With the theme of chrysanthemum flowers, said to be loved in autumn by people of the Edo period, this is a limited-time program where guests can learn about the ancient Japanese culture that incorporates a sense of the season into life as one appreciates nature, as well as awareness of beauty during that period.
Through Japanese traditional dance (nihon-buyo) lessons, tea ceremony experiences, and seasonal decoration workshops, different aspects of beauty back in by the Edo period can be appreciated through learning of beautiful movements and manners, as well as healthy eating.
Guests can experience the customs of the Chrysanthemum Festival, which is rare these days, such as drinking Chrysanthemum sake while appreciating chrysanthemum flowers.
Background
Edo period was said to be a peaceful time, where people’s lives became more affluent, and the original culture, art, and entertainment such as kabuki and Japanese puppet theatre developed. People started to become aware of both their outer and inner beauty, where more emphasis on polish inner beauty was important. With this background, we decided to host a one-night and two days stay program to learn about outer and inner beauty from the Edo period.
Characteristics of “Edo Beauty Stay – Chrysanthemum”
1)Chrysanthemum sake to be appreciated for good health and longevity
In the Edo period, the shogunate established the five seasonal festivals, an indicator of change in season, as ceremonial dates. The last day of the five seasonal festivals, which is September 9, is commonly known as the Chrysanthemum Festival. Chrysanthemums bloom during autumn and it has long been believed to have the power to repel evil so people used to drink sake with chrysanthemum petals, Chrysanthemum sake, on the day of the festival to pray for good health and longevity. In this lesson, the Chrysanthemum sake is prepared as an aperitif in accordance with the custom of the festival. While looking at the beautiful chrysanthemum flowers decorating the guest rooms, the faint scent of chrysanthemum flowers can be enjoyed in the cup of sake.
2)Lessons inspired by chrysanthemum, a popular autumn flower in the Edo period
The following three lessons can be experienced during this stay program.
Lesson: Chrysanthemum Decorations
Gardening was popular in the town of Edo, and in the middle Edo period when the varieties of chrysanthemums improved, people enjoyed viewing chrysanthemums in various forms such as chrysanthemum flower beds and chrysanthemum dolls.
During the lesson, Tomoya Katsuma, a designer in charge of decorating HOSHINOYA Tokyo, will teach the meaning of the five seasonal festivals designated by the Edo shogunate and prepare the room to match with the Chrysanthemum Festival. Guests can make “Kikumari” by combining chrysanthemum flowers (kiku) of various colors and shapes to make a shape like the Japanese craft ball (mari) or “Kisewata” by making the chrysanthemum flowers wear (kise) cotton (wata). Kikumari and Kasewata can be decorated not only in the guest room but also in the Tokonoma (alcove in a traditional Japanese room where art or flowers are displayed) the next morning at the tea ceremony lesson.
Lesson: Japanese traditional dance, Nihon-buyo
Nihon-buyo originated from Kabuki-buyo (Kabuki movements/dance) in the Edo period and has since developed. Nihon-buyo was one of the popular practices among women at that time because the performing arts at Kabukiza (Kabuki theatre) spread to commoners. Wearing a kimono, dancing, and holding an umbrella or folding fan are said to lead to beautiful feminine gestures. The lesson was supervised by the master of Fujima style, Rankoh Fujima (Mr.), which has been in practice since the Edo period. Guests can experience Japanese traditional dancing with the song “Kiku no Sakae” which is about the beauty of chrysanthemum flowers.
Lesson: Tea Ceremony
Background
Edo period was said to be a peaceful time, where people’s lives became more affluent, and the original culture, art, and entertainment such as kabuki and Japanese puppet theatre developed. People started to become aware of both their outer and inner beauty, where more emphasis on polish inner beauty was important. With this background, we decided to host a one-night and two days stay program to learn about outer and inner beauty from the Edo period.
Characteristics of “Edo Beauty Stay – Chrysanthemum”
1)Chrysanthemum sake to be appreciated for good health and longevity
In the Edo period, the shogunate established the five seasonal festivals, an indicator of change in season, as ceremonial dates. The last day of the five seasonal festivals, which is September 9, is commonly known as the Chrysanthemum Festival. Chrysanthemums bloom during autumn and it has long been believed to have the power to repel evil so people used to drink sake with chrysanthemum petals, Chrysanthemum sake, on the day of the festival to pray for good health and longevity. In this lesson, the Chrysanthemum sake is prepared as an aperitif in accordance with the custom of the festival. While looking at the beautiful chrysanthemum flowers decorating the guest rooms, the faint scent of chrysanthemum flowers can be enjoyed in the cup of sake.
2)Lessons inspired by chrysanthemum, a popular autumn flower in the Edo period
The following three lessons can be experienced during this stay program.
Lesson: Chrysanthemum Decorations
Gardening was popular in the town of Edo, and in the middle Edo period when the varieties of chrysanthemums improved, people enjoyed viewing chrysanthemums in various forms such as chrysanthemum flower beds and chrysanthemum dolls.
During the lesson, Tomoya Katsuma, a designer in charge of decorating HOSHINOYA Tokyo, will teach the meaning of the five seasonal festivals designated by the Edo shogunate and prepare the room to match with the Chrysanthemum Festival. Guests can make “Kikumari” by combining chrysanthemum flowers (kiku) of various colors and shapes to make a shape like the Japanese craft ball (mari) or “Kisewata” by making the chrysanthemum flowers wear (kise) cotton (wata). Kikumari and Kasewata can be decorated not only in the guest room but also in the Tokonoma (alcove in a traditional Japanese room where art or flowers are displayed) the next morning at the tea ceremony lesson.
Lesson: Japanese traditional dance, Nihon-buyo
Nihon-buyo originated from Kabuki-buyo (Kabuki movements/dance) in the Edo period and has since developed. Nihon-buyo was one of the popular practices among women at that time because the performing arts at Kabukiza (Kabuki theatre) spread to commoners. Wearing a kimono, dancing, and holding an umbrella or folding fan are said to lead to beautiful feminine gestures. The lesson was supervised by the master of Fujima style, Rankoh Fujima (Mr.), which has been in practice since the Edo period. Guests can experience Japanese traditional dancing with the song “Kiku no Sakae” which is about the beauty of chrysanthemum flowers.
Lesson: Tea Ceremony
3)Special breakfast to enjoy seasonal ingredients – “Edo Beauty Set Meal”
For breakfast, a special meal called the “Edo Beauty Set Meal” using seasonal vegetables and fish will be served. People in Edo believed that eating the first crop of the season would prolong their life by 75 days, and they actively used seasonal ingredients in their meals. By eating dishes using seasonal ingredients that are full of flavor, it aims for beauty from within.
<List of dishes from the “Edo Beauty Set Meal”>
Seasonal vegetables and mixed grain salad
Small dishes
Simmered pumpkin
Crown daisy dressed in chrysanthemum
Deep-fried autumn eggplant soaked in broth
Salt-grilled autumn salmon
Savory steamed egg pudding with mushrooms
Grated yam and bonito
Barley rice
Japanese clear soup
Japanese pickles
Dessert
Candied kumquat
Chestnut in steamed sweet bean cake
Persimmon
Example Stay Schedule
<Day 1>
2:00 pm Check-in
2:30 pm Lesson: Chrysanthemum Decorations
4:00 pm Lesson: Japanese traditional dance, Nihon-buyo
6:30 pm
Aperitif of Chrysanthemum’s sake
Dinner: HOSHINOYA Tokyo Special Dinner Box
8:30 pm Spa treatment using rice bran and camellia oil
<Day 2>
8:00 am Lesson: Tea Ceremony with chrysanthemum sweets
9:00 am Special breakfast – “Edo Beauty Set Meal”
12:00 pm Check-out
“Edo Beauty Stay – Chrysanthemum” in a glance
Time Period: September 1 to November 30, 2021
Price: 105,000 JPY for 1 person, 165,000 JPY for 2 persons (includes tax and service charge) *excludes accommodation fee
Price includes: lessons (chrysanthemum decoration making, Japanese traditional dance, tea ceremony), chrysanthemum sake, dinner, spa treatment, special breakfast
Available to: A group per day (maximum of 2 people in a group)
Reservation: Required at least 2 weeks in advance
Others: Open to guests staying in Kiku room types
*Contents of the program may be subject to change.
About HOSHINOYA Tokyo
Address: 1-9-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 104-0004
Number of Rooms: 84
Check-in: 3:00 pm/Check-out: 12:00 pm
Price: Starting from 102,000 JPY per night per room (includes tax and service charge, excludes meals)
Directions: Approximately 10 minutes by walk from Tokyo Station, 2 minutes by walk from Otemachi Station
Website: https://hoshinoya.com/tokyo/en/
About the HOSHINOYA Brand
Luxury hotel embodying the true characteristics of land, history, and culture HOSHINOYA is an accommodation with distinct themes, conceptualized from each location’s land, history, and culture. Woven into these distinct themes is our attention to detail in every aspect from the design to hospitality; contributing to the creation of a one-of-a-kind world of HOSHINOYA. Enrich the heart with the epiphanies of travel through a unique stay experience.
Hoshino Resorts - Tokyo
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