Nagano
Event
2024.10.21
From 1 December 2024 to 13 January 2025, the Karuizawa Hoshino Area Kera Pond Skating Rink (hereinafter referred to as the Kera Pond Skating Rink), located in the Karuizawa Forest, will offer a new skating experience that immerses you in a fantastic light installation! Stardust Ice Rink” will be held for the first time.
The entire area of the Kela Pond ice rink is decorated with light, creating an installation rich in nature and light. The theme is ‘Mystery of the Forest’. The pond in the forest is dotted with small islands and the trees are decorated with stars, buds and jewellery.
The buds represent the shape of a drop of water and the gemstones represent ice crystals, representing the crystallisation of water into ice. The light emanating from the mirror ball is reflected in the grove of trees, shimmering like countless beautiful stars.
For a limited time, live Irish harp music will be performed. In the crisp winter air, the sparkling of ice crystals and stardust harmonises with the gentle tones of the harp. You can enjoy a special, heart-warming time together with the beautiful scenery of light and ice in the middle of nature.
| Dates: | 20 (Fri) – 25 (Wed) December |
|---|---|
| Time: | 16:30 -, 17:00 -, 10 minutes each. |
The adjacent café sells a winter-only white cocoa. The latte artwork is inspired by a winter starry sky and is studded with arazine to represent twinkling stars.
Starry sky white cocoa 800 yen (incl. tax)
| Period: | 1 December 2024 – 13 January 2025 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 16:00-17:30 (last admission to the skating rink 17:00) |
| Venue: | Karuizawa Hoshino Area, Kera Pond Skating Rink |
| Note: | Usually only the artificial area is open until mid-December. |
The Karuizawa Hoshino Area will be illuminated and decorated from 1 to 25 December 2024. Harunire Terrace, a small town decorated with mistletoe, the symbol of happiness, and Fir Tree Square, with its symbolic tree, are connected by a promenade.
[Aomoriya] “Watsutsu Kaiun Festival,” an event that invites good fortune, and “Tuna Ippon Tsuri Kuji Lottery,” a lottery to catch a tuna, is newly launched.
Okinawa’s popular photographer Saio supports non-profit community
“COSMOSWEETS”, sweets inspired by the mysterious world seen from space
Roppongi Hills Bon Dance 2023 to be held for the first time in 4 years
Samukawa Town, Kanagawa Prefecture: “Samukawa Winter Sunflowers Vol. 2,” a Winter Specialty of Samukawa Town, Tour and Picking Experience
Let’s experience extraordinary things in the park at night “STARLIGHT CAMPZ”
Nara
Countrywide
Kagawa
Kyoto
Countrywide
[New Furano Prince Hotel]This year’s plan to enjoy a snow fairy ‘zebra finch’ birdwatching experience and a lunch set with a zebra finch cake plate.
Hokkaido
[Kyoto Hachikan]Winter trip to Ohara, Kyoto, with a view of the snowy landscape and Osechi cuisine.
Kyoto
[KAI Tsugaru]Tsugaru Nanayuki Kamakura Apero’, an amuse-bouche featuring tunas from Oma and limited-edition sake, inspired by the Tsugaru Nanayuki snowfall.
Aomori
[Minoh, Katsuo-ji Temple.]‘Zero congestion’ measures during the autumn foliage season, such as ‘dedicated shuttle bus service’ and ‘special night-time lighting’, will commence from 9 November 2024 (Saturday).
Osaka
[Hoshino Resort Bandaisan Onsen Hotel]Snowy Bar, where you can taste Aizu’s local sake while watching the snowy landscape.
Fukushima
Limited edition original gin ‘NISHI-GIN’, jointly produced by a group of restaurants in Nishijin, on sale from 25 November.
2024.12.20
Nippon Kodo launches limited-edition incense and incense burner sets with a ‘Snake’ design, the Chinese zodiac sign for 2025.
2024.12.18
Winter special parfait at the Unjo Saryo café in the Tale of Genji Museum, Uji, Kyoto.
2024.12.16
OnigiriBurger ‘Eel Kabayaki – Double Eggs’, newly launched as part of Kansai International Airport OnigiriBurger 1st anniversary menu.
2024.12.13
[New Furano Prince Hotel]This year’s plan to enjoy a snow fairy ‘zebra finch’ birdwatching experience and a lunch set with a zebra finch cake plate.
2024.12.11
Third FUKUCHA brand shop ‘Uji Store’ opens.
2024.12.09
Hiroshima
Art
Simose Art Museum, located in Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture, has been awarded the prestigious Versailles Prize as the “Most Beautiful Museum in the World.”
The award ceremony took place on December 2 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, marking a historic moment for the museum and Japanese architecture.
The Versailles Prize Website:https://www.prix-versailles.com/2024
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Food
December sees the arrival of a number of Christmas breads. The Snowman with his cute smiling face is a sweet loaf with two different flavours: pudding cream and chocolate cream. It is a heartwarming treat with flavours that both children and adults can enjoy.
Also back this year is the popular Japanese Stollen, which was a big hit last year. This is a special cake that can only be tasted at Kimuraya, using Japanese-inspired ingredients such as persimmons, figs and koshi-an (sweet bean paste). Please take this opportunity to try Kimuraya’s limited edition Christmas bread.
Hiroshima
Art
The Hiroshima Museum of Art is hosting the exhibition “ZIPANGU: Contemporary Artists Who Defined the Heisei Era” (November 2, 2024 – December 22, 2024). This showcase brings together works by some of the most prominent figures in Japan’s contemporary art scene, including Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, Makoto Aida, Yoshitomo Nara, Chiharu Shiota, Izumi Kato, Akira Yamaguchi, and Miwa Komatsu. The exhibition has already garnered significant attention, exceeding 10,000 visitors.
HYAKKEI covered the dialogue between contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and Sueo Mizuma, the curator of this exhibition, held at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima. We also conducted an exclusive interview with Mr. Mizuma.
The discussions centered on the aspirations behind the ZIPANGU exhibition and offered forward-looking insights, not only into Japan’s art world but also into the rediscovery of value within Japanese culture by its people.
Osaka
Food
Event
From 25 Oct (Fri) to 8 Dec (Sun), 2024, a pop-up shop for miffy café tokyo will be held in Umeda, Osaka.
Hiroshima
Travel
Culture
Two types of paper seals made exclusively for autumn, ‘Chrysanthemum and Tanzaku’ and ‘Autumn Leaves and Candles’, have been available since Monday 9 September at Daisho-in Temple on the World Heritage island of Miyajima. Quantities are limited and will run out as soon as they are gone.
Kyoto
Restaurant
Event
On selected days in September 2024, the wedding venue Kyoto Art Grace Wedding Hills will offer a ‘Hanari Otsukimi Afternoon Tea’, where guests can enjoy sweets and savouries inspired by the moon viewing on the fifteenth night of the month.
