Hanamitsuri, a skincare brand focused on chamomile, opened a new inn in Nagano Prefecture, called Yasueso, in May. Yasueso is Japan's first certified "BIO HOTEL."
A "BIO HOTEL" is a hotel certified according to the "BIO HOTEL Standards" of the German-Austrian Bio Hotel Association, which considers the health of its guests and the natural environment. All food and drinks are organically grown, and soap, towels, and bed linens use natural ingredients whenever possible. To date, approximately 90 hotels, mainly in Europe, have been certified. In Japan, BIO HOTELS JAPAN, officially recognized by the Bio Hotel Association and established in 2013, certifies and rates BIO HOTELs in Japan and Asia based on European organic standards.
In order to develop a business rooted in the local community, Yasueso uses local natural materials, such as red pine from Ikeda Town and cedar from Nagano Prefecture, for the building's exterior walls, interior, and furniture. In addition, the bath and underfloor heating systems use woodchip boilers made from discarded wood from the local town of Ikeda, reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
All bedding and towels are made from organic cotton. Food and drinks are prepared using organic vegetables grown on the inn's own farm or in the surrounding area, demonstrating consideration for nature, its connection to the local community, and sustainability in every detail. The dining room was remodeled from a tatami room to table seating for elderly guests. A shared mini-kitchen is also available, allowing guests to enjoy self-cooking and providing a space for workshops such as cooking classes.
The inn also hosts healing tours for women undergoing breast cancer treatment and overnight events for children suffering from atopic dermatitis, making it a people-, society-, and environmentally friendly inn.
To commemorate the renovation, a limited-edition bath additive made with chamomile grown on the inn's own JAS-certified organic farm is being released. The bottle features an illustration of the area around Yasueso.
