Shigeru Ban’s latest creation is here! On Awaji Island, he has built a seaside hotel designed to help office workers overcome “mental exhaustion.”

On Awaji Island, Shigeru Ban has transformed a convalescent inn into a slow‑moving instrument for the body.

THE PASONA natureverse retreat: From the concept of “pre-illness” to a wooden order nestled between mountains and sea

Located on Awaji Island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan ( Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture ) At the northern end of Iwaya Beach, THE PASONA natureverse retreat On the surface, it is a high-end resort overlooking the bay, but at its core, it addresses a more specific health-related proposition: Before you truly fall ill, re‑establish the proper balance among your physical health, mental well-being, diet, exercise, and sleep.

 

The project was designed by a Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate. Shigeru Ban and its firm Shigeru Ban Architects Design, by those deeply engaged in the revitalization of Awaji Island’s local community… Pasona Group It drives forward. Rather than reducing healing to a mere landscape‑driven experience, the architecture weaves together mountains, the sea, timber construction, a double‑height atrium, spa‑style guest rooms, and long‑stay wellness programs into a gently unfolding system of living.

             

Figure 01 | The mountain-side exterior of THE PASONA natureverse retreat, where wooden columns create a continuous, curved façade rhythm. Image source: THE PASONA.

PROJECT FILE

Project Information Card

Project Name: THE PASONA natureverse retreat

Location: 2942-39 Iwaya, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Opening date: June 23, 2026

Architectural Design: Shigeru Ban Architects Co., Ltd.

Operator: Pasona Resort Inc. / Pasona Group

Construction: Obayashi Corporation

Scale: Five stories above ground, with 57 guest rooms; gross floor area of 3,468.2㎡, and total floor area of 11,184.4㎡.

Main features: Guest rooms, Thalasso Spa, gym, clinic, restaurant, café, bar, outdoor seafront stage, business center, multi‑purpose event hall, and more.

 

01 / A LONG-STAY RETREAT

Starting from “pre-illness”: lodging is being redefined as long-term physical and mental well-being management.

The keywords of THE PASONA are in “ “Pre-illness” (Mibyo) It is not a medical diagnosis but rather a stage of physical health that has not yet reached a clearly defined disease state, yet already calls for lifestyle adjustments. This concept shapes the project’s operational model—it does not encourage short‑term, check‑in‑and‑leave visits; publicly available information indicates that accommodations start from… 4 3 nights To begin, we also offer long-term accommodation options on a monthly or annual basis.

This shifts the role of architecture. Traditional resort hotels typically center on scenery, room types, and services; THE PASONA, by contrast, focuses on how one’s circadian rhythms are re‑aligned over time. Dining, exercise, sleep, relaxation, hot springs, and partnerships with clinics and medical professionals all come together to shape the guest experience. The architecture, in turn, is tasked with establishing a clear spatial order, fostering a low‑stimulus materiality, and cultivating an open sense of connection with nature.

             

Figure 02 | The horizontal façade on the sea-facing side, the base of the flood‑control embankment, and their relationship to the view of Osaka Bay. Image source: THE PASONA.

 

02 / BETWEEN SEA AND HILL

Between Mountain and Sea: A Double-Sided Building with a D-Shaped Plan

The project site is located at the northern tip of Awaji Island, offering distant views of… Osaka Bay Kobe, Osaka, and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. The site is sandwiched between the sea and low-lying hills, presenting entirely contrasting landscape characters on either side; accordingly, he devised distinct façade strategies for the east and west facades.

On the sea-facing side, a seawall serves as the base, while the upper levels achieve a seamless connection to the ocean view through four horizontal floors and transparent façades. On the mountain side, wooden columns reinforce a vertical rhythm, evoking an order that is both symbolic and classically inspired. These two linear volumes are unified by a double-height atrium that admits natural light, creating a form reminiscent of the letter “L.” “D” of the plane. This approach frees the architecture from being dominated by a single landscape and establishes a dual character between the mountain and the sea.

Figure 03 | A large wooden canopy and grand staircase at the building’s central entrance create a ceremonial arrival experience. Image source: THE PASONA.

 

03 / WOODEN ORDER

Wooden columns, a monumental canopy, and the ritual of arrival

Shigeru Ban’s design does not confine itself to the decorative dimension of “woodiness.” The continuous colonnade on the mountainside façade, the monumental wooden canopy at the entrance, and the recurring lattice patterns, angular breaks, and geometric motifs that bridge interior and exterior all render wood the primary medium of spatial order. From a distance, the building takes on the form of a warm, seamless curve; up close, the columnar arrangement, structural joints, and ceiling latticework bring the human scale back into intimate proximity with the body.

The structural pattern of the entrance canopy readily evokes associations with… 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 (Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan) the “large roof” motif. The original text also notes that the two have visually evoked associations, yet THE PASONA is not a case of repurposing the “large roof.” Rather, it represents Shigeru Ban’s re‑engagement with the site, its scale, and the experience of arrival—reinterpreted at another mountain‑sea base.

Figure 04 | The geometric structure beneath the wooden canopy and the entrance platform highlight the project’s most distinctive structural character. Image source: THE PASONA.

 

Figure 05 | The double-height atrium and the openings facing the bay draw indoor views toward the distant sea. Image source: THE PASONA.

 

04 / HEALTH IN FOUR ACTS

Mind, Body, Food, and Sleep: How Health Plans Are Spatialized

THE PASONA breaks down its health program into Mind, body, food, sleep Four key offerings. Our dedicated health concierge will collaborate with a “pre‑illness physician” to design personalized programs tailored to each guest’s physical condition, length of stay, and purpose of arrival. These programs encompass Zen practices, meditation, singing bowls, breathing exercises, natural hot springs, thalassotherapy, yoga, stretching, personal training, and wholesome cuisine crafted from Awaji Island’s fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

In this system, architecture does not merely passively accommodate services. Sea‑facing platforms, open atriums, guest‑room spas, dining spaces, and physical‑training areas disperse “body‑centered well‑being” across different moments of the day. Healing no longer relies on isolated, one‑off interventions; instead, it unfolds as a sustained, everyday choreography: morning breathing and movement, daytime hydrotherapy and natural light, and nighttime sleep monitoring in quiet guest rooms—collectively shaping a rhythmically coherent long‑stay experience.

Figure 06 | The continuous skylights at the atrium’s apex, the wooden lattice, and the sea-facing openings work together to enhance natural light and the flow of sightlines. Image source: THE PASONA.

Figure 07 | The atrium’s lounge area, greenery, and warm lighting create a leisurely atmosphere in the public space, reminiscent of an indoor courtyard. Image source: THE PASONA.

Figure 08 | The public lounge area employs a lofty spatial volume, lattice‑like partitions, and upholstered furnishings to create spaces for social interaction and lingering. Image source: THE PASONA.

 

05 / STAY AS CALIBRATION

From Guest Rooms to Medical Support: The True Meaning of the Long-Stay Model

THE PASONA total of 57 Guest room , all guest rooms are equipped with natural hot springs. Some rooms feature… NITORI Co., Ltd. and MinebeaMitsumi Inc. The jointly developed electric induction bed draws its technology from the Osaka–Kansai Expo. PASONA NATUREVERSE Pavilion The conceptual bed in the “Future of Sleep” exhibit adjusts its posture in response to the sleeper’s physical activity.

What truly underpins the long-stay model is a comprehensive system of logistical and health support. The project and… Kobe University Hospital In addition, the on-site clinic has established collaborative partnerships to provide medical support when needed; meanwhile, housekeeping, transportation, private vehicles, and multilingual services are also available. These arrangements transform “healing‑focused lodging” from a short‑term retreat into a sustainable stay, bringing the space closer to a new type of living facility that bridges hotels, wellness centers, and private villas.

Figure 09 | Sleep, yoga, thalassotherapy, and hot spring experiences together form the project’s holistic health‑wellness program. Image source: THE PASONA.

Figure 10 | The ocean-facing guest rooms feature low-profile beds, wooden finishes, and expansive windows, creating a relaxing setting that overlooks Osaka Bay. Image source: THE PASONA.

Figure 11 | The mountain-facing guest rooms create a more intimate and restful atmosphere through shoji screens, warm lighting, and views of greenery. Image source: THE PASONA.

 

Figure 12 | The bed, sofa, and wooden ceiling in the guest room all work together to support both sleep and extended periods of relaxation. Image source: THE PASONA.

 

06 / AWAJI STRATEGY

Awaji Island Is More Than Just a Backdrop: Pasona’s Narrative of Regional Revitalization

If you view THE PASONA merely as a high-end wellness resort, you’ll underestimate the regional strategy behind it. In recent years, Pasona Group has steadily developed dining, lodging, art, health, and cultural facilities on Awaji Island, and has even collaborated with Shigeru Ban to create… Zenbo Seinei …such as farm-to-table restaurants. THE PASONA continues this approach of leveraging tourism facilities to drive regional revitalization.

To urban tourists, Awaji Island is a seaside destination just a short distance from Kobe and Osaka; in Pasona’s narrative, it is reimagined as a testing ground for a new way of life—one that integrates health, work, culture, and long-term residency.

 

Figure 13 | The guest room’s relaxation area employs a hemp-leaf motif on the wall panels, low-profile sofas, and warm lighting to create an intimate sense of repose. Image source: THE PASONA.

Figure 14 | The dining area and the long-table space echo the theme of healthy eating through a wooden ceiling, stone doorways, and natural lighting. Image source: THE PASONA.

Reference materials

1. THE PASONA Official Website: THE PASONA natureverse retreat

2. Pasona Group News Release: Proactive Wellness Retreat “THE PASONA natureverse retreat” Opening on Awaji Island, Japan

3. Pasona Group News Release: Wellness Retreat “THE PASONA natureverse retreat” to Feature Sensor Beds Developed by NITORI and MinebeaMitsumi