Sumitomo Forestry and Sasazawa Construction luxury villas in Karuizawa sells out

On September 30^th, Sumitomo Forestry and its wholly owned subsidiary Sasazawa Construction announced all three lots of Forest Garden Karuizawa Villa have sold out.

Exterior photo courtesy of the developers.

This project was the first jointly developed vacation home subdivision in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture and marked the launch of Sumitomo Forestry’s new “Villa Subdivision Project,” aimed at meeting growing demand for luxury resort homes.

The project was developed in response to renewed interest in dual-residence and workation lifestyles that gained momentum during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drawing on Sumitomo Forestry’s long experience in custom vacation home design and Sasazawa Construction’s deep roots in the Karuizawa region, the two companies positioned the venture as a model for future resort-home developments.

Located in the Oiwake area of Karuizawa, the villas are approximately 20 minutes by car from the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen’s Karuizawa Station and about 8 minutes from Shinano Railway’s Shinano-Oiwake Station.

Each plot ranges from about 680 to 950 square meters, with total floor areas of roughly 170 to 210 square meters.

The homes were priced in the 170-million-yen range.

Project collage photo courtesy of the developers.

The villas use Sumitomo Forestry’s proprietary Big Frame construction method, a wood-beam dominant rigid-frame system that enables expansive interiors and large openings.

Design elements highlight the warmth of natural materials through exposed beams, visible structural timber, and the company’s own PRIME WOOD flooring.

The homes also feature amenities suited to high-end resort living, including sauna rooms and spacious wooden decks that open to the surrounding forest.

Sasazawa Construction oversaw land acquisition and sales, while Sumitomo Forestry handled design and construction. The companies sought to combine Sasazawa’s half-century of regional expertise with Sumitomo Forestry’s advanced building technologies to create residences that integrate comfort, craftsmanship, and environmental awareness.

The land is zoned for first-class residential use with a building coverage ratio of 60 percent and a floor-area ratio of 200 percent. Beyond Karuizawa, the two companies plan to expand the Villa Subdivision Project series to other popular resort destinations near the Greater Tokyo Area.

Sumitomo Forestry’s Forest Garden brand, first launched in 2005, has delivered around 4,700 detached homes over the past two decades. The company is also pursuing high-end subdivision projects in central Tokyo and aims to achieve annual sales of 900 detached homes by 2030 under its long-term growth strategy, Mission TREEING 2030.

Both companies emphasize sustainability as a core value. Sumitomo Forestry promotes a “wood cycle” business model that spans forest management, timber manufacturing, housing, and biomass energy.

By encouraging carbon storage in wood structures and using renewable materials, the group aims to contribute to carbon neutrality while maintaining design and lifestyle quality in Japan’s most desirable resort regions.

Sources:

R.E. Port News (Japanese only)

Sumitomo Forestry Press Release (Japanese only)