[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.

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.

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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.

Takamiya Garden Saryo, Minami-ku, Fukuoka City, 18 Jul (Fri) – 11 Aug (Mon, national holiday) Summer event to feel cooler ‘Summer Lights – NATSU NO HI’ Reservations now being accepted.

The Takamiya Teien Saryo will hold its popular seasonal event “Summer Lights” from 18 July (Fri) to 11 August (Mon) 2025.A special dinner course, prepared exclusively for Summer Lights, featuring an abundance of seasonal fish and summer vegetables to bring out the coolness of summer. The meal finishes with shaved ice with matcha green tea, a summery treat. Please enjoy the dishes that gently add coolness to your summer evening in a relaxed atmosphere.

Simose Art Museum: “Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art”Interview Part II: Ryosuke Yoshimura, Kisei Takahashi, Mario Cristiani, and Stefano Pesce

Opened in 2023 in Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture, the Simose Art Museum sits on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, facing the sacred island of Itsukushima. Designed by globally acclaimed architect Shigeru Ban, the museum rose to international prominence when it was awarded the Versailles Prize in December 2024 as the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Museum,’ drawing significant global attention.

To commemorate this achievement, the museum launched its first-ever contemporary art exhibition, Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art, which runs from April 26 to July 21, 2025. Within just ten days of opening, the exhibition surpassed 10,000 visitors—a record-breaking turnout for the museum.

Featuring works by emerging artists born between 1980 and 2000, primarily from across Asia, this special exhibition marks a bold new chapter for the museum as it ventures into contemporary territory.

Following our previous interview, HYAKKEI continues its coverage with insights from Ryosuke Yoshimura, Representative Director of Simose Art Museum; Kisei Takahashi, Board Director of the museum; Mario Cristiani, co-founder of Italy’s leading gallery Galleria Continua; and Stefano Pesce, Advisor of the Mark Tobey Committee CMT.

Simose Art Museum: “Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art”Interview Part I: Chief Curator Keita Saito

Opened in 2023 in Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture, the Simose Art Museum sits on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, facing the sacred island of Itsukushima. Designed by globally acclaimed architect Shigeru Ban, the museum rose to international prominence when it was awarded the Versailles Prize in December 2024 as the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Museum,’ drawing significant global attention.

To commemorate this achievement, the museum launched its first-ever contemporary art exhibition, Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art, which runs from April 26 to July 21, 2025. Within just ten days of opening, the exhibition surpassed 10,000 visitors—a record-breaking turnout for the museum.

Featuring works by emerging artists born between 1980 and 2000, primarily from across Asia, this special exhibition marks a bold new chapter for the museum as it ventures into contemporary territory.

HYAKKEI visited the exhibition shortly after its opening and sat down with Chief Curator and artist Keita Saito for an in-depth interview. “I wanted this project to challenge the current condition of the Japanese art world,” Saito noted.

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Cherry-blossom viewing spots open to the public at 12 venues in 5 areas of VMG HOTELS & UNIQUE VENUES & new cherry-blossom viewing set plan

Spring Cherry Blossom Trip with VMG Group 5 Recommended Points

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

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

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

Takamiya Garden Saryo, Minami-ku, Fukuoka City, 18 Jul (Fri) – 11 Aug (Mon, national holiday) Summer event to feel cooler ‘Summer Lights – NATSU NO HI’ Reservations now being accepted.

Simose Art Museum: “Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art”Interview Part II: Ryosuke Yoshimura, Kisei Takahashi, Mario Cristiani, and Stefano Pesce

Simose Art Museum: “Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art”Interview Part I: Chief Curator Keita Saito

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The Chichu Art Museum’s original products, the “Setouchi Lemon Cake” and “Setouchi Lemon Financier”, are currently available for purchase exclusively within the museum.

Echizen lacquerware made from Noto cypress. Introducing a high-quality wooden tumbler that highlights the beauty of blue.