To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Yamanashi Sannichi Newspaper & Sannichi YBS Group, teamLab will hold a special illuminated art event on the shore of Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi Prefecture from October 28 until November 13, 2022. Guests will be able to enjoy the Sunset Shore Autumn Leaves Festival at the same time, and at the same venue.

Autonomous Resonating Life – teamLab ©teamLab

Sketch Aquarium – teamLab ©teamLab

The works on display will be Autonomous Resonating Life and the Sketch Aquarium. In Autonomous Resonating Life, guests will wander along the shore, passing by massive colorful and glowing ovoids being pushed and pulled by the wind. When there is no wind, and when no one is touching the ovoids, they will begin to slowly blink.

The Sketch Aquarium invites visitors to color a drawing of a sea creature. Once finished, these creations will come to life in a giant virtual aquarium, swimming together with other creations. Visitors can touch the fish to see them swim away, or can touch a virtual food bag to feed them!

Yamanashi’s Fuji Motosuko Resort is home to the yearly Fuji Shibazakura Festival, one of the most popular spring flower events in Jaapn. From July 16 until October 10, 2022, guests will also be able to enjoy the Rainbow Flower Festival, with over 80,000 blooms decorating the land around Mount Fuji. 

From Left: Coneflowers, Common Zinnia, Begonia, Ageratum

From Left: Scarlet Sage (Sirius), Scarlet Sage (Bonfire), Scarlet Sage (Deep Blue), Coleus

The theme for the inaugural event is ‘Seven Colors of Mount Fuji.’ Visitors will be able to take incredible pictures, with a variety of blooms springing from the Earth in seven beautiful colors. Whether you love begonias or zinnias, you won’t want to miss this one. 

The venue will also feature photo spots that will be perfect for social media, from a rainbow circle bench to the ‘Yellow Door of Happiness.’ A campaign will also be held to choose the best photos of the event posted to Instagram.

Koppe-pan (with Yamanashi Peach Butter and Whipped Cream) / Lava Fried Tofu / Bellflower Mochi Ice Cream / Jewel Soda

A unique food menu featuring everything from lava-shaped fried tofu to fluffy bread with local peach butter will appear at the event.

*Sample image.

Pictures aren’t the only thing you’ll leave with–a selection of souvenirs will be on sale, including ‘Stick Jelly’ made with five types of local fruit puree. These will only be available at the event, so come have a wonderful time visiting Mount Fuji this summer!

The globally popular slice-of-life series Laid-Back Camp is currently serialized in COMIC FUZ.

Set in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Laid-Back Camp is a relaxing series following a group of high school girls going camping and enjoying their daily lives. The original comic has sold over 7 million copies, and the series has helped people around the world destress. In 2018, the first anime series premiered, inspiring a spin-off Room Camp in 2020 and a second season in 2021. An animated film will arrive in theaters on July 1, 2022.

The series has announced a collaboration with Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, which are both depicted in the work, as well as JR Central. The ‘Laid-Back Camp Dramatic Puzzle Solving Game: Two Treasure Maps and a Trip Down Memory Lane’ event will run from July 1 until August 31, 2022. The Rin Route will begin in Kofu and the Nadeshiko Route will start in Shizuoka. Participants will receive a small gift for completing each route.

In conjunction with the event, JR Central will sell special Laid-Back Camp one-day round-trip tickets, and a collaboration train will be decorated with illustrations from the series.

The poster for the event shows new illustrations of Rin and Nadeshiko made by Green House, the illustrators behind Bikkuriman. These illustrations will also appear on a variety of original goods!

When Japan opens again, how would you like to journey through these beautiful areas?

©あfろ・芳文社／野外活動委員会

The Nakamura Keith Haring Collection in Yamanashi Prefecture will be holding a celebratory exhibition in honor of the location’s 15th anniversary from May 14, 2022 until May 7, 2023.

In April 2007, the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection opened in Kobuchisawa, located at the foot of Mt. Yatsugatake. The only museum in the world dedicated entirely to New York-based artist Keith Haring, Kazuo Nakamura collected the works and acts as the director of the museum. Over 300 works of art are on display along with 500 other pieces, from photographs and videos to merchandise. The new exhibition features approximately 150 works.

Three Lithographs (People Ladder), 1985

Icons (Radiant Baby), 1990

Untitled, 1984

Untitled, 1988

Untitled (Subway Drawing), 1981-1983

The ‘Chaos and Hope’ exhibition was originally held during the museum’s first year of operation and looks back at Haring’s first experiences in New York City in 1978. The artist was present at the dawn of the hip-hop movement and was struck by the clash between typical white art and underground minority artists. In only five years, Haring rose to stardom. Sadly, while traveling the world, he contracted AIDS, passing away at the age of 31. Behind the bright and cheerful artwork he left behind, he hid his inner suffering and desire for hope and freedom.

All Keith Haring Artwork ©Keith Haring Foundation
Courtesy of Nakamura Keith Haring Collection.

Peter Rabbit’s English Garden, one of the largest English-style gardens in the Tokyo metropolitan area, will open at Fuji Motosuko Resort on April 16, 2022.

Known for the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, an annual springtime cherry blossom event, Peter Rabbit’s Garden is opening at the resort at the perfect time. The garden will include over 300 varieties of plants, trees, and flowers, and visitors can enjoy a photogenic stroll with popular characters. An on-site cafe will offer a lineup of original items inspired by Beatrix Potter’s classic books, including a colorful afternoon tea set and ‘Flowery Latte’ with petals scattered on top. ‘Mr. McGregor’s Vegetable Garden Salad’ is also a light dish perfect for spring.

Cafe Menu

Take Out Menu

Cafe

Original Merchandise

Photo Spot

Shop & Gallery

Original Sticker

Guests can also enjoy a gallery highlighting moments from the Peter Rabbit picture books, from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin to The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, both translated by novelist and poet Mieko Kawakami. The shop will offer original merchandise only available at Fuji Motosuko Resort, including keychains, sweets, and coffee cups. There’s something for adults and children alike, so fans of Peter Rabbit won’t want to miss it!

To commemorate the opening of the garden, a bus decorated with Peter Rabbit and friends will be in operation from April 4 until April 16. This passenger bus will bring visitors from Shinjuku, Yokohama, Shizuoka, and other locations, and those riding will get a special sticker as a bonus.

Come enjoy some time outdoors with Peter this spring!

BEATRIX POTTER(TM) & (C) Frederick Warne & Co.,2022

Fujisan Product, a company that specializes in making Mount Fuji-themed food and beverages, has released a gorgeous blue beer in partnership with distributor Millex Japan and Far Yeast Brewing, an award-winning craft brewery. The refreshing product is being sold mainly through department stores. 

After plenty of trial and error, the drink now resembles a snow-capped mountain when poured into the appropriate glass. The blue color comes from Spirulina and blueberry, and the beer contains natural water from Mount Fuji.

SKY CIRCUS Sunshine 60 Observatory will hold the 9th annual Diamond Fuji viewing event from January 23 until January 29, 2022 from 16:40 until 16:50. This is a rare sight that can only be glimpsed a few days a year when the sun is perfectly aligned above Mt. Fuji.

Guests will have no buildings blocking their view from the observation deck, and if the weather conditions are right, it will look exactly as if the sun is emerging from Japan’s most famous mountain. You won’t want to forget your camera!

The rooftop will be open to only 105 people total (15 guests per day) to experience this once-in-a-lifetime view from 227 meters above the ground. On January 25, a special viewing event will utilize a super-telephoto lens to project this incredible sight onto a monitor. Mr. Hiroyuki Narisawa, a renowned star photographer, will also give a lecture on how to take the best photos during the event.

The Nippon Genki Project will be held again this year and it will be available to watch on the event’s official website and on YouTube. The event was created by the late Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto as a way to get people energised and motivated to realise their dreams.

Past Nippon Genki Project events

Nippon Genki Project 2015 Super Energy!! at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

Nippon Genki Project 2016 Super Energy!! at Yoyogi National Stadium

Nippon Genki Project 2017 Super Energy!! at Roppongi Hills Arena

Nippon Genki Project 2018 Super Energy!! at Roppongi Hills Arena

Nippon Genki Project 2019 Super Energy!! at Roppongi Hills Arena

Nippon Genki Project 2020 Super Energy!! Online

The theme of this year’s event is ‘World Heritage Runway.’ The event will be recorded in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, at the foot of the World Heritage Site of Mt. Fuji. The footage will be released as a fashion film on August 21. Designers from across Japan have created a variety of looks for the event, and pieces by fashion schools, fashion universities both in Japan and overseas, and more will also be showcased.

Fuji-Q Highland began its ‘NARUTO x BORUTO Fuji Hidden Leaf Village’ event on Wednesday which is set to run throughout summer until August 29. The event is taking place to celebrate the birthday of the popular character Sasuke Uchiha from the Naruto franchise.

During the event, a keyword rally will take place, and a special menu will be served up.

Keyword Rally

Guests must play and ride six Naruto-themed attractions at the park where they will be able to collect keywords related to the Uchiha family. Those who manage to answer all the questions correctly will receive one of two free exclusive pins. The Sasuke & Itachi design will be available from June 9 to July 22 and the Uchiha Family design from July 23 to August 29. Check out the designs below, both of which are must-grabs for fans of Sasuke and the Uchihas.

Pin Design 1: Sasuke & Itachi (Uchiha Brothers) | Available: June 9, 2021 – July 22, 2021　

Pin Design 2: Sasuke & Sakura & Sarada (Uchiha Family) | Available: July 23, 2021 – August 29, 2021

Special Menu

Guests will also be able to enjoy a special menu line-up including a ramen dish served at Ichiraku, the ramen bar at Fuji-Q Highland which is themed on the same eatery of the same name in Naruto, and two cakes at Fuji-Q Highland’s official hotel resort and spa.

Uchiha Brother’s Spicy Ramen | ¥1,500 (Tax Included)

Uchiha Brother’s Print Cake

Uchiha Family’s Print Cake

ⓒ岸本斉史 スコット／集英社・テレビ東京・ぴえろ

HOSHINOYA Fuji, a hotel which opened as Japan’s first glamping resort, has announced the Glamping Fruits Breakfast summer plan which is set to run from June 20 to August 31.

HOSHINOYA Fuji is located in Japan’s prefecture of Yamanashi, a place that enjoys a bounty of fruit cultivation. Yamanashi has been called the “Fruit Country,” offering a variety of different fruits. In fact, it has been the biggest producer of peaches, grapes, and plums in Japan for over 10 year. The glamping masters of HOSHINOYA Fuji have had knowledge bestowed on them from the growers of these sweet gems who have advised on the safety and best ways to prepare land for fruit growing, characteristics of fruits grown throughout the year, and other means of support. Now, guests at HOSHINOYA Fuji are set to serve these fruits to guests at breakfast this summer.

Dine outdoors from a terrace with a breathtaking view

Guests will enjoy their breakfast out on a sofa on a private terrace that overlooks Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi. With the support of the hotel’s Glamping Master, food will be prepared outdoors using a skillet and burner. The main dish is roasted peaches made with bacon and fresh herbs. The salty bacon and sweet peach make for a delightful combination. Best of all, ingredients and condiments are all prepared for guests in advance so they can enjoy a hands-free outdoor experience.

Indulge in high quality fruits

Eight varieties of fruit are available during the breakfast experience including peaches, Shine Muscat, pione, and more. And only the tastiest fruit is served to customers.

An optional tour is available with the plan which offers guests a chance to depart HOSHINOYA Fuji early in the morning to visit a peach farm in the city of Fuefuki. Guests are given exclusive access to the farm where they can learn all about how the peaches are grown from the farmers. At the end, they can tuck into some freshly-picked peaches with a glass of sparkling wine in hand.

The Nakamura Keith Haring Museum in Yamanashi is set to welcome the Keith Haring: 360° exhibition which will explore the diverse works of American pop artist Keith Haring. The exhibition will run from May 15, 2021 to May 8, 2022.

Keith Haring was an American pop artist whose work began in the 1980’s when he would create spontaneous drawings in the subways of New York City. Haring participated not only in solo exhibitions, but national and international shows too, such as documenta 7 in 1982 and Venice Biennale in 1984. His later works took on more political and societal themes such as drugs, racism, sexuality, and AIDS. Haring died of AIDS-related complications in 1990 at the young age of 31.

Photo by ©︎Makoto Murata

Untitled (Figure Balancing on Dog), 1989

Untitled (KH.200), 1982, The Museum of Art, Kochi

My Town, Peace I–IV, 1987, Tama City Cultural Foundation

Nakamura Keith Haring Collection

One of the most noteworthy appearances at the exhibition is Haring’s Figure Balancing on Dog (1989), a rare sculpture made of raw aluminium. As the title suggests, the piece features a person riding atop a dog, which may be a depiction of balance. It brings to mind the relationship between humans and animals and the anxiety towards a strange society that cannot be measured. Other works will also Untitled (KH.200) (1982), My Town which was drawn by 500 children from Tama, Tokyo, My Town, Peace I–IV (1987), and a series of six drawings entitled Bad Boys (1986) which Haring produced in Amsterdam.

For the first time ever, visitors will be able to see photos taken by Japanese art journalist Makoto Murata who interviewed Haring when visiting New York from December 1982 to January the following year.

The exhibition will look at Keith Haring, his diverse work, and deep messages of society from all angles – a 360° view.

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake is calling for the rain this summer with the announcement of its Yatsugatake Fure Fure Sky event. The event will see over 1,000 fure fure bozu strung up—small handmade dolls to pray for the rain—along the 150-meter main street Green Pepper Avenue. The dolls act as the opposite of the more well known teru teru bozu dolls which are used to prevent rainy days.

Rain is something that’s always on the mind of travellers who hope for a dry trip when they reach their destination. This event however takes advantage of the rainy days to turn it into something to be enjoyed.

Yatsugatake Fure Fure Sky: 3 Things to Enjoy

The grand spectacle of the rain and over 1,000 dolls

Colourful fure fure bozu will line Green Pepper Avenue which serve as gorgeous decorations. There are eight colours to be spotted which represent the Yatsu in Yatsugatake meaning “eight” in Japanese.

Enjoy the sight and sound of the rainfall in the Rainy Domes

Sit inside your very own dome along Green Pepper Avenue and enjoy the sounds of the tapping rain. This is an experience that is best enjoyed when it rains, meaning praying for the rain is a must. It’s a chance to enjoy the rain without getting wet while sipping on wine and tucking into some light food.

Times: 11:00-16:00
Price: Free

Location: Green Pepper Avenue

Snap some photos in the rain wearing a Fure Fure Poncho

Inside the activity centre, visitors can rent their very own Fure Fure Poncho. This means they can head out in the rain and enjoy the sounds of the rain hitting their poncho, which is available in three different colours and all sizes for the family.

Times: 9:00-18:00

Price: Free

Location: Activity centre

Notes: Exclusive to Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake guests