Spring 2024 at Hoshinoya Karuizawa: Enchanting 'Flower Feast' with Nighttime Lights!

Karuizawa Flower Feast” – A Celebration of Spring’s Arrival

At “Hoshinoya”, known for offering a surreal break from the everyday with each facility themed distinctively, the original location in Nagano Prefecture’s Karuizawa, “Hoshinoya Karuizawa”, will host the “Karuizawa Flower Feast” from March 1st to April 26th, 2024. In this dreamlike space lit by around 300 floral lanterns, the arrival of spring is celebrated. These lanterns, symbolic of Hoshinoya Karuizawa’s landscape, adorn the terraced rice fields, creating a harmonious blend with nature’s soundscape, accompanied by the live performance of elegant Gagaku music, heralding spring. This year, in addition to the nighttime festivities, daytime events are also planned, offering a different charm and performances, so you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing at Hoshinoya Karuizawa during the day as well. The scenery changes from day to night with these beautifully lit floral lanterns, providing a tranquil space where the sound of babbling water adds to the serene experience.

The months of March and April, when wildflowers start to bloom and mountain vegetables begin to sprout, mark the long-awaited arrival of spring after the long winter in Shinshu. It’s a season cherished by the locals. With this in mind, Hoshinoya Karuizawa developed this event to share the joy of welcoming spring. In its third year, the event promises to intensify the joy of transitioning from Shinshu’s long winter to spring, offering distinct experiences of the flower feast by day and night.

Day and Night: A Fantasy Space Blossoming with About 300 Floral Lanterns

As twilight falls over the iconic terraced rice fields of Hoshinoya Karuizawa, about 300 floral lanterns, designed to mimic wildflowers, begin to float. These lanterns are inspired by three types of flowers that bloom on the grounds in spring: Adonis amurensis, Gentiana scabra, and Anemone pseudoaltaica. Every day, staff members light the lanterns by hand, creating a dreamlike space where the lanterns seem to blossom on the water’s surface, their gentle flickering flames adding warmth. This year, we’ve revamped the lanterns for daytime viewing, transitioning from a bud-like appearance by day to a fully bloomed flower by night. This symbolizes the transition from winter to spring. The changing lanterns in the rice fields offer a serene experience, reflecting the passage of time.

Day and Night Offerings Themed Around Spring’s Arrival, Perfect for a Leisurely Cherry Blossom Viewing

In a special area of the terraced fields, where you can leisurely enjoy the view of the floral lanterns, we offer Japanese sake and appetizers to enhance your Flower Feast experience. This year, we’re hosting the event twice a day, celebrating the arrival of spring. During the daytime feast, before the lanterns are lit, enjoy the seasonal sake like “Daishinshu Harukairo Kasumizake”, which evokes the feeling of late winter’s light snow, and “Sawanohana Beau michelle ‘cotton candy'”. For the evening event, as the lanterns light up the fields, savor the vibrant flavors of spring with sakes such as “Hokkoshoumasamune Spring Junmai Ginjo” and “Sawanohana Junmai Daiginjo Hanaakari”. Each session offers these seasonal sakes, providing an elegant moment to heighten your anticipation for spring.

Harmony with Nature’s Sounds: Gagaku Live Performances with a Different Charm by Day and Night

In the enchanting space where the floral lanterns float, we will host live Gagaku performances on weekends throughout the event period. Gagaku, traditionally a music form that values harmony with nature, finds a perfect setting at Hoshinoya Karuizawa, nestled in the mountains at the base of Mt. Asama and surrounded by nature’s changing sounds. The terraced rice fields offer a space where one can experience nature’s symphony: the babbling of flowing water, birdsong, and the occasional rustling of the wind. Musicians will play the shō and biwa in tune with these natural sounds. This year, in sync with the daytime and nighttime changes of the lantern-lit terraced fields and the feast, we will have Gagaku performances featuring spring-invoking melodies during the day and spring-celebrating pieces at night. The natural sounds, along with the refined tones of Gagaku, will add to the mystical and dreamlike atmosphere created by the floral lanterns.

Gagaku Live Performances Every Friday and Saturday

Times: 15:30 / 16:30 / 18:30 / 19:30 (15 minutes each)
Fee: Free
Capacity: Unlimited
Reservation: Not required

Karuizawa Flower Feast” Event Details

Duration: March 1st to April 26th, 2023
Schedule: Daily (Note: Gagaku live performances are held only on Fridays and Saturdays)
Time: 15:00 – 17:00 / 18:00 – 20:00
Fee: Free
Reservation: Not required