Jun 19, 20204 min read

HOSHINOYA Guguan, A Mountaintop Treasure Trove For The Perfect Hot Spring Experience

Updated: Apr 4

It has been a challenging year for many of us. As Covid-19 spread throughout the world, we have been laying low and waiting for the better days to come. Finally, we have seen some lights as the outbreak has been under complete control in Taiwan. We are grateful to be able to travel here and introduce you to the incredible hot-spring experience at the new HOSHINOYA Guguan in Taiwan, HOSHINO Resorts’ first luxury hot spring resort outside of Japan.

Located on a plateau in Guguan, an inland historical hot spring town in the beating heart of Taiwan, HOSHINOYA Guguan offers a panoramic view of the valley carved out by the Dajia River. Upon arrival, you enter the resort through a bamboo forest that leads you into a futuristic reception area that feels like a contemporary art museum. The open space immediately transports the guests into a new different world.

At HOSHINOYA Guguan, you will find the subtle luxury and absolute harmony between art, architecture, and nature-rich environment. The poetic landscape with the water channeled through flower-lined canals in the Water Garden provides the perfect setting for walks. The sound of water is also flowing throughout the property that brings you the healing energy from every corner.

The most beautiful moment of Guguan comes during the rain when the clouds and fog paint the mountains and forests. We enter a scene out of mythology through the view from the floor-to-ceiling window at our elegant Yue suite. It was serene and peaceful, with an ease that you could not find anywhere else. The room laid out in a maisonette style, with the living area and bedroom on one level and the bath area on another. Follow the raindrops; we come to the public onsen. Each bath hall features an indoor and outdoor bath. The Japanese-style indoor bath is surrounded by aromatic wood and positioned next to a picturesque framing of Guguan's natural beauty. The open-air bath is more aesthetically Taiwanese with an avant-garde design while still harmonizing with the landscape's contours and colors.

We step out from the water garden's gazebo after resting from a refreshing hot spring treatment and welcome the night. The Kaiseki style dinner is a vital part of the Japanese hot spring experience. It requires three elements: exceptional ingredients, meticulous culinary technique, and beautiful dishware that accentuates the food experience. With the everyday ingredients from both a Japanese and Taiwanese perspective, the food truly connects the people and surroundings.

We start the sunny morning with a unique Taiwan-White-Pine flavored shaved ice with the backdrop of the forest. Then we sit in the Japanese-style floor-level tables to enjoy the one-of-a-kind Ice Brick Cold Noodles (only five sets per day!) for lunch. It is a truly memorable meal.

Later in the afternoon, we catch the sun and enjoy some refreshments and cocktails made with Makao spice from the indigenous tribe in the region. The irregular shape of the pool makes you feel like swimming in a pond in the middle of the forest. Finally, we wrap up the day in our own exclusive hot spring bath in the room, enjoying the moment of

relaxation with privacy and our dialogue with the surrounding nature.

* There are currently eight properties among the HOSHINOYA Collection: HOSHINOYA Karuizawa, HOSHINOYA Kyoto, HOSHINOYA Taketomi Island, HOSHINOYA Fuji, HOSHINOYA Tokyo, HOSHINOYA Bali and HOSHINOYA Guguan.

對許多人來說，2020是充滿挑戰的一年。隨著Covid-19的疫情影響，我們一直等待能再次旅行的機會。由於台灣已經完全控制疫情，我們很慶幸能夠在這個島嶼上遨遊，並介紹新的虹夕諾雅谷關（星野集團在日本外第一個頂級奢華溫泉度假村），以及其令人驚豔的溫泉體驗。

虹夕諾雅谷關坐落在台灣溫泉古鎮谷關的至高點，映入眼簾即是大甲河谷的全景。抵達渡假村後，必須先穿過一片神秘的竹林，再進入猶如現代藝術博物館的接待區。在這裡，您會感受到藝術，建築和自然環境之間的低調奢華與和諧。我們能愜意的在花草樹木中詩情畫意的散步，並處處聆聽流動的水聲所帶來的療癒能量。

而谷關最美麗的風景就在雨中，從我們月見客房的落地窗看出去，雲霧繚繞山林的情境好似神話中的場景。這裡的寧靜與放鬆感，是在其他地方找不到的。每間客房都讓人有家的感覺，起居區和臥室位於一層樓，浴室與泡湯處區位於另一樓。伴隨著雨滴，我們來到溫泉大眾池。男女浴池均設有室內和室外的設計。從日式的室內浴池看出去，谷關的自然美景近在咫尺。而室外的露天浴池則搭配上前衛的設計，與台灣當地的景觀特色融為一體。

在極致放鬆的溫泉體驗後，我們在水之庭園的涼亭間漫步，迎接夜晚的到來。懷石料理風格的晚餐是日本溫泉體驗中很重要一部分，它有三個主要元素：卓越的食材、細緻的烹飪技術，以及可凸顯美食特色的日本瓷器。這邊的懷石料理把日本和台灣的日常食材融合，將人與周圍環境緊密的連結在一起。

陽光終於在隔天早晨露臉，我們在綠意盎然的庭院中品嚐了獨特的五葉松剉冰。接著在午餐時，享用了獨一無二的冰磚冷麵（每天限量五份！），它的口感和獨特的呈現方式，真的讓人眼睛為之一亮！接近傍晚時，我們在游泳池畔品嘗以泰雅部落的馬告香料製成的調酒，一起和朋友們享受被森林圍繞的氛圍。最後我們回到房間內，在自己專屬的溫泉浴池中，享有個人隱密的片刻放鬆時光，並在完全融入大自然的情境中結束了美好的一天。