20 pop-up igloos kind the restaurant kamakura village in nagano, japan

 

the restaurant kamakura village welcomes guests into the snowy nagano landscape

 

open for a limited time (january 21, 2022 – february 27, 2022), the yearly restaurant kamakura village has now taken over japan’s nagano prefecture with its 20 igloo huts spread across a charming, snowy landscape. the pop-up village offers private lunches and dinners in each igloo, as well as access to its kamakura shinto shrine. guests can also visit a local shop and play in the sledding area.

 

naturally, in light of the pandemic, a new covid-19 measure was put in place by local organizers and authorities — allowing only a maximum of 4 people to gather in a hut at any time. 

all images via shinshu-iiyama tourism bureau

 

 

enjoying a local hotpot specialty and visit to a sacred shine 

 

for lunch and dinner in the igloos, visitors can enjoy a local specialty that dates back centuries, known as noroshi nabe. it is a hot pot made from locally grown vegetables, mushrooms, and miyuki pork. lunch costs 3,700 yen per person while dinner is set at 4,200 yen, and children aged 0-5 years get a free meal (reservations can be made here). 

 

meanwhile, at the edge of the restaurant kamakura village sits the bright red tori gate of the shinto shrine. the latter houses a sacred object known as a ‘shimenawa’ — or divine rope — believed to ward off evil, and an offering box. guests can visit the shrine for free at any time. 

a bright red tori gate sits outside the kamakuro shinto shrine

guests can visit the shrine at any time

inside the shrine, a sacred object and offering box welcome visitors

noroshi nabe, a local specialty made from miso, mushroom, pork, and vegetables

lanterns glow inside each hut at nighttime, creating a fairytale-like atmosphere

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: restaurant kamakura village

location: nagano prefecture, iiyama, japan 

dates: january 21, 2022 – february 27, 2022 

programs: igloo restaurant, sacred shrine, shop, and sledding area

opening hours (weekend + holidays): 11:00 – 12:30 / 13:15 – 14:45 (lunch) | 16:30 – 17:45 / 18:30 – 19:45 (dinner)

opening hours (weekday): 12:00 – 13:30 (lunch) | 18:00 – 19:30 (dinner)

all images via: shinshu-iiyama tourism bureau