In the mountain town of Chikuma, Nagano, where steam rises from traditional onsens and ancient inns sit amongst forested hills, there is a sense of wabi-sabi, which describes the beauty of imperfection, simplicity and impermanence. The resort offers the opportunity to try your hand in a traditional calligraphy workshop nearby, where you can watch black ink bleed unevenly across delicate rice paper. No two brushstrokes are alike, and each mistake becomes part of the art - because in Japan, perfection is not always the goal, and it’s OK to accept that. It’s a feeling that lingers long after the ink dries.

Your resort in Chikuma, Club Wyndham Chikumakan Nagano, boasts six pools with two onsen sources, known for delivering “beautiful skin”. After sleeping in your traditional ryokan suite, morning arrives gently, with dappled sunlight filtering softly through the forests. The Japanese describe this as komorebi, a word for dappled light dancing through branches. It’s such a small thing, but the Japanese remind us that it’s the moments we almost miss that are the most special.

Travel also has a way of connecting us to our ikigai, our reason for being. For many Club Wyndham owners, that purpose is found in shared experiences: grandchildren seeing snow for the first time, family dinners after a long day of exploring temples and gardens, splashing in the pool or playing games around the table at night. Thus, ownership is more than holidays and becomes about creating memories to shape a lifetime. In Japan, where intentional living is deeply valued, those moments can feel even more meaningful.

At Club Wyndham Shirakabaso Shiga Kogen, located in the heart of the area used for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, guests can enjoy ski-in and ski-out access to some of the best ski fields in the world. In the warmer months, Joshin’etsu Kogen National Park becomes a hiker’s paradise with woodland trails, volcanic formations, and stunning lakes, while wildlife enthusiasts can spot golden eagles, Japanese stoats, and snow monkeys. This speaks to the Japanese concept of mono no aware, the bittersweet beauty of impermanence and the understanding that moments are more precious because they don’t last forever. Snow melts. Cherry blossoms bloom brilliantly then disappear within weeks. Travel is much the same.

Club Wyndham owners understand the Japanese concept of yūgen, a deep awareness of the mysterious beauty of the universe that evokes quiet emotion and wonder better than most. You can see this in our hidden gems blogpost. It’s what draws you off the beaten path into hidden corners of the world where new discoveries await and memories are made.

Other Places That Need Japanese Translations

At Club Wyndham Melbourne, you are only moments from the Royal Botanic Gardens where another Japanese idea blooms alongside the flowers. Oubaitori means that, like flowers, people blossom in their own time. Flowers don’t compete with each other – each one blooms when it’s ready. As you wander through the gardens, it’s a gentle reminder that there is no correct timeline for adventure, growth or joy. Every traveller’s story is different.

Guests of Club Wyndham Bellinzona Hepburn Springs Daylesford can enjoy shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’ – the simple act of immersing yourself in nature. Surrounded by beautiful trails, the resort is the perfect base for hiking, which here is more about restoration than exertion. Afterwards, soak your cares away in the hotel’s indoor heated pool or steam it out in the sauna. You’ll also conjure another Japanese concept oishii (delicious) when dining at the resort’s Virgin Kitchen, which celebrates regional ingredients and modern Australian cuisine.

A stay at Club Wyndham Ballarat delivers a sense of natsukashi, a warm rush of nostalgic happiness sparked by memory. Take a step back in time and make memories in the historic goldfields region of Victoria, where your accommodation is in one of the area’s grandest mansions, surrounded by manicured grounds and a tree-lined lakefront.