Miyagi

Event

[YOKI MATSUSHIMA] ‘Moon Road’: A Stay Experience to Savour the Nights of the Full and New Moons Now on Sale

2026.09.23

‘YOKI MATSUSHIMA’, a slow luxury hotel that opened on 10 August 2026 in Matsushima—one of Japan’s Three Great Views—has launched a stay experience designed to immerse guests in the beauty of Matsushima.
Two types of kaiseki meals are available year-round: the ‘Full Moon Kaiseki’, which expresses the power of the waxing moon, and the ‘New Moon Kaiseki’, designed to harmonise body and mind. Furthermore, on actual full moon nights, the hotel offers a unique ‘Slow Luxury’ experience that is truly characteristic of Matsushima, a location long cherished as a famous spot for moon viewing.

[Full Moon Kaiseki] The Bounty of Miyagi and Sanriku: A Culinary Delight

Featuring an extravagant selection of Tohoku’s finest produce from both sea and mountain, including bluefin tuna from Shiogama, shark’s fin from Kesennuma, Sanriku abalone and Sendai Kuroge Wagyu beef. This special kaiseki meal is brimming with energy, embodying the power of the waxing moon.

[New Moon Kaiseki] A ‘Regenerative’ Culinary Experience Blending the Wisdom of Medicinal Cuisine – On the night the moon hides its face, body and mind are quietly reborn

Drawing on the expertise of Professor Yuko Sasaki of Sendai Shirayuri Women’s University, this menu incorporates the ancient wisdom of medicinal cuisine. Featuring autumn vegetables and ‘San-gen’ pork raised according to traditional Chinese medicine principles, this gentle kaiseki meal helps reset your body and mind on a quiet night when the moon is hidden, restoring balance from within.

Breakfast: ‘Seasonal Delights and Local Bounty to Start the Day’

Centred around perfectly cooked white rice—prepared in a traditional cast-iron pot using carefully selected rice from local contract farmers—and featuring charcoal-grilled fish, dashimaki tamago (rolled omelette) and freshly shaved bonito flakes, we bring you the bounty of the Matsushima region whilst cherishing our connections with local producers and artisans.

A special experience held once a month, exclusively on nights of the full moon

At ‘Moon Road’, we organise seasonal events in Matsushima—beyond simply serving kaiseki cuisine—that can only be enjoyed on nights of the full moon. By varying the locations and methods of moon-gazing, we invite you to savour the unique facets of Matsushima that can only be encountered on that particular night and in that particular season, even when viewing the same full moon.

September–October: ‘Special Night-time Viewing of the National Treasure, Zuigan-ji Temple’
Enjoy an exclusive private viewing of Zuigan-ji Temple after closing time, accompanied by commentary from a monk.
Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Matsushima whilst savouring the tranquil atmosphere of Zuigan-ji Temple as it glows in the moonlight.
November: ‘Viewing the Full Moon from the Sky’
A special experience aboard a hot-air balloon, gazing at the full moon from the sky whilst taking in the night-time views of Matsushima.
December: ‘Viewing the Full Moon from the Sea’
Admire the full moon and the islands of Matsushima at night from the sea aboard a small boat.

*The details of each month’s experience are subject to change. We will provide further information as soon as they are finalised.

New

New

Featured articles

Shiga

JP info

‘Tsunagu Yado Kihē’, a guesthouse limited to one booking per day, opens in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture

‘Tsunaagu Yado Kihē’, an accommodation facility limited to one group per day, has opened in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, and reservations are now being accepted via Rakuten Travel. To commemorate the opening, a campaign entitled ‘#A Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip at an Accommodation Limited to One Group Per Day’ is being held, offering a complimentary two-day, one-night stay. As this is an accommodation limited to one group per day, guests can enjoy a special time with their loved ones that would not be possible elsewhere.

Aomori

Event

SAKURA

Winter Cherry Blossom Illuminations: Enjoy cherry blossoms in winter at Hirosaki Park, Aomori Prefecture

Hirosaki Park hosts the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival annually from late April to early May. Renowned as one of Japan’s three great night-time cherry blossom views and a sight to behold before you die, this popular spot attracts visitors from around the world to witness the simultaneous blooming of approximately 2,600 cherry trees of 50 varieties. To coincide with the peak snow season, the “Winter Sakura Illumination” will be held from Monday, 1st December 2025 to Saturday, 28th February 2026.

Kumamoto

JP info

[Minamioguni Town, Aso District]Information on new facilities and refurbished establishments around Kurokawa Onsen

Discover newly opened facilities and refurbished establishments in and around Kurokawa Onsen (Minamioguni Town, Kumamoto Prefecture). Each spot lies within a 5-10 minute drive from Kurokawa Onsen town, making them easy to visit between hot spring hopping. From new ventures by long-established inns to cafés nestled in lush satoyama landscapes and restaurants dedicated to local ingredients, these spots brim with diverse appeal. Explore them as fresh ways to enjoy Kurokawa Onsen.

Tochigi

JP info

Avoid the traffic and enjoy the autumn colours of Oku-Nikko at dawn: “SPACIA X NIKKO CRUISER’s Early Morning Autumn Foliage Tour” now on sale

From October 2025, we shall commence operations of the high-grade chartered coach ‘SPACIA X NIKKO CRUISER’ as a new secondary transport service within the Nikko area. To commemorate the launch, Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd. has planned the ‘SPACIA X NIKKO CRUISER Early Morning Autumn Foliage Viewing Journey’, which will go on sale from Friday, 12 September 2025.

Countrywide

Event

Eighty Years After the War: A Reflection on the Preciousness of Ordinary Life YUKIKAZE – In Theaters Nationwide from August 15, 2025

“To Return Alive, To Bring Others Home Alive”

Opening nationwide on August 15, 2025—marking eighty years since the end of World War II—YUKIKAZE is a feature film based on the true story of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) destroyer Yukikaze, a vessel that rescued countless lives amid the horrors of war. A press screening was held in advance at the Sony Pictures screening room.

The destroyer Yukikaze, which served throughout the Pacific War, was renowned for rescuing numerous sailors thrown into the sea during fierce naval battles, surviving to the end of the war virtually unscathed. It earned the legendary moniker “the lucky ship.” This film brings to life the ship’s heroic journey, alongside the lives of those who persevered through one of the most turbulent eras in modern history.

Leading the cast is Yutaka Takenouchi as Captain Kazutoshi Terasawa—a fictional amalgamation inspired by the real-life captains of Yukikaze. Hiroshi Tamaki portrays Petty Officer First Class Kohei Hayase. Supporting roles are delivered by an ensemble of acclaimed actors including Daiken Okudaira, Rena Tanaka, Kanji Ishimaru, and Toru Masuoka. Kiichi Nakai delivers a commanding performance as Vice Admiral Seiichi Itō, the Second Fleet Commander of the IJN who met his fate aboard the battleship Yamato.

In today’s world, once again shaken by division and violence, YUKIKAZE poses an urgent question to those of us living in the peace that others fought to protect: Are we once again treading the path of past mistakes? As collective memory of the war fades, this film becomes ever more vital—a call to reflect on the true value of peace.

Pick Up

Pick Up