Hoshino Resorts, a 110-year-old Japanese hospitality company, has announced plans to open its first hot spring resort in Sharon Springs, New York, by 2028. The 40-room property will be the group’s first venture in Continental US and will be modelled after a traditional Japanese onsen ryokan (hot spring inn).
Sharon Springs, located 3.5 hours from New York City by car, is registered on both national and state registers as a historic spa village with significant Iroquois heritage.
Yoshiharu Hoshino, the fourth-generation chief executive of the company, explains the essential elements of an onsen ryokan: “It should offer a unique bathing experience in minerals-rich hot spring waters, serve Japanese cuisine using the best of seasonal local produce, be designed such that it reflects the local culture and blend with the natural landscape; and also provide service that embodies omotenashi, the Japanese style of hospitality.”
Speaking about the location choice, Hoshino says, “Sharon Springs has an abundant supply of mineral waters which make it an ideal location for a hot spring hotel. We also want to contribute to the town’s revitalisation as a travel destination by leveraging on our expertise and passion for managing onsen ryokans, and working together with the local community.”
The company, which began in 1914 with a single onsen ryokan in Karuizawa, Japan, now operates 70 hotels across multiple brands. While Hoshino Resorts already has properties in Hawaii and Guam, this development marks their first expansion into the Continental United States. The name of the new property has yet to be announced.
