#Japan #Sumitomo Forestry #Karuizawa #Karuizawa VILLA #Sasazawa Construction

Sumitomo Forestry Launches Villa Subdivision Project

Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. (President: Toshio Mitsukoshi, Headquarters: Chiyoda City, Tokyo) has officially embarked on a new venture, the "Villa Subdivision Project." This initiative debuts with the "Forest Garden Karuizawa VILLA," entirely managed by its 100% subsidiary Sasazawa Construction Co., Ltd. (President: Katsushi Sasazawa, Headquarters: Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture), which completed sales contracts for three villas in September. This marks the company's inaugural foray into the subdivision of vacation properties.

Background of the Villa Subdivision Project

The demand for vacation homes in popular resort areas like Karuizawa has surged in response to lifestyle shifts triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as dual-location living and workation trends, as well as a rise in affluent individuals. Leveraging its extensive experience in custom-designed villas, Sumitomo Forestry is venturing into the subdivision of vacation properties designed to enhance the experience of living in these idyllic areas.

Features of Forest Garden Karuizawa VILLA

The Forest Garden Karuizawa VILLA combines Sumitomo Forestry's expertise in custom home design with Sasazawa Construction's established reputation and sales network in the Karuizawa area. The three spacious properties, nestled among trees, feature extensive open spaces achieved through Sumitomo's proprietary Big Frame construction method, allowing residents to enjoy breathtaking seasonal landscapes from large, airy living rooms.

Each villa is crafted with visible structural materials, showcasing features like decorative beams and incorporating Sumitomo's original "PRIME WOOD" flooring, presenting a warm, wood-imbued ambiance. Unique amenities, such as sauna rooms and expansive wooden decks that seamlessly integrate the outdoors with indoor spaces, provide a tranquil oasis away from urban life.

Collaboration between Sumitomo Forestry and Sasazawa Construction

Sasazawa Construction boasts a robust portfolio in the Karuizawa area, specializing in vacation home construction, resort development, land subdivision, and public projects, leading in residential starts in the region. In this project, Sasazawa handles land acquisition and sales leveraging its local network, while Sumitomo is responsible for the architectural design and construction of the homes.

Project Details

• - Location: 追分, 北佐久郡軽井沢町, Nagano Prefecture
• - Access: Approximately 20 minutes by car from JR East Hokuriku Shinkansen, "Karuizawa Station"; approximately 8 minutes from Shinanotal Railways, "Shinano-Oiwake Station."
• - Usage Restrictions: First-class Residential Zone
• - Building Coverage Ratio: 60%, Floor Area Ratio: 200%
• - Total Lots: 3
• - Land Area: 683.20㎡ to 948.35㎡
• - Total Floor Area: 170.45㎡ to 213.37㎡
• - Average Selling Price: Around 170 million yen
• - Structure: Wooden beam L-shaped frame construction (Big Frame Method)

About Sumitomo Forestry's Urban Development Division

Established in 2005, Sumitomo Forestry's Urban Development Division has been driving the development of single-family homes for 20 years. Their "Forest Garden" housing brand combines design excellence with safety and reliability, leading to approximately 4,700 units sold thus far. The division emphasizes creating high-value communities that harmonize with surrounding environments.

In July, they initiated a "Mansion Subdivision Project" offering high-end homes on spacious lots in urban areas, with a long-term vision under "Mission TREEING 2030" targeting the sales of 900 single-family homes annually by 2030.

As part of the Sumitomo Forestry Group, their operations span from forest management, wood material production, and residential construction to real estate development and wood biomass power generation. Their long-term vision seeks to enhance CO2 absorption through forestry and promote the use of wooden buildings, contributing to decarbonization efforts throughout society.

Sasazawa Construction, based in Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture, has a 55-year history embedded in the local community, exceling in diverse construction sectors, particularly in vacation home design. By harnessing land procurement and construction management expertise, they aim to create harmonious living spaces that blend seamlessly with the unique local climate and scenery.