From Saturday, July 18, 2026, Hakone Gora Karaku (Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa; General Manager Satoshi Wakayama) and Atami Izusan Karaku (Izusan, Atami, Shizuoka; General Manager Seiya Osaki) are offering "Karaku's Summer 2026," a stay plan that quietly attends to bodies worn down by summer heat and invites guests to savor coolness through all five senses.
The Value of "Rest" in an Era of Relentless Summer Heat
Rather than a trip packed with plans, this is a "subtraction-style" journey through Gora and Izusan — places long cherished as retreats for rest amid mountains and sea. Without forcing movement, guests give themselves over to the natural coolness that each place's character creates. It's a new take on summer travel built around the long-standing Japanese idea of "seiyo," or quiet rest. Centered on "fukan onyu" in an open-air bath with sweeping views, along with cool limited-time cocktails and sweets, the stay is designed to restore comfortable vitality while caring for the body.
The experience reflects Karaku's brand promise, "A place where radiant vitality is born."
Background: Record Heat Fuels a Shift Toward Stay-Focused Travel
In recent years, Japan's summers have grown routinely, record-breakingly hot. Data from the Japan Meteorological Agency shows the annual number of "extremely hot days" — days with a high of 35°C or above — trending upward nationwide ※1, and summers with sustained record highs are becoming the norm. This relentless heat has fueled a fast-growing desire among travelers to rethink how they spend their trips.
An in-house awareness survey ※2 (centered on people in their 20s to 50s, n=168) found that more than 60% openly admitted that "going out during extreme heat is too draining, so I'd rather avoid it." At the same time, when asked what kind of stay they'd like to try, respondents pointed to "feeling coolness through food and drink" (65.5%) and "spending quiet time in nature" (57.7%) — a clear shift toward trips built around safely enjoying the stay itself while avoiding the harshest heat.
Speaking to this shift in travel values, editor Yukako Miura, who is well versed in the travel habits of women in their 20s and 30s, notes that amid ongoing extreme heat, more travelers now prioritize "how to spend their time" over "where to go." In an age overflowing with information, travel is increasingly expected to offer time to recenter, with growing value placed on simply enjoying unstructured time in nature.
※1: Source: Japan Meteorological Agency website, "Changes to Date in Heavy Rain, Extremely Hot Days, and Other Extreme Phenomena" (https://www.data.jma.go.jp/cpdinfo/extreme/extreme_p.html)
※2: Survey overview: 168 in-house staff members; by age group, 65 in their 20s, 35 in their 30s, 31 in their 40s, 26 in their 50s, and 11 other.
"Karaku's Summer 2026" Plan Overview
"Karaku's Summer 2026" begins on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The stay invites guests to give themselves over to the character of each location, savor coolness through all five senses, and spend time following whatever feels comfortable in the moment. Special touches and limited-time menus bring the long-standing Japanese culture of "seiyo" to life. At Gora Karaku, guests can bathe wrapped in mountain ridgelines and breezes, while at Izusan Karaku the bath seems to melt into the horizon — both let guests spend time immersed in the surrounding scenery.
Period: Saturday, July 18 to Monday, August 31, 2026
Locations:
- Hakone Gora Karaku (Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa)
- Atami Izusan Karaku (Izusan, Atami, Shizuoka)
Main features: A body-temperature "fukan onyu" bath in the scenic open-air bath, and summer-limited cocktails and sweets served at the guest lounge "Ma (AWAI)," among other offerings.
Body-Temperature "Fukan Onyu" Baths for Deeper Rest
At both Gora Karaku and Izusan Karaku, the open-air section of the scenic open-air bath features "fukan onyu," water kept close to skin temperature at 36 to 38°C. Rather than drawing attention to the water's temperature, it lets guests' awareness turn naturally toward the scenery and night breeze, guiding them toward an experience centered less on bathing itself and more on the quiet passage of time within it.
Available: Saturday, July 18 to Monday, August 31, 2026 (may be extended depending on outdoor temperature)
Hours: 3 PM to midnight / 7 AM to 10 AM
Location: Open-air area of the scenic open-air bath
A Sip of Coolness: The Lingering Taste of Amazake
The delicate botanical aroma of ROKU 〈六〉 NORYO TEA EDITION is layered with the gentle sweetness and smooth texture of amazake. The amazake settling at the bottom of the glass gradually dissolves in as the drink is savored, adding depth and change to the flavor — a lingering, mist-like note of rice that unfolds slowly.
Cocktail name: Hakuryoka (白涼霞)
Price: ¥2,000 (tax included)
Available: Through Monday, August 31, 2026
Hours: 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM (last order 2:00 AM)
Location: Hakone Gora Karaku, Guest Lounge Ma (AWAI) Bar Time
Three Seasonal Ice Cream Flavors, Served Sake-Cup by Sake-Cup
Three ice cream flavors are available, themed around "Japanese," "tea," and "fruit."
① HINEMOS Original Ice Cream (Odawara Sake) — Built around a concept of time, made with sake from the Odawara sake brand "HINEMOS." A rich aroma and refined sweetness make for a grown-up flavor. *Contains alcohol.
② Matcha Ice Cream — A Japanese classic with a rich aroma and gentle bitterness.
③ Cherry Ice Cream — A refreshing summer flavor with crisp tartness and juicy sweetness.
Available: Saturday, July 18 to Monday, August 31, 2026
Hours: 2 PM to 8 PM
Location: Hakone Gora Karaku, Guest Lounge Ma (AWAI)
A Dashi-and-Fruit Blend Drink for Bright Summer Mornings
The lounge is serving a drink made with dashi from "Odawara Rokuzaemon," a fish wholesaler with more than 430 years of history, carefully extracted over 48 hours and blended with juicy watermelon and seasonal melon. The dashi's deep umami meets the gentle sweetness of watermelon and the fragrant, refined sweetness of melon, for a flavor that settles smoothly into the body during the hot season.
Available: Saturday, July 18 to Monday, August 31, 2026
Hours: 7 AM to 11 AM
Location: Hakone Gora Karaku, Guest Lounge Ma (AWAI)
"Amazake Sparkling," a Refreshing, Gently Sweet Drink
Making the most of the gentle sweetness of rice koji, a chilled amazake is lightly mixed with sparkling water to create the "Amazake Sparkling." A gentle sweetness spreads the moment it touches the palate, balanced with the refreshing lift of carbonation, for a clean, light finish. A faint hint of lemon rounds out the flavor and makes it even easier to drink — a crisp, refreshing choice well suited to the hot season.
Available: Through Monday, August 31, 2026
Hours: 2 PM to 8 PM / 7 AM to 11 AM
Location: Atami Izusan Karaku, Guest Lounge Ma (AWAI)
A Sparkling Wine That Looks as Cool as It Tastes
LA VAGUE BLEUE is a glass defined by its clear lagoon-blue color. Full-bodied fruit flavor meets a faint bitterness from grapefruit, rounded out by a well-balanced, pleasant acidity. Substantial on the palate yet refreshing in the finish, it's a light, easy-drinking glass — an elegant, refined choice that brings a sense of coolness to both the eye and the palate.
Available: Through Monday, August 31, 2026
Hours: 2 PM to 8 PM / 7 AM to 11 AM
Location: Atami Izusan Karaku, Guest Lounge Ma (AWAI)
This summer, Karaku's stays aren't a single finished experience but an invitation to let the flow of time and atmosphere of each place take the lead, built on the idea that time spent doing nothing at all has value of its own. As guests give themselves over to the character of the land, a way of spending time that suits them naturally comes into view. The hope is that guests can follow whatever feels comfortable in the moment and sense the long-held Japanese culture of "seiyo" that lives on there.
About Karaku
Karaku is a luxury ryokan resort created so that every guest can spend time in their own way. Built around the brand concept "A place where radiant vitality is born," it offers thoughtful hospitality and a range of "ma (awai)" — in-between spaces — pursuing its core ideas without compromise. Born as the flagship brand of ORIX HOTELS & RESORTS, both Hakone Gora Karaku and Atami Izusan Karaku have been awarded a Michelin Key for two consecutive years, in 2024 and 2025.
About Hakone Gora Karaku
In Hakone Gora, where rich nature and refined culture endure, Hakone Gora Karaku offers open-air baths with sweeping mountain and sea views alongside a varied selection of cuisine. With hot springs, a spa, lounges, terraces, and restaurants, the property offers plenty of ways to set the mood for travel, so every stay feels fresh. In a place where everyone can spend time as they like, it offers a fulfilling, indulgent journey.
Official website: https://gora-karaku.orixhotelsandresorts.com/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gora_karaku/
About Atami Izusan Karaku
A shimmering sea, a horizon that draws a straight line against the sky, and the graceful silhouettes of passing boats along a sweeping coastline — at Atami Izusan Karaku, guests can take in scenery where sea and sky seem to meet as one. With cuisine built around seasonal ingredients, two lounges each with its own character, a gym, and a spa, the property offers a stay meant to linger in the memory.
Official website: https://izusan-karaku.orixhotelsandresorts.com/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izusan_karaku/
