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 covered walkways at Kai Alps are the epitome of a "snow country inn."
Snow piles up on top of the walkways, allowing you to enjoy a luxurious Japanese snowscape. The gently falling snow is illuminated by the lights, creating a quiet and nostalgic atmosphere for the snow country night.
Feature 2: Experience making a snow hut and lighting a candle
gangi) were once places where children played in the snow and people fostered connections.
At Kai Alps, you can have a unique snow country experience set against the backdrop of these covered walkway corridors. The "Snow Lantern Snow Hut" activity, where you build a handmade mini-igloo and light candles inside, further enhances the fantastical space created by the interplay of snow and light.
Feature 3: Rice cakes grilled over charcoal in the hearth and warm sake
Beyond the covered walkway illuminated by snowlight lies a space with a warm hearth where a fire burns.
Here, you can experience grilling mochi (rice cakes), a staple of Shinshu's cold winters, over charcoal in the hearth. You can enjoy the square mochi, common in Nagano Prefecture, with two types of miso (green onion miso and sesame walnut miso) made at a Shinshu brewery. Shinshu is particularly known as a famous production area for walnuts, and the sesame walnut miso offers a deeper taste of the region's food culture.
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
Price: Free (Participation only for hotel guests)
Time: 16:00 - 21:30
Snow lantern making in snow huts: 16:00 - 16:30 - (30 minutes each) *Capacity: 10 groups (20 people) each session
Light-up viewing: 19:00 - 20:00
Local food (grilled mochi and hot sake): 19:00 - 21:30
*May not be available depending on the weather and the condition of the snow huts
Information
Hoshino Resorts Kai Alps
Website:https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/kaialps/
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