GORA KADAN

Website: Launch

Client: GORA KADAN

Year: 2025

Service: Web、Brand Website、Film

From Historic Hakone Ryokan to a Global Luxury Resort Brand

GORA KADAN, rooted on the grounds of the former Kan-in no Miya Imperial Villa in Hakone-Gora, has long cultivated the pinnacle of Japanese aesthetics and hospitality. To evolve from a singular historic ryokan into a luxury resort brand originating from Japan, the property undertook a comprehensive rebranding and identity reconstruction to communicate its philosophy to a global audience.

IN FOCUS produced the brand concept film and web ecosystem for the newly opened GORA KADAN FUJI resort, and GORA KADAN FUJI GOLF. This project supports the brand's holistic expansion, encompassing the existing Hakone property, a new hotel opened at the foot of Mt. Fuji (July 2025), and the renovated golf course.

GORA KADAN Brand Site
https://www.gorakadan.com/en/

This site serves as the centerpiece of the rebranding, anchored in the brand's philosophy of "History and Pedigree." Previously serving as the digital address solely for the Hakone ryokan, gorakadan.com was redefined as a global gateway. It now acts as a hub that articulates GORA KADAN's brand ethos while guiding visitors to the specific properties in Hakone and Fuji. Visualizing the values and aesthetics GORA KADAN has fiercely protected—from its architecture and gardens to the hot springs and surrounding nature—the site utilizes immersive video and photography. Beyond the literal meaning of the text, the design was meticulously crafted to convey the "Ma" (negative space), rhythm, and serene passage of time unique to the ryokan experience, allowing users to feel the atmosphere through the screen.

GORA KADAN FUJI
https://www.gorakadan.com/fuji/en/

Opened in July 2025 in Subashiri, at the foothills of Mt. Fuji, GORA KADAN FUJI is a wellness resort designed around the harmony between nature and humanity. It is built upon the reverence and spiritual connection Japanese people have held for Mt. Fuji for centuries. The brand concept film captures the untouched wilderness, the overwhelming scale of the sacred mountain, and the meticulous quality permeating every corner of the hotel. The website mirrors the resort's calm and sophisticated atmosphere via a layout that emphasizes generous white space and smooth interactions. The user journey is designed to be an experiential extension of the stay itself. Additionally, all copy was prepared in both Japanese and English to ensure the narrative resonates with an international audience.

GORA KADAN FUJI GOLF
https://www.gorakadan.com/fuji/golf/en/

As part of the resort portfolio, a prestigious golf course dating back to the 1960s was renovated and relaunched as GORA KADAN FUJI GOLF. The promotional video captures the dynamic, ever-changing expressions of Mt. Fuji, the magnificent undulating terrain, and the leisurely, high-quality time that awaits those who visit this one-of-a-kind course. For the website, we adapted the spacious aesthetic central to the GORA KADAN brand to suit the specific mood of the golf course. We also oversaw the UI/UX overhaul of the reservation system, improving functionality to elevate the overall brand experience.

CREDITS

BRAND WEBSITE

WEB
DIRECTION: Takenobu Suzuka (IN FOCUS)
WEB DESIGN: Miho Nagatsuka (IN FOCUS)
PROGRAMMING: Ryu Takahashi (IN FOCUS)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Riona Yamamoto (IN FOCUS), Tadamasa Iguchi (IN FOCUS)

PHOTOGRAPHY: Keisuke Tsujimoto, Kazumasa Harada
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Yuma Godo

MOVIE
DIRECTION: Yoshinori Kataoka (IN FOCUS)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ryosuke Sato (momo inc)
LIGHTING DIRECTION: Wataru Sugimura (THE ONE.)
OFFLINE EDIT: Haruna Kitagawa (IN FOCUS)
COLOR: Haruka Ariga (ARTONE FILM)
PRODUCE: Kazuki Sekiyama (IN FOCUS)
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT: Tomoyuki Ishizaki (IN FOCUS), Akiho Sato (IN FOCUS), Yuma Yoshizaki (IN FOCUS)

GORA KADAN FUJI

WEB
DIRECTION: Takenobu Suzuka (IN FOCUS)
WEB DESIGN: Miho Nagatsuka (IN FOCUS)
PROGRAMMING: Ryu Takahashi (IN FOCUS)
WRITING: Takenobu Suzuka (IN FOCUS), Hiroto Takegaki (GORA KADAN)
WRITING IN ENGLISH: Yoshimi Mita (IN FOCUS)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Riona Yamamoto (IN FOCUS), Tadamasa Iguchi (IN FOCUS)

PHOTOGRAPHY: Keisuke Tsujimoto
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Yuma Godo

MOVIE
DIRECTION: Yoshinori Kataoka (IN FOCUS)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ryosuke Sato (momo inc)
LIGHTING DIRECTION: Wataru Sugimura (THE ONE.)
OFFLINE EDIT: Haruna Kitagawa (IN FOCUS)
COLOR: Haruka Ariga (ARTONE FILM)
MUSIC PRODUCE: Keisuke “Tommy” Tominaga (piano inc.)
BGM: Yuma Koda
MIX: r STUDIO
PRODUCE: Kazuki Sekiyama (IN FOCUS)
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT: Tomoyuki Ishizaki (IN FOCUS), Akiho Sato (IN FOCUS), Yuma Yoshizaki (IN FOCUS)

GORA KADAN FUJI GOLF

WEB
DIRECTION: Takenobu Suzuka (IN FOCUS)
WEB DESIGN: Sakurako Yamada (IN FOCUS), Takenobu Suzuka (IN FOCUS)
PROGRAMMING: Ryu Takahashi (IN FOCUS)
WRITING: Takenobu Suzuka (IN FOCUS)
WRITING IN ENGLISH: Yoshimi Mita (IN FOCUS)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Riona Yamamoto (IN FOCUS)

PHOTOGRAPHY: Keisuke Tsujimoto
PHOTO ASSISTANT: Yuji Ohtawa

MOVIE
DIRECTION: Yoshinori Kataoka (IN FOCUS)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ryosuke Sato (momo inc)
LIGHTING DIRECTION: Wataru Sugimura (THE ONE.)
OFFLINE EDIT: Haruna Kitagawa (IN FOCUS)
COLORIST: Patrick Gong
PRODUCE: Kazuki Sekiyama (IN FOCUS)
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT: Tomoyuki Ishizaki (IN FOCUS), Akiho Sato (IN FOCUS), Yuma Yoshizaki (IN FOCUS)

CI / VI: artless Inc.
BRANDING DIRECTION: SHOKO MIYAZAKI (NOMURA Co., Ltd.), TATSUYA NAGAI (NOMURA Co., Ltd.)