Hoshinoya Guguan — Taichung City, Taiwan
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Hoshino Resorts is on a roll. With six properties in the pipeline to open next year alone, the Japanese hospitality brand has kicked things off with the launch of Hoshinoya Guguan, a luxury hot spring resort in Taiwan.
Embraced by the curve of the Dajia River, against a dramatic tableau of soaring emerald peaks and deep river-cut valleys just outside of Taichung City, the property is the work of Rie Azuma. Here, the Tokyo-based architect took her cues from the jumble of Taiwan's urban architecture, gently inserting a series of handsome, clean-cut timber and glass-fronted buildings into a sprawling landscaped garden laced with flower-lined waterways and lush forest trees. 'One of the most appealing qualities of Taiwanese architecture is its liveliness, which is at play in the guest room building,' says Azuma.
Each with their own private open-air onsens, the rooms are a little slice of Japan, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame mountainous views and shed an abundance of natural light onto lofty spaces filled out in a clean and understated palette of low-slung furnishings, timbers and tatami-flooring in muted tones.
Diversions are, of course, dominated by the region's natural hot spring waters, but it's also worth a linger in the spa, which offers a range of healing treatments in a soothing space lined with shoji paper.
The cuisine is predictably Japanese oriented, but touched with Taiwanese flavours and based on produce from local suppliers. Served as a multi-course kaiseki meal, headliners include steamed Japanese eel and tofu or the wagyu kombu shabu-shabu- best enjoyed with a glass of warming sake.
ADDRESS
No. 16, Wenquan Ln., Sec. 1,
Dongguan Road
Heping District
Taichung City
VIEW GOOGLE MAPS (opens in new tab)
Melina Keays is the entertaining director of Wallpaper*. She has been part of the brand since the magazine’s launch in 1996, and is responsible for entertaining content across the print and digital platforms, and for Wallpaper’s creative agency Bespoke. A native Londoner, Melina takes inspiration from the whole spectrum of art and design – including film, literature, and fashion. Her work for the brand involves curating content, writing, and creative direction – conceiving luxury interior landscapes with a focus on food, drinks, and entertaining in all its forms
-
Glenmorangie unveils a whisky inspired by rugged Scottish forests
Glenmorangie’s A Tale of the Forest uses an ancient Highland method for drying barley to create a distinctive taste
By Mary Cleary • Published
-
Odile Mir: exploring the creative life of a self-taught polymath
Nonagenarian French artist Odile Mir is back for an encore, thanks to her granddaughter’s role in reissuing her modernist designs
By Amy Serafin • Published
-
Samuel Ross on the architectural influences behind his Acqua di Parma collaboration
Samuel Ross discusses the inspiration behind his redesign of Acqua di Parma’s iconic Colonia fragrance
By Mary Cleary • Published
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico
By Chadner Navarro • Published
-
Martim — Wroclaw, Poland
By Daven Wu • Last updated
-
Tattersalls Hotel — Armidale, Australia
By Dimity Noble • Last updated
-
KLoé Hotel — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
By Jennifer Choo • Last updated
-
Casa Hoyos — San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
By Daven Wu • Last updated
-
Littlenap — Hangzhou, China
By Daven Wu • Last updated
-
Casa Santa Teresa — Corsica, France
By Daven Wu • Last updated
-
K5 — Tokyo, Japan
By Danielle Demetriou • Last updated