Hoshinoya Tokyo, a traditional ryokan in Otemachi, has announced the New Year’s Kabuki Plan, a two-day, one-night stay from January 5 until January 7, 2023. During the Edo Period, citizens enjoyed watching Kabuki plays during the New Year’s holidays, often sipping tea at connected teahouses. This event will invite visitors to experience what this was like, complete with traditional food and decorations.

Watching Kabuki was a chic way for those in Edo to ring in the new year. Theater teahouses were also a popular gathering place–along with arranging tickets, the teahouses offered plot notes, tea, sweets, boxed lunches, snacks, and other drinks.*

*Hiroshi Fujita, Yoshihide Tomizawa (2012) / The Updated Kabuki Dictionary, Kashiwa Shobo

Relax Before Enjoying Tea and a Play

Guests are invited to relax in the Ochanoma (Living Room) Lounge, decorated to look like a traditional teahouse with fans, ukiyo-e prints, and formal curtains. Hanabiramochi, or rice cakes with flower petals, will be served with green tea. These rice cakes are said to date back to the New Year’s tradition of eating hard foods like daikon and rice cakes in the hopes of prolonging one’s life. Characterized by its curious burdock root aroma, the cakes are sweetened with white miso bean paste. 

Enjoy a Post-Viewing Mont Blanc Shaped like Soba with Sweet Dessert Wine

At theater teahouses in the Edo period, sake, snacks, and desserts were served one after another. During this special event, a menu inspired by this practice and prepared by Hoshinoya Tokyo Executive Chef Noriyuki Hamada will be served! Soba noodles were often served after a play in the past. Inspired by this tradition, Mont Blanc made with chestnut paste and sponge cake will be served up to look like this popular dish. Paired with a dessert wine aged in oak barrels, the sweet will be served in a traditional lacquerware basket. In addition, the dish will be paired with Wasabi Pralines, Shichimi Meringue, and Ginger Pate de Fruits. 

Take a Rickshaw to the Kabuki-za Theater

Guests will be taken on an Edo-style tour on their way to the Kabuki-za Theater. Passing through the Nihonbashi area, the first stop will be the Fukutoku Shrine. It’s said that Hidetada Tokugawa paid a visit to and praised the shrine on New Year’s Day in 1614. The next shrine on the docket, Hodo Inari Jinja, was enshrined in Edo Castle during the Edo period to protect the heir to the Tokugawa family. It’s said that the shrine provides blessings for child rearing, matchmaking, and business prosperity. 

This tour will provide a more elegant way to explore Tokyo as guests enjoy exposition from their chauffeur. To make the rickshaw ride even more enjoyable, guests can rent kimonos for an extra charge.

Would you like to take a step back in time this New Year?

Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel in Shibuya has begun accepting reservations for collaboration rooms inspired by the British fashion designer Mary Quant. Along with these unique rooms, visitors can also enjoy a Mary Quant exhibition, afternoon tea, and a special non-alcoholic cocktail. 

The Mary Quant Exhibition, the first retrospective exhibition to be held in Japan, will open at Bunkamura The Museum in Shibuya starting November 26, 2022. The exhibition has toured the world, attracting 400,000 visitors in the U.K. Visitors will be treated to the story of Quant, a pioneer of fashion from London in the 1960s. About 100 garments will also be on display.

To commemorate the opening of the exhibition, the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, a staple of Shibuya, will offer a number of Quant-inspired rooms and goodies.

Visitors can choose from two styles of rooms that express Mary Quant’s worldview.

The corner room is decorated with the iconic black and white Big Daisy, while the deluxe room is filled with pink and white flowers. Each room includes a special gift for visitors to take home, such as a cosmetics set and a round bag. The brand is known to represent freedom and originality, and guests are invited to relax and enjoy themselves to the fullest.

The Tour de Ensemble with Mary Quant three-tiered afternoon tea set features scones and other desserts accented with the brand’s signature daisy. Guests can also enjoy a collection of 30 teas. This special set will be available starting on December 1 at the Garden Lounge ZABOU overlooking the Japanese garden on the hotel’s lobby level.

The non-alcoholic Daisy Blooms cocktail is an eye-catching pink drink. Fresh strawberry and raspberry juices, chamomile syrup, and apple juice are blended to create this sparkling drink. Not too sweet and with a refreshing aftertaste, it’s perfect to enjoy with lunch! This beverage will be available at the Garden Kitchen Caramelo on the hotel’s lobby floor. 

In collaboration with the currently-running Van Gogh exhibition, EJ Anime Hotel in Tokorozawa Sakura Town has opened reservations for a Van Gogh collaboration room. 

For those unable to book a room, fear not! An original collaboration dinner menu will be available for non-guests at the hotel’s restaurant Tiam. 

The Van Gogh exhibition collaboration plan is linked to the ongoing exhibition Van Gogh: This Is How I See the World. The interactive digital art exhibition is being held at the nearby Kadokawa Musashino Museum. Collaborative rooms were inspired by Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and guests will feel as though they have stepped into the painting itself.

Guests can also enjoy music played at the exhibition in their room, and a 150-inch big-screen projector and high-quality sound bar will immerse visitors in Van Gogh-related movies. Guests will also receive an Original Van Gogh Chronological Table as a gift, and a collection of the artist’s works and goods available at the Museum store will also be on display.

For dinner, visitors can enjoy a special culinary experience with a 7-course dinner inspired by Van Gogh’s world at the hotel’s restaurant Tiam.

Come enjoy the cool autumn weather while surrounded by the works of a master artist.

Shin Yokohama Prince Hotel will be offering a special room and collaboration menu inspired by the popular anime series The Vampire Dies in No Time from September 22 until November 30, 2022. Reservations will open on the hotel’s official website starting September 12 at 1:00 PM. 

The Vampire Dies in No Time follows the hilarious adventures of the vampire Draluc and the vampire hunter Ronaldo. Set in the city of Shin-Yokohama, it makes sense that this collaboration would be taking place!

Original Goods

Collaboration Menu

Guests and fans of the series will be able to enjoy a fully-decorated room and collaboration menu inspired by characters from the popular anime series.

The concept room, located on an upper floor overlooking the Shin-Yokohama cityscape, is decorated with illustrations of Draluc, Ronaldo, and other characters. The guest-only goods feature newly-drawn illustrations. 

Sweets plates and drinks will be served at the restaurant on the top floor of the hotel. Guests can enjoy desserts shaped like Ronaldo’s red hat and Draluc’s ashes, so don’t miss it!

©盆ノ木至（秋田書店）／製作委員会すぐ死ぬ

Art subscription service Casie is collaborating with HOTEL SHE, KYOTO! A special art exhibition titled GALLERY HOTEL SHE, will be held from September 17 until October 16, inviting guests to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of staying in a gallery overnight!

During the event period, guests of HOTEL SHE, KYOTO will be able to select their favorite piece of artwork from an on-site gallery. The piece will then be hung in their guestroom, and visitors can spend the night appreciating it at their own pace. This is a great way to learn more about art appreciation, and guests can enjoy discussing the art world with their friends and family. 

“Although we may view art in museums and other venues, it is rare to have the opportunity to select and display a work of art of our own choice,” the project description reads. “Through this unique experience, we aim to provide guests the chance to actively engage with art and inspire them to make art a part of their daily life going forward.”

The Grand Chariot Big Dipper 135° Hotel is a luxury hotel located within Awaji Island Park in Hyogo Prefecture. The hotel has an incredible Crayon Shin-chan collaboration room, and guests reserving this room will receive an original postcard featuring a new illustration for a limited time starting on August 1, 2022. Those finding Buriburizaemon within the room will receive this exclusive gift only available at the hotel!

Original Postcards

The collaboration room, dubbed ‘My Cocoon,’ is a one-of-a-kind suite filled with Crayon Shin-chan imagery. Perfect for fans, the room is filled with playful gadgets, a massive skylight, and a large rug in the shape of the dog Shiro. 

©臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ADK ©臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ADK 1993-2022

The Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo will offer a special suite inspired by the upcoming Toshio Suzuki Studio Ghibli Exhibition from July 1 until August 31, 2022. This will include tickets to the exhibition, which will take place at Warehouse Terrada in Shinagawa from July 1 until September 7. 

Toshio Suzuki, a producer at Studio Ghibli, has worked with both Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata on a number of beloved masterpieces. The exhibition will feature a large bookshelf housing 8,800 of Suzuki’s publications and favorite tomes. Many of these were published before Suzuki joined Studio Ghibli, and guests are invited to see how the producer was inspired to join the legendary studio after working as an editor at a manga magazine. To commemorate the exhibition’s opening, this special suite is filled with books written by Suzuki along with other books that visitors may enjoy during their relaxing stay. 

In the suite, guests will find a list of 106 books that influenced Suzuki the most. This list will be available to take home. Visitors will also find reproductions of Suzuki’s calligraphy. 

©TS ©Studio Ghibli

Banyan Tree Group, one of the world’s leading independent hospitality groups, held the grand opening of Galleria Nijo Castle Kyoto, on Friday, June 17, 2022. This is the first of the group’s hotels to open in Japan.

Hotel Exterior

Located south of Nijo Castle, a World Heritage Site, and named after the beautiful winter flower, Galleria Nijo Castle Kyoto is a small, modern, and minimalist luxury hotel that offers simple guests a chance to recharge themselves.

Wellbeing Room

For the grand opening, a new Wellbeing Room has been opened where visitors can experience quiet meditation.

Visitors can stroll through nearby gardens, temples, and shrines, take a tour of Kyoto’s many historical sites, or spend time in the Wellbeing Room meditating or practicing yoga to recharge their batteries away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The French Restaurant Singular will also offer up healthy and tasty meals with a focus on local ingredients and producers.

Enjoy a visit to Kyoto in this peaceful space perfect for resting both body and soul.

From June 1 until August 31, Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji is inviting guests to travel to the adorable world of Moomin by partaking in two tasty buffet events at the Le Clair Restaurant on the second floor. In Moomin’s home country of Finland, people start enjoying the summer following the solstice in June. The theme of this project is ‘Moominvalley Turns Jungle,’ inspiring the hotel’s chefs to create a spectacular original menu. A tasty lunch buffet will be held Tuesday through Friday during the event period, while a sweets buffet will take place on weekends and holidays. The restaurant’s interior will be decorated with artwork from Tove Jansson’s 1956 comic Moominville Turns Jungle.

The Moomin Lunch Buffet is titled ‘Jungle Party in Moominville,’ and will depict a fun summer lunch get-together in the titular character’s home village. The lineup of foods includes smoked salmon canapes, marinated herring, and sardine sandwiches, all typical of Scandinavian cuisine. Plenty of spiced dishes and veggies will be available, the latter looking like they came from Moominmamma’s garden. August 9 is Moomin Day, and the chefs will be preparing some extra goodies for each guest on that day only.

The Moomin Sweets Buffet will feature adorable desserts created by expert pâtissiers and will be inspired by Moomin and his friends enjoying the summer. From red velvet cake made to look like Little My’s dress to chocolate mousse in the style of Moominpappa’s Silk Hat, fans of the series will want to snap plenty of pictures before they dig in! Tons of sweets will include popular Scandinavian ingredients like red currants, raspberries, and blueberries. The welcome plate, limited to one per person, will change monthly, with a Tropical Parfait coming in July and an Edible Jungle coming in August. Light meals will also be available to compliment the sweets.

The Sweets Buffet will also include a special table plan limited to three per day, using plates and mugs included in the Moomin by Arabia 2022 Summer collection. Guests participating in this plan can order a special non-alcoholic cocktail created by the restaurant’s bartender and made with rose-colored ice inspired by Moominmamma’s love for flowers.

Starting July 1, guests visiting the five-star Conrad Tokyo hotel can enjoy a new peach-filled afternoon tea menu for a limited time. Designed in collaboration with the British luxury brand Wedgwood, the lineup includes both savory and sweet items perfect for summer. The afternoon tea will be available on the 28th floor at the aptly named Twenty Eight Bar and Lounge.

In collaboration with Wedgwood, a 260-year-old porcelain and fine china brand used by the British royal family, this special service will feature an afternoon tea plate with a tempting array of sweets. The plate itself is from Wedgwood’s world-renowned Gio collection and features a honeycomb pattern embossed on fine bone china. The contrast between the modern setting, the classic and refined shape of the white tableware, and the beautiful pink treats will come together to create the most memorable summer moment imaginable.

Coconut & Earl Grey Panna Cotta / Rose Jelly / Peach Compote

Wine and Peach Gelatin / Vanilla Mousse

White Peach Mousse / Raspberry Gelatin

White Peach and Soy Milk Sandwich

Apricot Tart / Peach Cream

Peach Soup / Lobster Consomme Jelly

White Peach and Chicken Mousse Tart

Pork Rillettes and Peach Slider

Highlights from the sweets menu include coconut & Earl Grey Panna cotta served with rose jelly and peach compote, peach gelatin infused with red wine and vanilla mousse, and a delectable white peach and soy milk sandwich. For those with less of a sweet tooth, the afternoon tea service also offers delectable dishes like a white peach and chicken mousse tart, a pork rillettes and peach slider, and more. Guests can also enjoy a selection of scones in either plain or coconut, each served with clotted cream and either peach or guava jam. Over 20 beverages will be on offer, including Wedgwood teas.

Are you a fan of Piske and Usagi? Hotel New Otani Tokyo is now taking July and August reservations for the special Kanahei’s Small Animals collaboration room! 

The room’s interior is covered in Piske and Usagi illustrations, all of which were drawn exclusively for the collaboration. Piske and Usagi worked hard to prepare this room to welcome guests, so be sure to take in every square inch!

Stuffed Animal / Name Tag (Stuffed Animal Ver.) / Slippers / Tote Bag / Door Plate

A total of five original amenities will be included with each reservation. This is the first Kanahei room collaboration, so these items are truly one-of-a-kind!

Even those not staying in the Kanahei room will be able to buy an original Piske and Usagi cushion and acrylic stand!

Do you remember reading The Hungry Caterpillar as a kid? If you want to relive those simpler times, a new Eric Carle concept room is now available to reserve at Futako Tamagawa Excel Hotel Tokyu! The room is opening in conjunction with the opening of Japan’s first indoor playground ‘PLAY! PARK ERIC CARLE,’ located on the 8th floor of Futako Tamagawa Rise. 

A safe ‘Kids Space,’ where children can play with bare feet against the backdrop of the Tama River and Mount Fuji

Parents and children alike will fall in love with this incredible guest room fully decorated in Eric Carle’s original designs. The bright and open space features an incredible view of the Tama River and Mount Fuji, and kids can enjoy their own play space complete with artificial grass. 

Souveniers for guests to take home in an original bag. *Contents will be changed periodically.

The Eric Carle room includes plenty of items for children to see, touch, and enjoy. The plan includes tickets to the new ‘PLAY! PARK ERIC CARLE’ indoor playground, along with special souvenirs to bring home!

The Hungry Caterpillar Plate: ¥2,800 (Tax Included)

Pancakes, Pancakes!: ¥1,800 (Tax Included)

The hotel’s restaurant is currently offering a collaboration menu. The 30th Dining Bar, located on the 30th floor of the hotel, will offer a Chicken Galantine Set featuring The Hungry Caterpillar, along with a dessert menu featuring a pancake set inspired by Carle’s book Pancakes! Pancakes!

© 2022 Penguin Random House LLC. ERIC CARLE, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, THE WORLD OF ERIC CARLE logo, the Caterpillar logo and related designs, logos, and names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is published by Penguin Random House LLC.