New Concept in Zao Onsen Area Blends Art and Stays | Create Lemon Unveils Case Study #12: "Case Study House 2026"

Create Lemon Co., Ltd. (Location: Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, Representative Director: Tomokazu Oba) has released an LP introducing an art lounge operated in the Zao Onsen area of Yamagata City, as part of its "Case Study House 2026" experimental proposal project for housing and architecture.

Interior of UNITE CAFE ART LOUNGE. The high ceiling and open layout, utilizing the former large public bath space, are distinctive features. Works by Maika Kobayashi are displayed on the walls.

▼Release URL

https://createlemon.jp/LP/art_lounge

▼Case Study House 2026 Special Page

https://createlemon.jp/LP/new_products_2026

From a "Place to Eat" to a "Place to Spend Time"

UNITE CAFE ART LOUNGE is a new experiential space born within Unite Cafe, where visitors to Zao can enjoy meals and coffee. It offers a place to relax before or after a meal, admire art, and savor the lingering impressions of a journey—time that extends beyond just dining enriches the Zao experience.

Art, light, interior design, and space. These elements overlap, creating an atmosphere that naturally draws you in. While it is a cafe, its concept is to transform into a "place you want to spend time" for visitors, rather than just a "place to eat."

In addition to art, the lounge also displays products related to Yamagata, conveying the charm of Yamagata and Zao.

The Large Public Bath Reborn as an Art Lounge

A spatial characteristic of the art lounge is that this location was originally used as a large public bath. The high ceiling provides a spaciousness different from typical cafe spaces, and the slightly dim, calm interior creates an optimal environment for appreciating art.

The works of Maika Kobayashi, a painter residing in Yamagata, displayed on the walls, the Zao mountain range visible through the large windows, and the ample space create a tranquil environment for quiet contemplation of art. The space, once a public bath, is now a lounge for enjoying art. By changing its purpose, the intrinsic value of the space itself is being rediscovered.

The layout was renovated from its time as a bathhouse, transforming it into a grand space.

Zao: A Special Location Gaining Global Attention

In 2026, Yamagata Prefecture was the only location in Japan selected for National Geographic's "Best of the World 2026." Zao, its representative tourist destination, has become a globally recognized destination. With the planned opening of Hoshino Resorts "KAI Zao" in the same year, the area is attracting unprecedented attention as a place where new values of stay are emerging.

The art lounge is situated on a hill overlooking the Zao Onsen town, offering a special panoramic view of the Zao mountain range to the east. It's a location where one can experience the charms of Zao—hot springs, forests, and mountain scenery—all within a single vista. It offers both the tranquility of being surrounded by trees and the openness of a wide view, not overtly conspicuous from the outside, but like a "small museum in the forest" for those who know where to find it.

On rainy or snowy days—even when outdoor tourism is difficult—visitors can spend time in Zao gazing at art or enjoying coffee. Especially in a place rich in nature, a calm indoor space holds significant value.

The "Snow Monsters" (Juhyo) of Yamagata's Zao, featured in National Geographic's "Best of the World 2026." The iconic winter scenery of Zao, drawing global attention. The exterior of Unite Zao Jo-nida Resort, located on a hill surrounded by forests in the Zao Onsen area, with a secluded atmosphere that feels like a hidden gem for those in the know.

Recognizing Zao's Potential Since 2015

Create Lemon was quick to recognize this potential and has been accumulating development in the Zao area since 2015. The art lounge is one manifestation of this steady practice. With its selection by National Geographic and Hoshino Resorts' decision to open, we have long been confident in the value of Zao that the world is now discovering.

Create Lemon's development in Zao does not end here. As a company that has continued to act with belief in this land's potential, we will continue to explore new developments.

About Case Study House 2026

Case Study House 2026 is an experimental proposal project for housing and architecture that Create Lemon will be undertaking throughout 2026. We will continue to release case studies of diverse buildings, including residences, accommodations, and community hubs, via LPs.

This space, which revitalized a large public bath into an art lounge, is a case study that answers the question, "Can stays be enriched by transforming spaces?" with a physical example.

▼Special Page

https://createlemon.jp/LP/new_products_2026

Case Study House 2026 will continuously announce 20 concept models throughout 2026. Case studies of diverse buildings, including residences, accommodations, and community hubs, are being released sequentially.

About Unite Zao Jo-nida Resort:

Unite Zao Jo-nida Resort is an accommodation facility located in the Zao Onsen area of Yamagata City. We operate cottages and guest rooms as lodging spaces where guests can experience Zao's nature and views. We aim to be a place not only for tourism but also for enjoying the time spent in Zao itself.

About Unite House:

Unite House, launched in 2008, is a housing brand characterized by its simple design and high cost performance. We continue to offer "Box Houses" with reduced monthly payments and maintenance costs, achieving 15 consecutive years of No.1 housing starts in Yamagata Prefecture*. Our motto is "To bring happiness to people connected through QOL housing," and we build homes with our customers in mind.

*Investigated by Living Communication Inc. from 2009 to 2023.

▽Unite House Official

https://unitehouse.jp

▽Unite House Yamagata

https://unitehouse-yamagata.jp

Company Profile:

Company Name: Create Lemon Co., Ltd.

Address: 2-7-39 Minamihara-cho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture

Representative: Tomokazu Oba, Representative Director

Business Activities: Housing business (Unite House), Real estate business, Resort business, Regional revitalization business

Official Website: https://createlemon.jp

Information on recruitment and company initiatives can also be found on our recruitment site and PR note.

Contact for Inquiries:

Create Lemon Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department

TEL: 023-665-5676

Email: pr@unitehouse.jp