Shishi-Iwa House will debut its inaugural “Whisky Tour – The Best of Japan” in Karuizawa, offering guests rare access to legendary distilleries and aged Japanese and scotch expressions over 30 years old. The six-day experience will run from 24 February to 1 March 2027 at the architect-designed retreat in Nagano Prefecture.
The tour promises enthusiasts the chance to savor historic whiskies “at their birthplace,” according to the brand.
Among the headline pours is the 1972 Karuizawa Sherry Cask #7290, aged 36 years, with 528 bottles produced at 65% ABV. The brand describes it as a “highly coveted vintage expression” that earned a Gold Medal from Malt Maniacs and is renowned for “its remarkable combination of raw power and elegance.”
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READ THE STORYThe original Karuizawa distillery was founded in 1955, and went on to gain an enviable cache among whisky aficionados for its high-quality small-batch releases, but unfortunately not until after the original distillery was mothballed in 2000 and eventually closed in 2011. Original Karuizawa whisky is now among the most rare and sought after in the whisky world.
Also featured is the 1986 Mars Komagatake White Oak Single Cask, aged 30 years, with 1,137 bottles at 61% ABV. The brand notes it was “distilled just one year after opening” and aged across four white oak casks, “capturing early Japanese distilling history.”
Scotch lovers will find the 1965 Springbank Samaroli Aging Monography, aged 23 years, with 660 bottles at 50% ABV. The brand calls it “the oldest expression in Samaroli’s iconic Aging Monography series, capturing the iconic mid-century Campbeltown character.”
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Beyond the drams, the journey is “a celebration of craftsmanship, nature and hospitality,” the brand said, describing these as “some of the very pillars of Shishi-Iwa House.”
Hyper-local dining ranges from an eight-seat kappo experience to wood-fired cooking overlooking the snow-dusted Japanese Alps. Guests will also sample artisanal sake, visit a local farm, and unwind with an onsen bath and shiatsu massage.
The setting carries its own pedigree. The first [Shishi-Iwa House], designed by Shigeru Ban, opened in Karuizawa in 2019, with SSH No.02 following in 2022 and SSH No.03 by Ryue Nishizawa in 2023. Both architects are Pritzker Prize laureates.
