The “Natural Ice” area is set to return to KERA-IKE Ice Rink, an outdoor ice skating area managed by Hoshino Resorts, again this winter, something made possible only by the cold winter weather and without cooling devices.
KERA-IKE Ice Rink is connected to the Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary where countless wild birds and animals roam free. The ice rink opened for the winter season last Friday (October 18) and will run until March 8 next year.
The rink is formed of two areas: the “Man-made Area” which is made together with the cold air and the help of cooling devices, and the “Natural Area,” which appears only during the coldest time of winter and sees the water freeze up naturally, allowing people to skate across 1,080 square meters of land. This Natural Area will open on December 20 and run until February 20, 2020.
Stroll across the forest’s icy landscape
The freedom of skating across the natural ice is like taking a stroll through the forest. Enjoy skating around the little islands in the middle of the lake and finding the fallen leaves from the forest trees locked inside the ice.
Enjoy hot drinks with the sound of the wild birds as your soundtrack
Enjoy a coffee or hot chocolate at the neighbouring cafe. We recommend getting the Wild Bird Cafe Latte which comes with four different latte art designs of the wild birds you’ll often spot around the ice rink. The drink can be enjoyed in the cafe or can be taken out so you can enjoy sipping it on the benches on top of the ice.
Wild Bird Cafe Latte – ¥600 (Tax Included)
Coffee/Hot Chocolate – ¥500 (Tax Included)
Couples can enjoy the “Starry Sky Nighter Skate” Valentine’s event
For Valentine’s season, the ice rink has a special event in store for couples: the first ever “Starry Sky Nighter Skate.” Not only do they get the luxury of skating after-hours, they can also bask under the radiance of Karuizawa’s incredible star-filled sky. There will also be a guide providing commentary on the stars. After the event, all lights will be turned off to allow everyone to enjoy the pure light of the stars.
There will also be hot chocolate with heart-shaped marshmallows for the Valentine’s event.
Starry Sky Nighter Skate
Running: February 10, 2020 – February 16, 2020
Time: 17:30-19:00 (Reception open 17:00)
Price: ¥3,500 per person (Includes skating fee, skate rental fee, drink, binoculars, and consumption tax)
Age: 18+ years
Reservations: By 17:00 the same day by telephone or online. Reservations are mandatory.
Capacity: 20 per day (Must book for at least 2 people)
Information
Kera-Ike Ice Rink Natural Area
Running: December 20, 2019 – February 20, 2020
*Man-made area running October 18, 2019 – March 8, 2020 (Except November 20, 2019, and January 7-9, 2020)
Time: 10:00-16:00
Price: General (Junior High Schol students and older) – ¥1,900 / Elementary School Students and younger – ¥1,300
Official Website: http://www.hoshino-area.jp/archives/area/skate
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The Kirby Cafe has announced a warm and tasty new winter menu! New items will be available from November 17, 2022 until February 28, 2023, and are sure to warm up fans of the beloved video game series.
Menu
Winter Kirby Burger & Pasta with Powdered Snow Cheese (30th Anniversary Version)
Winter Waddle Dee Burger & Pasta with Powdered Snow Cheese
Waddle Dee's Dreamy White Stew
Chef Kawasaki's Winter Hors d'oeuvres with Roast Beef
Transform! Carby Cake
Kirby's Dream Ricotta Pancake
Whispy Woods Blessed Tart
Elfilin's Twinkle☆Frozen Drink
The Winter 2022 menu offers a variety of adorable and tasty menu items featuring Kirby and his friends all dressed up for the colder months. From a burger and pasta set to piping hot stew and fluffy ricotta pancakes, there’s sure to be something for every taste. The Carby cake, inspired by Kirby’s special transformation in the recent game Kirby and the Forgotten Land, has been reimagined in a winter version. Fans won’t want to miss out! This winter, come enjoy plenty of Kirby-inspired treats while you can! ©Nintendo / HAL Laboratory, Inc.Information
Kirby Cafe Winter 2022
Available: November 17, 2022 – February 28, 2023
Venues: Kirby Cafe TOKYO, Kirby Cafe HAKATA, Kirby Cafe NAGOYA
*The Nagoya location’s winter menu will be available until February 5, 2022.
Kirby Café THE STORE: https://kirbycafe.jp/thestore/‘Kirby Cafe Pop-Up Store’ Limited Time Online Store: https://kirbycafe-popup.com/
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/KirbyCafeJP
Official Site: https://kirbycafe.jp
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Hoshino Resort Tomamu, one of the largest stay-and-go snow resorts in Hokkaido, will open a hotel made entirely of ice from January 20 until February 28, 2022. The ceiling, walls, and furniture will all be made of ice, and guests can also enjoy an outdoor ice bath! In addition, a new Ice Dinner will be on offer, where visitors can enjoy a beautiful table surrounded by ice overlooking a forest of white birches while staring up at the starry winter sky.
The seamless dome-shaped ice structure is about 8.5 meters in diameter and 3.5 meters high. Sleeping bags will be provided to guests to keep them warm and comfortable until morning. Visitors can enjoy a hot spring in the open winter air in Shimukappu Village’s Scan Portopia Yunosawa Onsen. The aforementioned Ice Dinner features three ice-themed dishes and welcomes guests to sit at a table made entirely of ice surrounded by majestic nature. The appetizer includes iced vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, and cauliflower. Each is dipped in a warm garlic sauce, balancing the sweetness of the veggies, which become more sugary when cold. The main course, Iceberg Bouillabaisse, is covered with ice. This begins to melt as the soup pot is slowly heated in front of the guests, revealing gorgeous seafood like cod and shrimp. It’s a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds! The frozen fruit dessert mixes strawberries and kiwis with hot wine and a touch of cinnamon. Sweet and sour flavors come together to end the night on a high note. Information
Ice Hotel
Running: January 20 – February 28, 2022
Price: ¥28,000 per person, per night (Includes tax, service charge)
Check-in: 21:40-22:00 / Check-out: 8:00
Capacity: 1 group per day (Minimum 1 guest, maximum 2 guests)
Eligibility: Must be elementary school age or older and staying at Tomamu The Tower or Hoshino Resort RISONARE Tomamu
Reservations: https://www.snowtomamu.jp/summer/
*Must be made at least 1 week in advance.
Official Site：https://www.snowtomamu.jp -
From December 20 until December 26, 2021, TRUNK, a boutique hotel in Jingumae, Shibuya, will hold the TRUNK Winter Market 2021. The theme of the event will be ‘outdoor comfort,’ and carrying on last year’s tradition, the hotel will deliver content aiming to warm the body and soul during the cold winter season. The public terrace will be decorated with fire pits and lanterns, creating a space where visitors can fully enjoy the cozy atmosphere. The limited-time event will offer workshops, food, and drinks to be enjoyed with family and friends. The food menu includes ‘Chicken and Mushroom Pan Stew,’ served in a bread bowl and made with fresh ingredients. Guests can also enjoy a ‘Cheddar Cheese Crepe with Homemade Roast Ham,’ along with plenty of scrumptious desserts. Perfect for the Christmas season, warm eggnog and mulled wine will be served, and kids will love the organic hot chocolate!
Four different workshops will be set up at tents in the public terrace. Kids Gabbeh Painting will teach kids how to design their own Gabbeh, a traditional small fabric woven by nomads in southwestern Iran. After drawing their design, artisans will weave the Gabbeh, and will send it to your home. The ‘Socializing Flower Swag’ workshop allows visitors to make swag using dried flowers that were upcycled from fresh flowers that would otherwise be thrown away. These will be silk-screened and wrapped for a great souvenir. Outdoor Candle is a workshop where visitors can create original leather candle holders. At Campfire Roast Coffee, guests can roast coffee over an open fire pit. Imagine how good it smells! Afterwards, you can take home your spoils. There will also be a TRUNK Vintage Store on-site, where hotel staff will sell decorations and furniture no longer needed in the hotel, as well as clothes and other goods. Information
TRUNK Winter Market 2021
Running: December 20 – December 26, 2021
Location: TRUNK (Hotel)
Admission: Free (Food and Drink, Workshops, etc. not included)
Details: https://trunkstore.official.ec/categories/3984662
Official Site: https://www.trunk-base.com
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Each Hoshinoya location has its own unique theme, and all offer an extraordinary experience. Hoshinoya Karuizawa, a resort in Nagano Prefecture, has opened reservations for the Starry Winter Anniversary Plan, allowing couples to celebrate their love away from the hustle and bustle of the city beneath the dazzling winter sky. The staff at the resort will assist couples in celebrating the special day at various locations around the resort, and a custom-made photo tour will also be included! Surrounded by rich nature at the foot of Mt. Asama, Karuizawa reaches low temperatures in winter, creating beautiful scenery dotted with icy trees and snow glistening in the sunlight. This plan is perfect for those who want to escape the stresses of the current pandemic.
A Special Seat on the Ice
The Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary is located directly beside Hoshinoya Karuizawa and houses the Kera Pond at the entrance. Used as an outdoor skating rink during the winter months, a large two-person seating area is erected on the ice which can only be reserved for couples. Lovebirds can enjoy champagne, dried fruits, and cheese as they gaze up at the starry sky. Guest Rooms Decorated for the Celebration
With rooms offering spectacular nature views, couples can enjoy herbal tea, sweets, and flower arrangements only included in this special plan. The flowers may be taken home, and the sweets include florentines made with miso, a specialty of the Shinshu area. They are said to be ‘sweets that bring happiness,’ and may be the key to many more happy years together! Custom-Made Photo Tour
The landscape around the resort pays homage to traditional Japanese landscaping and includes terraced rice paddies, rivers, and unique vegetation. The custom-made photo tour is a private tour limited to one group, in which couples stroll around the grounds with a photographer to take photos at these spectacular locations. These will be made into an album with the Hoshinoya Karuizawa logo. Information
Hoshinoya Karuizawa Starry Winter Anniversary Plan
Running: December 1, 2021 – February 28, 2022
Reservations: https://hoshinoya.com/karuizawa (At least 5 days in advance by 24:00)
Location: Hoshinoya Karuizawa
Official Site: https://www.hoshinoresorts.com
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McDonald’s Japan locations with McCafe by Barista installations will begin selling the Cookies & Cream Frappe for a limited time starting December 8, 2021. The McCafe by Barista corner employs full-time baristas serving ‘authentic cafe coffee.’ McCafe by Barista invites guests to enjoy high-quality frappuccinos and smoothies and these locations are offering three unique Frappes this winter. Following the Strawberry Creme Brulee Frappe and normal Creme Brulee Frappe released in late November, the Cookies & Cream Frappe will release soon, filled with rich vanilla sweetness!
Cookies & Cream Frappe Medium: ¥470 / Large: ¥540 (Tax Included)
The drink is a rich blend of creamy vanilla made from Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans, blended with crunchy Oreo cookie bits and topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. What’s not to love?Information
Cookies & Cream Frappe
Release Date: December 8, 2021
Where to Buy: McDonald’s Japan Locations with McCafe by Barista
Official Site: https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/winter-frappe/
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Starting in 2005 to add more color to Yokohama’s winter season, the ArtRink event held at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse combines artworks and ice skating for a bright and colorful way to spend a cold day. The 17th annual event will be held from December 4, 2021, until February 20, 2022, and will feature two artists: Moeno Ootsu and unpis, both taking part for the first time. The theme for this year’s art is ‘Stepping Out in Slippers.’ Moeno Ootsu
unpis Message from the Artists
Hello. For this event, we’ve created an everyday space, ‘home,’ in a very not-everyday space: ArtRink in Yokohama.Guests should come on an adventure that begins at the front door, then dance on ice through the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and more!You might discover something new among the familiar furnishings and snippets of daily life.We hope that once you leave ArtRink and return home, you’ll try to keep dancing from time to time.Just have fun. Dance with us!Whether you’re wearing skates, sneakers, or slippers…Just take a step and have the best possible time this winter.Information
ArtRink at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Running: December 4, 2021 – February 20, 2022
Location: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Event Space
Details: http://akarenga-artrink.yafjp.org/