Hoshinoya Karuizawa, the original property of the Hoshinoya brand, is holding "Karuizawa Autumn Moon Banquet" from September 1 to November 30, 2026, offering a one-night-only moon-viewing experience at seven premium seats set up around the property, timed to the moon's phases. Now in its fourth year, this year's event introduces the "Shine Muscat and Anno Sweet Potato Full Moon Parfait," a dessert packed with Shinshu's autumn harvest that celebrates the abundance of the season, served at a premium seat overlooking the beautiful moon on the nights the full moon rises.
Background
Karuizawa, located 1,000 meters above sea level, has clear autumn air and offers beautiful views of the moon. At Hoshino Onsen Ryokan, the property's predecessor, many cultural figures once gathered to enjoy elegant moon-viewing with a drink in hand, cherishing moon-viewing banquets as the last outing before winter (*1). Building on this history, Hoshinoya Karuizawa has held the moon-viewing event "Karuizawa Autumn Moon Banquet" since 2023. This year, wanting guests to experience admiring the moon from a terrace overlooking the property on full moon nights, the property developed a parfait modeled on the full moon. Made with Shine Muscat grapes — one of Japan's leading production areas for the fruit — and sake, it celebrates the night of the full moon together with autumn's harvest.
(*1) Kasuke Hoshino, "Yamaboshi: Hoshino Onsen no Ayumi"
Feature 1: The Full Moon Reflected in a Glass — A Parfait Giving Thanks for Autumn's Harvest
Hoshinoya Karuizawa sits in a valley at the foot of Mt. Asama, in what is known as a "valley village." This parfait is modeled on the pond at the center of the property and the full moon reflected on its water. The stillness of a pitch-black night is expressed through a rich black sesame tiramisu, while the moonlit, glimmering surface of the water is expressed through a fragrant ginjo sake jelly. Shine Muscat grapes, a fruit of the autumn harvest, are added alongside, and the full moon shining in the night sky is represented by a rich Anno sweet potato ice cream — a single dish that holds gratitude for autumn's bounty. Guests can savor the flavors of autumn to the fullest while bathed in moonlight.
Feature 2: An Original "Full Moon Glass" of Wood and Glass, Hand-Finished by Shinshu Artisans
The vessel that showcases the parfait's beauty is "MOKU glass" (*2), made by a woodworking artist brand based in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. It is a new style of glass with a distinctive structure that combines a glass body with a natural wood handle and base. Combining the transparency of glass with the warmth of wood, each piece is individually hand-carved by artisans, so the wood grain and coloring differ from piece to piece, making them highly regarded one-of-a-kind works at craft exhibitions in Japan and abroad. For this occasion, the base has been finished in black, evoking the pitch-black surface of water, and the handle has been fitted with a "moon sphere" motif representing the full moon — a craft glass that captures the beautiful landscape of the valley village.
(*2) MOKU glass: https://moku-glass.com/
Feature 3: A Dreamlike Premium Seat With Minimal Lighting, Bathed in Soft Moonlight
Step onto the terrace seat overlooking the property, and a dreamlike scene lit by the full moon opens up before you. Based on the aesthetic of "in praise of shadows," Hoshinoya Karuizawa keeps its lighting to a minimum, so only soft moonlight and the faint amber glow spilling from guest rooms color the night. Savoring the parfait at this premium seat feels like conversing with the moon itself. Guests can immerse themselves in the ultimate moon-viewing experience, wrapped in the beautiful moonlight rising out of the darkness.
Shine Muscat and Anno Sweet Potato Full Moon Parfait
Period: September 21–30, October 21–28, and November 21–28, 2026
Hours: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: ¥2,500 (tax and service charge included)
Reservations: Required, by 6:00 PM the previous day; limited to 4 servings per day
Eligibility: Hoshinoya Karuizawa guests only
Note: Serving times and content may change depending on weather.
About Hoshinoya Karuizawa
Stay in a valley village. The detached guest rooms surround the water's edge, and the terraces let guests feel the changing of the seasons. Set in a rich natural environment facing the Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest, this accommodation-style property lets guests fully enjoy restful time.
- Address: 389-0194 Hoshino, Karuizawa-machi, Nagano Prefecture
- Phone: 050-3134-8091 (Hoshinoya General Reservations)
- Rooms: 77 rooms | Check-in: 3:00 PM / Check-out: 12:00 PM
- Rate: From ¥170,000 per night (per room, tax and service charge included, meals not included)
- Access: Approximately 15 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station, approximately 40 minutes by car from Usui Karuizawa IC, or a dedicated shuttle bus from Shinano Railway Naka-Karuizawa Station
- Website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/hoshinoyakaruizawa/
