"Kai Matsumoto" will reopen on August 4th (Tuesday) after a complete renovation. Nomura Co., Ltd. was in charge of design, construction, brand art, and signage design.

Immerse yourself in local Shinshu wine and music at this elegant hot spring inn.

Hoshino Resorts' hot spring inn, "Kai Matsumoto," will reopen on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, after a complete renovation. The concept is "A hot spring inn where you can immerse yourself in Matsumoto elegance," named after the Italian word for luxury and grace. The inn proposes a new small luxury stay where Western sensibilities resonate within a modern architectural setting, with a refreshed Italian menu that pursues pairings with local Shinshu wines, and the creation of the local-themed room "GAKU no Ma" where guests can be enveloped in the sounds of music. Nomura Co., Ltd. was in charge of design, construction, brand art, and signage design.

■Background of the renewal
This renovation brings together a modern architectural style reminiscent of a concert hall, offering a stay that allows guests to savor Matsumoto's culture as a "city of music" and the wines of Shinshu. A symbolic example is the evolution to Italian cuisine, with local Shinshu wines taking center stage. In pursuit of a gourmet experience that showcases wines grown in the cool climate of Shinshu, we have stepped beyond the traditional Japanese cuisine and kaiseki meals of traditional inns, opting for Italian cuisine—a first for the Kai brand. Along with a diverse range of bathing experiences offered by 8 types of hot springs and 13 different saunas, architecture, music, and wine resonate together to create a truly "Matsumoto Elegante" moment. This is a sophisticated new form of hot spring inn, designed to satisfy the hearts of discerning, mature travelers.
 
■Exploring Shinshu-produced wines: "Hot spring inn x Italian cuisine"
For dinner, we offer an authentic Italian course that focuses on pairings with local Shinshu wines. Matsumoto in Shinshu is a major wine-producing region in Japan, home to the Kikyogahara Wine Valley. Shinshu wines are characterized by their clear taste and fresh fruitiness. To preserve this light finish, we decided to pursue a gourmet experience with Italian cuisine that connects the flavors with the freshness of olive oil, rather than using layered sauces. The first dish is a "stutchino" (small appetizer) served in a custom-made dish with a piano motif. In Italian, "elegante" is also used as a musical term, and this first stutchino, with its piano motif, is truly a dish that symbolizes that word.
Image source: Kai Matsumoto


■Main areas

lobby
The lobby, comprising a wine bar and a performance hall, is enveloped in the soothing sounds of dome speakers that blend seamlessly into the space. Enjoy a luxurious time listening to live music while savoring wines from renowned Shinshu wineries in the wine bar.

Left: Lobby Right: NAGANO WINE BAR

Guest Rooms
The guest rooms have been renovated with a "music" theme, transforming them into local themed rooms called "GAKU no Ma" (Music Rooms). All guest rooms are equipped with speakers and analog record players, allowing guests to forget their daily worries and relax while enjoying music. The headboards of the beds are adorned with art panels featuring "Matsumoto Keisei-nuri," a painting technique cultivated in Matsumoto, a city home to many prestigious guitar manufacturers. The deep, lustrous wood grain conveys the beauty of the craftsmanship that thrives in this region and the vibrant spirit of this city of music. Furthermore, reflecting Matsumoto's abundance of wood, the rooms make extensive use of wood from the prefectural mountains and other sources, with accent colors inspired by the green of the trees adding vibrancy to the space.

Left: Japanese-style room with terrace and open-air bath Right: Junior suite

restaurant
The restaurant has been renovated into an Italian restaurant that focuses on pairing Italian cuisine with local Shinshu wines. The interior combines bricks and stucco reminiscent of Italian materials with shoji screens and chestnut wood panels that evoke a Japanese aesthetic.

Left: Counter seats Right: Semi-private room for 2

■ Brand Art
Based on Matsumoto City's cultural background as a "city of three disciplines" (learning, mountaineering, and entertainment), we developed brand art that symbolizes the region's charm. By combining it with local materials and the skills of local artisans, we developed it into a space and created a consistent worldview.


 

Left: Artwork Right: Entrance Art
 

Left: Guest room speaker grille Right: Lobby dome speaker

■ Art Exhibition
The art of Matsumoto's craftsmen, who have long valued handcrafted work, is displayed as art based on the theme of "The City of Three Arts": "Learning (scholarship), Mountains (mountains), and Music (music)."

Left: Gakuto
Left: atelier m4/Matsumoto log processing exhibition
Right: Yokoyama Guitars / Guitar Parts Exhibition

Center: Music City
Yokoyama Guitars / Guitar Exhibition
 

Right: Academic city
Top: Mitsutai / Painted by Keisei Matsumoto
Bottom left: design&craft COOBA / Mountain scenery
Right center: MOKU glass / wine glass
Bottom right: Kyuka Kosaka Lacquerware Shop / Obi-rin Tray


Nakasa & Partners Kanno Kai