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?

Fans of Japan and Japanese culture may know that Kobe’s food scene is not to be missed. A new restaurant, KANBE, is now open and tells the story of the city’s food culture. The grand opening was on November 30 in Sannomiya.  

The story begins with water, the source of Kobe’s food. The city’s famed fare like Kobe beef, Suma salmon, and seasonal vegetables  will take the stage through storytelling, projection mapping, and uniquely planed dishes. Ingredients are served to guests the same day that they are delivered to the restaurant, offering the freshest possible experience. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of drinks made in Kobe, including Nada Gogou sake and Kobe wine. These are made using Nunobiki water from the Rokko mountain range, meaning that everything guests enjoy was truly made in Kobe.

At KANBE, visitors will chat with a storyteller who weaves the story of Kobe’s food into the experience. A chef himself, he is well-versed in cooking methods, food history, and nutrition. 

The 18-meter-long counter adds to the experience by displaying seasonal scenery, the water of Nunobiki, and the night view from Mt. Rokko. Nature sounds, like the murmuring of Nunobiki Falls and the chirping of birds, also echo through the restaurant in time with the projection mapping, creating an atmosphere that feels alive.

Why not come enjoy a new kind of dining experience?

Kobe is filled with famous sightseeing spots like the nostalgic Ijinkan neighborhood and port. The city is packed with fashionable shops and restaurants and is highly regarded for its selection of tasty sweets!

The port city, with over 150 years of history, has fostered a unique and diverse culinary culture.

Recently, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began starring in a series of promotional videos for the Gastropolis Kobe project. The artist traveled to the city to partake in plenty of delicious treats, and MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON went along for the ride! Here are some of the singer’s favorite spots around town.

Kobe, known as a city where East meets West, is lined with sweets shops that are unique to the area.

The tea salon TOOTH TOOTH Dekoboko Sabo opened in 2019 in the Kobe City Museum and offers a menu that mixes Western food and sweets with tea and ingredients from traditional Japanese cuisine. Kyary ordered the Dekoboko Sabo Afternoon Tea Set, a collection of western sweets blended with the essence of traditional Japanese flavors. Guests are invited to enjoy their tea and sweets in a one-of-a-kind space filled with Meiji period flare and retro Western furniture. Those interested will need to make a reservation, so be sure to remember the next time you’re in Kobe.

TOOTH TOOTH Decoboco Sabo

Address: 24 Kyomachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe (Inside the Kobe City Museum)

Hours: 9:30-17:30 (Last Order at 16:30) 

Closed Mondays

Official Site: https://toothtooth.com/restaurant/decoboco-sabo

The next stop was Kobe Nankin-machi, one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan. Kobe MILK is known nationwide for its Apricot Pudding, which is made with local ingredients. The raw apricot pudding is mixed with milk brought from the foot of Mt. Rokko and other ingredients from Hyogo Prefecture. Of course, Kyary ordered some, and was amazed by its fluffy texture. You can only enjoy it in Kobe–also, the shop sells other puddings mixed with seasonal fruits, so don’t miss those either!

Kobe MILK

Address: Shin-Motomachi Building 1F (1 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe)

Hours: Weekdays 9:30-19:00 / Weekends 9:30-19:30

Official Site: https://kobe-milk.com

For Kyary’s final stop, the singer visited the Moore House, a cafe located in a building with over 100 years of history. Guests are surrounded by greenery, and the Western-style building is incredibly elegant. The Strawberry Mille-feuille Kyary ordered was created by an expert patissier and based on the strawberry mille-feuille recipe from the legendary French restaurant Maxim’s de Paris in Ginza. A generous amount of custard cream complements the crispy pie crust and enhances the sweetness of the fresh strawberries. We’d recommend it with a glass of champagne–if you’re of age.

Kitano Ijin-kan Moore House

Address: 2-9-3 Kitanocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe

Hours: 11:00-17:00

Closed Tuesdays

Official Site: https://www.kitanomoore.com/cafe/

The streets of Kobe are packed with sweets that you can only enjoy if you visit. Why not come experience these incredible spots like Kyary did?

Kobe Sweets Trailer: https://youtu.be/Sx9B1ZdAvlI

Kobe is filled with famous sightseeing spots like the nostalgic Ijinkan neighborhood and port. The city is packed with fashionable shops and restaurants and is highly regarded for its Kobe beef restaurants and tasty local spirits.

Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Kobe is surrounded by rich nature and produces plenty of tasty veggies while also bringing in tons of fresh fish. The port city, with over 150 years of history, has fostered a unique and diverse culinary culture.

Recently, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began starring in a series of promotional videos for the Gastropolis Kobe project. The artist traveled to the city to partake in plenty of delicious fare, and MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON tagged along. Let’s take a look at her top picks!

Kobe beef is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name of this Japanese city, right?

Teppanyaki restaurant Tajima, located in the Kobe Portopia Hotel, serves Kobe beef along with other Japanese black beef, seafood, and seasonal vegetables.

Kyary ordered the Kobe beef loin and seasonal grilled vegetables, watching with excitement as the chef prepared the meal in front of her. The steak is made from carefully selected Kobe beef and melts in your mouth. Tajima has private rooms as well as counter seating, making it a perfect location for everything from a family get-together to a first date.

Teppanyaki Tajima

Address: Kobe Portopia Hotel 2F (6-10-1 Minatojima Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe)

Hours:

11:30-14:30

17:30-21:30 *Open at 17:00 on weekends and holidays

Open Daily

Official site：https://www.portopia.co.jp/restaurant/detail/tajima/

What goes better with Kobe beef than local sake? One area of the city, Nada Gogou, has an incredibly high concentration of sake breweries.

Nada Gogo Sake Brewery opened in April 2022 in a renovated building that was formerly the location of Kenbishi, a long-established local sake brewer with over 500 years of history.

Visitors can enjoy sake and cuisine from 26 breweries in the area under the themes of ‘Seasonal, Local, Compatible, Fermentation.’ Here, Kyary ordered the Nada Gogou Set which includes the best possible food and drink pairings. Limited to 100 servings each day, the set includes five different sake and three seasonal small plates perfecting for pairing. The drinks and food offerings change with the seasons, allowing guests to enjoy tons of unique flavors from the region no matter what time they visit.

Nada Gogou Brewery

Address: 3-11-2 Mikagehonmachi, Hagashinada-ku, Kobe

Hours: 12:00-21:00 *Opens until 20:00 on Sunday and holidays

Closed Monday-Thursday

Official Site: https://nadagogo.com/

GOCOCU is an all-day buffet restaurant in the Kobe Portopia Hotel where guests can enjoy dishes using carefully selected ingredients from the five Hyogo provinces (Settsu, Harima, Tajima, Tanba, and Awaji) with a spectacular view of Kobe. Visitors can enjoy the chef’s specialties including roasted and grilled dishes cooked in a custom-made stone oven. The restaurant is also known for its selection of alcoholic beverages, and Kyary enjoyed the Fukuju Junmai Ginjo. This particular sake has won many awards in Japan and abroad, including a gold medal at the National Sake Competition for three consecutive years. Popular for its smooth rice flavor, this well-loved brand uses rice and rice malt grown in Hyogo Prefecture. Adults can enjoy this and many more delicious beverages during buffet hours and cocktail hours after 8:30 or 9:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

GOCOCU ~Blessings of the Five Kingdoms~

Address: Kobe Portopia Hotel 30F (6-10-1 Minatojima Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe)

Hours: 7:00-10:30, 11:30-15:00, 17:30-21:00, 20:30-23:00

Open Daily

Official Site: https://www.portopia.co.jp/restaurant/detail/gococu/

Founded in 1659, Kiku Masamune is a leader in the sake industry. We visited the Kiku Masamune Sake Factory, opened to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its handy barreled sake, perfect for allowing customers to enjoy barrel-aged sake at home easily. Visitors can enjoy browsing sake barrels, with many created using traditional barrel making techniques that are still used today. They can also enjoy an exhibition of Yoshino cedar, the material used to make the barrels. Tours are by appointment only. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, so early reservations are recommended!

Kiku Masamune Sake Factory

Address: Uozaki Nishimachi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe

Tour Times: 10:30~, 14:00~, 15:00~ (Each tour is approximately 30 minutes.)

Closed during New Year’s holidays.

Official Site: https://www.kikumasamune.co.jp/tarusake-mf/

*No outside food or beverages are allowed inside the factory. Tastings are available at the Memorial Hall after the tour.

After reading this, you’re interested in coming to Kobe, right? Enjoy some of this savory fare the next time you’re in the area. 

Kobe Beef Version:https://youtu.be/-HrNq6JGO3A

Nada Sake Version: https://youtu.be/cd9_f59NWIw

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is now starring in a series of promotional videos for Gastropolis Kobe, a project aiming to share the city’s incredible food culture with both domestic and international travelers. The project began on November 3, 2022.

[Kobe Beef Version]　https://youtu.be/-HrNq6JGO3A

In the new videos, Kyary experiences the wonders of Kobe beef as well as local sake and desserts while exploring the city’s best sightseeing spots. T

The main video will be aired on a massive screen near Shibuya Station in Tokyo starting in mid-November, and will also be available to watch online.

[Nada Sake Version]　https://youtu.be/cd9_f59NWIw

[Kobe Sweets Version] https://youtu.be/Sx9B1ZdAvlI

To celebrate the campaign, four popular restaurants in Tokyo will participate in the Gastropolis Kobe Fair, inviting guests to enjoy cuisine from the capital of Hyogo Prefecture.

Interview with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Q: After filming, what was your impression of Kobe? 

A:  “I took pictures in all kinds of places, but honestly, they were all so close to each other. It was easy to get around and see everything–it only took between 15 and 20 minutes to get somewhere, and shooting went smoothly, so I was really able to enjoy every second!”

Q: What’s your overall impression of Kobe’s cuisine?

A: “There was so much amazing food. Everything was delicious and I ate and drink so much…because of how much drinking was involved in this shoot, I felt like food and alcohol were really connected in Kobe. Even between takes, the staff would ask if I wanted to try something or have another drink. I was so moved by the warmth and kindness of the people I met. This trip was filled with love and hospitality.”

Q: You traveled around Kobe, right? What was your favorite place? 

A: “I love fashion and history, and Kobe had so many incredible historical buildings. I wanted to have tea at a place like that, and the view at night was unbelievable. I thought it was a great date spot or even a place you could spend time with your family and friends. I loved watching the big boats in the harbor.” 

Q: There are only two months left in 2022. Is there anything you still want to do? 

A: “I’ve been on my Japan tour since January, so I’d finally like to relax a little bit. Maybe eat some good food and go to a hot spring. 

Q: Do you have a message for the readers?

A: “The two days of shooting in Kobe were incredible. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the drinks were divine. I’d love to return on my own trip! I hope everyone enjoys the videos!”

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 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.

Sumiya Kihoan, a cozy inn at Yunohana Onsen in Kameoka City in Kyoto, opened a unique new guest room on April 28, 2022. The room’s concept is “where guests can stay in the middle of contemporary art,” and was inspired by the works of internationally-acclaimed contemporary artist Yukinori Yanagi. The new room, created as part of the Art Room Project, has been named ‘Kofuu.’

The Icarus Corridor Connecting Heaven and Earth

Heavenly Bath Welcoming a Rainbow at Dusk

In-Ground Bath Featuring Oribe Glazed Ceramic

Concept Drawing of the Art Room Project by Yukinori Yanagi

The new room includes an open-air bath where guests can be transported into the world of Yanagi’s contemporary art while gazing at the gorgeous Kyoto landscape. Upon entering the inn, guests are greeted by a long corridor leading to the bedrooms, dining room, and two creative open-air baths. The space was created in collaboration with Yanagi and local artists and craftsmen, such as potter Ishii Naoto, obi craftsman Yamaguchi Genbei X, plasterer Kusumi Akira, and Japanese paper craftsman Hatano Wakaru. A delicious menu is prepared by chef Hosoi Kunihiko.