Dusit brings its collection brand to Japan with a Kengo Kuma-designed lakeside retreat in Hokkaido

Dusit International has deepened its push into Japan with the opening of WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection, a lakeside retreat on the shores of Lake Tōya in Hokkaido designed by the internationally acclaimed studio Kengo Kuma & Associates.

The property officially joins the Dusit Collection brand on 1 July 2026, becoming the first Dusit Collection hotel in Japan and the group’s third in the country. It follows ASAI Kyoto Shijo, a neighbourhood-inspired lifestyle hotel, and Dusit Thani Kyoto, a Michelin-Key luxury hotel rooted in the city’s cultural heritage.

For Dusit, the opening is the latest move in an aggressive global growth phase that has seen the Thai operator expand across the lodging spectrum and launch its ninth hotel brand. Dusit Collection sits at the upper-upscale and luxury end of that range, reserved for distinctive hotels and resorts that celebrate individuality, local culture and a strong sense of place.

WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection occupies one of Japan’s most striking natural settings. Lake Tōya is a scenic caldera lake at the heart of the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark in south-western Hokkaido, a region celebrated for its volcanic landscapes, natural hot springs, outdoor pursuits and dramatic seasonal scenery. The hotel sits roughly 100 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, placing it within reach of the wider Hokkaido leisure circuit.

Originally opened in 2018, the intimate retreat carries an architectural identity created by Kengo Kuma & Associates, the studio behind the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo and Scotland’s V&A Dundee design museum. Inspired by its surroundings, the design draws on natural materials, warm textures and a contemporary reading of Japanese craftsmanship to blur the line between the interiors and the lake, forests and mountains beyond.

The resort offers 55 lake-view guestrooms alongside three two-storey villas aimed at families and small groups in search of extra space and privacy. Each guestroom runs to roughly 37 sq m and comes with its own private open-air bath overlooking Lake Tōya, allowing guests to enjoy the Japanese bathing tradition in seclusion. A large communal bath with panoramic lake views completes the wellness offer.

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For business travellers and event planners weighing Japan’s growing roster of design-led properties, the opening lands amid a busy period for the market. Recent months have brought Rosewood’s urban debut in Tokyo and the unusual prospect of Japan’s first luxury hotel inside a former prison, underlining the depth of demand for distinctive stays.

As part of the transition to Dusit Collection, the resort’s culinary concepts have been refreshed to create a dialogue between Japanese craftsmanship and Dusit’s Thai heritage, built around Hokkaido’s seasonal produce.

EZO Cuisine showcases local producers through Japanese cooking enhanced with refined international technique. Breakfast features Japanese and Thai set menus drawing on locally sourced vegetables, premium Hokkaido rice, dairy, seasonal juices and original herbal teas, while dinner centres on seasonal tasting menus.

Elsewhere, The Noodle Bar serves Thai favourites including Tom Yum noodles and Khao Soi, the rich coconut-based curry noodle dish from northern Thailand. TARU Bar, named after the Japanese word for a wooden cask, leans into traditions of ageing and craftsmanship with organic Japanese teas from Dusit’s own tea garden in Kyoto, alongside sake, whisky and craft liqueurs. Toya Bar rounds out the line-up with creative cocktails, premium spirits and relaxed lakeside evenings.

“Japan is an important strategic market for Dusit, and the arrival of Dusit Collection represents another exciting milestone in our journey to bring our unique style of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to destinations with distinctive character and strong cultural appeal,” said Chanin Donavanik, Group CEO, Dusit International. “WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection perfectly embodies the spirit of the Dusit Collection brand, demonstrating how thoughtful design, local connections and personalised service can come together to create experiences that truly reflect their destinations.”