Hoshinoya Kyoto’s “Hanazakura Terrace” and “Yakatabune”: A Luxurious Cherry Blossom Viewing Experience

Enjoy Cherry Blossoms in Various Forms Throughout the Day with Our Special Stay Program

Located in Arashiyama, Kyoto Prefecture, the riverside ryokan “Hoshinoya Kyoto” offers a luxurious cherry blossom viewing experience called “Oku-Arashiyama Hanami Stay” from March 25 to April 9, 2024. This exclusive program allows guests to enjoy the beauty of weeping cherry trees from the private “Hanazakura Terrace,” complete with welcome cocktails, sweets, and a special dinner. The next morning promises a unique experience aboard Hoshinoya Kyoto’s private boat “Hisui,” offering a special breakfast while admiring the cherry blossoms in Arashikyo illuminated by the morning sun. The stay program is designed for leisurely enjoyment amidst the ever-changing beauty of weeping cherries, Somei Yoshino, and Yamazakura cherry trees.

Arashiyama, a Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spot in Japan, Bustles with Tourists During Sakura Season

Hoshinoya Kyoto, located about 1 km from the famous Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama, offers a serene spot away from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy cherry blossoms. During your stay, relax in your own way on the private “Hanazakura Terrace” or aboard a Yakatabune boat, indulging in luxurious cherry blossom viewing.

Hanazakura Terrace

The “Hanazakura Terrace” is an exclusive area accessible only to participants of the stay program. Directly above the terrace, two weeping cherry trees spread their branches, surrounded by Somei Yoshino and Yamazakura, with a view of the cherry blossoms on the opposite bank of Ogurayama. For a truly immersive experience, a 16-tatami-sized wooden deck and a 4-tatami-sized tatami terrace have been set up for the duration of the event. The wooden deck is furnished with comfortable sofas, perfect for enjoying meals and drinks while cherry blossom viewing. On the tatami terrace, you can lie down and gaze up at the cherry blossoms or enjoy a leisurely read in the dappled sunlight.

How to Enjoy the Oku-Arashiyama Cherry Blossom Stay

【Day】Savor Welcome Cocktails and Sweets while Admiring Weeping Cherry Blossoms

After check-in, at the “Hanazakura Terrace,” guests are treated to welcome cocktails and original Japanese sweets. The welcome cocktail is a special creation made with juicy strawberries, complemented by a refreshing lightly sparkling sake that enhances the sweet and sour flavor of the strawberries.

The sweets are seasonal Ubadama from “Kameya Yoshinaga,” a Kyoto confectioner established in 1803, featuring classic brown sugar, aromatic raspberry, and subtly bitter kumquat flavors, available only in spring.

Relax on the sofa and enjoy a quiet afternoon in the springtime serenity of Oku-Arashiyama.

【Evening】A Special Dinner under the Evening Cherry Blossoms with Spring Ingredients “Hanami Zen”

In the evening, under the lit-up cherry blossoms of the “Hanazakura Terrace,” enjoy a special dinner featuring a plethora of spring ingredients.

The appetizers include a variety of dishes such as bamboo shoot and bud salad, sea urchin marinated with spring greens, and simmered tai roe. The main course features sakura sea bream sashimi, a soup with sakura shrimp and princess skin dumplings, and mountain vegetable sushi. This vibrant meal, created by the head chef, promises a visual feast for the eyes.

Savor this elegant meal amidst the beauty of the cherry blossoms for a leisurely evening.

【Morning】A Gorgeous Special Breakfast “Korin Zen” Aboard the Private Boat “Hisui”

In the morning, board the private boat “Hisui” and enjoy the special breakfast “Korin Zen” while admiring the cherry blossoms in Arashikyo, bathed in soft morning light.

Inspired by Edo-period painter Ogata Korin, who famously served spring ingredients on Korin bamboo leaves during cherry blossom viewings in Arashiyama, the meal is presented on similarly decorated bamboo leaves. The breakfast starts with a cherry blossom vinegar soda and includes dishes like bamboo shoot buns, sakura sea bream, and sakura shrimp, accompanied by temari sushi with sakura leaves and flowers. Enjoy this elegant morning aboard the boat, surrounded by breathtaking cherry blossom views.

Korin bamboo leaves are bamboo skins adorned with gold leaf. According to lore, when Korin and his friends went cherry blossom viewing in Arashiyama, while his companions brought lavish bento boxes with exotic delicacies, Korin alone ate onigiri wrapped in bamboo skin. Initially mocked, it was soon discovered that the bamboo skins were intricately decorated with gold and silver maki-e. After eating, Korin nonchalantly threw these beautiful creations into the Oi River, to the astonishment of all.

Hoshinoya Kyoto’s Exclusive Boat “Hisui”

Hisui is a special Yakatabune boat, exclusively for guests of Hoshinoya Kyoto, offering a splendid view of the cherry blossoms in Arashikyo. The boat’s interior is elegantly designed using traditional materials and decorations beloved in Kyoto.

For instance, the boat’s frame is made from Kitayama cedar and Hinoki wood, commonly used in Shoin-zukuri architecture. The wooden edges are adorned with copper Kazarikanagu, decorative metal fittings historically used in temples and for ceiling ornaments.

Inside the boat, there are bamboo backrests inspired by Kyoto Machiya’s Inuyarai, and cushions dyed with natural plants and flowers, offering a soft texture. By lowering the boat’s Misu (bamboo blinds), guests can enjoy a private and intimate space.

【Day】A Moment to Enjoy Matcha and Wagashi

Before departure, guests can savor a moment with specially crafted Wagashi and warm matcha. The Wagashi are Kinton sweets, specially created for this program by the century-old confectionery “Yusokugashi Gochoshinjo Oimatsu.”

Named “Hana no Utage” (Feast of Flowers), these sweets are inspired by the cherry blossoms at the “Hanazakura Terrace,” wrapped in white and pink Soboro-an (sweet bean paste). Enjoy a relaxing moment with these scenic Wagashi and warm matcha, reflecting the beautiful surroundings.

Sample Stay Schedule

<Day 1>

15:00　Check-In
16:00　Enjoy Welcome Cocktails and Sweets while Admiring Weeping Cherry Blossoms
18:00　Savor a Special Dinner under the Evening Cherry Blossoms

<Day 2>

9:30　Indulge in a Special Breakfast aboard the Private Boat “Hisui”
11:00　Relax with Matcha and Wagashi
12:00　Check-Out

“Oku-Arashiyama Cherry Blossom Stay” Overview

• Duration: March 25 to April 9, 2024
• Price: 100,000 JPY for a single guest per set 132,000 JPY for two guests per set (including tax and service charges, accommodation fee not included)
• Included: Private use of “Hanazakura Terrace,” Welcome Cocktails & Sweets, Special Dinner, Special Breakfast, Private use of the Yakatabune boat “Hisui,” Wagashi, Matcha
• Location: Hoshinoya Kyoto
• Capacity: One set per day (1-2 guests)
• Reservations: Accepted up to 7 days in advance on the official website: https://hoshinoya.com/kyoto/en/
• Note: Please be aware that cherry blossoms may not be in bloom on the date of your stay depending on the flowering conditions. The content may be subject to change depending on circumstances. In case of rain on the day of check-in, the event will be canceled.

For Your Reference

It is said that the cherry blossoms in Arashiyama date back to the late 13th century, when Emperor Kameyama transplanted hundreds of cherry trees from Yoshino in Nara Prefecture. Later, Muso Kokushi, the founder of the World Heritage Site “Tenryu-ji,” transplanted thousands of Yamazakura cherry trees from Yoshino Mountain. Since then, the landscape of Arashiyama has been lovingly preserved by the local community.

Hoshinoya Kyoto

Escape time in a private riverside residence standing in Arashiyama, a place once cherished by Heian aristocrats. From Togetsukyo Bridge, take a boat ride up the Oi River to discover a realm where traditional Japanese techniques breathe life into each room. The flavors of rich Japanese cuisine reflect the scenic beauty of Arashiyama, and guests are offered a serene escape with the picturesque beauty of the four seasons.

Location: 11-2 Arashiyama Genrokuyama-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 616-0007 Phone: 050-3134-8091 (Hoshinoya Reservations) Number of Rooms: 25, Check-In: From 15:00, Check-Out: Until 12:00 Price: From 136,000 JPY per night (per room, including tax and service charge, meals not included) Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Hankyu Arashiyama Station, about 30 minutes by car from Kyoto Minami IC URL: https://hoshinoya.com/kyoto/en/

• Location: 11-2 Arashiyama Genrokuyama-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 616-0007
• Phone: 050-3134-8091 (Hoshinoya General Reservations)
• Number of Rooms: 25 rooms, Check-In: From 15:00, Check-Out: Until 12:00
• Price: From 136,000 JPY per night (per room, including tax and service charge, meals not included)
• Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Hankyu Arashiyama Station, about 30 minutes by car from Kyoto Minami IC
• URL: https://hoshinoya.com/kyoto/en/