What better way to kick off my tour of 100 hotels around the world than to start with the place where I come from? I grew up on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. And that’s where I decided to pick my first hotel from.
As luck would have it, a quick 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.
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!
[ Enter the secret lair ]
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.
[ Explore our villas ]
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.
[ Discover our villas ]
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.
[ Book your stay ]
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.
[ Plan your getaway ]
Hero #6
Savour the bounties of nature at Zaborin
Delight in a gentle embrace of a forest from your airy villa, volcanic water flowing straight into your private bath and seasonal dishes plated up by an award-winning chef.
[ Book now ]
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.
[ View our villas ]
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.
[ Book your villa ]
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.
[ Check availability ]
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.
[ Book ]
Recap
During my research, I stumbled upon several guest reviews who said that Zaborin’s architecture was “like something out of a James Bond movie”. So the first hero section basically wrote itself.
I must say, I’m quite pleased with #4 and #6. Do you have a favourite?
Lessons
Whew, 10 is a lot. It’s hard, but that’s the whole point.
What I didn’t expect was getting stuck on the second and third ones. I had to step away from my keyboard several times, but once I finally broke through my overthinking tendencies, it went smoother.
Note to self: Next time you get stuck, move onto the next angle you’re exploring instead of “perfecting” the same thing.
1/100