The cities of Hirosaki and Hakodate in Hokkaido have announced that they will team up with Hatsune Miku’s popular iteration Snow Miku to promote tourism in the area this winter. A number of activities will begin in December 2022.

[Snow Miku x Hirohako] Collaboration Project

■Hirohako Winter Tourism Campaign Poster Featuring Snow Miku

・Period: Mid-November~February 28, 2023

・Locations: Facilities in both cities, tourist facilities, hotels, shopping areas

■Snow Miku Illustration Contest Exhibition Event

Over 50 illustrations have been submitted under the theme of Snow Miku and Hakodate / Snow Miku and Hirosaki. These will be on display through the winter!

・Running: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

・Venues: Hirosaki Municipal Tourist Center (Hirosaki)
                    Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse (Hakodate)

■Snow Miku Photo Spot

Snow Miku panels featuring shamisen and apples from Hirosaki will be on display, while the Hakodate version will include references to squid fishing and footbaths. 

・On Display: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

・Locations: JR Hirosaki Station, Chuohirosaki Station (Hirosaki)
                        JR Hakodate Station, Hakodate Airport (Hakodate)

■Digital Stamp Rally Using the Mikunavi App

A number of panels will be installed at five checkpoints in Hirosaki and Hakodate. A total of 1,000 people–500 in each city–will win original merch including a Snow Miku mask case and decorated masking tape. All you need to do is check in!

・Available: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

・Locations: (Hirosaki) Hirosaki Municipal Tourist Center, Hirosaki City Machinaka  Information Center,

                         Hirosaki Tourist Information Center, Hirosaki Castle Information Center, Tsugaru-han Neputa Village

　　　　　　(Hakodate) Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Yunokawa Hot Spring Footbath, Goryōkaku Tower,

Hakodate Green Plaza C Block (Hakodate Lumi-Pop), Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward

■Hirohako Winter Tourism Campaign Theme Song and Music Video 

The tourism theme song will get a new music video that will be broadcast on YouTube, at local tourist facilities, and on TV and radio!

・On Air: December 1, 2022~

・Theme Song: Mahou no Keshiki (Lyrics/Composition: ryuryu)

■Snow Miku Welcome Announcements to be Broadcast at Tourism Facilities, etc. 

A one-minute welcome announcement by Snow Miku will air at tourist facilities!

・Running: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

・Locations: Tourist areas in both cities

■Snow Miku Filters Using AR

When each barcode is scanned with a smartphone, Snow Miku will appear on the screen! Visitors can take pictures with Snow Miku to commemorate their winter trip to Hirosaki and Hakodate.

・Available: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

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.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major label debut, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is staying active in 2022. The artist will perform at this year’s Coachella, one of the largest music festivals in the United States, and released her first full-length album in three years ‘Candy Racer’ in October 2021.  On January 16, Kyary embarked on the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE,’ which will see the singer performing 30 shows across Japan. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the “LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project” was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities, and has been attracting major attention. Kyary’s tour is scheduled to wrap in Niigata on March 27, and the details of her next collaboration have been revealed!

Hakkaisan, founded in 1922, is one of the most well-known sake breweries in Niigata Prefecture. Kyary will be collaborating with a special slightly sweet non-alcoholic Malted Rice Amazake made by the company. Amazake was extremely popular during the Edo Period as a drink to keep cool in the heat, so this is a perfect product to grab for the upcoming season.

The special collaboration logo was inspired by Kyary’s 2014 hit Yumeno Hajima Ring Ring. The song is popular for graduation ceremonies with the theme of parting ways, making it appropriate for the current time, as graduation season in Japan is in late March. 

A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. The shirt is available on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website for two weeks only. 

Booking.com Japan has revealed its top four picks for the Japanese accommodations with the best outdoor baths and snow views! 

Zao Kokusai Hotel (Zao Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture)

Located 900 meters above sea level and surrounded by the gorgeous natural beauty of the Zao mountains, this resort has long been renowned for its spectacular view of seasonal scenery. During winter, guests can enjoy a fully spring-fed open-air bath while gazing at the snow-capped mountains. The milky white waters of the Zao Hot Springs have high sulfur content which will improve the texture of your skin. The resort also has a bath large enough to accommodate up to seven people at a time and a private bath for families or lovers. 

Midorinokaze Resort Kitayuzawa (Date, Hokkaido)

The Midorinokaze Resort Kitayuzawa is surrounded by nature and contains one of the largest open-air baths in Japan, along with 20 unique fragrant baths for guests to enjoy. In winter, the surrounding trees seem to glisten with snow, and visitors are sure to find plenty of peace and relaxation while lounging beneath the grey skies. 

Akakura Kanko Hotel (Myoko, Niigata Prefecture)

This highland resort sits on a 1,000-meter peak, offering unmatched views of Niigata Prefecture. The natural hot spring flows from the inside of Mt. Myoko, with healing waters perfect for soaking in during the cold winter months. The large baths are also equipped with a sauna and deck, and those wanting to view the scenery from their room can enjoy guest accommodations with private baths as well!

Satoyama Jujo (Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture)

Winning a design award for its facilities, Satoyama Jujo has a different feel when compared to most hotels and ryokan. Booking.com recommends it for travelers looking for new experiences! In the open-air bath, visitors can relax while enjoying a panoramic view of Mt. Makihata, one of Japan’s 100 most famous peaks. Guests can also enjoy the starry skies at night. This is a perfect location for couples!

Each season in Japan offers uniquely beautiful scenery. How would you like to enjoy winter in one of these luxurious baths?

To commemorate the opening of the 60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition: The Beginning of Kawaii in Niigata, Hotel Nikko Niigata has also opened a collaboration cafe on the 31st-floor Panorama Lounge. The cafe will be open until April 10 and feature an adorable menu and incredible view!

The Hotel Nikko x Sanrio Exhibition Collaboration Cafe will feature dishes, desserts, and drinks based on seven different Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty. Each menu item comes with a random original coaster. 

Characters whose birthdays fall during the cafe period will be featured in special designs. From March 1 until March 11, a drink inspired by Cinnamoroll, whose birthday is on March 6, will be available.

Rurouni Kenshin is one of the most popular anime and manga series around the world, hitting the scene in Japan back in 1994. Original manga author Nobuhiro Watsuki spent most of his childhood in Nagaoka, Niigata prefecture, an area known throughout the country for its delicious rice. Harasho, a liquor store in Nagaoka, has announced a new collection of Rurouni Kenshin-themed sake to celebrate the series. 

The Rurouni Kenshin manga series was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1994 until 1999. The sequel, Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc, is currently ongoing in Jump Square. The series has been a smash hit, selling over 72 million copies and inspiring both animated and live-action film adaptations and an anime series. 

The sake will be produced at three distilleries in Nagaoka city, and each of the three will feature unique characteristics. Each label features imagery from the manga series and would make the perfect gift for fans (as long as they are of age!) 

Sado Island, sitting off the Japanese mainland close to the Niigata coast, has been holding an incredible art festival since August 8, 2021. The highlight of the event is a massive glowing sculpture, made as a collaboration between Koiwa Kanaami Co., Ltd. and the Nobuaki Furuya+Yuri Fujii Laboratory at Waseda University. The eye-catching installment is meant to honor the historical Sado gold mine, one of the largest in the country, and a designated National Historic Site of Japan.

The peak production period of the mine was 400 years ago, between 1615 to 1645. The mines on Sado produced over 400 kilograms of gold and nearly 38 tons of silver each year, making it one of the largest producers in the world at the time. The town of Aikawa, where the mine is located, is now filled with historical and tourist sites, with many buildings preserved and used as museums to teach visitors about mining technology over the years. A number of rail lines once ran around today’s Oma Port, carrying ore and other mining materials.

The Sato gold mine was developed by Takato Oshima, one of the most important engineers in Japanese history, and the man also responsible for creating the first blast furnace and Western-style gun in Japan.

Headlining the event, the ‘Scene Spinner’ installation consists of two spiral concepts: one, based on the spiral pumping machine used to drain water seeping into the mine, and the other inspired by the rail system around Oma Port. These spirals were made by using a wire mesh frame, which resembles the silhouette of the Sado gold mine. Each piece shown at the Galaxy Art Festival is meant to express the remaining historical importance of this often-overlooked area.

The exhibition site, the former Oma Port, marks the location where materials were brought from the mines, and where the remains of the modern mining industry remain today. Oma Port, which has served as the gateway between Sado Island and the mainland, seems the perfect spot to hold this inspiring event, asking visitors to look around and think about the history made on this beautiful island.

Niigata prefecture is known for being a treasure trove of gastronomy, specializing in rice and sake products. Locals will be familiar with the long running Japanese sweet stores in the area, most of which incorporate the areas speciality rice and sake into their products.

“We want to let people know about Niigata’s amazing sweets and spread the word about our local produce.” 

With this in mind, a new “evolutionary” style of Japanese confectionary (Wagashi) was created, combining the traditional taste of Japan with the essence of the modern era to invoke both newness and nostalgia.

Mandai Bean Paste is the signature treat from the new Evolutionary Wagashi selection, made with the ever-popular Ohagi in mind. The mochi is made in partnership with a long-established Niigata confectionary store with over 200 years of experience in the prefecture.

The mochi is made using Shinnosuke, a new Niigata-based rice brand known for it’s rich taste, while the Bandai-an bean paste filling is created by a long-standing local Anko store.

Each Ohagi is hand wrapped in store, with 12 delicious flavors available, including some seasonal fruits.

Unlike any normal Ohagi, this Evolutionary Wagashi is combined with seasonal fruits, nuts, and mascarpone cheese, adding an essence of Western flavoring to the traditional Japanese confectionary.

 The new store will be opening in the center of Niigata city, with a concept of “Long-established modern.”

Just like their modern twist on timeless Japanese sweets, Bandai-an has created a fitting space that combines the dignified image of a traditional store with modern sensibilities.

These modern sweets can be enjoyed in all kinds of settings, so why not try them for yourself?

Japanese design company Jiyujin launched its new Satoyama Jujo THE HOUSE chain of accommodations this month which offer a single group of guests a one-night stay in an entire house.

The first branch to open is IZUMI which features a fully-renovated Japanese-style house located in the city of Uonuma in Niigata. A gorgeous outlook is offered from the house with an unbroken view of lush forests, rice fields, and Mt. Makihata, which is listed as one of the ‘100 Famous Japanese Mountains.’

A breathtaking view awaits guests from the open-air bath

The spacious living room

Fully renovated from a 150-year-old private house, the building is supported by beautiful wooden beams and columns, and in the middle the oe, a sunken hearth. This, along with the beams and sashigamoi joints, are made from keyaki Japanese zelkova which is an elm-like tree. This species of tree is rare even in a tree-covered region such as Uonuma. The lumber used for this house was cut, preserved, and dried out for a number of decades before being processed into building material for the house. The heart in the middle of the living room is reminiscent of a time when large families would gather around one and serves to recreate that lifestyle.

The Nishiyama region is known for is production of delicious rice. IZUMI in fact looks out over Kabanosawa, a special and important place of rice production in Nishiyama. This vantage point also gives guests an opportunity to appreciate the hot and cold temperatures of the daytime and evening, the rivers, the shape of the land, and the earth the city sits on. The drastic change in temperatures in the day and night are especially noteworthy as this, along with the basin between the mountains, gives rise to a sea of clouds.

IZUMI sits on a hill that overlooks the rice paddies, making it a perfect location for spotting the sea of clouds. Minamiuonuma’s sea of clouds has over a 70% chances of appearing in the autumn and spring seasons.

The number one reason why Japan’s old, long-standing, and precious private houses are demolished is due to the cold getting in and it being too dark inside. Even those who want to see them preserved for tradition, including those who live in them already, would rather live in a modern home. That’s why Jiyujin has begun a renovation project instead of a demolition one. By refurbishing the houses, the ancient framework can be fixed up and preserved while a range of contemporary amenities are incorporate to fit with modern lifestyles. The Satoyama Jujo accommodations are built so they can be used for over 100 years.

For dinner, there are three options for guests. The first is a dinner at SANABURI which earned itself a Michelin star in Michelin Guide Niigata 2020. The second is a meal at a restaurant that earned the status of Bib Gourmand in the same guide. The third is to prepare your own meal in the house. There are plenty of shops around the station nearby where you can buy local ingredients.

After a delicious meal, guests can take a soak in the open-air tub and enjoy gazing out across the fields and the beautiful mountains which stand almost 2,000 meters high.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the anime series Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, which aired from 1990-1991, an exhibition is now taking place at Niigata Prefecture Manga and Anime Museum until June 20, 2021. The series was directed by Hideaki Anno who also worked on Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996) and The End of Evangelion (1997).

©ＮＨＫ・ＮＥＰ

The exhibition features a bounty of original materials from the anime’s production, from notes jotted down by Hideaki Anno to image boards, character designs, storyboards and more by Mahiro Maeda, and so on. It’s an unmissable deep-diving opportunity into the anime classic.

Befco is collaborating its Hoshi Tabeyo star-shaped rice crackers with the lovable Peanuts comic strip to open a themed café at Hotel Nikko Niigata. Named the “Hoshi Tabeyo x Snoopy Café @ Hotel Nikko Niigata,” the café will open for a limited time from April 9 to May 9.“

Snoopy and fans of Japanese snacks can look forward to an original themed menu, with every food item and drink ordered getting them a free novelty. Of course, the café will sell its own original merchandise too. The café will be decorated in all things Peanuts and Hoshi Tabeyo, and there will even be two photo booths for snapping a commemorative photo of your fun day.

The Menu

1. Snoopy Beef Stew: With a juicy meat and bouillon base, this stew is made with beef, onion, and mushrooms, all topped off with a Snoopy made from rice.

2. Snoopy Hamburger Curry: Snoopy’s rice ears are topped with a hamburger, and the curry sauce is made with fruit and vegetables. There’s even a little Woodstock made from cheese.

3. Snoopy Hot Sandwich: There are two different sandwiches, one with ham and cheese and the other with potato salad, and both have a different toasted illustration on them. These come in a free lunch box.

4. Hoshi Tabeyo Shaka Shaka Caesar Salad: A salad served in a cup drizzled in a Caesar dressing and with Hoshi Tabeyo rice crackers instead of croutons.

5. Thick Soufflé Pancake: Fat and fluffy pancakes combined with French meringue and served with a Snoopy cookie and sweet-tasting Hoshi Tabeyo. Enjoy together with the accompanying strawberry sauce.

6. Chocolate Parfait: A towering, chocolate-packed parfait layered with chocolate sauce, chocolate cornflakes, chocolate ice cream, and brownie. This is all topped off with a Snoopy cookie and Hoshi Tabeyo rice cracker.

7. Hotel Original Cookies (Set of 4): Crunchy cookies with various prints of familiar faces like Snoopy and Woodstock.

8. Lemonade: A sweet and refreshing lemonade beverage served with honey.

*Dishes 1-3 come with the Shaka Shaka Caesar Salad

*Ordering anything from the menu gets you one of four possible Hoshi Tabeyo x Snoopy postcards

Merchandise

© 2021 Peanuts Worldwide LLC（ 短縮形 © 2021 Peanuts ）

Niigata Prefecture Manga and Anime Museum is currently holding a special event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the popular manga series The Prince of Tennis. Centred on both The Prince of Tennis and The New Prince of Tennis, the event is running until February 14.

©Takeshi Konomi / Shueisha

The event is a must-visit for fans of the manga series, who will get to enjoy seeing drafts by the author, full-colour manga panels, and more. They can also get their hands on a line-up of original merchandise produced for the event.