A cabin in the mountains with a private hot spring sounds like just the ticket right about now.
Welcome to Little Onsen Cabins, a pair of Japanese log houses on the island of Hokkaido, available for stays. So named for their natural spring-water baths, the two cabins have been lovingly cared for by Jamie and Ingrid Kwong, who have something of a knack for creating small, homey retreats. “Ingrid was a graphic designer and is now an artist painting small landscapes, @littlescapes,” says Jamie.”I was a creative director in advertising, and we have always loved traveling and experiencing small, intimate spaces and different cultures, which has influenced our design aesthetic.”
Though the two are based in Sydney (where they split time between their apartment and The Little Black Shack, another of their projects), they felt drawn to Japan. “As a family we decided to try something different,” Jamie says. “We love snowboarding, Japanese culture, and rescuing small humble shelters in nature. We have always been drawn to the sea. The cabins in Hokkaido are our first property that aren’t on the water, but we fell in love with the mountains and the forest. That said, Hokkaido is an island, so the sea is just a 30-minute drive.”
With the help of a local agent, the two found the property, tucked in the woods. “The cabins were built in the nineties by a Japanese family from Sapporo as a place to experience nature, the mountains, and the simple pleasures in life: relaxing in onsen (natural spring-water baths), cooking over an irori (a traditional charcoal hearth), and listening to jazz records.”
The cabins were dated but well cared for, and Ingrid and Jamie saw the potential for creating a serene retreat for their family and for others, too. “We spent about six months a year in Japan while we were renovating, sourcing antique fixtures, fittings, and furniture and making our own furniture and light fittings for the cabins,” says Jamie.
Now they call the cabins Ane (“big sister”) and Otōto (“little brother”); join us for a look at Ane, which sleeps four.
Photography by @indianakwongphotography, courtesy of @thelittleonsencabins.
Above: Big Sister and Little Brother. 
Above: Welcome to Ane.
Small note — Loved this about “Big Sister Little Brother Little Onsen C” — such a lovely idea. Will try it.
On a similar note · Beautifully done; the instructions are easy to follow. Love this!