別荘(べっそう)

べっそう
noun
villa; vacation home
building
1. villa; vacation home
A secondary residence used for holidays or retreats, typically located in the countryside, mountains, or by the sea.
軽井沢(かるいざわ)に別荘(べっそう)がある。
There is a vacation home in Karuizawa.
夏(なつ)は家族(かぞく)で別荘(べっそう)に行(い)く。
In summer, I go to the vacation home with my family.
祖父(そふ)が山(やま)の中(なか)に別荘(べっそう)を建(た)てたが、今(いま)はほとんど使(つか)っていない。
My grandfather built a villa in the mountains, but it's hardly used now.

別荘(べっそう) is a secondary residence used for vacations and retreats, typically in scenic locations like mountains, coastlines, or hot spring areas.

Forms

別(べつ) (separate) + 荘(そう) (villa, manor).

Common collocations

  • 別荘(べっそう)を建(た)てる: to build a vacation home
  • 別荘(べっそう)を借(か)りる: to rent a villa
  • 別荘(べっそう)地(ち): resort area, vacation home district
  • 別荘(べっそう)を持(も)つ: to own a vacation home

Cultural note

Owning a 別荘(べっそう) has traditionally been associated with wealth. Popular areas include 軽井沢(かるいざわ) (Karuizawa), 箱根(はこね) (Hakone), and 那須(なす) (Nasu). In recent years, remote work has renewed interest in countryside properties as semi-permanent residences.

Similar words

別荘(べっそう) is a private vacation home. For rental accommodations, 貸(かし)別荘(べっそう) (rental villa) or ペンション (pension/lodge) are used.

Related Words

Compare: 離宮(りきゅう) (detached palace)
Compare: 別邸(べってい) (villa)
Compare: 別宅(べったく) (separate residence)
Compare: 本宅(ほんたく) (main residence)
Compare: 保養所(ほようじょ) (company resort lodge)
general
Added 2026.2.18 15:08 · Revised 2026.9.30 17:42
11500/11786_bessou