A Luxurious Cherry Blossom Experience at HOSHINOYA Kyoto

~This year, in addition to the private "Hanazakura Terrace" and Yakatabune (houseboat), we will also offer a cherry blossom viewing breakfast in the "Floating Tea Room" ~
HOSHINOYA Kyoto invites guests to experience the magic of cherry blossoms in a secluded setting with its exclusive "Hanami Stay in Oku-Arashiyama," offered from March 25th to April 9th, 2025. This luxurious escape provides access to three private viewing locations, away from the crowds. Guests will savor welcome cocktails, delectable sweets, and a special dinner on the private "Hanazakura Terrace," surrounded by vibrant weeping cherry blossoms. A serene morning awaits in the "Floating Tea Room," where a cherry blossom viewing breakfast is served with breathtaking views of the Arashiyama Gorge. The experience culminates in an elegant cruise aboard HOSHINOYA Kyoto's private yakatabune (houseboat), "Hisui," where guests can enjoy Japanese sweets, matcha, and the stunning reflection of cherry blossoms on the water. This curated program offers a tranquil and luxurious immersion into the beauty of various cherry blossom varieties, showcasing their diverse charm throughout the day.

Background
Arashiyama has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan (*1), and is usually crowded with tourists during the cherry blossom season. HOSHINOYA Kyoto, however, is located in a valley about 1km away from the famous Togetsukyo Bridge, making it a place where one can enjoy the cherry blossoms slowly and away from the hustle and bustle. During their stay, guests will enjoy a luxurious cherry blossom viewing experience while relaxing in the private "Hanazakura Terrace" and yakatabune (houseboat).

*1 Selected by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Japan Sakura Association

【How to Enjoy Hanami Stay in Oku-Arashiyama】

【Daytime】Enjoy welcome cocktails and sweets while admiring the weeping cherry blossoms
The "Hanazakura Terrace," graced by two weeping cherry trees, welcomes guests with original cocktails and Japanese sweets upon arrival. The signature cocktail features fresh strawberries, their sweet and sour notes enhanced by refreshing sparkling sake. Guests can also savor three seasonal "Ubadama" sweets from Kameya Yoshinaga, a Kyoto confectionery established in 1803. The terrace offers a tranquil setting for a spring afternoon in Okuarashiyama, where guests can relax on sofas or tatami mats, basking in the sunlight filtering through the trees and admiring the cherry blossoms.

【Early Evening】Enjoy a special dinner "Hanami Zen" with plenty of spring ingredients while viewing the evening cherry blossomsA special dinner awaits guests on the "Hanazakura Terrace," where illuminated cherry blossoms create a magical ambiance. The evening's menu highlights the flavors of spring, starting with a selection of appetizers, including bamboo shoot with Japanese pepper sprouts, sea urchin with spring vegetables, and simmered sea bream roe. Following the appetizers, guests can savor thinly sliced cherry sea bream sashimi, a comforting soup of cherry shrimp and princess skin dumplings, and a visually impressive Hanami Zen of mountain vegetable and baby sushi, a culinary masterpiece crafted by the head chef. This memorable meal unfolds in a space surrounded by the ethereal beauty of evening cherry blossoms.

【Morning】Enjoy cherry blossom viewing breakfast "Korin Zen" at the private "Floating Tea Room"
The "Floating Tea Room" offers a unique morning experience. As the sun rises and birds begin to sing, guests can savor the "Korin Zen" cherry blossom viewing breakfast while taking in the beauty of the Arashiyama Gorge. This elegant meal draws inspiration from the Edo-period painter Ogata Korin, who famously presented spring ingredients on gold-lacquered Korin bamboo. Following this tradition, the "Korin Zen" features a cup of mountain cherry vinegar soda, bamboo shoot dumplings in broth, and a selection of delicacies—including cherry sea bream and cherry shrimp—presented on Korin bamboo, accompanied by hand-rolled rice balls with cherry leaves and blossoms. The Yamazakura cherry blossoms, within reach of the tea room, complete this memorable morning.

【Midday】Enjoy Japanese sweets and matcha at the yakatabune (houseboat) "Hisui" while admiring the cherry blossoms in Arashiyama Gorge
A midday respite awaits aboard HOSHINOYA Kyoto's exclusive yakatabune, "Hisui." Guests are treated to special Japanese sweets and warm matcha, curated for this program. The highlight, "Hana no En," is a kinton (bean paste dessert) meticulously created by Yushoku Kashi Gochosho Oimatsu, a confectionery renowned for its tradition and expertise spanning over a century. The sweet's white and pink bean paste coating echoes the beauty of the cherry blossoms blooming on the "Hanazakura Terrace." From the tranquil vantage point of the gently moving "Hisui," guests can appreciate the shimmering reflections of the cherry blossoms and the captivating panorama of Arashiyama.

【HOSHINOYA Kyoto's Exclusive Yakatabune (Houseboat) "Hisui"】
"Hisui" is a yakatabune exclusively for HOSHINOYA Kyoto, where one can enjoy the cherry blossoms in Arashiyama Gorge. It is finished with an elegant space using building materials and decorations that have been popular in Kyoto for a long time. For example, the boat frame uses Kitayama cedar and cypress wood used in Shoin-zukuri architecture, and the "Kiguchi Kakushi," which covers the tips of the wood, uses copper "kazari" metal fittings, which have long been seen in the decorations of pillars and ceilings in temples and other buildings. The interior of the boat has bamboo backrests reminiscent of the "Inuyarai" of a Kyoto townhouse, and cushions with a soft texture dyed with plants and flowers. Guests can also enjoy a private space by lowering the "Misu" (bamboo blinds) on the sides of the boat.   

【Reference】
It is said that the cherry blossoms in Arashiyama originated in the late 13th century when Emperor Kameyama transplanted hundreds of cherry trees from Yoshino, Nara Prefecture. Later, Muso Kokushi, who founded the World Heritage Site "Tenryu-ji Temple," transplanted thousands of Yamazakura cherry trees from Yoshino. Since then, the scenery of Arashiyama has been preserved and passed down by the local people.

Example Stay Schedule
<Day 1>
3:00 pm Check-in
4:00 pm Enjoy welcome cocktails and sweets while admiring the weeping cherry blossoms
6:00 pm Enjoy a special dinner while viewing the evening cherry blossoms

<Day 2>
9:30 am Enjoy a cherry blossom viewing breakfast in the private "Floating Tea Room"
11:00 am Relax and enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets on the yakatabune "Hisui"
12:00 pm Check-out

"Hanami Stay in Oku-Arashiyama" Overview
Period: March 25th - April 9th, 2025
Price: 1 person per group: 150,000 JPY
2 people per group: 170,000 JPY (tax and service charges included)
*Accommodation fee not included
Includes: Private use of "Hanazakura Terrace," welcome cocktails and sweets, special dinner, special breakfast Private use of "Floating Tea Room," private use of yakatabune "Hisui," Japanese sweets, matcha
Location: HOSHINOYA Kyoto Capacity: 1 group per day (1-2 people)
Reservation: Reservations accepted until 14 days prior on the official website (https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/hoshinoyakyoto/)
Remarks: Depending on the blooming status of the cherry blossoms, they may not be in bloom on your stay date. Contents may be partially changed depending on the situation. Cancelled in case of rain on the check-in day.