Hoshino Resorts, a 110-year-old company famed for its luxury hot springs hotels in Tokyo Japan, will open its first resort location in the continental US in a small New York town. 

The hotel operator plans to build a luxury resort with up to 40 rooms in Sharon Springs — a 3.5 hour drive from New York City — that will open by 2028, according to a statement on the company’s website. The announcement was accompanied by a photo of Chief Executive Officer Yoshiharu Hoshino next to a town sign.

Onsen ryokans are typically small Japanese inns in remote and scenic locations, where guests relax by bathing naked in natural hot springs water and enjoy locally sourced and seasonal cuisine.

The announcement of Hoshino’s location in New York comes amid a tourism boom in Japan driven by a weak currency, and may also help familiarize potential US customers with the onsen ryokan concept. Similarly, upstate New York has seen a luxury boom, with resorts like Wildflower Farms and The Ranch Hudson Valley unearthing strong demand for $1,000-plus hotel rooms in the area, especially when they offer ample wellness and spa experiences.

Source from: bnnbloomberg