LOUNGE /
TRAVEL
February 14, 2025
Secure that luxurious time of cherry blossom viewing in 2025.
HOSHINOYA | The Ultimate Cherry Blossom Viewing Experience in Modern Japan
Cherry blossoms herald the arrival of spring. While captivated by their beauty, many likely regret not having had time to truly appreciate them each year. Why not create a special time to connect with the cherry blossoms this year? Hoshino Resorts' premier brand, HOSHINOYA, offers three exclusive 'prime seats' to reclaim the ultimate luxury of 'enjoying the scenery'—a Japanese sentiment we may have forgotten.
Reflections as Spring Approaches
Mid-February. Amidst the lingering cold, a gentle sunlight begins to filter through, and the air gradually takes on a spring-like quality. While at my desk, I glance out the window and see a faint light beyond the bare winter trees lining the street, hinting at the coming of spring.
Yes, the cherry blossom season is almost here. But have we truly savored them in recent years? The lively evening cherry blossom parties with colleagues after work were enjoyable, certainly, but did we have time to appreciate the blossoms themselves to our heart's content?
HOSHINOYA proposes a luxurious way to spend time: 'enjoying the scenery,' for the modern individual. Take, for instance, HOSHINOYA Kyoto, nestled deep within Arashiyama. The 'Oku-Arashiyama Cherry Blossom Sojourn' offered here is a true embodiment of Japanese elegance.
During your stay, indulge in a luxurious cherry blossom viewing experience at the 'Kao Terrace.' Sip on a strawberry cocktail celebrating spring's arrival while gazing at the weeping cherry trees overhead and the surrounding blossoms. Surrounded by the sweet fragrance of cherry blossoms and spring, you can spend a special time away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
In the evening, enjoy cherry blossom viewing under the moonlight. Unlike illuminated blossoms, those bathed in moonlight possess a profound, ethereal beauty, reminiscent of a sumi-e ink painting. The 'Hanami-zen' (cherry blossom viewing meal) prepared for this occasion features delicate flavors using seasonal ingredients, designed to complement the cherry blossom scenery.
On the second day, charter the traditional roofed boat, 'Hisui,' to admire the cherry blossoms of Arashiyama from the water. The reflection of the blossoms on the river's surface creates a truly otherworldly scene. Imagine the noble figures of the Heian period and immerse yourself in the joy of welcoming spring. Enjoy matcha and traditional sweets while quietly savoring the moment amidst the cherry blossom scenery.
HOSHINOYA Kyoto 'Oku-Arashiyama Cherry Blossom Sojourn' Overview
Period | March 25 - April 9, 2025
Price | ¥150,000 per group of 1
¥170,000 per group of 2 (tax and service charge included) *Accommodation fee separate
Includes: Private use of 'Kao Terrace,' welcome cocktail & sweets, special dinner, special breakfast, private use of 'Kūchū Chashitsu' (空中茶室), private use of roofed boat 'Hisui,' Japanese sweets, matcha
Location | HOSHINOYA Kyoto
Capacity | 1 group per day (1-2 people)
Reservations |Official Websiteaccepted up to 14 days in advance
Notes | Cherry blossoms may not be in bloom on your chosen dates depending on the blooming status. Contents may be subject to change. The experience will be canceled in case of rain on the check-in day.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
3:00 PM Check-in
4:00 PM Enjoy welcome cocktails and sweets while admiring weeping cherry blossoms
6:00 PM Savor a special dinner while enjoying the evening cherry blossoms
Day 2
9:30 AM Enjoy a cherry blossom breakfast in the private 'Kūchū Chashitsu'
11:00 AM Spend time at leisure on the roofed boat 'Hisui' with matcha and Japanese sweets
12:00 PM Check-out
Meanwhile, HOSHINOYA Fuji proposes a unique cherry blossom viewing experience: the 'Togenkyo Glamping Lunch.' The view of the peach blossom paradise from a hilltop in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is truly picturesque. Against the backdrop of snow-capped Southern Alps, a carpet of pink peach blossoms stretches out. At a private peach orchard, enjoy a glamping lunch—a luxurious course meal that tells the story from blossom to fruit—while taking in this extraordinary scenery.
HOSHINOYA Fuji 'Togenkyo Glamping Lunch' Overview
Period | March 20 - April 10, 2025
Price | ¥50,000 per person (tax and service charge included, accommodation and transportation fees separate)
Location | Hōtōen (a peach orchard in Fuefuki City)
Time | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Includes: 'Moment of Beginning' (original cocktail), lunch, wine pairing
Capacity | 1 group per day (2-3 people)
Reservations | Accepted via official website up to 14 days in advance
Notes | May be canceled due to rain or strong winds. Blooming period may vary depending on weather. Meal contents are subject to change without notice.
Sample Itinerary
10:00 AM Depart from HOSHINOYA Fuji
11:00 AM Enjoy the 'Moment of Beginning' at a prime spot overlooking the peach blossom paradise
12:00 PM Arrive at Hōtōen, savor a course lunch in a private peach orchard
3:00 PM Depart from Hōtōen
4:00 PM Arrive back at HOSHINOYA Fuji
Furthermore, HOSHINOYA Tokyo presents the 'Hanagumi Stay' (花笑み滞在), designed for a deeper appreciation of spring's arrival. Especially for spring, a time of milestones and new beginnings, it offers a special experience to share with loved ones. The flowers adorning the rooms and the facility are arranged collaboratively by guests, HOSHINOYA Tokyo staff, and a dedicated ikebana artist. This concept allows for seasonal cherry blossom arrangements. Hopes and sentiments are entrusted to the flowers, creating a unique space.
During your stay, relax your body and mind with a spa treatment using safflower, which symbolizes 'special person,' and feel the vibrancy of spring with a 'Komachi-beni' (小町紅) application experience, a traditional rouge that captivated Edo-period women. Moreover, the 'Ohanabako-zukuri' (お花箱づくり) allows you to create a tangible memory with loved ones by packing carefully chosen flowers into a paulownia box. Viewing cherry blossoms from a guest room in a premier hotel, away from the urban bustle, evokes the serene atmosphere of a Japanese painting.
HOSHINOYA Tokyo 'Hanagumi Stay' Overview
Period: March 1 - May 31, 2025
Price: ¥102,425 for 2 people, ¥145,855 for 3 people (tax and service charge included, accommodation fee separate)
Includes: Pre-stay consultation (approx. 1 hour), early check-in (30 min), spa treatment (for 2), Komachi-beni application experience (for 2), Ohanabako-zukuri (for 2)
Capacity: 1 group per day (up to 3 people)
Reservations: Required
Reservation Method:Official Websiterequired 21 days in advance
Eligible Guests: HOSHINOYA Tokyo guests
Notes: Contents may be subject to change depending on circumstances. Flower costs are not included in the price.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
2:30 PM Early check-in
3:00 PM 'Spa Treatment' to promote well-being with safflower-dyed herbal compresses
5:00 PM 'Komachi-beni Application Experience,' wishing each other happiness with traditional Japanese rouge
7:00 PM Dinner 'Nippon Cuisine ~A Gathering of Gastronomy~' (separate charge)
Day 2
8:00 AM Breakfast 'Mezame no Asashoku' (別料金) (separate charge)
10:00 AM 'Ohanabako-zukuri,' creating a keepsake filled with your sentiments
12:00 PM Check-out
In our daily lives, saturated with information, modern people are overwhelmingly losing the time to 'enjoy the scenery.' Of course, lively cherry blossom viewings with friends create wonderful memories. However, isn't it also necessary at times to pause and truly engage with the scenery before you?
The cherry blossom experiences proposed by HOSHINOYA remind us of this luxurious way of spending time—'enjoying the scenery.' Your long-dormant senses will be gently, yet surely, awakened.