In this quiet corner of Nagano Prefecture in Japan, everything moves just a little slower. Azumino is also known as 'Wasabi Town': thanks to the crystal-clear spring water, more wasabi grows here than anywhere else in Japan, but the village has much more to offer than that. Think of snow-capped peaks of the Northern Alps in the background of your vacation photos, winding hiking trails, small sake and wine breweries, and fresh Shinshu soba. Moreover, it is an ideal base for trips to Kamikochi and Matsumoto (you'll want to go). In short: a place for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities for a while, and exactly the reason why we went looking for a unique place to stay here.

Tucked away in a lush forest and constructed from Canadian cedar logs over 300 years old, this is no ordinary cabin. Mine Azumino (pronounced 'mee-neh', Japanese for 'peak') has been lovingly renovated by a group of friends with a shared passion for hiking and fishing, and it shows. The curved design is inspired by the surrounding Alpine peaks, and inside awaits a warm, spacious 68-square-meter home spread across two floors, with its own natural hot spring as the icing on the cake.

Everything you need to escape completely is here: a fully equipped kitchen, a wood-burning stove for colder evenings, and a terrace where you can walk straight into the bushes. Fast fiber optic Wi-Fi ensures you can also comfortably spend a quiet workday here, while fresh spring water from the Southern Alps flows directly from the kitchen tap. Don't forget: in winter, you might just run into a monkey. Welcome to the Japanese Alps.

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