The scenic Hoshino Resort Risonare Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture, known for its spectacular views and hot springs, will begin hosting Night Strawberry Tours, inviting couples to pick strawberries in an illuminated greenhouse from January 6 until March 30, 2023. The event is only available on even-numbered days, and only one couple per day can participate. Beni Hoppe Strawberries are a specialty of the area, and this is the 10th event of its kind. Fittingly, guests can enjoy their strawberries with 10 unique condiments. 

Enjoy Fresh Strawberries with 10 Condiments

Guests can enjoy ten unique condiments with their strawberries, including condensed milk, mascarpone, and pistachio. When the mild flavor of condensed milk is combined with savory pistachios, the fresh, full-bodied sweetness of the Beni Hoppe strawberries reaches a new level. Visitors are welcome to ask the staff for the best combinations, or are welcome to experiment themselves!

Pick Strawberries at Night in a Private, Shimmering Greenhouse

After dinner, guests will leave the hotel to begin the Night Strawberry Tour. A red carpet is laid out in the illuminated greenhouse, and those taking part in the tour will enjoy strawberry picking as they sip a glass of rose champagne. 

See how Strawberries are Cultivated

Beni Hoppe strawberries are made by combining the Akihime and Sachinoka varieties. In Japanese, the name means red cheeks, and the name was inspired by the Japanese term hoppe ga ochiru*, meaning “my cheeks are falling off.” This is often used to describe food that’s extremely flavorful. These particular strawberries are award-winning, so visitors won’t want to miss this exclusive experience!

*See Shizuoka Prefecture’s official website for more information.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Yamanashi Sannichi Newspaper & Sannichi YBS Group, teamLab will hold a special illuminated art event on the shore of Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi Prefecture from October 28 until November 13, 2022. Guests will be able to enjoy the Sunset Shore Autumn Leaves Festival at the same time, and at the same venue.

Autonomous Resonating Life – teamLab ©teamLab

Sketch Aquarium – teamLab ©teamLab

The works on display will be Autonomous Resonating Life and the Sketch Aquarium. In Autonomous Resonating Life, guests will wander along the shore, passing by massive colorful and glowing ovoids being pushed and pulled by the wind. When there is no wind, and when no one is touching the ovoids, they will begin to slowly blink.

The Sketch Aquarium invites visitors to color a drawing of a sea creature. Once finished, these creations will come to life in a giant virtual aquarium, swimming together with other creations. Visitors can touch the fish to see them swim away, or can touch a virtual food bag to feed them!

Yamanashi’s Fuji Motosuko Resort is home to the yearly Fuji Shibazakura Festival, one of the most popular spring flower events in Jaapn. From July 16 until October 10, 2022, guests will also be able to enjoy the Rainbow Flower Festival, with over 80,000 blooms decorating the land around Mount Fuji. 

From Left: Coneflowers, Common Zinnia, Begonia, Ageratum

From Left: Scarlet Sage (Sirius), Scarlet Sage (Bonfire), Scarlet Sage (Deep Blue), Coleus

The theme for the inaugural event is ‘Seven Colors of Mount Fuji.’ Visitors will be able to take incredible pictures, with a variety of blooms springing from the Earth in seven beautiful colors. Whether you love begonias or zinnias, you won’t want to miss this one. 

The venue will also feature photo spots that will be perfect for social media, from a rainbow circle bench to the ‘Yellow Door of Happiness.’ A campaign will also be held to choose the best photos of the event posted to Instagram.

Koppe-pan (with Yamanashi Peach Butter and Whipped Cream) / Lava Fried Tofu / Bellflower Mochi Ice Cream / Jewel Soda

A unique food menu featuring everything from lava-shaped fried tofu to fluffy bread with local peach butter will appear at the event.

*Sample image.

Pictures aren’t the only thing you’ll leave with–a selection of souvenirs will be on sale, including ‘Stick Jelly’ made with five types of local fruit puree. These will only be available at the event, so come have a wonderful time visiting Mount Fuji this summer!

The globally popular slice-of-life series Laid-Back Camp is currently serialized in COMIC FUZ.

Set in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Laid-Back Camp is a relaxing series following a group of high school girls going camping and enjoying their daily lives. The original comic has sold over 7 million copies, and the series has helped people around the world destress. In 2018, the first anime series premiered, inspiring a spin-off Room Camp in 2020 and a second season in 2021. An animated film will arrive in theaters on July 1, 2022.

The series has announced a collaboration with Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, which are both depicted in the work, as well as JR Central. The ‘Laid-Back Camp Dramatic Puzzle Solving Game: Two Treasure Maps and a Trip Down Memory Lane’ event will run from July 1 until August 31, 2022. The Rin Route will begin in Kofu and the Nadeshiko Route will start in Shizuoka. Participants will receive a small gift for completing each route.

In conjunction with the event, JR Central will sell special Laid-Back Camp one-day round-trip tickets, and a collaboration train will be decorated with illustrations from the series.

The poster for the event shows new illustrations of Rin and Nadeshiko made by Green House, the illustrators behind Bikkuriman. These illustrations will also appear on a variety of original goods!

When Japan opens again, how would you like to journey through these beautiful areas?

©あfろ・芳文社／野外活動委員会

Le Cafe de Joel Robuchon, located inside Niponbashi Takashimaya, is now offering a special menu in collaboration with the French children’s book characters Gaspard and Lisa! These items will be available until May 31, 2022.

Collaboration Menu

Gaspard and Lisa Plate

Strawberry Galette with Gaspard and Lisa (Served with coffee or tea)

Exclusive Merchandise

Original Pouch

Coaster

Visitors can enjoy a Gaspard and Lisa plate complete with two adorable mini-burgers served with fries and strawberry panna cotta. Those wanting a dessert can grab a buckwheat flour galette covered in strawberries!

The location will be decorated with Paris-themed illustrations from the Gaspard and Lisa picture books during the collaboration, and customers will receive an original pouch and limited edition coaster as order bonuses. Be sure not to miss this little slice of France in Tokyo! 

©2022 Anne Gutman & Georg Hallensleben / Hachette Livre

The Nakamura Keith Haring Collection in Yamanashi Prefecture will be holding a celebratory exhibition in honor of the location’s 15th anniversary from May 14, 2022 until May 7, 2023.

In April 2007, the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection opened in Kobuchisawa, located at the foot of Mt. Yatsugatake. The only museum in the world dedicated entirely to New York-based artist Keith Haring, Kazuo Nakamura collected the works and acts as the director of the museum. Over 300 works of art are on display along with 500 other pieces, from photographs and videos to merchandise. The new exhibition features approximately 150 works.

Three Lithographs (People Ladder), 1985

Icons (Radiant Baby), 1990

Untitled, 1984

Untitled, 1988

Untitled (Subway Drawing), 1981-1983

The ‘Chaos and Hope’ exhibition was originally held during the museum’s first year of operation and looks back at Haring’s first experiences in New York City in 1978. The artist was present at the dawn of the hip-hop movement and was struck by the clash between typical white art and underground minority artists. In only five years, Haring rose to stardom. Sadly, while traveling the world, he contracted AIDS, passing away at the age of 31. Behind the bright and cheerful artwork he left behind, he hid his inner suffering and desire for hope and freedom.

All Keith Haring Artwork ©Keith Haring Foundation
Courtesy of Nakamura Keith Haring Collection.

Fuji-Q Highland will hold a special collaborative event with the popular smartphone game ‘BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!’ from April 29 until June 29, 2022!’ This is the fifth time the two have teamed up, and seven popular characters are being shown in new illustrations, each representing a particular attraction. Announcements made at the park will be made by characters from the mobile title, and guests can enjoy menu items and merchandise exclusive to the event.

The highlight of this year’s event is the Smartphone Stamp Rally, in which visitors can hear the voices of their favorite characters while exploring the spacious grounds. By scanning life-size panels of the members installed throughout the park with their smartphones, visitors can enjoy the stories of each of the seven members read in their own voices. A gift will be given to those who complete the challenge! 

An original rhythm game will be available for a limited time, and those who complete it and scan the QR code will snag an original collaboration wallpaper. Buses at the resort will also be wrapped in ‘BanG Dream!’ decorations.

 ©BanG Dream! Project　©Craft Egg Inc.　©bushiroad All Rights Reserved.

Peter Rabbit’s English Garden, one of the largest English-style gardens in the Tokyo metropolitan area, will open at Fuji Motosuko Resort on April 16, 2022.

Known for the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, an annual springtime cherry blossom event, Peter Rabbit’s Garden is opening at the resort at the perfect time. The garden will include over 300 varieties of plants, trees, and flowers, and visitors can enjoy a photogenic stroll with popular characters. An on-site cafe will offer a lineup of original items inspired by Beatrix Potter’s classic books, including a colorful afternoon tea set and ‘Flowery Latte’ with petals scattered on top. ‘Mr. McGregor’s Vegetable Garden Salad’ is also a light dish perfect for spring.

Cafe Menu

Take Out Menu

Cafe

Original Merchandise

Photo Spot

Shop & Gallery

Original Sticker

Guests can also enjoy a gallery highlighting moments from the Peter Rabbit picture books, from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin to The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, both translated by novelist and poet Mieko Kawakami. The shop will offer original merchandise only available at Fuji Motosuko Resort, including keychains, sweets, and coffee cups. There’s something for adults and children alike, so fans of Peter Rabbit won’t want to miss it!

To commemorate the opening of the garden, a bus decorated with Peter Rabbit and friends will be in operation from April 4 until April 16. This passenger bus will bring visitors from Shinjuku, Yokohama, Shizuoka, and other locations, and those riding will get a special sticker as a bonus.

Come enjoy some time outdoors with Peter this spring!

BEATRIX POTTER(TM) & (C) Frederick Warne & Co.,2022

Cross Hotel Kyoto, a hotel under the ORIX Hotels & Resorts brand, has begun selling two seasonal parfaits at the KIHARU Brasserie Restaurant and Bar. The strawberry desserts will be available until May 5, 2022. 

KIHARU de Parfait – Lady Berry

KIHARU de Parfait – Lady Chocolat

Strawberry and Balsamic Cream Risotto

The Lady Berry is a gorgeous parfait combining strawberry-based sweet and sour sorbet and genoise with yogurt cream and black currant mousse. The Lady Chocolat has a more grown-up flavor and is made with chocolate cream, pistachios, and a rich rum-based mousse that goes well with wine.

The spring menu also includes a unique strawberry risotto, fusing the sweet and sour taste of strawberries and the saltiness of cheese. Other savory spring menu items will also be available for a limited time!

Cafe Toastina, located inside the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Chiba Prefecture, is now offering delicious and very photogenic strawberry sweets and baked goods until March 31, 2022! There are tons of different ways to enjoy the event: the Sheraton Sweets Box is filled with mini-sweets and is available to take with you, and the Friday Sweets Buffet will allow guests to enjoy as many treats as they can! A cute photo wall covered in strawberries will also serve as the perfect photo spot, so visit while you can.

Strawberry Champagne Mousse

Strawberry Mille-feuille

Strawberry Paris-Brest

Strawberry Milk France / Danish with Strawberry & Mascarpone Cream

Sheraton Sweets Box

5-star hotel Aman Tokyo is now offering a strawberry-filled afternoon tea called ‘Strawberry Jewels’ through April 14, 2022. The event is underway at The Lounge by Aman on the hotel’s 33rd floor. From strawberry sweets that look like jewels in a jewelry box to savory items and smoothies, the menu is filled with domestically grown strawberries with both a mellow sweetness and sourness. Guests can also enjoy as much Duval Leroy Brut Reserve Champagne as they like. 

In addition to the original three-tiered black bamboo tray, Aman Tokyo’s special jewelry box containing jewel-like strawberry sweets will be personal-sized this year, and one will be provided to each table. You can enjoy two types of tarts, one with strawberries and cheese, and the other with strawberries and passion fruit. Guests can also enjoy smooth strawberry mousse and fresh strawberries to their heart’s content.

The top of the three-tiered tray includes a waffle and chocolate bowl decorated with strawberry pugs and rich pistachio-flavored cream. Everything from rhubarb tarts to fresh mixed berries and strawberry jellies to macaroons decorate this magnificent tower.

The bottom of the tray includes savory items made with premium ingredients, including pork pastrami and flounder meuniere with scallop mousse. Each item is accented with strawberry powder.

Guests can also choose to enjoy the afternoon tea with unlimited champagne. Which item looks the tastiest? 

Aman Kyoto has started selling the ‘Art of Strawberry’ until April 30, 2022. This year’s eight-layered parfait in a strawberry-shaped bowl was incredibly successful last year, so it is making a triumphant return.

Mini Strawberry Pancakes

Executive Pastry Chef Hiroyuki Matsuo and his team hand-craft each of the delicate candy dishes, and when the lid is opened, fresh strawberries from Kamigamo, Kyoto greet guests. A sweet and sour strawberry compote and a light and fluffy genoise, elegantly sweetened Wasanbon cream, yuzu jelly and jam, and crunchy white chocolate cornflakes will excite the tastebuds. How would you like to try this luxurious dish?