KAI Alps, a hot spring inn located in Omachi Onsen, Nagano Prefecture, surrounded by the Northern Alps, will be holding its first ever winter-only light-up event, “Yukiguni Gangi Akari,” from December 20, 2025 to February 28, 2026.
The setting for the event is the "Gangi", an architectural style that has been passed down since the Edo period in Omachi city and the Shinetsu region, which once flourished as post towns in Shinshu. As an "arcade in a snowy region" that supports life in areas with heavy snowfall, it has fostered and protected interaction between people even during the harsh winter. At KAI Alps, this culture has been given a modern twist and will be lit up to create a unique winter landscape.
The retro gate and the warmly lit snow lights in the gangi-style corridor create a fantastical landscape of snow and light. It's a luxurious way to spend a winter night in the Shinshu countryside, and it's a charming way to enjoy a heartwarming time.
Additionally, there will be hands-on programs such as making mini snow huts and roasting rice cakes over a hearth during the event, allowing you to create warm winter memories while experiencing the culture and lifestyle of a snowy country up close.
Feature 1: Enjoy the fantastic snow scenery in the illuminated Gangi Corridor
The gangi at KAI Alps is the very image of a "snow country post town."
Snow piles up on the gangi, allowing you to enjoy a luxurious Japanese snow scene. The gently falling snow is lit up by the lights, quietly coloring the nostalgic snow country night.
Feature 2: Experience making a snow hut and lighting a candle
Gangi corridors were once places where children would play in the snow and people would foster friendships.
At KAI Alps, you can experience something unique to a snowy country, set in these gangi corridors. The "Kamakura Snow Lanterns," in which you create a miniature snow hut and light a candle inside, further enhance the fantastical space created by the interweaving of snow and light.
Feature 3: Rice cakes grilled over charcoal in the hearth and warm sake
Beyond the snow-lit gangway corridor stretches a warm hearth space where a fire is burning.
Here, you can experience roasting mochi, a traditional treat in the cold winters of Shinshu, over the charcoal fire of the hearth. Enjoy the square mochi, a type of mochi common in Nagano Prefecture, accompanied by two types of miso (green onion miso and sesame walnut miso) made at a Shinshu brewery. Shinshu is particularly known for its walnuts, and the sesame walnut miso offers a taste that allows you to experience the food culture of this region even more deeply.
Around the hearth, you will find "Nagiso Neko," a traditional winter garment from the Nagiso region that gently wraps around the body and is designed to make winter crafts easier. Some of the garments are made using Shinshu Tsumugi, an original fabric from KAI Alps, allowing you to get warm while experiencing the traditional ways of life in the countryside. You can also enjoy some warm sake, warming both body and soul.
Overview of "Snow Country Gangi Akari"
Period: December 20, 2025 - February 28, 2026
Fee: Free (only available to guests staying at the hotel)
Time: 16:00 - 21:30
Kamakura Snow Lantern Making: 16:00 -, 16:30 - (30 minutes each) *Capacity: 10 groups, 20 people each
Illumination Viewing: 19:00 - 20:00
Local Fun (Roasted Mochi and Hot Sake): 19:00 - 21:30
*This experience may not be possible depending on the weather and the condition of the kamakura.
Information
Hoshino Resorts KAI Alps
website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/kaialps/
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