Hoshinoya

A total of ten months. From redefining the value of Hoshinoya as a whole to the communication design of all six facilities.

We planned and produced the website for “Hoshinoya.” Hoshinoya was born in 2005 as “Hoshinoya,” after the Hoshino Onsen Ryokan — opened in Karuizawa in 1914 — explored the repose people seek in their travels. To create a website indispensable to Hoshinoya, from branding to accommodation reservations, we reviewed all the existing concepts and facts, and through site visits, hearings, and discussions, brought together how “Hoshinoya” should be conveyed and what, essentially, decisively differs from other facilities and is its strength. Over ten months we aimed for something better in every process — content made of photos and text, the reservation-UI design that ultimately leads to conversion, design, and implementation. In this renewal, what we placed emphasis on are the “Features” pages of each facility. Centered on the most important visuals for conveying each facility’s atmosphere and worldview, we aimed for a site you can experience more deeply with words. We hope you enjoy each visual and every word. Also, for the reservation UI directly tied to post-experience sales, we made devices unique to “Hoshinoya” and designed it so you can achieve your goal intuitively and quickly; please give it a try. The overall PM, design, and structure were by everyone at FOURDIGIT DESIGN Inc.; overall policy by everyone at BEES＿HONEY INC; editing and writing by everyone at Itosoken; and the photography was shot entirely by Kentauros Yasunaga. Over the long planning and production period, they faced countless challenges sincerely, proposed each one carefully to the client, and worked tenaciously to make good things together — we take this opportunity to express our gratitude.