This Iconic Japanese Hotel Brand Is Opening Its First New Resort in the U.S. — in a Tiny New York Town

Hoshino Resorts, which has been at the vanguard of Japan’s hospitality industry for more than a century, is bringing its vision to the U.S.

The company, which operates high-end hotels as well as more modest inns across Asia and the Pacific, will open its first new-build hotel in the United States by 2028. The location for the 40-room resort is, perhaps, something of a surprise: Sharon Springs, New York, a small town about 200 miles north of New York City, situated between Cooperstown and Saratoga Springs. 

While Hoshino already operates the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in Oahu and a Risonare hotel on the island of Guam, this future opening will represent a major first for the company, Yoshiharu Hoshino, Hoshino Resorts’ CEO, tells Travel + Leisure.

“This is a significant milestone in our company’s journey to become a household name for global travelers,” says Hoshino, who represents the fourth generation at the helm of the company.

The forthcoming property, which doesn’t yet have a name, will draw inspiration from the traditional ryokan of Japan. These typically rustic lodgings are known for their old-school approach, offering minimalistic rooms, complete with tatami floors, as well as set meals and opportunities to soak in natural hot springs known as onsen.

“Onsen ryokan is comprised of four essential elements,” Hoshino says. “They are a unique bathing experience in hot springs, exquisite Japanese cuisine, architecture, and design that seamlessly integrate with the natural landscape and omotenashi, the Japanese style of hospitality.”

The new property also represents a bit of a throwback for Hoshino Resorts, which now has more than 60 hotels worldwide. The company’s first, which opened in 1914 in Karuizawa, Japan, was a ryokan.

While the forthcoming U.S. property will certainly be a different look for low-key Sharon Springs, it won’t be the only hospitality offering in the area. The town is already home to the Beekman 1802 beauty brand and several existing hotels and inns. (Beekman has a handy guide to all the notable attractions in the area.)

“Sharon Springs is a village that has a rich history and abundant supply of mineral waters,” Hoshino notes. “We want to contribute to the revitalization of its much-deserved reputation as a must-visit travel destination by leveraging our expertise and passion for onsen ryokan, together with the local community.” 

The village, which is located in Schoharie County, has a long history of outdoor recreation and nature-based wellness tourism. In addition to mineral springs, the area is home to the Erie Canal, now a hub for water sports like kayaking and standup paddle boarding, and the Long Path, one of the country’s most enticing distance-hiking trails. Also of note, a short drive from Sharon Springs, is the Iroquois Museum, with the world’s largest collection of contemporary Iroquois art as well as a 45-acre nature park that preserves and interprets the history of the area’s Indigenous people.