In 2020, Japanese culture will receive more attention than usual. On Saturday, January 4th, Happo-en will be hosting a traditional New Year event in the main lobby.

This annual mochi-making (rice cake) and top-spinning event has been popular with many of our guests, and it is a part of our mission to share about Japanese food and traditional culture.

Traditionally, mochi is made using a usu, a very large wooden mortar, and kine, a heavy wooden hammer. There are fewer opportunities to make mochi using these traditional tools nowadays, so we are excited to share an authentic New Year celebration experience. The lobby becomes filled with the sound of rhythmic thumping as the hammer pounds the glutinous mochi rice, and our Japanese restaurant chefs will serve the fresh mochi to our guests. The warm and sticky mochi with soy bean powder or grated daikon radish as a condiment will certainly be warming and filling for your body and heart.

For the top-spinning portion of the event, the director of the Japan Top Museum Yoshihito Fujita, known as Uncle Top Man, will be joining us. He will be hosting the class Top Spinning for Everyone, creating a special opportunity for your entire family and different generations to experience this traditional culture.

Please join us for this authentic Japanese New Year celebration with your family and friends. In the coming year, we will continue to share about traditional Japanese culture and food at various events and venues.

Japanese New Year Celebration
Date: Saturday, January 4th, 2020
Mochi-making session: 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Top-spinning session: 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Fee: No charge
Location: Happo-en main building

[Inquiry]
banquet sales
Telephone：03-3441-7888