarders in search of the region’s legendary powder snow, while summer now attracts an affluent crowd seeking respite from the heat. In 2023, Louis Vuitton even chose Niseko as the site of its first-ever resort popup in Japan—further cementing the area’s global cachet.
Yet amid this growing glamour and international attention, SHIGUCHI stands in quiet contrast. Tucked away in the forest, the villa is less about spectacle and more about stillness—an intimate retreat where nature, tradition, and modernity are carefully woven back together.
The Philosophy of Connection at SHIGUCHI
Leaving behind Niseko’s bustle, a mountain road leads to a secluded kominka (traditional Japanese house) standing quietly in the forest. With no power lines obstructing the view and only the sound of wind through the trees and the murmur of a stream reaching the ears, it feels like entering another world altogether.
The name SHIGUCHI comes from a traditional Japanese joinery technique that connects wood without the use of nails. Simple in appearance yet requiring great mastery, this method embodies the very spirit of Japanese craftsmanship.
“We must reconnect not only with each other, but also with nature and culture in ways that carry real meaning,” says Shouya Grigg, the founder, photographer, and artist behind SHIGUCHI. He describes the villa as a symbol of connection between people, nature, and culture, with his philosophy evident in every aspect—from the architecture to the interior design.
The project itself reflects this ethos. A 160-year-old kominka was carefully dismantled beam by beam in Tochigi and Aizu before being reassembled in Niseko. Four additional villas were added, and after more than two years of renovations, SHIGUCHI opened in 2022 with a total of five villas. Reviving traditional architecture for the modern era, the project speaks volumes about Japan’s unique sense of time and devotion to craftsmanship.
A Guest Room Experience that Transcends the Everyday
Stepping inside, guests are greeted by a harmony of traditional wooden frameworks and contemporary spatial design. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the forest like a living artwork, while the open-plan layout creates an airy sense of freedom. Shoji screens incorporate monochrome photographs printed on washi paper, and reclaimed wood is subtly repurposed throughout the space.
The villa assigned for our stay was “Ka” (Fire), located at the center of the property. Sliding the door open revealed the presence and gravity of the relocated kominka. To encounter the spirit of Kanto’s traditional architecture in Hokkaido itself felt like stepping into an extraordinary realm—the beginning of an otherworldly journey.
The living space, with its expansive windows, brought to life Grigg’s belief that “nature is the greatest art.” Views stretched across Hanazono’s pasturelands and the Niseko mountain range, seamlessly blending the interior with the great outdoors. The tranquility of the landscape gently washed away mental clutter, drawing us into deep relaxation.
Grigg’s personal curation added further layers of discovery: artworks, furniture, and books collected from across Japan and abroad were scattered throughout. Near the latest high-tech toilet stood a wooden box pasted with clippings from early Showa newspapers; beside the bed, vintage furniture and deer antlers offered unexpected contrasts. Even a two-night stay could hardly uncover the full richness hidden in every detail.
The highlight was the in-room natural hot spring bath. Flowing directly from the source without dilution or temperature adjustment, the water offered a silky, pure texture that soothed the skin. As the body unwound, so too did the mind, leaving a rare sense of clarity.
SHIGUCHI also houses a spa inspired by the five elements—earth, fire, water, wind, and void—offering treatments designed to restore balance to body and spirit. Using locally sourced Hokkaido ingredients, the program features organic oils, herbal teas, and a distinctive hot stone therapy with black silica, a mineral long revered by the Ainu. While hours typically run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the spa can also accommodate requests before breakfast or dinner, tailoring to guests’ rhythms.
“SOMOZA”: Dining as Cultural Experience
Reaching the restaurant SOMOZA requires stepping outdoors from the guest villa—an intentional design that throws visitors once again into the embrace of nature.
Before dinner begins, guests are invited into the SOMOZA Gallery. Here, Jomon-era pottery and Ainu crafts stand quietly on display. The permanent exhibition, Hokkaido Through The Ages, showcases artifacts spanning ten millennia: ornaments, arrowheads, Jomon pottery, Ainu art, and even taxidermy of forest animals. These treasures, collected by Grigg, are presented with insightful commentary by staff well-versed in Ainu culture. The experience lasts around 30 minutes, serving as both a prelude and a deepening context for the meal to come—a kind of cultural overture before the performance of dinner.
Dinner itself unfolded against the backdrop of sweeping forest views. Looking upward, we were reminded of the villa’s kominka origins by the wooden joints—shiguchi—exposed in the ceiling.
The evening’s course, crafted by Chef Asao Sato, blended French and Japanese techniques with the natural abundance of Hokkaido. Dishes evoked Ainu cultural traditions such as Iomante, incorporated mushrooms and mountain vegetables foraged locally by the chefs, and even featured bread baked with ingredients thought to have been used during the Jomon period. Each dish carried layers of storytelling, transforming the act of dining into a performance to be savored.
Having just immersed ourselves in Ainu and Jomon culture at the gallery, every bite of the meal felt infused with a depth that went far beyond the usual spectacle of haute cuisine. Most memorable was the bread: baked in rhythm with the guest’s dining pace and timed to emerge from the oven at the exact moment it was meant to be enjoyed. Even the fermentation of the dough was carefully adjusted to align with the reservation time—a level of hospitality nearly impossible to encounter elsewhere.
Presented on ceramics made by local artisans and plated with artistic delicacy, the dishes reflected the quiet majesty of the surrounding forest. Each bite felt like a communion with Hokkaido’s land and history.
The Aesthetic of Silence: Shouya Grigg’s Vision
Shouya Grigg, born in Yorkshire in northern England, moved to Hokkaido alone in his twenties in 1994. More than 30 years later, he remains deeply rooted in the region. Known also as co-founder and creative director of the neighboring luxury ryokan Zaborin, Grigg refers to SHIGUCHI not as a hotel, but as a “living film.”
“Unlike a film that ends in 90 minutes, the experiences here have no end,” he explains. “Nature, art, and tradition are woven together, and the guests themselves become the ‘actors’ in this unfolding story. That is the kind of hospitality I want to create.”
The name Shiguchi, while architectural in origin, carries layered meaning.
“Shiguchi refers to the joints that connect wooden beams in Japanese architecture,” he says. “What matters is not the individual parts, but how they are joined together. Human relationships, companies, even societies are the same—the quality of connection determines the value of the whole.”
His philosophy stems from personal experience.
“I was drawn from England to Asia, captivated by Eastern philosophy. Leaving the comfort of safety to step into the unknown—that is what makes us grow. When I first came to Japan, I knew no language and no one. That disorientation shaped who I am today.”
Throughout the property, Grigg’s aesthetic is palpable. Artworks, reclaimed materials, and sculptural objects are scattered across the grounds, prompting constant reflection: Is this old or new? Intentional or accidental? The stay itself becomes a gallery walk, where discovery and questioning never cease.
“Hokkaido may not be as famous as Kyoto or Nara,” Grigg adds, “but it holds its own cultural and philosophical wealth. I want Japanese guests to rediscover values they may have forgotten, and I want international visitors to understand the richness of Hokkaido’s summers and history.”
As Niseko continues to evolve into the “Aspen of Japan,” SHIGUCHI stands apart—redefining what luxury truly means. Here, luxury is not about glittering consumption but about harmony with nature, reverence for culture, and the kind of awareness and growth that enrich the soul.
SHIGUCHI
Address: 78-5 Hanazono, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
Tel: +81 136-55-5235
Website: https://shiguchi.com/
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