“HOTEL & SAUNA WAYPOINT SHINANO-MYOKO” Grand Opening April 1, 2026, at Lake Nojiri, Nagano
PLAY&co opened “HOTEL & SAUNA WAYPOINT SHINANO-MYOKO” at Lake Nojiri, Nagano, on April 1, 2026. This renovated 40-year-old hotel offers a unique blend of authentic sauna experiences and van-life-inspired accommodations.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 21:00
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PLAY&co (Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo; CEO: Tsuneaki Nakajima) grandly opened “HOTEL & SAUNA WAYPOINT SHINANO-MYOKO” (hereinafter “WAYPOINT”) in Shinano-machi, Nagano Prefecture, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
This facility is a lodging base that combines a fully renovated hotel over 40 years old, located near Lake Nojiri and Myoko Highlands, with an authentic and playful sauna experience and accommodation spaces based on the “van-life” concept. It proposes a stay style that serves as a base for enjoying the seasonal nature and activities of the Lake Nojiri and Myoko areas, centered around saunas and lodging.
Furthermore, the crowdfunding campaign on “Makuake,” conducted prior to the pre-opening, reached its target amount within three days, attracting significant interest as a new lodging base around Lake Nojiri.
Official Website: https://wpt-shinano-myoko.jp/
### An Authentic yet Playful Sauna Experience to “Unwind Mind and Body”
The sauna at “WAYPOINT” is based on the concept of a “thermal experience during the journey,” blending nature and playfulness.
In spring, guests can sweat gently surrounded by the scent of fresh greenery; in summer, they can feel the coolness while breathing deeply in an outdoor bath area with shade and lake breezes. In autumn, they can surrender to deep relaxation while viewing the fall foliage, and in winter, they can enjoy the sauna while gazing at a vast snowscape through the window. Being in a heavy snowfall area, guests can also experience outdoor baths in a snow-covered environment.
To allow guests to “deeply savor” the sauna even during a short stay through an integrated experience with the seasonal natural environment, the facility was designed with meticulous attention to detail, including authentic sauna equipment, groundwater cold baths, and gimmicks using converted vintage vans.
Furthermore, this sauna is available not only to overnight guests but also for day-use. It can be conveniently used during breaks between surrounding activities.
### Features of the “WAYPOINT” Sauna
1. Large Container Sauna Creating Overwhelming Heat Pressure
To maintain a stable thermal environment, high-output electric stoves are used in the WAYPOINT sauna. Even in the large container sauna, which can accommodate up to 12 people, the temperature is resistant to dropping, allowing the room to be kept at a consistent heat. This suppresses the unevenness of temperature often found in large spaces, creating an environment where one can sweat properly from any position. The consistent and powerful heat warms the body from its core.
This facility is a lodging base that combines a fully renovated hotel over 40 years old, located near Lake Nojiri and Myoko Highlands, with an authentic and playful sauna experience and accommodation spaces based on the “van-life” concept. It proposes a stay style that serves as a base for enjoying the seasonal nature and activities of the Lake Nojiri and Myoko areas, centered around saunas and lodging.
Furthermore, the crowdfunding campaign on “Makuake,” conducted prior to the pre-opening, reached its target amount within three days, attracting significant interest as a new lodging base around Lake Nojiri.
Official Website: https://wpt-shinano-myoko.jp/
### An Authentic yet Playful Sauna Experience to “Unwind Mind and Body”
The sauna at “WAYPOINT” is based on the concept of a “thermal experience during the journey,” blending nature and playfulness.
In spring, guests can sweat gently surrounded by the scent of fresh greenery; in summer, they can feel the coolness while breathing deeply in an outdoor bath area with shade and lake breezes. In autumn, they can surrender to deep relaxation while viewing the fall foliage, and in winter, they can enjoy the sauna while gazing at a vast snowscape through the window. Being in a heavy snowfall area, guests can also experience outdoor baths in a snow-covered environment.
To allow guests to “deeply savor” the sauna even during a short stay through an integrated experience with the seasonal natural environment, the facility was designed with meticulous attention to detail, including authentic sauna equipment, groundwater cold baths, and gimmicks using converted vintage vans.
Furthermore, this sauna is available not only to overnight guests but also for day-use. It can be conveniently used during breaks between surrounding activities.
### Features of the “WAYPOINT” Sauna
1. Large Container Sauna Creating Overwhelming Heat Pressure
To maintain a stable thermal environment, high-output electric stoves are used in the WAYPOINT sauna. Even in the large container sauna, which can accommodate up to 12 people, the temperature is resistant to dropping, allowing the room to be kept at a consistent heat. This suppresses the unevenness of temperature often found in large spaces, creating an environment where one can sweat properly from any position. The consistent and powerful heat warms the body from its core.