What better way to kick off my world tour of 100 hotels than to start with the place where I come from?
I grew up on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. And as luck would have it, a search on Mr & Mrs Smith revealed exactly ONE property in Hokkaido: Zaborin, a luxury ryokan near the Niseko ski resorts.
After 55 minutes of research, I began writing 10 hero sections… and oh boy! I knew this was gonna be hard, but coming up with 10 different messaging angles nearly destroyed me.
Still, I hope I did justice to Zaborin’s incredible ryokan. And it’s only the beginning of my 100-day challenge, so I hope I’ll get better (and faster!) at writing. Sign up at the bottom to get the recap and follow along.
Without further ado, here are 10 hero sections I wrote for Zaborin’s homepage. I’ve marked a few of my favourites with a ✨.
Hero #1
Ever wondered what it feels like to travel like a Bond villain?
Zaborin offers secluded villas—and complete privacy—deep within the Hanazono forest. Spacious suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, private onsens, discreet staff … and a view to die for!
Hero #2
Ah, to hear the sounds of silence!
Step into a world of tranquillity, away from the bustling ski slopes. Serene forest views, natural hot springs, nourishing meals and moments of calm await you at Zaborin.
Hero #3
Get away from the chaos of everyday life to simply be.
Zaborin is a ryokan nestled in a birch forest near Niseko, where you can reconnect to nature—and to yourself—while savouring the best views and delicacies each season has to offer.
Hero #4
Zaborin—Where time slows down
Laze about in a spacious villa, bask in the sun as you bathe in an outdoor onsen and partake of a kita kaiseki dinner, featuring locally sourced and foraged ingredients.
Hero #5
Rest in a tranquil cocoon of the Hanazono forest
Zaborin offers intimate villas enveloped in the scent of the forest, private onsens fed by volcanic hot spring water and Japanese fine dining in sync with the changing seasons. ✨
Hero #6
Savour the bounties of nature at Zaborin
Delight in a gentle embrace of the forest from your airy villa, volcanic water flowing straight into your private bath and seasonal dishes plated up by an award-winning chef. ✨
Hero #7
A forest hideaway near the slopes of Niseko
Leave the hustle and bustle of the ski resort behind and rejuvenate your spirits at Zaborin, an ultra-modern ryokan that offers private hot-spring baths and hyperseasonal dining.
Hero #8
Feel the stress of your travels melt away
At Zaborin, you’ll find a fresh take on a ryokan stay—complete with tranquil villas, soothing mineral baths, restorative kita kaiseki meals and all the modern comforts.
Hero #9
Retreat from the world
A contemporary ryokan deep in the woods of Hanazono, offering minimalist villas, indoor and outdoor onsens, meditative dining and unobstructed views of Mount Yotei.
Hero #10
Taste the seasons
A place to pause, to breathe, to reminisce about your travels. Every villa at Zaborin surrounds you with the grandeur of nature and allows you to forget the passage of time.
Notes
Whew, 10 is a lot. It’s hard, but that’s the whole point.
During my research, I stumbled upon several guest reviews which said that Zaborin’s architecture was “like something out of a James Bond movie”. So the first hero section basically wrote itself.
What I didn’t expect was getting stuck on the second one. I had to step away from my keyboard several times.
Note to self: Next time you get stuck, move onto the next angle you’re exploring instead of “finalising” the details.
Time: 7 hours 35 minutes (Yeah… not proud to admit it. RIP sleep.)
1/100
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