Hoshinoya Karuizawa: Prime Cherry Blossom Viewing Over Terraced Fields

Elegant Dining Overlooking Lit-Up Rice Terraces

At “Hoshinoya Karuizawa” in Nagano Prefecture, from March 1 to April 26, 2024, guests can indulge in a special dinner accompanied by rosé champagne, all while seated in a prime location overlooking the fantastical scenery of terraced rice fields. This unique event, known as the “Floral Feast Dinner”, offers an enchanting view.

The highlight of the meal is a three-tiered box filled with the rich flavors of seasonal mountain vegetables and river fish. During this period, the iconic terraced rice fields of Hoshinoya Karuizawa are illuminated with about 300 floral lanterns, creating a dreamlike atmosphere for the “Karuizawa Flower Feast”.

In March and April, when the mountains begin to sprout and wild vegetables are harvested, the people of Shinshu celebrate the end of the long winter and the arrival of spring.

Hoshinoya Karuizawa annually hosts the “Karuizawa Flower Feast” as a celebration of the coming of spring. This event is an opportunity to share the joy of spring’s arrival, with a unique cherry blossom viewing experience. The idea for this dining experience emerged from a desire to offer a moment to savor the onset of spring through dishes abundantly featuring spring heralds like wild vegetables and river fish.

Spring’s Three-Tiered Box: A Transition from Winter to Spring

The highlight of the cherry blossom viewing meal is a three-tiered box, themed around the transition from winter to spring. Each tier of the box represents the changing scenery of Shinshu, from the melting snow to the blooming flowers. As you open each layer, you can experience the arrival of spring with all your senses. This special dinner lets you enjoy the vibrant spring with both your eyes and taste buds through flavorful seasonal mountain vegetables and river fish.

<First Tier> Melting Snow

The first tier features dishes that remind you of the lingering frosty snow, like white and translucent tai (sea bream) sushi wrapped in kelp, and a skewered sushi of delicately grilled anago (conger eel). Additional items like anago sushi and lotus root stuffed with a savory filling, represent the scene of snow gradually melting away.

<Second Tier> Budding

The second tier is filled with spring delights, featuring crunchy and slightly bitter wild vegetables like fiddleheads and urui in a light broth, and crispy tempura of deer meat and budding fiddleheads. This tier captures the essence of spring, symbolizing the sudden burst of growth and greenery.

<Third Tier> Bloom

The third tier celebrates the blossoming of spring with dishes like hanamame (flower beans), yurine (lily bulb) carved into flower shapes, and tempura that imagines young sweetfish swimming joyfully in spring waters. This tier offers a feast for both the eyes and palate, embodying the full splendor of spring in this region.

A Dining Experience in a Prime Seat Overlooking the Enchanting Terraced Fields

At Hoshinoya Karuizawa, a special seat is reserved for just one group on the terrace, offering a panoramic view of the iconic terraced rice fields. During the event period, about 300 floral lanterns, designed to resemble wildflowers, light up the terraced fields, allowing guests to enjoy their meals amidst this dreamlike scenery.

The floral lanterns are a seasonal decoration inspired by flowers such as Adonis, Gentiana, and Eastern Skunk Cabbage, which bloom in the grounds of Hoshinoya Karuizawa in spring. These lanterns, floating as if flowers are blooming on the water’s surface, along with the gentle flicker of the flames, create a uniquely enchanting dining experience, exclusive to Hoshinoya Karuizawa.

Enjoy a Limited Edition Rosé Champagne with Cherry Blossom Dining

In this dining experience, guests can savor the “Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Robe Petal,” a spring-hued rosé champagne, available exclusively and ahead of its general release. Laurent-Perrier, founded in 1812, is a prestigious Champagne house known for its dedication to producing authentic rosé champagne, distinguished by its meticulous production methods and unique bottle design.

The “Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Robe Petal” offered in this event is a special rosé champagne, limited to only 1,200 bottles in Japan, featuring a design inspired by petals (*1). Laurent-Perrier’s rosé champagnes are renowned for their richness of aroma, unique to the maceration method (*2) used, and their elegant freshness enhances the splendor of the “Floral Feast Dinner.”

*1: ‘Petal’ in French, symbolizing flower petals.
*2: A method where rosé wine is initially fermented and then undergoes a second fermentation. It’s a labor-intensive process known for producing stable color and complexity.

Introducing the Champagne House “Laurent-Perrier”

Founded in 1812, Laurent-Perrier is now one of the world’s leading and respected Champagne houses. The Laurent-Perrier lineup, while diverse in character, shares the unwavering style of the maison: a commitment to freshness, purity, and elegance. It’s this devotion to quality that defines their champagnes. Each variety’s unique personality, coupled with the underlying steadfast philosophy, offers a profound taste and additional joy in various settings. Laurent-Perrier is a champagne house that provides a deep appreciation and greater pleasure with its nuanced and steadfast essence.

“Floral Feast Dinner” Overview

• Duration: March 1 to April 26, 2024 (excluding certain days)
• Serving Time: From 17:30
• Price: ¥45,000 per group (tax and service charge included), *Excluding accommodation fees
• Includes: Three-tiered box, two servings each of appetizer, simmered dish, and dessert
• Optional: One bottle of Suntory’s “Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Robe Petal” for ¥30,250 (tax and service charge included)
• Capacity: Limited to one group of two people per day
• Reservation: Bookings can be made through the official website (https://hoshinoya.com/karuizawa/en/) until 24:00, 10 days prior to the desired date
• Eligibility: Exclusive to guests staying at Hoshinoya Karuizawa
• Note: The content of the dishes and the origin of the ingredients may change depending on the availability of produce.

Hoshinoya Karuizawa

Stay in a secluded village nestled in a valley. The detached guest rooms surround a waterside, with terraces offering views of the changing seasons. Facing the “Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest,” this resort provides a rich natural environment for a restful stay.

• Location: 389-0194 Nagano Prefecture, Karuizawa, Hoshino
• Phone: 050-3134-8091 (Hoshinoya General Reservations)
• Number of Rooms: 77
• Check-In: 15:00 / Check-Out: 12:00
• Price: From ¥112,000 per night (per room, tax and service charge included, meals separate)
• Access: About 15 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station (free shuttle bus available), approximately 25 minutes by car from Usui-Karuizawa IC