HOSHINOYA Karuizawa will host the "Karuizawa Moon-Viewing Banquet 2025" from September 5 to November 30, 2025, offering a unique, elegant experience centered on the autumn moon. Leveraging its diverse landscape of terraced rice paddies and hills, the resort will feature six different moon-viewing locations that change with the lunar phases. Additionally, guests can enjoy the "Moonlit Sake Tasting" nightly on the Yuagari lounge terrace, featuring a selection of autumn sake from around 30 Nagano breweries, allowing for an elegant evening of moon appreciation.
Background
Located at 1,000 meters, the clear autumn air in Karuizawa offers exceptionally beautiful moon views. HOSHINOYA Karuizawa's predecessor, Hoshino Hot Spring Ryokan (founded in 1914), was known for hosting intellectuals who cherished moon viewing—considered one of the final pleasures before the long winter. This annual event revives that cultural tradition, modernizing the elegant practice of holding moon-viewing banquets to allow guests to fully appreciate the long autumn evening.
1. Mangetsu (Full Moon)
An original "Tsukiakari" rice dumpling
The full moon illuminates the area with a gentle light, transforming the entire space into a magical world. The banquet will be held in this mystical setting, offering the "Tsukiakari" rice dumplings, supervised by Japanese confectionery artist Shiho Sakamoto. The rice dumplings are made with gyuhi mochi, representing a cloud covering the moon - when the cloud disappears, a full moon made of apple paste is revealed inside. The elegant and delicate sweetness fills the mouth, allowing the beauty of the full moon to permeate the mind through sight and taste.
Dates: September 5–10, October 4–8, November 2–6
Price: Free
Reservations: Not required
2. Imachi-zuki (Moon Waiting)
Enjoying the "Moon-Waiting Moment" on an icy moon-viewing platform
After the full moon, the moon rises progressively later—a phenomenon known in Japanese as Imachizuki (meaning "waiting for the moon while seated"). A special moon-viewing platform will be set up on the ice, surrounded by a 360-degree forest. With a cocktail made from forest herbs, guests can savor the mystical beauty created as the moonlight illuminates the ice and casts magical shadows on the trees.
Dates: October 9–12, November 7–10
Price: 1,500 JPY (includes tax and service charge, accommodation fee not included)
Reservations: Required (same-day reservations are available)
3. Kagen-no-tsuki (Third-Quarter Moon)
Enjoying "Moonlit Evening Drinks" in a guest room
The third-quarter moon appears quietly in the sky around midnight. In a guest room gently bathed in its serene light, guests can enjoy a selection of autumn sake from Nagano Prefecture and steamed buns featuring the deep flavors of miso and flower beans. Surrounded by an even deeper stillness late at night, guests can forget the passage of time and spend a luxurious and elegant evening to their heart's content.
Dates: September 11–17, October 13–16, November 11–14
Price: Free
Reservations: Required (same-day reservations are available)
4. Ariake-no-tsuki (Dawn Moon)
Enjoying "Gesso Coffee" while admiring the moon at dawn
The "Ariake-no-tsuki" moon is named for remaining in the sky until dawn. The white moon floating in the clear autumn sky possesses a subtle beauty different from that of a nighttime moon. At the Terraced Rice Paddies Lounge, a landscape that symbolizes the resort, guests can enjoy an original "Gesso Coffee" blend with a rich aroma while admiring this refreshing morning moon. This provides a pleasant way to start the day.
Dates: September 18–21, October 17–20, November 15–18
Price: Free
Reservations: Required (same-day reservations are available)
5. Mikatsuki (Crescent Moon)
A "Concert Under the Moon" held on a specially opened hill
The crescent moon, which appears briefly in the western sky at dusk and is traditionally considered a lucky moon due to its fleeting nature, is rarely visible from the resort's usual areas. For this event, a small, typically closed-off hill will be specially opened. Guests can attend a concert there that harmonizes with nature under the moonlight, offering a tranquil and calming moment enveloped by the moon's gentle light and music.
Dates: September 22–27, October 21–26, November 19–24
Price: Free
Reservations: Not required
6. Jyogen-no-tsuki (First-Quarter Moon)
"Moonlit Stretching" before bed
The first-quarter moon, which waxes toward a full moon, is a time when the body tends to be more active. This can also cause heightened tension in the mind and body. Before bedtime, on a gently sloped hill illuminated by the moonlight, guests can engage in deep breathing and leisurely stretching to calmly release the tension accumulated during the day, preparing for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Dates: September 28–October 3, October 27–November 1, November 25–30
Price: Free
Reservations: Required (same-day reservations are available)
Enjoying autumn sake during "Moonlit Sake Tasting" on the terrace of the Yuagari lounge
The "Moonlit Sake Tasting" is a nightly sake tasting event held on the terrace of the Yuagari lounge, offering a feeling of comfort and openness. Nagano Prefecture, blessed with beautiful spring water from its mountains, is one of Japan's leading sake-producing regions. In autumn, a rich variety of seasonal-only sakes, such as hiyaoroshi and akiagari, become available. Guests can savor the fragrant autumn sake selected from approximately 30 of the prefecture’s best breweries under the tranquil moonlight.
Dates: September 5–November 30 (held nightly during the event period)
Price: Free
Reservations: Not required
Karuizawa Moon-Viewing Banquet 2025 - Event Details
Dates: September 5–November 30, 2025
The available moon banquets vary depending on the lunar phase.
Time: "Gesso Coffee" is held in the morning. Other events are held between 4:00 pm and 12:00 am, depending on the lunar phase.
Price: "Moon-Waiting Moment" requires a separate drink fee of 1,500 JPY (includes tax and service charge)
Reservations: Required for some events
Eligible guests: HOSHINOYA Karuizawa guests only
Note: Event times and content may change due to weather conditions.
About HOSHINOYA Karuizawa
HOSHINOYA Karuizawa is a luxury resort located in a tranquil village nestled in a valley. The detached guest pavilions are built around a body of water, and the terraces offer seasonal views. Surrounded by the rich natural environment of the Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary, the resort provides a restful retreat.
Address: Hoshino, Karuizawa, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano 389-0194
Phone: +81-50-3134-8091 (Hoshino Resorts Reservation Center)
Number of rooms: 77
Check-in: 3:00 pm / Check-out: 12:00 pm
Price: Starts from 170,000 JPY per night (per room, includes tax and service charge, meals not included)
Access: Approximately 15 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station (free shuttle bus available) or 40 minutes by car from Usui-Karuizawa IC.
Opened: July 20, 2005
Website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/hoshinoyakaruizawa/
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