Every year, in the winter season, the Iiyama Restaurant Kamakura Village in Japan sees the construction of 20 odd Igloo huts that offer private lunches and dinners to visitors on a mesmerizing snowy landscape. Open for a limited time, from late January to late February, these dome-shaped huts also facilitate social distancing in the pandemic era with an interesting twist. Future guests can visit nearby Shinto Shrine, local shops and play in the sledding area. What’s more? Read below to get more details about this fairy-tale-like restaurant at SURFACES REPORTER (SR):
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Located in the Nagano Prefecture of Iiyama, Japan, this restaurant is made up of 20 pop-up igloo huts. A two-hour train ride from Tokyo can take you to this enticing destination. This area is also known for its world-class ski resorts and sledding area.
Enables Social Distancing With An Interesting Concept
This idyllic concept facilitates social distancing in the post-pandemic world in an interesting way. Local authorities and organizers put a new covid-19 measure in the restaurant that is a maximum of four people only can gather in a hut at a time.
Cozy and Warm Snowy Igloos
It is not often that igloos look warm and cozy, yet these snowy huts in Japan offer a warm and cozy ambiance to the visitors. With the charming, quaint little lanterns, each igloo hut seems like a shelter of warmth and coziness.
At night, these warm illuminating lights create a delightful fairytale-like atmosphere that allures friends, family, and lovers alike.
The guests at this cozy refuge are served with a local specialty hot pot- Noroshi Nabe, which is made with Shinshu Miso, locally grown mushrooms, and vegetables, and Miyuki pork.
This recipe dates back to several hundred years. The lunch costs approximately around USD 32 or about Rs. 2,400 per person, while dinner costs about Rs. 2,730.
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Bright Red Gate of Shinto Shrine
At the edge of the restaurant Kamakura Village, you can find a vibrant red-hued tori gate of the Shinto shrine.
It holds a sacred object called ‘Shimenawa’ (or divine rope) that is considered to fend off evil powers, and an offering box. Guests can visit the shrine any time at no cost.
Amazingly, the igloo pops up only in the winter season till the end of Feb, and later these are substituted by lush rice fields.
What did you think of this Igloo restaurant? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Project Details
Project Name: Restaurant Kamakura Village
Location: Nagano Prefecture, Iiyama, Japan
Programs: Igloo Restaurant, Sacred Shrine, Shop, And Sledding Area
Photo Credits: Shinshu-Iiyama Tourism Bureau
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