2024.12.23
The Kurokawa Onsen Tourist Inn Cooperative Association will host an event with bamboo illumination and food and drink booths from 21 December 2024 to 31 March 2025.
The ‘Yuakari’ illumination began in winter 2012 and is now in its 13th year. Around 300 spherical ‘ball lanterns’ and 2m high ‘tube lanterns’ are arranged to blend into the natural landscape and are lit from 5:30pm to 9:30pm.
This year, for a limited period (20-12/26 December), 100 red lanterns will be hung from shops and spaces throughout the spa area, and a ‘Yuakari Yokocho’ with 10 food, drink and event stalls will be held. Please enjoy this event in conjunction with the festival.
| Period: | 21st December 2024 (Earth) – 31st March 2025 (Moon) |
|---|---|
| Time: | 17:30～21:30 |
Kurokawa Onsen is working on thinning and regenerating bamboo forests to preserve the environment, and the Yuakari event was planned as part of these activities. The profits from the Yuakari will be used to maintain the event and protect the beautiful and rich environment in the area.
| Period: | 20 December 2024 (Gold) – 26 December (Wood) |
|---|---|
| Time: | 17:30～21:30 |
Kawabata Street, lined with 100 lanterns, will be crowded with food, drink and event booths from 10 shops, including kappo sake, grilled eel skewers, a proprietress’s bar and bill games, all typical of Kurokawa Onsen.
Recognised as a World Geopark and a World Agricultural Heritage Site, the Aso region, with its magnificent panorama, is an area where traditions and culture nurtured by history still live on, as well as a rich natural environment.
The Aso region has created a unique world view through the creation of landscapes in harmony with the natural environment and the “Bathing Pass”, which allows visitors to tour the open-air baths. Currently, around 900,000 people visit the region each year to enjoy the hot springs and natural landscape (300,000 of whom stay overnight).
Changed name to Keisei Sakura Station / Sakura City Hall? “Sakura, a town dyed by cherry blossoms” campaign
From Okinawa to the world! Okinawa historical story spelled out with video art and music, Ryukyu entertainment and martial arts
Fireworks Christmas on the superb view terrace! Winter terrace & plan with warm benefits
[Hotel Gajoen Tokyo] One of the largest Hina Festival in Tokyo, “Millennium Hina Meguri: Thoughts Passed Down from the Heian Period to the Present Day – Hyakudan Hina Festival 2024” to be held.
Sunshine City 2019 — Welcome to Christmas City
Experience the autumn flavours of Kyoto, such as kujo leeks and white miso, with all your senses.
Nara
Countrywide
Kagawa
Kyoto
Countrywide
Kurokawa Onsen Yuakari, a fantastic illumination of bamboo in the countryside. This season, ‘Yuakari Yokocho’ is only open for a limited time.
Kumamoto
[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
Kurokawa Onsen Yuakari, a fantastic illumination of bamboo in the countryside. This season, ‘Yuakari Yokocho’ is only open for a limited time.
2024.12.23
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
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.
