Hiro Katayama News Today

Gunma Prefecture, situated in the northern part of the Kanto region with easy access from Tokyo, is most famous for its spectacular wilderness. However, the often overlooked urban side of Gunma is equally worth

A ryokan in the small city of Maebashi with 300 years of history has been brought up to date in stunning fashion. Now the Shiroiya is attracting premier…

Sou Fujimoto’s brutalist concrete hotel revival transforms Maebashi Sou Fujimoto’s brutalist concrete hotel revival transforms Maebashi The revival of the brutalist concrete Shiroiya Hotel by architect Sou Fujimoto is part of Hitoshi Tanaka’s desire to turn an unassuming Japanese city into a design destination The recently completed brutalist concrete Japanese architecture of the Shiroiya Hotel in the city of Maebashi, about two hours north-west of Tokyo, is a great example of what a slo...

Jan 30, 2021 Maebashi, Gunma Pref. – Forests and mountains, hot springs, ski resorts and hiking trails: Gunma Prefecture has plenty to explore in the great outdoors. Down in the lowlands, though, this landlocked region just an hour or so north of Tokyo offers fewer reasons to visit, especially when it comes to hotels and gastronomy. Until now, that is. The launching of the newly reborn Shiroiya Hotel in Maebashi last month has put Gunma’s capital city back on the map with a bang. B...