Iconic Danish Design Meets Breathtaking Japanese Nature
In the small, picturesque town of Hakuba in the Nagano mountain area, surrounded by the impressive Japanese Alps, lies Hotel House of Finn Juhl – the first boutique hotel furnished entirely with Finn Juhl furniture. Here, guests can experience a sensory fusion of exclusive Danish design, local craftsmanship, and the rugged beauty of the Japanese landscape, creating a truly unique and unforgettable design and nature experience in Japan.
The hotel opened in December 2016 following a comprehensive renovation, with its refreshed design providing a stunning backdrop for Finn Juhl’s sculptural furniture. Black-painted wood, divided light windows, and exposed beams contrast elegantly with light timber floors and white walls. The hotel features a total of five rooms, each named after the iconic pieces that define their design – the Chieftain Room, the Poet’s Room, the Pelican Room, the Japan Room, and the France Room.
Attention to detail can be found in every room, and both here and in the hotel’s open lounge areas, dining room, and bar, Finn Juhl’s distinctive organic design language has plenty of space to unfold and truly shine.
Designed to feel like a home away from home
"Our hotel is meant to feel like a cozy and comfortable home – furnished from cellar to attic with Finn Juhl’s embracing, inviting pieces. At the hotel, guests can freely help themselves to drinks and snacks from the local area. During the day, you can ski, hike, raft, mountain bike, or fish depending on the season. In the evening, you can explore Japanese cuisine, and back at the hotel, you can indulge your senses with local organic products, down duvets, damask linen, and the scent of teak wood."
- Hans Henrik Sørensen, co-founder of House of Finn Juhl.
The ski resort town of Nagano was the center of the 1998 Winter Olympics and is also known for its abundant powder snow, which reliably covers the landscape during the three winter months. With a fully developed slope system featuring over 100 slopes up to 3,000 meters in height, there are exceptional possibilities for skiing – and the magnificent nature offers many other outdoor activities outside the ski season. After a day filled with impressions, the hotel provides the perfect base for relaxation, reflection, and peace. The small town of Hakuba also offers great opportunities to explore the authentic Japanese countryside cuisine.
Hans Henrik Sørensen explains that he and his co-founder Ivan Hansen originally planned to buy a ski cabin for family and friends to use. However, when their Japanese partner took them on a tour to explore the opportunities in the Nagano mountains, they came across the hotel, located just 400 meters from the Olympic ski jump:
"As always, it started in a relaxed setting with our Japanese partner, Okasaki-san, who loves to ski in Hakuba’s famous powder snow. As we were standing and looking at the small hotel amidst the stunning landscape, it felt obvious to challenge the initial idea, and that became the beginning of the world’s first Finn Juhl hotel."
The Vision
In 2001, we were granted the exclusive rights to produce and relaunch Finn Juhl’s iconic furniture by his widow, Hanne Wilhelm Hansen. Since then, we have endeavored to uphold his legacy with the utmost respect, and today, his furniture is available worldwide.
The company already has a deep-rooted connection to Japan, both because Finn Juhl was profoundly inspired by Japanese design and because the interest in his work has remained strong over the years, with a significant portion of his more intricate wooden furniture now produced here.
The vision for House of Finn Juhl has always been expansive. In recent years, our global network of retailers has grown significantly, with more design stores worldwide choosing to focus on Finn Juhl. Today, his pieces are available in over 50 markets around the world, and you can find an overview of all our retailers here.
Furniture Featured in this Project
Hotel House of Finn Juhl Hakuba is furnished with a wide selection of Finn Juhl’s furniture. Explore the various models below, delve into the history behind the creation of each design, and find inspiring images as well as practical information on materials and dimensions.
