Interview: ESPACIO NAGOYA CASTLE, A World-Class Art Museum Hotel

On October 1, 2025, ESPACIO NAGOYA CASTLE opened as the “ESPACIO” brand operated by Kowa Company, Ltd. It marks the brand’s third property, following those in Hawaii and Hakone, and was established in Nagoya, the birthplace of Kowa. The hotel stands directly across the moat from Nagoya Castle, offering commanding views of the historic landmark.

Art Front Gallery was selected through a competition as the partner for the hotel’s art project and coordinated approximately 400 works by around 50 artists. We interviewed Mr. Hiromasa Azuma, Executive Officer of ESPACIO Nagoya Castle, and Ms. Kaori Nishiwaki, Director of Executive Office, about this ambitious project, which unfolded over the course of five years.

— Your website states, “A World-Class Art Museum Hotel Where Legends Come Alive.” Could you tell us the thoughts and aspirations behind these words?

Azuma: The ESPACIO brand is committed to authenticity. It presents and communicates to the world the culture, arts, and craftsmanship that live and breathe in Japan. Unlike a conventional museum, where works are viewed from behind ropes or through glasses, this hotel allows guests to experience artworks created exclusively for this space at close range. In front of Nagoya Castle – historical architecture, the hotel evokes a modern castle of the twenty-first century. We aim to be a hotel that serves as a grand stage for most important occasions of guests’ life.

— Gold is particularly striking throughout the hotel. Why did you decide to focus on gold?

Azuma: Wherever you look—whether marble, craft, or handwork—this hotel is defined by authenticity. Among these elements, gold embodies the resplendent and opulent aesthetic inherited from the samurai culture of Owari Nagoya. It also has the power to energize and inspire, which makes it especially fitting for a hotel that wishes prosperity and good fortune upon its guests. The use of the four auspicious mythical creatures—kirin, phoenix, tortoise, and dragon—as motifs likewise expresses Kowa Co., Ltd.’s spirit of hospitality and its desire to bring joy to all who visit.

— As Nagoya is the birthplace of Kowa Co., Ltd., we feel that special emphasis was placed on this project. There are many ways to enhance the value of a luxury hotel, but could you tell us why you chose to focus particularly on art?

Azuma: ESPACIO aims to go beyond the conventional concept of a luxury hotel. In striving to create a one-of-a-kind property, we believe that one of our key strengths lies in placing artworks—creations that are meticulously crafted with an uncompromising commitment to authenticity—throughout the hotel.

— How did you feel about collaborating with artists to create such unique works?

Azuma: I was deeply moved by witnessing the artists complete their works right before my eyes—the remarkable skills involved and the way their spirit seemed to infuse each form as it took shape. Seeing these works installed throughout the hotel, where many guests can encounter and resonate with them, brings me the greatest joy.

Nishiwaki: When I had the opportunity to observe the plaster art created by Shuhei Hasado and Naoki Kusumi, I was truly struck by their mastery. Imagining how the pieces would ultimately come together was inspiring, and it was an incredibly valuable experience.

— Art Front Gallery was involved as the partner for the hotel’s art planning. Looking back five years ago, what led you to select us through the competition?

Azuma: I believe it was your passion both for this hotel and for art itself. With 50 artists and 400 works, it must have been an immense undertaking to draw on such an extensive network of artists, explain the concept of Wako Kenran (refined Japanese brilliance), and ask them to create works specifically for this hotel. When I think about the tremendous effort behind the scenes, I feel nothing but gratitude.

— Through this project, which encompasses such a rich variety of materials and techniques, has your perception of art changed in any way?

Azuma: We have been involved with this project since it was still an empty lot. From the moment the hotel’s concept was conceived, through the stage when the artists were considering what to create, all the way to installation, I was truly moved by how many years the process required and by witnessing the way each work gradually became imbued with the artist’s spirit. After opening the hotel, whenever I view art, I believe I cannot stop imagining the time, process, and dedication that must have gone into its creation.

Nishiwaki: Back in 2020, there were still many aspects we were exploring. When the art proposal was presented to us, we felt that its story and concept aligned perfectly with our vision. The idea of such artworks being installed in this hotel resonated deeply with us—it simply felt right.
Now, our staff conduct art tours for guests, and we hope to carry forward and share the concept of Wako Kenran and the stories behind the artworks with those who visit.

— Has the hotel’s art had any impact on your hotel staff?

Azuma: To be honest, I now see our staff speaking about the artworks very proudly. At first, they seemed to rely closely on the written explanations. But as guiding guests each time, observing guests’ reactions, and repeating the experience many times, something seems to have stirred within them. Now they speak about the works with confidence and genuine belief in our hotel’s concept.

Nishiwaki: There are moments when I feel as though we are being protected by the artworks. Of course, we hope the hotel is always lively, but late at night, when the guests have gone, and the building grows quiet, I sometimes find myself looking at the large pine trees or dragons depicted in the works and feeling that the hotel itself is somehow being watched over and safeguarded by the art.

—Through this completed environment, what kind of experiences or memories do you hope guests will take with them? And how do you envision the hotel’s art evolving in the future?

Azuma: We hope that guests from Japan and abroad will visit and receive the “radiance” and “aura” that this hotel emanates—feeling the wishes for prosperity and the energy embodied in the space—and leave uplifted and invigorated. We aspire it to be a place where guests can spend precious moments with their loved ones and celebrate life’s most important days.

Nishiwaki: There have already been guests who extended their stays because one night was not enough to fully appreciate the art in the hotel. Others, after being moved by the artworks while dining in the restaurant, changed their reservations at another hotel and chose to stay with us instead. Guests visit us for many different occasions, but we would be delighted if encountering the art here inspires them to return again, wishing to experience it once more.

Hiromasa Azuma
Executive Officer, Espacio Nagoya Castle
Executive Assistant Manager; involved in the hotel’s reconstruction project for eight years.

Kaori Nishiwaki
Director of Executive Office, Espacio Nagoya Castle
Responsible for public relations in the Executive Office; involved in the hotel’s reconstruction project for eight years.