Starting February 1, 2023, visitors to Nagano will be able to experience an unforgettable winter experience at Hoshino Resorts KAI Alps. The Kamakura Footbath will invite guests to soak their feet in a warm bath as they sit in a traditional Japanese igloo while sipping local amazake and enjoying the snowy scenery. 

Soak your Feet Inside a Hot Footbath Inside a Kamakura

During February when snowfall is the heaviest, these kamakura, or igloos, can be spotted in the hotel’s courtyard. A private footbath is available inside each structure, which will keep guests from experiencing the cold wind. According to many, having a cool body and warm feet is the perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep and good health.

Taste Amazake from a Local Brewery

Kurazukuri Amazake is brewed at Hokuan Brewery in Omachi, Nagano. Made exclusively from home-grown, expertly polished sake rice, the sweet beverage has a delicate flavor similar to wagashi. Why not warm your body from the inside out with this traditional drink?

Enjoy the Winter Landscape Illuminated by Bamboo Lights

Around each kamakura are a sea of bamboo lanterns, popular in the area. Guests can gaze out at the cold winter landscape beneath the awesome peaks of the Japanese Alps while pondering what the spring will bring. 

Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru, a hot-spring hotel located in Owani, Aomori Prefecture, will hold a special snow and sake event from February 1 until February 28, 2022. Hotel guests will be invited to enjoy drinks before dinner with a special winter twist–under a kamakura! A kamakura is the Japanese equivalent of an igloo, and local sake will be cooled by the snow as guests enjoy a glass while taking in the gorgeous scenery.

Famed author Osamu Dazai described the seven types of snowfall found in the Tsugaru region in his work Tsugaru. To allow visits to enjoy the many different types of snow in Aomori, seven unique sakes will be prepared and depending on the snowfall each day, the sake guests are served will change. This unique experience is sure to leave an impression. Who would you like to bring along?

Tsugaru Snow Lanterns

Seven lanterns designed by Iemasa Yamahata will be placed on the inside of the kamakura. Each has a different color and pattern and each is based on one of the seven types of snow: powdery snow, large snowflakes, grainy snow, watery snow, granular snow, sleet,  and crusted snow.

The scenic Hoshino Resort Risonare Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture, known for its spectacular views and hot springs, will begin hosting Night Strawberry Tours, inviting couples to pick strawberries in an illuminated greenhouse from January 6 until March 30, 2023. The event is only available on even-numbered days, and only one couple per day can participate. Beni Hoppe Strawberries are a specialty of the area, and this is the 10th event of its kind. Fittingly, guests can enjoy their strawberries with 10 unique condiments. 

Enjoy Fresh Strawberries with 10 Condiments

Guests can enjoy ten unique condiments with their strawberries, including condensed milk, mascarpone, and pistachio. When the mild flavor of condensed milk is combined with savory pistachios, the fresh, full-bodied sweetness of the Beni Hoppe strawberries reaches a new level. Visitors are welcome to ask the staff for the best combinations, or are welcome to experiment themselves!

Pick Strawberries at Night in a Private, Shimmering Greenhouse

After dinner, guests will leave the hotel to begin the Night Strawberry Tour. A red carpet is laid out in the illuminated greenhouse, and those taking part in the tour will enjoy strawberry picking as they sip a glass of rose champagne. 

See how Strawberries are Cultivated

Beni Hoppe strawberries are made by combining the Akihime and Sachinoka varieties. In Japanese, the name means red cheeks, and the name was inspired by the Japanese term hoppe ga ochiru*, meaning “my cheeks are falling off.” This is often used to describe food that’s extremely flavorful. These particular strawberries are award-winning, so visitors won’t want to miss this exclusive experience!

*See Shizuoka Prefecture’s official website for more information.

Iwashita Foods, a staple in Tochigi Prefecture for over 123 years, has teamed up with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project! The project was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities, and the singer is teaming up with the company known widely throughout the region for its ginger. Along with a selection of collaboration goods, a meet-and-greet will be held at the Iwashita New Ginger Museum in Tochigi City! Guests will be able to meet the popular mascot character Iwashika-chan in a new Kyary-inspired outfit. 

The LOCAL POWER JAPAN PROJECT aims to bring attention and support to local industries and to inspire more tourism to rural areas that were hit hard by the pandemic. Kyary hopes to enliven local communities by collaborating with companies that have roots in the rural locations she is visiting on her current national tour. 

On January 16, 2022, Kyary embarked on the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE.’ The 30 stops on the new tour include many that Kyary has not visited before, and were chosen based on the singer’s desire to perform for fans who may not typically be able to attend one of her shows.

The collaboration logos created for the project were inspired by Kyary’s past releases while also keeping the spirit of the original company intact. T-shirts featuring these collaborative logos are available for a limited time, and a portion of the proceeds are given back to fund local development and social programs.

On May 21, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu stopped by the Iwashita Fresh Ginger Museum on the way to her Tochigi concert. The singer was given a tour of the facility by Iwashita Foods president Kazunori Iwashita. A video of Kyary’s visit to the museum will be posted to YouTube soon!

The mascot character of Iwashita New Ginger, Iwashika-chan, appeared at Kyary’s Tochigi concert held at Tochigi Prefectural Cultural Center in Utsunomiya on May 21, 2022. The adorable deer danced along with Kyary as Tsukematsukeru played to huge fanfare. 

Iwashita New Ginger goods inspired by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu are now on sale at the Iwashita New Ginger Museum and the Iwashita New Ginger Online Shop until June 20. There are limited quantities of T-shirts and other merchandise not available anywhere else, so don’t miss out!

The Iwashita New Ginger Museum holds meet-and-greets with its mascot character Iwashika-chan every Saturday and Sunday, as well as on holidays. Typically, the deer appears in seasonal outfits, but during a few appearances in June, she’ll appear in a special Kyary-inspired costume!

Hoshino Resorts currently operates 56 facilities in Japan and abroad, and the company has just added another gorgeous property to the list. Starting March 30, Hoshino Resorts acquired all shares of the Onward Beach Resort Guam. Going forward, the hotel will undergo extensive renovations and will be relaunched as a Hoshino Resorts branded location. This is the fifth Hoshino property to be located overseas and the second in the United States. 

The Onward Beach Resort Guam is located 10 minutes by car from downtown Tumon. At the hotel, guests can enjoy a quiet stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with a private beach and unrivaled views of the sunset. 

The resort also boasts one of the largest water parks in Micronesia, where adults and children can enjoy themselves all day long. With plenty of chances to both relax and stay active, this is the perfect location for any travel lover!

Starting May 9, Ashikaga Flower Park is celebrating spring with the Rose Garden ~Spring Rose Festival~ event. Since April, the Fujinohana Monogatari Ofuji Festival has been drawing guests to the park to see the symbolic wisteria. As the weather warms up, the rose festival will be held at the same time as the Great Wisteria Festival 2022, which is scheduled to end on May 22. 

Guests can enjoy the rainbow-colored world of wisteria and roses, which are at their best until the middle of May. From now until May 15, visitors can also see the flowers lit up each night.

Come visit Ashikaga Flower Park and enjoy 2,500 roses from 500 different varieties!

The Fujinohana Monogatari Ofuji Festival 2022 in Tochigi began slightly ahead of schedule on April 16, 2022.

After temperatures rose to higher than normal over the past few weeks, Ashikaga Flower Park’s symbolic wisteria bloomed earlier than expected. If the high temperatures persist, the blooming process will speed up considerably, with some flower clusters growing up to 10cm in a single day.

The park is one of Japan’s top destinations for wisteria, boasting 350 trees that typically bloom from mid-April to mid-May. The stunning flowers, which dangle from wooden trellises, come in many colors including violet, blue, pink, white, and yellow. Each color tends to bloom at different times: pink first, followed by purple, white, and then yellow wisteria. CNN praised the massive wisteria tree as looking similar to the “tree of souls in the film Avatar,” and the park was the only place in Japan selected as one of the ‘10 Global Dream Destinations’ in 2014.

Cross Hotel Kyoto, a hotel under the ORIX Hotels & Resorts brand, has begun selling two seasonal parfaits at the KIHARU Brasserie Restaurant and Bar. The strawberry desserts will be available until May 5, 2022. 

KIHARU de Parfait – Lady Berry

KIHARU de Parfait – Lady Chocolat

Strawberry and Balsamic Cream Risotto

The Lady Berry is a gorgeous parfait combining strawberry-based sweet and sour sorbet and genoise with yogurt cream and black currant mousse. The Lady Chocolat has a more grown-up flavor and is made with chocolate cream, pistachios, and a rich rum-based mousse that goes well with wine.

The spring menu also includes a unique strawberry risotto, fusing the sweet and sour taste of strawberries and the saltiness of cheese. Other savory spring menu items will also be available for a limited time!

Hoshino Resort Aomoriya, an inn where visitors are invited to fully enjoy Aomori’s culture, will begin its Hanami Kotatsu event from April 1 until May 31, 2022. Guests can enjoy local sake while warming themselves beneath a cozy kotatsu. In the chilly Aomori spring, a kotatsu) will be set up beneath the blooming trees for visitors to comfortably view the cherry blossoms. Hot-water bottles will also be available for rent if guests can a little too cold!

April in Aomori is spring according to the calendar, but it’s still quite chilly. Nevertheless, the people of Aomori look forward to flower viewing to overcome the cold winter and enjoy the long-awaited arrival of spring.

Three Fun Additions to Make Cherry Blossom Viewing More Fun

1  A Traditional Umbrella with a Sakura Pattern

Next to each kotatsu is a row of Japanese umbrellas with cherry blossoms painted on them, spreading the pink cherry blossom imagery all around. When opened, the umbrellas are covered with cherry blossoms, making you feel as if you are under the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

2 Choose a Local Sake and Sake Cups for a Flower Viewing Sake Tower

Choose your favorite local sake and three sake cups to make a sake tower! Guests can choose from 10 Aomori sake brands, each with unique aromas and flavors. 

3 Cherry Blossom Patterned Cotton-Filled Hot Water Bottle for Extra Warmth

To keep extra warm beneath the kotatsu, a cotton blanket with a cherry blossom pattern and a hot-water bottle are available for rent. Doesn’t it sound heavenly?

Cafe Toastina, located inside the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Chiba Prefecture, is now offering delicious and very photogenic strawberry sweets and baked goods until March 31, 2022! There are tons of different ways to enjoy the event: the Sheraton Sweets Box is filled with mini-sweets and is available to take with you, and the Friday Sweets Buffet will allow guests to enjoy as many treats as they can! A cute photo wall covered in strawberries will also serve as the perfect photo spot, so visit while you can.

Strawberry Champagne Mousse

Strawberry Mille-feuille

Strawberry Paris-Brest

Strawberry Milk France / Danish with Strawberry & Mascarpone Cream

Sheraton Sweets Box

Three new Pokemon manhole covers have been unveiled in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture as part of the ongoing Poké Lid project. These new additions to the long-running initiative feature Electabuzz, Skwovet, Electrike, Crustle, and Thundurus along with images of the city. These are the first Poké Lids to be installed in Tochigi Prefecture.

Poké Lids placed across Japan feature completely original Pokémon designs making each individual one the only one in the world. Meant to highlight the attractions and beauty of locales around the country while drawing in tourism, The Pokémon Company is also working to make each one of them PokéStops for Pokémon GO.

New Poké Lids Installed in Utsunomiya

① Electabuzz & Skwovet Poké Lid: 5-10-1 Motoimaizumi, Utsunomiya

② Electrike & Crustle Poké Lid: 2-chome Ozo, Utsunomiya

③ Thundurus Poké Lid: Hei-254 Nissatomachi, Utsunomiya
 

©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.

5-star hotel Aman Tokyo is now offering a strawberry-filled afternoon tea called ‘Strawberry Jewels’ through April 14, 2022. The event is underway at The Lounge by Aman on the hotel’s 33rd floor. From strawberry sweets that look like jewels in a jewelry box to savory items and smoothies, the menu is filled with domestically grown strawberries with both a mellow sweetness and sourness. Guests can also enjoy as much Duval Leroy Brut Reserve Champagne as they like. 

In addition to the original three-tiered black bamboo tray, Aman Tokyo’s special jewelry box containing jewel-like strawberry sweets will be personal-sized this year, and one will be provided to each table. You can enjoy two types of tarts, one with strawberries and cheese, and the other with strawberries and passion fruit. Guests can also enjoy smooth strawberry mousse and fresh strawberries to their heart’s content.

The top of the three-tiered tray includes a waffle and chocolate bowl decorated with strawberry pugs and rich pistachio-flavored cream. Everything from rhubarb tarts to fresh mixed berries and strawberry jellies to macaroons decorate this magnificent tower.

The bottom of the tray includes savory items made with premium ingredients, including pork pastrami and flounder meuniere with scallop mousse. Each item is accented with strawberry powder.

Guests can also choose to enjoy the afternoon tea with unlimited champagne. Which item looks the tastiest?