Apricot Sweets Fair featuring "Fruit of the Sun" for Early Summer, Held at Hotel Buffet in Nagano [Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa]

Overlooking the Northern Alps, Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa (Location: Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture / General Manager: Hirofumi Yamamoto), an all-inclusive resort hotel ideal as a base for Shinshu tourism, will hold a limited-time "Apricot Sweets Fair" featuring apricots, a fruit representative of early summer in Nagano, starting from Friday, May 1, 2026, at its buffet restaurant "Locavore." The dessert corner will feature sweets like apricot tarts and apricot cream puffs, which utilize the refreshing acidity and gentle sweetness of apricots. Their vibrant orange color and fruity aroma evoke the arrival of early summer.

Apricot trees bear fruit bathed in the early summer sun (provided by Chikuma City). Vividly colored apricot fruits (provided by Chikuma City).

Apricots ripen vividly colored by abundant sunlight, achieving a superb balance of sweetness and acidity. They are often called "Fruit of the Sun," as if they encapsulate the blessings of the sun. In Japan, Chikuma City in Nagano Prefecture is known as a representative production area. Under an environment blessed with large temperature differences between day and night due to its inland climate and abundant sunshine, high-sugar content fruits are cultivated. A legend remains in this area that a princess who married into the Matsushiro domain brought apricot seeds from her hometown, eventually leading to apricot trees spreading across the slopes of Chikuma City's mountains. The scenery is said to be "a hundred thousand trees at a glance," with delicate and charming flowers blooming in spring, gently coloring the mountain slopes.

Due to their delicate nature and susceptibility to weather changes, production is limited, and the harvest season is short, from mid-June to mid-July, making them a rare presence not widely available in the market. To allow guests to easily enjoy the distinct sweet and sour taste of these seasonal apricots as apricot sweets, they are prepared in the buffet restaurant's dessert corner. We deliver the taste of early summer, reflecting the blessings of the sun.

Reference: Shinshu Chikuma Tourism Bureau, Nagano Prefectural Tourism Organization

Introduction of Apricot Sweets Menu

Apricot Tart, Apricot Cream Puff, Almond Tofu with Apricot Sauce, Apricot Topping Cake

Apricot Tart
A fragrant tart crust harmonizes with the acidity of apricots, creating a simple yet profound flavor.

Apricot Cream Puff
Crispy, light choux pastry is layered with rich custard sweetness and apricot acidity.

Almond Tofu with Apricot Sauce
Smooth almond tofu is topped with a brightly colored apricot sauce, offering a refreshing appearance and clean aftertaste.

Apricot Topping Cake
A delightful dessert that melts in your mouth, spreading the gentle fruitiness of apricots.

Apricot Soft Serve, Apricot Compote

Apricot Soft Serve
A classic dessert perfect for early summer, with a cool, melting texture.

Apricot Compote
A classic dessert that brings out the natural flavor of the fruit, with tender apricot flesh.

Apricot Sweets Fair
[Serving Period] Friday, May 1, 2026, to Tuesday, June 30, 2026
[Serving Hours] 17:30 to 21:00 (Last entry 20:30)
[Serving Location] 1st floor of the hotel, Buffet Restaurant "Locavore"

Details: https://mercure-naganomatsushiro-resortandspa.jp/plan/apricot2026/

Included in accommodation fees when booking all-inclusive. The Apricot Sweets Fair alone is not available.

Surrounding Tourist Information

"Chikuma Apricot Fair x Umainmon Exhibition 2026" to be held!
A gathering of fresh seasonal apricots, processed products, and local gourmet food. Specialty products from sister cities also gather, making it an event where you can enjoy local delicacies all at once.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 10:00 to 15:00
Location: Chikuma City Hall Galleria, Komorebi Terrace, etc.
Details: Shinshu Chikuma Tourism Bureau https://chikuma-kanko.com/

Buffet Restaurant where you can savor original shichimi developed jointly with a long-established store and local cuisine

Soba with local specialty nagaimo
Shinshu local cuisine Goheimochi
Wasabi Maki Sushi

Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa, located within walking distance of Matsushiro Castle Ruins and Sanada Residence, both associated with the Sanada family, allows guests to easily enjoy strolling through the castle town and visiting historical sites. After a walk, savoring "local cuisine" that has been passed down through history and culture, utilizing local ingredients, is one of the joys of travel.

Celebrating its 2nd anniversary, the buffet restaurant "Locavore" has expanded its local menu, which allows guests to experience the charm of the region through food, in addition to new signature dishes. New dishes unique to this region have been added, such as Wasabi Maki Sushi with refreshing spiciness and dishes using Shinshu Pork full of umami. As an accent to further enhance the appeal of the cuisine, an original shichimi (seven-spice blend) jointly developed by Shinshu's leading long-established shichimi chili pepper store, "Yawataya Isogoro," and the hotel's head chef, will also be offered.