On December 11, Risonare Shimonoseki will open in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It will be the eighth facility under the Risonare brand, and the first in the Kyushu-Yamaguchi area. Prior to the opening, Hoshino Resort, the operator, held an advance preview for the media and unveiled the entire facility. The concept of Risonale Shimonoseki is a “designer hotel on the straits. The three main features of the hotel are “a spectacular view of the Kanmon Straits spreading out before your eyes,” “a dining experience unique to the area,” and “a stay that allows you to fully enjoy the straits. The spectacular view of the Kanmon Straits is unique to Risonare Shimonoseki, which stands by the sea. All 187 guest rooms, of nine types, have a view of the straits. The restaurant features Shimonoseki’s specialty, fugu (blowfish), as one of the local culinary experiences. In the main dining room, “OTTO SETTE SHIMONOSEKI,” six of the nine full-course Italian dishes are prepared with fugu (blowfish). Buffet dining “PUKU PUKU,” where dinner and breakfast are served, also offers a wide variety of fugu-based dishes for dinner. Fugu nabe, fugu bouillabaisse, deep-fried fugu, and other dishes allow you to taste as much fugu as you like, not only in Japanese cuisine but also in Western style. At breakfast, guests can also enjoy “kawara soba” (tile soba) noodles served in fugu broth. In addition, as a proposal for a stay to fully enjoy the straits, activities are planned to be held in cooperation with local businesses. For example, in the “Kaikyokan Lecture,” hotel staff who have learned about fugu from the keeper of the Shimomoseki Aquarium “Kaikyokan” will explain the charms of Kaikyokan and fugu. The content of the lecture, which uses a bingo-style game to teach guests about the different types of fugu, will make them want to visit the Kaiyokan the next day. Other events planned include “Hajimete no Kanmon Kaikyo” (First Time in the Kanmon Straits), in which the rules of the strait’s boat traffic will be explained. According to Yoshitaka Suzuki, general manager of the Risonale Shimonoseki, Shimonoseki has a wealth of tourist resources, but faces the problem of many day-trippers, and the hotel aims to make the Risonale Shimonoseki a purpose-built facility for long-term stays.
Fugu” and “Curvature” are the key elements. Design that sparks the imagination Risonare Shimonoseki is the first facility under the Risonare brand to begin with the building process. Astrid Klein and Yuki Fukuoka of Klein Dytham Architects designed the interior, while Yuzuru Tsukagawa of Nihon Sekkei designed the architecture. The interior design is based on the motif of fugu (blowfish), which is unique to Shimonoseki. The design incorporates the abundant and colorful fugu, which the architects actually visited the Kaikyo-kan, which boasts the world’s largest number of fugu varieties on display. The “Fugu Pool” is a place where visitors can experience the attraction of fugu that goes beyond just eating it. Here, fugu of various sizes are designed, creating an exciting space for both children and adults just by playing. According to Fukuoka, who took the stage, “We have included blowfish in various places. I hope everyone will enjoy looking for and discovering the hidden blowfish as well. Mr. Tsukagawa also mentioned “curves” as the point he was most particular about. The buildings all use curves, which change their expressions from different angles, and this stimulates the imagination. However, he said that it was difficult just to draw the lines on the plans for a building with curves, and the construction work was by far more difficult than building a square building. Tsukagawa said, “I would be happy if families, couples, and married couples could walk around the building talking about how it looks like a ship’s sail, how it looks like a big wave, and how the stairs look like a shellfish.
© Source travel watch