Ishikawa Prefecture is generally split into two areas—Kaga and Noto—and these areas are home to six cities dubbed Kaga no Kuni, or “Kaga Country.” The cities include Kaga, Komatsu, Nomi, Kawakita, Hakusan, and Nonoichi. Today, we’ll be looking at some of the must-visit spots in these cities to visit during the autumn season.

Kaga Country’s Autumn Colours

Natadera Temple in Komatsu

The beautiful Natadera Temple is a symbol of southern Kaga and even has a Michelin star in Michelin Green Guide Japan. It’s home to a large number of important cultural properties such as the picturesque Kigan Yusenkyo Rock Formations. Visitors can ross the Fugetsukyo Bridge to reach the observation deck from which their eyes are treated to all the fiery colours of autumn.

Address: Yu-122 Natamachi, Komatsu, Ishikawa
TEL: 0761-65-2111
Natadera Temple Official Website: http://www.natadera.com/

Kakusenkei Gorges in Kaga

The Kakusenkei Gorges are located in a valley where the Daishoji River runs. Its autumnal beauty is said to be the most beautiful in all of Japan’s Hokuriku region. The 1.3km stretch of the valley has a public footpath which is perfect during autumn as you gaze at the red and yellow leaves overlooking the river below.

Address: Kakusenkei Gorges, Yamanakaonsen Kajikamachi, Ho, Kaga, Ishikawa
TEL: 0761-78-0330
Information: https://www.yamanaka-spa.or.jp/global/eng/view2.html

Matsusaki in Nomi

Matsusaki is an onsen ryokan (hot spring Japanese inn) that was built during the Edo Period. It’s enjoyed greatly for its open-air baths which boast their own water source as well as their kaiseki-ryori traditional Japanese multi-course dinner made using local ingredients. It’s also the setting for the Japanese novel Umi no Naru Toki. It boasts a gorgeous garden with an area that overlooks trees which blossom beautifully in autumn.

Address: 3-1 Tatsunokuchimachi, Nomi, Ishikawa
TEL: 0761-51-3111
Matsusaki Official Website: https://www.matsusaki.jp/

Jumoku Park in Hakusan

The park located by the Ringyoshiken Center in Ishikawa Prefecture is home to a variety of towering regional trees. There are 900 trees of 130 different species, which give rise to beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring. It also enjoy incredible autumn scenery and is home to rolling fields and a Japanese-style garden too. It offers must-see views throughout all four seasons.

Address: Ho-1 Sannomiyamachi, Hakusan, Ishikawa
TEL: 076-272-0673
Information: https://www.pref.ishikawa.lg.jp/ringyo/about/park.html

Aramata Gorge in Komatsu

Aramata Gorge is known as one of the Eight Views of Kano. The Osugidani River flows through this year, and there’s huge strangely shaped rocks and rolling trees which create an incredible sight to see. There’s a 400m path which bustles with people during the autumn months who flock to see the verdure.

Address: Akazemachi, Komatsu, Ishikawa

Bettou Suspension Bridge in Hakusan

Bettou Suspension Bridge is the entryway to the highset peak of Hakusan. The discharge of rocks to the area in 2004 meant that the bridge had to be rebuilt. The towering bridge offers a panoramic view of autumnal trees and bushes.

Address: Shiramine, Hakusan-shi, Ishikawa

Tedori Gorge in Hakusan

The beautiful Tedori Gorge was created as a result of the flow of Tedori River. Along the 8km path, which runs from Komon Bridge to Taizan Bridge, is a 20m-30m precipitous cliff. The surroundings along the bridge are a must-see, bringing people together every year to see the autumn environment.

Address: Kamashimizumachi, Hakusan, Ishikawa

UDS HOTELS is set to open YUEN BETTEI DAITA, a new onsen ryokan (hot spring Japanese inn), in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, on September 28, 2020. The hotel is just a 1-minute walk from Setagaya-Daita Station and an 8-minute walk from Shimokitazawa Station.

YUEN BETTEI DAITA sits in a quiet location surrounded by old, historical Japanese houses and is basked in nature. It houses 300 guest rooms and has open-air baths, a spa, and offers traditional Japanese food the tea ceremony.

The inn is equipped with considerate facilities and has a relaxed atmosphere. It caters to modern day needs while still promising a traditional Japanese inn experience. And it doesn’t have to be just used as a hotel either – guests can just spend the day there in the hot springs if they like, allowing locals to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and their busy Tokyo lives.

The Design

YUEN BETTEI DAITA bases itself on the appearance of residences seen back in Tokyo back in the day. The hotel has taken in furniture and materials that were inherited in a thatched-roof residence in Setagaya which has over a 100 year history, which gives a nod to the history and culture of traditional Japanese architecture, while still incorporating more modern techniques in the wooden roofing and other areas. All of this combines to create a sophisticated Japanese culture-imbued space.

Guest Rooms

There are 35 guest rooms in total, each coming in one of seven types ranging from 19㎡-32㎡. The rooms open up into a tatami and seating area. Guests are provided with yukata and leather-soled geta shoes, and are treated to Japanese tea and confections from local shops.。

Open-air onsen baths (1st Floor)

The large open-air baths receive water from Odakyu Hotel de Yama’s own water source in Hakone. Guests can enjoy looking at a traditional Japanese garden while they bathe and listen to the sound of the water from Mount Fuji. The female baths also have scented mist saunas while the male baths have dry saunas.

Cooking & Tea Ceremony (1st Floor)

Kappou Tsukikage

Enjoy seasonal vegetables harvested from the local farms in Setagaya as well as Japanese sake and wine chosen to pair perfectly with the dishes.

Saryou Tsukikage

Guests can also experience the Japanese ceremony with local tea. Daita was once rich with tea farms, and so guests can look forward to enjoying delicious and authentic tea.

SOJYU spa

If guests want to relax the hotel’s SOJYU spa offers full body massage, original essential oil treatments, and much more. The spa will also be open to non-guests from spring next year.

The Five Story Pagoda of Ruriko Temple is a National Treasure of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The site is commemorating the 600th anniversary since the birth of Sesshū Tōyō, the Japanese master of ink and wash painting, with a special event on September 26 and 27 and October 10 and 11.

The Five Story Pagoda was built in 1442 using skilful architectural techniques from the mid-Muromachi period. It is considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful pagodas.

1,000 candles are set to be lit along the pathway to the pagoda, lighting up the way with enchanting light. The spectacle is set to be posted on the official Yamaguchi Prefecture PR YouTube page so that more people can enjoy the show.

2020 marks the 600th anniversary of Sesshū Tōyō who is considered the most prominent master of ink and wash painting in Japan. In his mid 30’s, he visited Yamaguchi so that he could cross over to China on the Ōuchi clan’s mission to Ming China. He returned to 1483 where he based himself and worked until he passed away in 1506 at age 87.

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU is set to collaborate with Tokyo’s three branches of Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant to serve up a Halloween themed menu. It will be served from September 19 to October 31.

The Halloween season is right around the corner, and the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE is once again joining in with the spooky festivities. This year, the cafe has joined hands with Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant to create a collaborative Halloween menu lineup.

Colourful Rainbow Pasta With Halloween Cream | ¥1,400

Colourful pasta served in rich pumpkin sauce and with a variety of different ghost creams.

Singing Alice’s Caesar Salad | ¥1,360

Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant’s popular Caesar salad heads to KAWAII MONSTER CAFE, an assortment of purple carrots, pumpkin, and other tasty delights. Alice is also hidden in the pasta somewhere as a black witch.

Kingpin Choppy & Henchman Humpty Dumpty Curry | ¥1,300

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s mascot is served wearing a silk hat and comes with his fellow henchman Humpty Dumpty.

Cheshire Cat Splatter Ice Cream | ¥1,100

Soft serve ice cream topped with crunchy cereal, cotton candy, and chocolate, all drizzled in a splattered sweet strawberry sauce.

Customers who post a photo of their foot onto social media with the hashtag #tokyohalloweencollection can enter for a chance to win some Halloween merchandise.

Hisaya-odori Park is a park and shopping complex which opened on Friday (September 18, 2020) in Nagoya, Aichi. It will serve culture, experience, and products next to the newly renovated Nagoya TV Tower.

Hisaya-odori Park

Hammock Day

Park Wagons

The park is split into five areas like Hammock Day where you can kick back in one of the hammocks while listening to music, pick up some produce at the Farmer’s Market, do some morning yoga, and more. The park will also have a line of trucks and wagons selling food, drink, items, and more.

RAYARD Hisaya-odori Park

RAYARD has also opened its second shopping complex at Hisaya-odori Park following the opening of RAYARD MIYASHITA PARK in Shibuya. The complex houses 35 restaurants and shops, 22 of which have never opened a branch in Nagoya before, which will deliver fashion, sports, food, communication, and so on.

A variety of popular cafes in RAYARD are opening in Nagoya for the first time, like the Snoopy-themed PEANUTS Cafe, the the bakery and cafe ESPRESSO D WORKS which is known for its “100 one hundred” bread which is world’s first made with 100% water content, and Karuizawa’s very popular cafe and restaurant Eloise’s Cafe.

There’ll be plenty of sweet treats to tuck into too, like crepes from ROCCA&FRIENDS CREPERIE to TEA which is so popular in Osaka that people can be waiting up to 2 hours in line, matcha desserts from Kyoto-based sweet shop Shimizu-Ippoen, and bonbons from South Korea’s number one cafe Cafe de paris.

If you’re wanting a real meal, enjoy some casual Italian dining at Arcoba which is managed by the former head chef of Kyoto’s famous restaurant IL GHIOTTONE. Or perhaps yakiniku from Yakiniku Tokugawaen which uses Japanese black wagyu from Kyushu as the main meat on its menu. Kouji MARUTANI will also be there serving up local ingredients from Mikawa, food made with koji, a variety of craft sakes, and more.

RAYARD Hisaya-odori Park will offer a wide range of interactive experiences too such as at the creative community cafe FabCafe Nagoya which makes use of 3D printing and digital fabrication, Snow Peak which provides a live view of nature, T4 NAGOYA where you can play ping pon indoors and outdoors, narifuri which sells bicycle apparel, and so on.

There is much and more to see at RAYARD Hisaya-odori Park, so if you’re in Japan this year, head to Nagoya to enjoy the autumn atmosphere.

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens is now taking bookings for its upcoming “Garden Picnic 2020 -Autumn Season-” event which is set to run from September 26 to November 23.

The Gaden Picnic event began in spring last year, and this time around, they’re hosting a special autumn themed picnic. Visitors can expect to tuck into a seasonal food lineup while enjoying the cooling autumn weather.

Garden Picnic 2020 offers a range of picnic rental necessities from food to drinks, desserts, picnic sheets, chopping boards, cutlery sets, dried flowers, garlands, alphabet letters, blackboards, bubbles, and more, so visitors can enjoy a proper and memorable picnic experience—one that will definitely be Instagram worthy—amongst the autumnal verdure of the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens.

The garden paths, flower beds, and the Rokko mountains offer a beautiful outdoor experience throughout all four seasons. Autumn in particular, as the colours of the mountains transition into vibrant red and yellow hues and sway underneath the clear sky. From cosmos to gorgeous globe amaranth, colourful sage, and other autumnal flowers, it’s the perfect setting for an autumn aesthetic picnic.

Halloween arrived at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Japan on September 16 with the “monster HARVEST” collection of themed doughnuts. Available until November 1, the spooky lineup incorporates a selection of Japanese autumn flavours like pumpkin and purple sweet potato.

The doughnut collection is here to put us in the Halloween spirit nice and early. Krispy Kreme Japan’s popular jack-o’-lantern doughnuts are back this year, as are the new black cat doughnuts which first arrived last year. A completely new purple sweet potato flavour was also introduced to the menu on September 1.

Pumpkin Pudding Jack-o’-lantern | ¥240 (Before Tax)

The jack-o’-lantern doughnuts have been made even more delicious for Halloween 2020 by using pumpkins from Hokkaido and filling them with velvety pumpkin Japanese-style pudding. Add to that the chocolate facial features and you’ve got yourself a tantalising treat for the spooky season.

Black Cat Caramel | ¥250 (Before Tax)

A black cat made with big white chocolate eyes and a dark chocolate face topped with crunchy almond pieces and stuffed with caramel cream.

Muchimochi Purple Sweet Potato Mont Blanc | ¥240 (Before Tax)

The tasty, chewy, and hot purple sweet potato doughnut is made with sliced sweet potato and coated in powdered sugar. It’s served hot which makes the flavour even more intense.

Halloween Dozen (12 Doughnuts) | ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

Share a dozen with friends this Halloween which includes not only two of each of the ones already shown, but Krispy Kreme’s popular “Chocolate Sprinkle” and “Original Glazed®” too.

Halloween Mini Box (20 Doughnuts) | ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

There’s also a colourful box of 20 mini versions of the doughnuts too.

Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, is also called the birth place of Japanese culture, with a history spanning 1,200 years. Today, we’re going to take a look at a number of upcoming events and seasonal items on sale in Kyoto for autumn 2020.

Celebrating 300 years of Tango Chirimen

This year marks 300 years since Tango Chirimen was established, a company located in Tango in northern Kyoto that specialises in a Japanese textile of flat woven silk known as ‘chirimen.’ There are many local chirimen brands around Japan, but it is the chirimen from Tango that has stood above the rest these past 300 years. The brand is now looking to the start of a new era for itself during its triple century milestone.

LIFE WITH THE QUALITY

Tango Chirimen is currently displaying a collaborative art exhibit at NEWoMan Shinjuku in Tokyo. This includes the entry display made in collaboration with Japanese artist Saki Tanaka, wall art made from woven fabrics, and more.

Running: Until September 30, 2020

Location: NEWoMan Shinjuku

Lineup: Display in collaboration with Saki Tanaka, wall art, and more

United Arrows x Tango Chirimen

United Arrows is also collaborating with the brand and incorporating their logo mark “TANGO OPEN” on a new men’s t-shirt.

Product Name: BY Tango Broad Wide Form Tapered Shirt
Buy Here: https://store.united-arrows.co.jp/shop/by/goods.html?gid=52838245
Sold at: BEAUTY & YOUTH UNITED ARROWS stores and their official online store

Taste tea from Uji on Japanese Tea Day

It is generally considered that the first tea of the season in Japan is best enjoyed from the end of April and during May, but in fact Japanese tea is the perfect season to enjoy Japanese tea, specially since the country celebrates Japanese Tea Day (Nihoncha no Hi) on October 1 and 31.

Ujicha, or tea from Uji in Kyoto, boasts some of the most famous kinds of teas in Japan. This includes matcha, sencha, and gyokuro, all of which were first grown in southern Kyoto. Because of this, it is said that Ujicha marks the origins of Japanese tea. So when you visit Japan during autumn, why not celebrate Japanese Tea Day with some authentic tea from Uji?

Ujicha Tea Murie Online Course

The Ujicha Tea Murie Course has been held since 2015 in Kyoto, and this year, the course is heading online for the first time as a result of the pandemic. Learn how to make and serve Uji tea from a professional tea instructor as well as its history and more.

Running: Session 1: September 15, 2020 / Session 2: October 2, 2020 / Session 3: October 17, 2020

Book: Online
Requirements: Download and install Zoom
Official Website: https://www.pref.kyoto.jp/yamashiro/ocha/

Certified Ujicha tea cafes for an authentic experience

Tsujiri Rihei Ginza | Tsujiri Rihei Senju

Nakamura Tokichi Ginza

Tsujiri Rihei Ginza, Tsujiri Rihei Senju, and Nakamura Tokichi Ginza are all cafes in Tokyo that are officially recognised for serving authentic Ujicha tea which also includes proper preparation as well as teaching the history and culture behind the tea. These three cafes are also holding an Ujicha tea stamp rally as well as a Twitter hashtag campaign.

CAFETEL Kyoto Sanjo for Ladies, a hotel in Kyoto exclusive to female guests, is offering a new Halloween room plan between October 1 and November 1. There is just one room and it can only be booked for one day between that period. This plan was offered last year and was a resounding success amongst guests.

Last year’s Halloween room took on a more cute and bright theme, but they’re going for something darker this time. The theme this year is “The Secret Witches-Only Get-Together,” with all ideas and designs conceived and handmade by the hotel staff themselves.

Guests will find decorations all around the room, such as bats on doors and walls who will listen in on the witches’ gossip to creepy crawly spiders in the bed. Candles are provided in the room to set the Halloween mood, and there’s even witch and devil costumes and props for guests to dress up in.

Free goodies for the witch get-together

Guests can enjoy a gorgeous view of the Kamogawa River from their room. They are also presented with a free Halloween drink exclusive to those who stay in this room.

Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama is a new hotel which opened on July 1 this year. Easily spotted by its pink exterior, the hotel offers Grand Nikko’s brand concept of guests releasing all of their sense to enjoy a relaxing and sophisticated time while providing a refreshing resort-like experience.

This Halloween, the hotel’s all-dining restaurant Le Jardin will serve up its “Happy Halloween Sweets Buffet” from October 10 to 16.

There will be 20 different desserts to pick from all in pastel colours, offering a different kind of Halloween vibe. Desserts are decorated with cute Halloween motifs like Jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, and pumpkins. The chefs will also be certain desserts in front of guests like pumpkin mont blanc, praline mille-fuille, and pavlova.

There will also be a savoury menu too like roast beef in onion sauce, seafood acqua pazza, bread, salad, soups, and more, as well as soft drinks and non-alcoholic cocktails.

The restaurant will be restricting the number of people allowed in the dining area at once to protect diners during the pandemic.

teamLab Borderless is a world of artwork without boundaries, a museum without a map created by art collective teamLab. Over at their museum in Tokyo, MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: EPSON teamLab Borderless, they are exhibiting a range of autumn themed digital art in time for the changing seasons. Let’s take a closer look at what’s on show.

September Flowers

October Flowers

Proliferating Immense Life – A Whole Year per Year | teamLab, 2020, Interactive Digital Installation, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi

Proliferating Immense Life – A Whole Year per Year looks at the life cycle of flowers. Throughout the year, with the passing of time, flowers bloom and change. They bud, grow, and blossom before their petals begin to wither and eventually fade away. The cycle of growth and decay repeats itself in perpetuity as the flowers propagate. When too many flowers grow, they scatter and fade all at once. When people touch them, the flower petals scatter and fall away

A variety of autumn flowers will be recreated in digital art, such as Blackberry Lily (September) and Red Spider Lily (October). Visitors who touch these digital flowers will see them wither and decay, and subsequently bloom new flowers in their place.

Rice Fields

Autumn Colours
Memory of Topography | teamLab, 2018, Interactive Digital Installation, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi

This artwork installation depicts a rural mountain landscape of varying elevations. The scenery instills in the viewer a feeling of eternal permanence, however with the flow of real time the scenery is continuously changing. In the spring, the rice fields are still small and lush. In summer, they begin to mature, and in fall, they turn a golden color.

The colours of autumn will be depicted in its glorious combination of golds and reds for the exhibit.

Forest of Resonating Lamps – One Stroke, Autumn Mountain | teamLab, 2016, Interactive Installation, Murano Glass, LED, Endless, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi

When a person stands still close to a lamp at Forest of Resonating Lamps – One Stroke, Autumn Mountain, it shines brightly and emits a colour that resonates out. The light becomes the starting point, and it spreads to the two nearest lamps. The light from the two nearest lamps transmits the same colour to other lamps, spreading out continuously. The light transmitted always resonates out as a bright light once, passing to close lamps, until all lamps have shone brightly once, and then returns to the first lamp.

For October, this exhibit will turn into Forest of Resonating Lamps – One Stroke, Autumn Mountain.

Flowers Bloom in an Infinite Universe inside a Teacup | teamLab, 2016, Interactive Digital Installation, Endless, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi

Make tea, and flowers bloom inside the teacup. If you pick up the teacup, the flowers scatter and spread outside of the cup. Flowers bloom infinitely as long as there is tea. The tea in the teacup becomes an infinite world in which the flowers continue to bloom. Drink in the infinitely expanding world.

The exhibition hall’s tea house “EN TEA HOUSE” will see a variety of autumnal flowers used including safflower, dianthus, and Chinese aster for September and cosmos, osmanthus, and chrysanthemum for October.

Sanrio Puroland’s Halloween event “PURO HALLOWEEN PARTY” is now on and is set to run up to Halloween Day, with everyone’s favourite characters dressed in their spooky attire ready to greet guests, themed food and decorations, Halloween illuminations, and more.

Sanrio characters greet guests in their Halloween costumes

Masquerade Party is the theme of this year’s Halloween event at Puroland.

“Miracle Light” Halloween illuminations

Photo Spot

The event welcomes a new illumination show to the beat of Halloween tunes as well as a photo spot that combines cute pastel and stylish dark themes for the Masquerade Party theme.

Meet characters dressed in Masquerade Party outfits

There’s also a chance to meet your favourite characters dressed in Masquerade Party attire for one minute by yourself.

There’s plenty of pastel and dark inspired food and merchandise too, available both at the park and the Sanrio Puroland Online Shop. The park is also carrying out video calls for visitors who can meet the Sanrio characters online using talkport.

Pastel & Dark food menu

The spooky menu includes the “Hello Kitty & Dear Daniel Dark Masquerade Beef Curry,” “Sleepy Pompompurin’s Halloween Beef Ramen,” and more.

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