Lifestyle shop Awesome Store is collaborating with the MIMARU hotel chain to create a secluded and supremely cozy Christmas Room. The special room will only be available from December 1 until December 25, 2021. Each spacious room features a kitchen and is decorated with plenty of holiday goodness, making it the best place to spend the Christmas season with family and friends. 

Original tableware from Awesome Store will be left in each room, so guests can easily throw a Christmas party by having food delivered or grabbing takeout. There’s no need to decorate, as the space will be completely overrun by ornaments and garlands. How would you like to spend Christmas here? 

Not a fan of Valentine’s Day? Want to get away from all the in-your-face romance and just have a good time with your gal pals? OMO7 Asahikawa by Hoshino Resort in Hokkaido is offering a limited-time polar bear-themed Valentine’s Day Girls’ Party package for all of February 2022. The single polar bear room, opened in November 2020, will be transformed into its Valentine’s Day version. 

Valentine’s Day has been popular in Japan for many years and is a day when women give gifts to men to express their feelings. However, in recent years, it has also become a less romantic event for some–people are buying chocolate for themselves, or giving candies to friends. The polar bear room is perfect for girlfriends who just want to relax and have a good time. Why a polar bear? The Asahikawa Zoo is nearby and is an incredibly popular attraction.

The Polar Bear Valentine Room, Only Available for One Party per Day

Decorated from top to bottom in cute bears, guests can also wear matching polar bear loungewear, perfect for those Instagram shots. This will be a girls’ gathering you’ll never forget!

Polar Bear-inspired Snacks for the Perfect Girls’ Night

When girls get together, they just love to chat. But talking so much can make you hungry, so plenty of snacks will be waiting in the guest room! If you’re not in the snacking mood, they also make wonderful souvenirs. 

Polar Bear Desserts, A Must-Have in Asahikawa

The area around OMO7 Asahikawa is lined with stylish cafes where you can take a break from your daily life. After enjoying the Valentine’s Room, head out into the nearby neighborhood to Fukuyoshi Cafe for some polar bear sweets. The treats are included with the price of the room, so there’s no reason to miss it!

Nijo Castle in Kyoto is one of seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, built by the Tokugawa Shogunate. It’s worth a visit on a trip to the old capital of Japan, but a new event is making it even more exciting! From November 5 until December 12, 2021, guests to the castle at night can enjoy projection mapping across the castle grounds and a collection of food from Kyoto’s most famous restaurants.

The giant interactive light show will take over 400 square meters, and was created by the company Creative AI. By analyzing environmental information such as density and location of visitors and surrounding weather, the art will change to engage the senses. Shifting light and sound will enhance Nijo Castle’s beauty–guests should pay special attention to the Karamon Gate, an Important Cultural Property, and the Ninomaru Garden. This is the first of these evening parties held in Kyoto, meant to infuse traditional Japanese culture with modern innovations.

Kyoto is a city that has been based around Feng Shui since ancient times, with a local saying claiming that the water flowing beneath Nijo Castle carries good energy. These thoughts resonated with the historical figures that lived in Kyoto during the construction of the castle, and they believed that the spot was special. The Ninomaru Garden is the perfect location to use this new technology to bring this energy to life!

The Kyoto location of Japanese sneaker shop atmos will begin hosting a solo exhibition by Sevnzel, an illustrator associated with the creative group SSS by applibot! The event will take place between October 30 and November 7, 2021. 

Lineup

Sevnzel #424D99-BLISTER PACK GOSPEL 01 atmos Ver.

Sevnzel #424D99-BLISTER PACK GOSPEL 01

atmos × Sevnzel Collaboration L/S TEE NAVY

atmos × Sevnzel Collaboration L/S TEE WHITE 

Sevnzel has worked on character designs for Pokemon Sun & Moon and Tensai TV Kun hello, and also created the animated mascots for the NEC LAVIE VEGA laptop. The artist has been posting pages from a new full-art comic titled #424D99 on his Twitter page for some time, and the long-awaited first paperback volume has just been released. 

At Sevnzel’s first solo exhibition in September, the artist displayed and sold oversized printed panels of each page of the new comic. A performance at the atmos Sendagaya store also utilized projectors and monitors, with the artist completely taking over the space. 

During the exhibition at the atmos Kyoto location, unique blister packs featuring the first volume of his comic will be on sale. These will come in two versions: a standard version and an atmos collaborative version, which has only been produced in limited quantities. Collaborative T-shirts will also be available during the event period. 

Guests can also enjoy oversized posters of pages from the manga, as well as newly drawn works of characters from the series from other SSS by applibot members including representative Masafumi Takagi, Mai Yoneyama, BUNBUN, Taiki, PALOW., ISSSAI, and NAJI Yanagida. 

Hoshinoya hotels each offer a unique experience with their own theme. The Otemachi-based Yoshinoya Tokyo has announced the new “Tokyo Lantern Dinner,” which has been proposed to suit the ‘New Normal’ of the Covid-19 generation. The new dining option was opened to customers from October 13 2021 and blends the new rules of restaurant partitions and mask wearing with Japanese culture, using lantern partitions to allow customers to enjoy their food with peace of mind. Customers can remove their mask as they sit under the lantern partition, which lights up your face and meal with a soft glow, meaning you can safely enjoy conversation and see your partner’s face as you talk and eat. Conveniently, the lantern also prevents splashing, making eating out in the Covid-19 era even easier! 

The Lantern Partition was Developed with a Long-Established Lantern Company

Nippon Cuisine ~Fermented~

The partition lanterns were created by Kojima Shoten, a long-established lantern shop based in Kyoto which was founded in the Kansei-Edo period. The original lantern-shape was crafted by the professionals, from the structure all the way to the painting. The unique shape of this elastic lantern allows customers to enter and exit freely, and part of the lantern has been made using a 0.15mm transparent vinyl meaning that face-to-face conversations can be held with ease. In addition, the lantern is equipped with a light that gently illuminates the face and food of the person seated beneath it.

Yoshinoya Tokyo usually only accepts dining reservations from those staying at the hotel, but customers can now invite non-guests specifically to enjoy the main meal together.  They have prepared a variety of options for meetings and events that previously couldn’t meet up due to the Covid situation, such as meetings between families before marriage, anniversaries, birthdays, business dinners, and more. 

Hoshinoya Tokyo is a Japanese Inn that respectfully combines the comforts of the modern day with traditional Japanese culture. The dining room, located on the first basement floor, offers ‘Nippon Cuisine’ made using a combination of Japan’s historical fermentation culture and French cooking techniques.  The menu includes a wide variety of ever-popular fermented foods and seasonings, such as soy sauce and miso, along with preserved foods such as pickles and salted fish. The lactic acidosis bacteria found in these foods is referred to as a “Good Bacteria,” known for its positive effects on the body and its ability to regulate gut bacteria. 

The taste and nutritional value of each meal has increased due to fermentation and aging, using seasonal ingredients from around Japan and French cooking techniques to bring out the flavor, resulting in a new and original taste. 

Why not check out Hoshinoya Tokyo and experience this new-era Japanese dining experience for yourself?

The ‘1F Lounge & Bar 1867’ at the Kyoto Yura Hotel M Gallery will be hosting a Halloween themed afternoon tea from October 1 2021, with tea sets and cocktails available. The premium hotel is owned by Accor, a Paris, France based group that owns over 5,000 hotels and resorts in 110 countries.

The Halloween-themed afternoon tea has been made by Jennie Chiu, a pastry chef who grew up in America, the home of Halloween. The afternoon tea features cute and playful monster motifs, including a witch-hat Mont Blanc, a Cassis and Chestnut Cake topped with a small ghost, and a spider-web topped Raspberry and Chocolate Mousse. For savory treats, Chef Nishimura Niki has prepared Foie Gras soaked in Salted Koji, plus two luxurious lobster dishes.

The creative Halloween cocktails were brainstormed by Yamazaki Sousei, who ranked in the Japan Top 10 category of bartending competition ‘WORLD CLASS 2021.’ The Halloween and apple pie inspired lineup was inspired by Scotland and the Celtic people, looking back to when Halloween was first celebrated. 

Enjoy some adult-only time in this retro-modern “family mansion” themed space. 

Sunshine City Prince Hotel has revealed a new “Uramichi Oniisan” themed plan, available to reserve for a limited time between October 2 and December 31.

Hotel Staff Costume Illustration

 Pajama Costume Chibi Illustration

©Kuze Gaku・Ichijinsha / Uramichi Oniisan Production Comittee

Star Can Badge / Hotel Keychain / Mask Case (URA & OMOTE ) / Original Notepad / Hotel Key Card 

Cafe & Dining ‘Chef’s Palette’ Original Drink with Bonus Coaster

‘URA-Room’ with Chibi Character Illustration

The ‘Uramichi Oniisan’ anime became a hit in Summer 2021, known for its cast of famous voice actors.

The new artwork produced for the hotel features the characters in hotel staff uniforms and pajamas, perfect for the hotel-themed collaboration. The ‘OMOTE ROOM’ is designed using the new illustrations, while the ‘URA ROOM’ uses the chibi characters. Each room features a sound clip from Uramichi Omoteda (CV: Kamiya Hiroshi). Original merchandise and drinks are available to guests, plus the famous “Bird Finding Game” is available to play in each room, making it a must-see for fans!

Dive into the ‘Uramichi Oniisan’ world with this new collaboration hotel room!

Founded in 1803, Tsuruya Yoshinobu is a famous Japanese sweets shop specializing in wagashi, or traditional Japanese confections. To celebrate Halloween, the shop is now selling some themed treats through the end of October. 

Halloween Pumpkin/Halloween Ghost Japanese Sweets

Happy Halloween Cookie Assortment

The celebration of Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, before later being Christianized as All Hallow’s Day. A day to ward off evil spirits and celebrate the fall harvest, it has become a much less serious holiday in recent decades. Children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door asking for candy, and the past is largely forgotten. The sweets available at Tsuruya Yoshinobu are decorated with cute expressions and are sure to be a hit at tea time with friends and family. Be sure to keep an eye out for the ghosts, featuring six different expressions!

Japanese sweets aren’t as strong as their American counterparts, and each is sculpted like a work of art. These will melt in your mouth and are perfect for enjoying with matcha, tea, or coffee! Be sure to fill out the blank card along with the cookie gift box for a thoughtful gift this holiday season.

Adventure World, a zoo and theme park in Shirahama, Wakayama prefecture, is teaming up with the Nanki-Shirahama Marriott Hotel to celebrate the first birthday of baby panda Fuhin. This room plan will only be available from November 1, 2021, until March 31, 2022, and will include a fully themed room, an original mini-photo book of the panda’s growth to date, and plenty of other Fuhin amenities and goods!

Fuhin 1st Anniversary Room

Collaboration Burger ‘Marriott Panda Burger’ 

The Fuhin 1st Anniversary Room is a mixed Japanese-Western style room with an ocean view. The walls, blankets, and tatami are all covered in panda imagery, while portions of the room’s lighting are made from bamboo as a part of Adventure World’s quest to create more sustainable products. The special ‘COCOAR’ app will also allow guests to enjoy a moving photo frame featuring Guhin by holding their smartphone over the word ‘Fuhin’ on the wall. 

The limited-time Marriott Panda Burger uses the same recipe as the normal burger, but with a panda-shaped bun created along with Adventure World staff. How would you like to come and celebrate Fuhin’s birthday beside the sea? 

Your Favorite Panda Instagram Campaign

By taking a picture of one of the seven giant pandas at Adventure World (Eimei, Rauhin, Ouhin, Touhin, Yuhin, Saihin, Fuuhin) and posting it to Instagram with the two campaign hashtags (#推しパンダマリオット and #InsertFavoritePandasNameHere), 20 winners will be selected to receive special Adventure World goods!

Constructed in 1175, the Kurodani Temple is one of the head temples of the Jodo Sect of Buddhism. Though typically closed to the public, the grounds will open for a short period to allow guests to experience some beautiful autumn scenery beginning November 12, 2021. This temple is associated with the Shinsengumi and served as the headquarters of the Aizu Clan at the end of the Edo period, so those interested in history won’t want to miss out on this incredible opportunity. 

[Night] Shiun Garden

[Day] Autumn Leaves at the Main Gate

[Day] Shiun Garden

[Night] Autumn Leaves at the Main Gate

Temple Grounds at Sunset

The Tiger’s Room

Ohoujou Garden

Founders Hall

Live Koto Performance

Gokoushiyuiamidabutsu, ‘Afro Buddha’ 

Guests will be able to enjoy the gorgeous autumn temple scenery during both daytime and nighttime, with the night viewing also offering some traditional Japanese live music. Visitors can also see various temple treasures and historical items, as well as the Tiger Room, known for its painted doors. The unique and aptly named Afro Buddha will also be on display. After training for an extremely long period of time, the Buddha’s hair piled up, giving him this strangely modern appearance. 

On a clear day, guests will be able to see clear to the Abeno Harukas building in Osaka. Vividly painted ceilings and other statues will completely surround visitors in spiritual history. At night, traditional Japanese music will be played at three different times in the front gardens. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the temple will offer a Premium Plan, allowing interested guests to enter the grounds 30 minutes before general admission starts. (This will require reservations made on the official website.) This will also include a guided tour!

How would you like to experience this piece of Japanese history while surrounded by unforgettable autumn foliage? 

Moshi Moshi Nippon has delivered news on tons of Halloween treats this holiday season, but can there ever really be enough? Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyo has announced a special two-day-only Halloween Sweets Buffet on October 30 and 31 at the location’s Flyer’s Table restaurant on the second floor. 

Pumpkin Cheese Tart

Ghost Mousse

Black Cream Puff

Guests can enjoy a variety of spooky treats all incorporating fall flavors like chestnut, pumpkin, sweet potato, pear, and apple. Offerings include the Pumpkin Cheese Tart, a mildly-sweet cheese tart made with sour cream, cottage cheese, and cream cheese, and topped with pumpkin cream; the Ghost Mousse, a chestnut mousse made to look like a ghoul; and the Black Cream Puff, made with black cocoa and a cassis cream filling. 

At the demonstration corner, guests can see the Sweet Potato Mont Blanc being made. Those wanting something besides sweets can enjoy a selection of sandwiches decorated in Halloween style!

How would you like to enjoy a snowman-shaped Christmas cake and champagne while overlooking Tokyo Tower? The new Scoolove Christmas Accommodation Plan from the Prince Park Tower Tokyo is offering this incredibly festive experience from December 1 until December 26, 2021!

The TOKYO HONEY PROJECT, a product planning team made up exclusively of female hoteliers, has devised this romantic plan in the hopes of making Christmas magical and memorable again. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many couples haven’t had the chance to spend any special time together, so what better time than the holiday season? 

The word ‘Scoolove’ is a combination of ‘scoop’ and love,’ and while scooping up and enjoying this tasty snowman treat, the team hopes that couples will deepen their relationship and enjoy some much-needed quality time together. The head of the snowman is made from matcha ganache wrapped in kumquat cheesecake mousse, while the body is made of baked cheesecake accented with a raspberry jam. With these two competing flavors, every bite is sure to be interesting!