Metsä Midsummer Festival 2026 Kicks Off to Celebrate Summer's Arrival at Lakeside Adorned with 1,500 Blooming Hydrangeas

Metsä Village, a Nordic lifestyle experience facility operated by Moomin Monogatari, Ltd. (President: Kiyoshi Mochizuki), kicked off the 'Metsä Midsummer Festival 2026' today, Saturday, May 23. The event is modeled after traditional Nordic summer festivals. This highly anticipated annual event attracts approximately 40,000 visitors. It celebrates the summer solstice—the day with the longest daylight hours of the year, particularly cherished in the Nordic countries where summers are short. Metsä offers its own unique take on this traditional festival, featuring a countdown leading up to the actual summer solstice on Sunday, June 21. On the opening day, May 23 (Saturday), the venue hosted the 'Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey' for the second consecutive year, allowing visitors to enjoy premium craft beer selected by dedicated breweries accompanied by music. The day also featured the iconic Midsummer 'bonfire,' Finnish folk dances, and fire dance performances. Combined with the adjacent 'Moominvalley Park,' approximately 1,500 hydrangeas have reached full bloom at Metsä Village. The month-long 'Metsä Midsummer Festival,' a hallmark celebrating the arrival of summer, has officially begun! Supported by: Embassy of Iceland, Embassy of Sweden, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of Finland in Tokyo Cooperation: Hanno City Library Midsummer Lounge Cooperation: Embassy of Iceland, Embassy of Sweden, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Estonian/Latvian/Lithuanian Tourist Boards, Visit Finland ▶ This Year's Midsummer Festival Opens with the 'Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey'! CARVAAN, an artisanal local brewery in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, where Metsä is located—known for expressing global cultures and histories through beer—has selected 7 breweries, mainly from Saitama and the neighboring Musashino area, that are committed to exceptional brewing methods. During the opening ceremony, fire performer NOBU took the stage, exciting the crowd with a powerful fire dance. This was followed by a toast with the brewery representatives and the audience! Amidst the pleasant early summer breeze, visitors were seen relaxing, enjoying beer, and listening to live music by the Takaaki Maeda Swing Jazz Guitar Quartet. Subsequently, a cross-talk event with the brewery representatives was held. They spoke passionately about the meanings behind their store names and intricately designed logos, as well as the beers and liquors they proudly recommend. Some of the showcased products utilized local specialties from across the prefecture, such as 'Amarin' strawberries, kabosu citrus, and hinoki cypress, drawing significant attention to this exclusive lineup. The 'Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey' will continue tomorrow, Sunday, May 24. A different program from the opening day is scheduled, including a live performance by tricolor (duo), who weave original music while respecting the encounters and individuality of various genres, based on Celtic and Irish music. ▶ A Hygge Time Spent by the Lake In front of a unique Maypole styled after 'Åland,' an island situated between Sweden and Finland, Usva performed traditional Midsummer dances from various parts of Finland. Following the performance, a participatory dance was held, attracting many participants from young children to adults. In the evening, a Midsummer bonfire, known as 'Kokko' in Finland, was lit. Visitors savored a 'hygge' (cozy) moment unique to this location while watching the flickering flames by the lake. Moving forward, the Finnish dances will be held on Saturday, June 20, and the Midsummer bonfires will take place every Saturday until June 20. ▶ Highly Anticipated Limited-Time Crayfish Menu As crayfish dishes available daily during the Midsummer Festival, 'Crayfish Balls' and 'Ecrevisse Soup' (crayfish potage) have made their appearance! Furthermore, at the 'Midsummer Lounge,' which screens footage showcasing summers in various Nordic countries, a carbonara that allows you to casually enjoy crayfish, and a luxurious 'Crayfish Dog' generously packed with crayfish, will be sold for a limited time. Sales Period: May 30 (Sat)-31 (Sun), June 6 (Sat)-7 (Sun), 13 (Sat)-14 (Sun), 20 (Sat)-21 (Sun) Sales Locations: Meatball specialty store 'toroli', Buffet restaurant 'LAGOM', Midsummer Lounge (Metsä Hall) ▶ Hydrangeas in Full Bloom Adding Color to Early Summer Metsä As you head down 'Metsä-tie' at the entrance of Metsä, red, pink, and blue hydrangeas welcome you. In the adjacent 'Moominvalley Park,' a spectacular space unfolds with a vibrant Umbrella Sky designed around the concept of 'Comet in Moominland' covering the overhead space, while hydrangeas color the ground. This year, hydrangeas are featured not only along the Umbrella Sky road but also at various spots throughout the park. This magical space, where you can fully appreciate the beauty of nature and the beauty of the story's world, gently welcomes all visitors. ▶ [Upcoming Highlight Event] 'Lakeside Nordic Market' Held on Midsummer Weekend An outdoor market where you can enjoy the atmosphere of a local Nordic summer surrounded by forests and lakes, along with once-in-a-lifetime encounters. Over 20 stores per day will gather, featuring famous Nordic brands, sundries, crafts like Himmeli, vintage goods, and food! Put on a flower crown made at a workshop and join the market or the Finnish dances. Date and Time: June 20 (Sat) - 21 (Sun), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00 Location: Metsä Aukio ICEPEAK, tuikku, ICHIfriluftsliv (Food Truck) 'Metsä,' which means 'forest' in Finnish, is a Nordic lifestyle experience facility situated by a lake surrounded by abundant nature. It hosts a market hall centered on imported goods carrying over 100 Nordic brands, restaurants, cafes, and seasonal workshops and events. Visitors can feel close to 'nature' through boat activities allowing floating on the lake and an RV park where sleeping in vehicles is possible. Moominvalley Park is a theme park where you can experience the world of Moomin stories through rich seasonal natural environments and seasonal decorations. You can experience live entertainment and greetings by the Moomin family and their friends, and feel the 'literary' and 'artistic' qualities that are the great appeal of the original works. Moomin Monogatari, Ltd. (Headquarters: Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, President: Kiyoshi Mochizuki) was established in November 2013 with the aim of conducting a theme park business based on the Moomin stories. It holds the license to expand this theme park business not only in Japan but also across Asia, and also holds the license to plan, produce, and sell various merchandise related to the Moomin stories sold within Moominvalley Park.