UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Otaru is presenting the 16th edition of its in-hotel gallery program, UNWIND GALLERY. The new exhibition, "Bloom for me" by Hokkaido-born artist SARU 1, runs from June 1 (Monday) to August 30 (Sunday), 2026.
UNWIND GALLERY
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Otaru occupies the former Koshinaya Hotel, a building constructed in 1931 as Hokkaido's first hotel for foreign guests. Designated as an Otaru City historical building and listed in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "Modern Industrial Heritage Clusters 33," the property has been boldly renovated with a contemporary sensibility while preserving its historical atmosphere and architectural beauty.
Since November 2022, the hotel has run UNWIND GALLERY as a platform for sharing Hokkaido's culture with the world through art. The gallery spans the first-floor lobby and Bar Ignis Otaru, with rotating exhibitions by artists connected to Hokkaido presented throughout the year.
The gallery inhabits a space steeped in Art Deco architecture — a style that flourished in Europe and the United States from the mid-1910s through the 1930s — making the building itself a part of the artistic experience. Works are available for purchase, and the hotel also offers art-pairing cocktails that translate each exhibition's world into flavors and aromas.
Admission is free and open to everyone — hotel guests, local residents, and travelers passing through alike. The gallery is accessible daily from 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight).
Exhibition Overview
- Exhibition: SARU 1 "Bloom for me"
- Venue: UNWIND GALLERY, 1F, UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Otaru
- Period: June 1, 2026 (Monday) to August 30, 2026 (Sunday)
- Admission: Free (open daily 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM)
Artist appearance dates will be announced on the hotel's official Instagram.
SARU 1: "Bloom for me"
For the 16th installment of UNWIND GALLERY, Hokkaido-born artist SARU 1 presents "Bloom for me." Themed around "feeling the seasons as if falling in love," the exhibition brings together 25 works inspired by flowers and plants, filling the entire first-floor space from the lobby through to Bar Ignis Otaru.
SARU 1's work is characterized by a graphical rather than realistic style, built up by layering acrylic paint with confident, unhesitating brushstrokes. The paintings evoke the air of Hokkaido's early summer — flowers swaying in the wind, vibrant yet free-flowing — capturing the exhilaration and tender excitement of a new love.
Artist Statement
The changing of seasons resembles the feeling of falling in love.
The breeze on bare arms felt for the first time in a while. The sky still bright at 7 PM. The distant sound of fireworks arriving late. A rainbow after a summer downpour. The cry of autumn insects at night. Cold toes in sandals. The tired-looking street. The neighbor's garden wrapped in snow. The smell of the stove. A day shut in by snow.
Longing is made of joy and sadness.
"Bloom for me" carries within it the meaning of "fall in love with me." Being in love with something makes living joyful. It makes the world dramatic and exciting. Through this exhibition — plants, gardens, and living things — I hope you can feel joy and sadness as if experiencing a first love. When you're in love, even an ordinary scene looks like a wonderful film. Isn't that a richly fulfilling way to live?
Art Pairing Cocktail: Lucent Petals
A distinctive feature of UNWIND GALLERY is that Bar Ignis Otaru functions as an extension of the gallery itself. Alongside the "Bloom for me" exhibition, the bar is offering a limited-time art pairing cocktail designed to express the exhibition's world through taste and scent.
The cocktail for this exhibition is "Lucent Petals" — named to evoke the gentle flutter of a heart in love, as clear and delicate as a translucent petal. The drink blends two types of gin with elderflower liqueur (known for its sweet, refreshing fragrance) and bergamot liqueur (with a fresh, citrus-like aroma), finished with Hokkaido-made cider.
The result is a clean, refreshing drink with an elegant, lingering floral finish.
Bar Ignis Otaru
- Venue: Bar Ignis Otaru, 1F, UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Otaru
- Price: ¥1,600 (tax included)
- Hours: 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM (last order 11:00 PM)
About SARU 1
SARU 1 (Saruwan) was born in Fukagawa City, Hokkaido, and grew up in Otaru before moving to Tokyo at age 19. She later returned to Otaru and had her manga work published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, spending around four years developing stories in collaboration with editors. After a hiatus following marriage and childbirth, she resumed her career as an illustrator in 2020. In 2024 she participated in the "Busan Annual Art Market (BAMA)," and in 2025 held an exhibition at "tou;" in Toyako Town, Hokkaido. She currently develops two ongoing personal projects: side A "People," depicting the world of the present, and side B "Pooool," exploring inner and past worlds.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saru1art
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Otaru
Built on the site of the historic former Koshinaya Hotel, UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Otaru is a boutique hotel that blends the elegance of a 1931 Art Deco landmark with a modern sensibility.
- Address: 8-25 Irouchi 1-chome, Otaru City, Hokkaido
- Access: Approximately 35 minutes from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station by JR Hakodate Main Line; 10-minute walk from Otaru Station
