In the winter of 2025, Hakuba, Japan, saw one of its heaviest snowfalls in decades, burying the mountains and forests of this small town in the northern Japanese Alps under a deep blanket of white. 

When ANOTHER LAND arrived at Earthboat—a collection of trailer-style cabins scattered across Japan’s wilderness—only portions of the 3-by-8-metre cabins in Hakuba peeked out from beneath the snow, the rest swallowed by the vast, white expanse. Against a backdrop of endless bare trees, it was as if the world had been stripped of colour, leaving behind a landscape both haunting and breathtaking.





Pausing to take in the snow-laden landscape, the team spent time outdoors, chopping firewood, lighting a fire, and settling into camper chairs with freshly brewed coffee and books in hand. Conversations drifted in and out, punctuated by easy silences. With no mobile signal, the outside world faded away. Now and then, the fire crackled—a comforting sound against the cold. 

When the cold became too much to bear, the Earthboat trailer offered a warm refuge, complete with everything a modern traveller might need—from a private Finnish-style sauna to a compact yet well-equipped kitchen and a heated toilet seat.









Founded by Go Yoshiwara in 2022, Earthboat is a mobile cabin concept designed for those seeking a deeper connection with nature—without sacrificing modern comforts. After spending much of his career in the IT industry, Yoshiwara left behind city life in Tokyo and returned to his hometown in Nagano Prefecture to reconnect with nature, where he felt most alive.

In many ways, it was a return to his roots. His family had run an outdoor school, and he grew up kayaking, skiing, foraging for wild vegetables, and harvesting mushrooms. Wanting to rekindle that way of life, he first gained recognition for running the beloved guesthouse LAMP Nojiri Lake before launching Earthboat. Having faced the various challenges of running a guesthouse, including a manpower crunch, he designed Earthboat to operate largely as a self-serve model. 

Described as ‘a small boat drifting on the earth,’ the cabin—designed by London-based architectural studio PAN-PROJECTS—is a foundation-free structure that ‘floats’ above the ground. This design leaves the landscape untouched while allowing for easy relocation and reuse. Each mobile cabin is constructed from Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), a material typically used in large-scale construction, reimagined here in a compact, mobile form that remains highly durable. The design was awarded the Good Design Award in 2024.





Yoshiwara also envisioned Earthboat as a creative response to some of Japan’s social and environmental challenges. Rather than managing all locations independently, Earthboat partners with local businesses, allowing them to operate the cabins at minimal cost while supporting economic growth in the surrounding area. It also seeks to revitalise Japan’s many underutilised spaces—former ski resorts, disused golf courses, and fishing ponds left behind from the country’s late 20th-century economic boom.

Ultimately, Yoshiwara envisions Earthboats scattered across Japan and beyond, offering hideaways for those longing to escape into nature. As of the first quarter of 2025, 31 Earthboats are spread across seven locations in Japan, including forests, mountains, and lakesides. Each site invites guests to slow down and fully immerse themselves in nature.



Beyond winter, the Hakuba trailers transform with the seasons. In spring and summer, lush green forests invite long hikes, outdoor cooking, and bonfires under the stars. Autumn ushers in amber-hued leaves and the perfect conditions for soaking in the open-air bath, with the scent of woodsmoke lingering in the air.

Stay in Earthboat



For winter-worn hands and lips, ANOTHER LAND recommends the Travel Well Kit, featuring the Healing Verdure Hand Cream and Peaceful Reverie Lip Balm—formulated to soothe and restore.