A Feast of Light and Sound Carried by the Azumino Breeze: Wind Chimes Crafted from Glass and Shinshu Matsuzaki Washi Paper Decorate a Garden of Light at Kyukamura Retreat Azumino Hotel, Welcoming Guests with Wind Chime Displays from July 10th

Wind chimes on the "Hidamari Deck" surrounded by green red pines.

Kyukamura Retreat Azumino Hotel (Location: 7682-4 Hotaka Ariake, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture; General Manager: Takashi Suzuki), located in Hotaka Onsenkyo, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, will present a summer soundscape by installing approximately 100 wind chimes on the "Hidamari Deck" within the hotel premises as a summer event. During the period, the area will also be illuminated from dusk, offering a fantastical evening moment woven by sound and light.

◆ Exhibition Overview

Period: Friday, July 10, 2026 – Monday, August 31, 2026

Location: Hidamari Deck, Kyukamura Retreat Azumino Hotel

Content: Approximately 100 wind chimes will be placed on the "Hidamari Deck" within the hotel premises.

Illumination will also be conducted in the evening. (Daily from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM during the period)

◆ Wind Chimes Utilizing Local Materials and Craftsmanship

Some of the displayed wind chimes are handmade works created by hotel staff in collaboration with local glass studio "The Art Studio 8." The paper strips are made from "Shinshu Matsuzaki Washi," a traditional Japanese paper from Omachi City. This washi paper, produced by Shinshu Matsuzaki Washi Industry, is highly acclaimed for its handmade papermaking techniques and was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014. The cool breeze blowing through the Azumino forest will gently embrace visitors through the resonance of glass and the gentle sway of the washi paper.

◆ A Nighttime Landscape Unfolding with Dusk Illumination

An evening performance combining wind chime displays with illumination will be held. By sitting on a bench and gazing at the colors of the glass and the shadows of the washi paper illuminated by the lights, accompanied by the sound of the wind chimes, you can enjoy a fantastical summer garden in a tranquility different from the daytime.

Wind chimes on the illuminated Hidamari Deck.

◆ Healing Time Brought by Wind Chimes

Wind chimes have long been a poetic symbol adorning Japanese summers, and their clear tones are said to have a relaxing effect similar to natural sounds. At this event, you can listen to the sounds of wind chimes resonating with the Azumino breeze and spend a leisurely time.

◆ Experience Program: Wind Chime Painting Workshop

During the period, a wind chime painting experience will be held at "Sonare's Library" within the hotel. Participants can draw their own designs and take home the finished wind chimes. You can create a unique piece that will be cherished as a souvenir of your trip or as a gift.

Event Period: Saturday, July 18, 2026 – Monday, August 31, 2026

Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Location: 2nd Floor, Sonare's Library

Price: 730 yen (tax included)

Reservation: Please speak to the front desk staff.

Wind chime painting experience.

◆ Summer Vacation / Summer Azumino Colorful Kaiseki Plan

We have prepared a kaiseki meal that fully incorporates the blessings of Shinshu, including refreshing appetizers inspired by the Northern Alps mountain range and ayu (sweetfish) swimming in clear streams, seasonal vegetables from Azumino, locally grown rice, fragrant wasabi, flavorful Shinshu miso, and delicious Nagano Prefecture "Shinshu Premium Beef." With a focus on cooking and presentation that brings out the individuality of the ingredients, you can fully enjoy the flavors unique to summer with each visually refreshing dish.

Period: Saturday, July 18, 2026 – Monday, August 31, 2026

Price: From 29,200 yen per night with 2 meals (tax included / bath tax separate)

*Price per person when using a standard floor Japanese-Western style room with shower for 2 people on a weekday.

A kaiseki course to savor the four seasons of Azumino. Enjoy the charm of abundant ingredients such as wasabi, Shinshu Premium Beef, local vegetables, and rice to your heart's content.

We have prepared a mille-feuille dish layered with seasonal fresh vegetables. You can also choose to add cheese sauce and toppings of Parmigiano-Reggiano, known as the "King of Cheeses."

We have prepared a playful dish with a jelly made from the underground water of the Northern Alps, served with an essence of elderflower sauce.

◆ Kyukamura Retreat Azumino Hotel

Azumino, overlooking the majestic mountains of the Northern Alps in central Nagano Prefecture. The hotel's location, nestled quietly amidst a forest of red pines and oak trees, is truly a "retreat." You can relax and unwind in the hot springs, or enjoy forest bathing while taking deep breaths in the sun-dappled woods. Furthermore, the Azumino plain is dotted with unique art museums and wasabi fields, and you can cycle through the "Art Town Azumino" while admiring the Northern Alps. Please enjoy the ultimate retreat experience unique to Kyukamura in this land where nature, culture, and healing harmonize.

Location: 〒399-8301 7682-4 Hotaka Ariake, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture

General Manager: Takashi Suzuki

URL: https://www.qkamura.or.jp/azumino/

A hidden gem of a hotel located in Hotaka Onsenkyo, where you can savor seasonal ingredients.

◆ Kyukamura: A Resort That Inspires with Nature

Resort hotels located in excellent natural environments such as national and quasi-national parks, which represent Japan's scenery. The 35 Kyukamura resorts, under the concept of "A Resort That Inspires with Nature," offer experiences that allow guests to enjoy the unique charms of each region, including cuisine that utilizes local ingredients and experience programs that allow interaction with the local nature, culture, and history, providing moments that naturally inspire the heart for all guests.