Travel to 'Town of Photography' Higashikawa in Sapporo: The Blessings of a Town Living on Natural Water Hijack the Hotel!

Higashikawa Town, Hokkaido, will hold a special project titled "Hokkaido Higashikawa Town Hijacks the Hotel! 2026" in collaboration with SAPPORO STREAM HOTEL (Chuo-ku, Sapporo / General Manager: Takeshi Momose) from June 16 (Tue) to August 15 (Sat), 2026. Higashikawa is a rare town in Japan without a public water supply, where snowmelt from the Daisetsuzan mountains is supplied to every household as groundwater. In recent years, it has attracted many creators and migrants, developing a unique lifestyle centered on cafe culture, crafts, and sake brewing. We will bring all of this rich food and culture to SAPPORO STREAM HOTEL. This project, which was well-received last year, recreates the experience of visiting the town within the hotel. The hotel will be filled with the town's essence, including sake brewed with natural water, local ingredients, furniture showcasing artisan craftsmanship, and photo exhibitions. We will also host a one-night-only dinner event to deeply savor the local terroir, offering a moment to travel through the town's story while staying in Sapporo. From the moment you step into the hotel, your "journey to Higashikawa" begins. We will recreate the town's worldview in the lobby and restaurant entrance areas, creating a space where you can experience the town with all five senses. Since declaring itself the "Town of Photography" in 1985, the town has pursued unique community development centered on photographic culture. We will exhibit numerous works captured in the town, where this culture is deeply rooted, at the restaurant entrance. Known as a production area for Asahikawa furniture, one of Japan's leading wood furniture regions, the town's artisan work is closely linked to daily life. In the lobby, we will display furniture carefully crafted in local workshops. We will also offer sake from "Michizakura Sake Brewery," which moved its entire brewery from Gifu to Higashikawa, captivated by the water, along with the raw groundwater. This will be provided for free during the "Stream Hour" for hotel guests from 15:00 to 17:00 daily. At the 7th-floor restaurant "BAR & GRILL Splish," we will serve dishes highlighting local ingredients such as glossy "Higashikawa Rice" and seasonal vegetables. We will also offer a limited-edition "Gin & Tonic" made with "Yuki no Mado," a craft gin handmade at the local "Tankyu Distillery." The climax of this collaboration will be a one-night-only dinner event on August 10 (Mon), featuring Koji Yamada, the master brewer of Michizakura Sake Brewery, who will share the story behind the brewery's relocation and his passion for sake brewing, accompanied by a special modern French course designed by our hotel chef.