MAISON Ë x SENSAI
MAISON Ë’s first experience, Japan Meets Tirol, took place from 2–4 July, 2025 at the Kaiserlodge & Kitzbühel Country Club. Rooted in Tyrol yet destined for the world, MAISON Ë was founded to resonate across borders. Japan Meets Tirol celebrated the collaboration of two brands and their origins—MAISON Ë in Tyrol and SENSAI in Japan. Two regions, shaped by diverse landscapes and cultures, beautifully connected through their shared values: a profound appreciation for nature, respect for tradition, and the genuine warmth of hospitality—known as Tyrolean Gastfreundschaft and Japanese omotenashi.
(Experience) Held between the stillness of the Kaiserlodge and the iconic setting of the Kitzbühel Country Club, Japan Meets Tirol emerged as an exclusive three-day event shaped by shared rituals, sensory experiences, and refined hospitality. The gathering welcomed 15 women into a setting designed to foster presence, nurture connection, encourage exchange, and offer space to slow down. It was curated by MAISON Ë’s Deputy Editor in Chief and Co-CEO Taskin Yüksel, who extended a warm welcome and guided guests throughout the journey, alongside Thomas Pross, Managing Director of Kanebo Cosmetics Germany, representing SENSAI with expertise and passion.
Guests were invited to be gently drawn in by the rhythm, the textures, the stillness, and the harmonious interplay of the two cultures. Rooted in the principle of a fully sensory experience, the retreat unfolded through the sight of alpine landscapes and curated design, the delicate scent of florals, the richness of nourishing skincare, the hush between conversations, the feel of natural textures, and cuisine that honored both land and season.
The atmosphere was set from the first moment: warm oshibori towels—a Japanese gesture of welcome offered before meals or rituals—handwritten notes, garden-picked flowers, and a seasonal matcha drink greeted each guest. The opening afternoon introduced SENSAI’s philosophy of skincare as ritual, based on the Japanese ideal of living mindfully in grace with respect for nature and the small nuances of daily life. An early evening drive brought guests to Kitzbühel, where The Art of Silk, in honor of Sensai’s Japanese Koishimaru silk, began with a sundowner and continued into a four‑course dinner inspired by culinary craft and seasonality. The meal was served amid panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and accompanied by the soothing sounds of a pianist. Guests were brought to life through the skilled pen of fashion illustrator Nadja König.
On the second day, under the theme Harmony Between Body and Mind, guests moved in small groups between SENSAI facial treatments, a tea ceremony with Kimiko Uriu—both meditative and illuminating—and a floral workshop held by Christian Alterndorfer which blended Ikebana principles, the Japanese art of arranging flowers, with alpine plants. A hands-on invitation was issued to let creativity flow—always with room to pause, reflect, and connect. A terrace lunch set the tone for the evening’s culinary highlight: Kaiseki meets Tirol. Local produce, prepared using Japanese techniques, was accompanied by sake and regional wines, and the mood remained deliberate and unhurried. At the close of the evening, each guest found a parting gift in their room—a curated selection from SENSAI and MAISON Ë.
The experience concluded the next morning with a silent breakfast in the spa. Guests were invited to continue with optional yoga, sound healing, or restful stillness—a moment to reset and ground, before individual departures and a slow return to the outside world.
Japan Meets Tirol marked the beginning of a new chapter in gatherings shaped by cultural dialogue, connoisseurship, material craft, and shared pace. What began here will return in new places, new seasons, and new forms.