Two special experiences in exquisite spaces
G-101 Gunma Art & Terroir Tour
Gunma Prefecture is located in the Kanto region (northern Kanto) of Japan.
In addition to traditional industries such as rice and wheat cultivation, sericulture, and textile manufacturing, livestock farming, vegetable cultivation, and machinery manufacturing are thriving, and the northwestern part of the prefecture is home to hot springs and health resorts such as “Kusatsu Onsen“. The abundant water from the dams upstream on the Tone River provides a source of electricity and water supply not only for this prefecture but also for the Kanto region, including Tokyo.
Two special spaces have been created in Gunma Prefecture, a prefecture rich in natural environments!
SHIROIYA HOTEL
An art hotel full of inspiration.
Shiroiya, once the premier inn in the thriving city of Maebashi, was reborn as the SHIROIYA HOTEL in December 2020.
Reborn from a 300-year-old inn, SHIROIYA HOTEL offers a luxurious stay featuring works by world-renowned creators, including architecture by Sou Fujimoto and light art by Leandro Erlich.
Shiroiya Hotel is like an “art museum to stay in.” Step inside the space, designed by architects and artists, and you’ll enter a poetic world that stirs your senses. Architecture and nature, design and art harmonize, each existing as a work of art. A stay itself is an art experience, and new discoveries and inspiration await with every visit.
– Sou Fujimoto: An architect active both in Japan and around the world. Shiroiya Hotel’s designer.
– Leandro Erlich: Born in Argentina, he is one of Japan’s most renowned contemporary artists.
– Hiroshi Sugimoto: An internationally renowned contemporary artist. His work spans a wide range of fields, including photography, architecture, landscaping, and sculpture.
– Jasper Morrison: a leading British product designer
– Ryan Gander: a pioneer of conceptual art
including above, a number of artists will be performing there.
The hotel consists of two buildings: the Heritage Tower, with its striking, bold atrium, and the Green Tower, inspired by the former banks of the Tone River. Each of the 28 guest rooms features a unique design by world-renowned creators.
The LOUNGE, featuring a four-story atrium surrounded by Shiroiya Hotel’s signature greenery and art, is available free of charge to guests from 5:00 PM. The Lounge offers Gunma’s local sake, wine, whiskey, and other alcoholic beverages, as well as baked goods from Shiraiya Hotel’s patisserie and canelés, as well as homemade beef jerky and nuts. From 9:00 PM, Gunma’s regional cuisine is also available for late-night snacks.
At 9:00 PM, the “Lighting Pipes” by Leandro Erlich, which have been illuminating the atrium with a gentle glow, will all change color at once. Please come and enjoy this fantastical piece of art, which is only available to guests staying at the hotel.
“SHINKA” by Nagai Sake Brewery
Founded in 1886, Nagai Sake Brewery is located in Kawaba Village, Gunma Prefecture, at the headwaters of the Tone River. Under the motto of “brewing beautiful sake that expresses the beauty of nature,” the brewery produces two brands of sake, “Mizubasho” and “Tanigawadake.”
“SHINKA” is a complex facility featuring a tasting room and brewing research laboratory.
The name “SHINKA” embodies three meanings: “shinka” (pursuit of true value), “shinka” (evolution), and “shinka” (deepening of relationships).
-Tasting Room-
SHINKA’s tasting room offers a place where visitors can experience Nagai Sake Brewery’s passion for aged sake, the rare flavors that can only be achieved over time, and the appeal and potential of sparkling sake, an industry pioneer that has been developing it for nearly 20 years. This space also offers tastings of special sakes that can only be enjoyed here, including “Lab Sake” developed at the attached Brewing Research Institute.
-Brewing Research Institute-
Based on Nagai Sake Brewery’s philosophy of “tradition and innovation,” they have established the “Brewing Research Institute” as a place for brewing research, as its name suggests, in order to pursue new sakes while respecting traditional sake brewing. Here, they will brew small batches of sake using various techniques that have never been attempted before, and the resulting bottles will be available for tasting and limited sale only at SHINKA as “Lab Sake.”
–Terroir Tour-
The basic course includes tastings of four types of sake, including AWA sake (sparkling) and Labo Sake, which can only be enjoyed at SHINKA, as well as tours of the former sake brewery, the water source, and the sake rice paddies.
Four courses (4-6 hours) are also available to suit your preferences, including a pairing lunch and Japan caviar pairing.
All of these special courses are available by invitation only to those who purchase Nagai Sake Brewery’s special sake or guests staying at Shiraiya Hotel, and are limited to one group of 10 people per day.
Enjoy an exquisite moment in this special space!
/// FIT package
We can arrange this tour for individual, family, or the small group, following to your designated date, through the year.
/// Itinerary
Plan Example ①
Day 1:
Travel from various locations to “Shiroiya Hotel”
Check-in and overnight stay
Day 2:
After breakfast and check-out at Shiroiya Hotel,
Walk or take a taxi to Maebashi Station,
(JR Ryomo Line) → Takasaki Station (Shinkansen, approximately once per hour) → Jomo-Kogen Station
Be picked up by car from the brewery
Terroir Tour (4-6 hours)
Send off at Jomo-Kogen Station, then end of tour
*After that, travel to Tokyo or Niigata according to your schedule.
Plan Example ②
Day 1:
Tokyo or Niigata (Shinkansen, approximately once per hour) → Jomo-Kogen Station
Be picked up by car from the brewery
Terroir Tour (4-6 hours)
Send off by car to Jomo-Kogen Station
Jomo-Kogen Station (Shinkansen) → Takasaki Station (JR Ryomo Line) → Maebashi Station (walk or taxi) → Shiroiya Hotel
Check-in and overnight
Day 2:
After breakfast and check-out at Shiroiya Hotel, then end of tour
*After that, enjoy your travel according to your own schedule.
/// Price
The tour price varies depending on the room charge (breakfast included) at Shiroiya Hotel. Please feel free to contact us.
Price Include:
- Shiroiya Hotel (Double or Twin, with breakfast)
- Ténoir Tour fee
- English (or other languages) speaking guide
(English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Thai, etc.) - Commission for arrangements
- Commission for settlements by credit card
- Consumption tax
Price Exclude:
- Transportation costs to the meeting place / ending place
Shinkansen (Bullet train), JR, Taxi, etc. - Food and beverage except described above
- Souvenir fee / personal expenses
- Expenses for services not described in the itinerary
Regarding these standard courses, we can arrange the plan upon your request by adding / deleting destinations, and combining other courses before and after, making reservations of accommodation, transportation, restaurants, or event tickets, etc. Please contact us by all means.
Please see here for the arrangement fee.
ex.1 Arrangement for accommodation
Room charge 10,000yen(1night 1person) + Commission 1,650yen(incl. c-tax)=Total 11,650yen
ex.2 Arrangement for additional transportation
Super express train 20,000yen(1person) + Commission 3,300yen(incl. c-tax)=Total 23,300yen
/// Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy for this course;
| Days to Departure | Cancellation Charge |
| More than 31 days | 10,000JPY |
| 30-15 days | 50% of trip price, Min 10,000JPY |
| 14-8 days | 70% of trip price, Min 10,000JPY |
| 7 days or Less, No Show | 100% of trip price |
Please refer to “Price, Terms and Conditions” for other detailed regulations.
/// Application Form
Please select the course and fill in the below box;
/// Payment
Payment can be settled by credit card (Paypal or Stripe).
After your booking, we will send you an invoice, then after your payment by credit card, the booking would be completed.
/// Contact
If you have any questions or offer to book, please send an email. We welcome even little questions! Don’t hesitate, and see you in Japan!!
Contact us: info@i-travel-square.tokyo