[Kyukaruizawa KIKYO, Curio Collection by Hilton] Enjoy the seasonal flavors of Shinshu Chino City in Karuizawa. Participating in the “Tateshina Vegetables” Branding Project
Tokyu Resorts & Stays Co., Ltd. Press release: July 11, 2025 To the media [Kyukaruizawa KIKYO, Curio Collection by Hilton] Enjoy the seasonal flavors of Shinshu Chino City in Karuizawa. Participated in the “Tateshina Vegetables” branding project Chef Shirai appeared as a guest chef at the “Tanabata Gessai Lunch Party” hosted by Chino City Kyu Karuizawa Kikyo, Curio Collection by Hilton (Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture, General Manager: Kentaro Ozaki, hereafter referred to as “Kyu Karuizawa Kikyo”) serves dishes that utilize seasonal ingredients from Shinshu and connect customers with producers. In recognition of these efforts, Kyukaruizawa KIKYO will participate in the “Tateshina Vegetables” branding project
(hereinafter “this project”) being promoted by Chino City, Nagano Prefecture. Kyukaruizawa KIKYO’s head chef, Shirai Ken, will appear as a guest chef at the “Tanabata Gessai Lunch Party” hosted by Chino City on Saturday, July 26, 2025, providing an opportunity for visitors to experience the wonderfulness of Tateshina vegetables along with a special menu.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/55787/825/55787-825-aa9f22ee19dd2effd7bb0ff00489a07f-597×398.jpg At the restaurants “a table” and “SONORITE” in Kyukaruizawa KIKYO, we value seasonal ingredients from Shinshu and create menus that emphasize connections with local producers. With this attitude, we decided to participate in this project as it is deeply aligned with the philosophy of the “Tateshina Vegetables” branding project being promoted by Chino City. In addition, Chef Ken Shirai (Shirai Ken [Azusa-kin 1]) of Kyukaruizawa KIKYO will be appearing as a guest chef at the “Tanabata Gessai Lunch Party,” a local lunch event to be held in Chino City on Saturday, July 26, 2025. This will be an opportunity to introduce the deliciousness of “Tateshina Vegetables” along with a special menu, having been invited by the organizer, Chino City Hall. ■What is the “Tateshina Vegetables” Branding Project? The “Tateshina Vegetables” branding project is an initiative led by Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, with the aim of unifying fresh, locally grown vegetables grown in the rich natural environment of the Tateshina region (Chino City, Hara Village, Fujimi Town, etc.) as “Tateshina Vegetables” and increasing their appeal to tourists and residents. In this project, the government, producers, and restaurants work together to spread the word about the deliciousness and high quality of these vegetables to many consumers, with the aim of revitalizing the economy, promoting food education, and reducing food waste. ■The vision behind “Kyu-Karuizawa KIKYO Curio Collection by Hilton” Kyu-Karuizawa KIKYO restaurant welcomes many guests from Japan and abroad with dishes using ingredients from Shinshu under the concept of “Welcome Home”. In order to allow guests to experience the simple yet powerful appeal of the ingredients unique to the region, we value dialogue with the producers and strive to cook seasonal ingredients naturally and carefully. The staff who work here actually visit the producers they deal with, touch the soil, feel the wind on their skin, and learn a lot from the people who live in harmony with nature. In addition, from the perspective of reducing food waste, we are actively purchasing non-standard and surplus vegetables and using them in new menus. The hotel’s attitude has been recognized by Chino City Hall, and with this participation in the project, we have been invited to have Ken Shirai, head chef of Kyukaruizawa KIKYO, appear as a guest chef at the “Tanabata Gessai Lunch Party” hosted by Chino City, where you can taste Tateshina vegetables. We will continue to use these opportunities and other opportunities to promote the appeal of Tateshina vegetables from Karuizawa, while valuing our connections in the community and aiming to expand.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/55787/825/55787-825-49af47a6bbd8536e48e3df22aae450fc-1114×742.jpg Chunky fries made with colorful potatoes from Miyasaka Kogen Vegetables Direct Sales Store ■Comment from Ken Shirai, Chef of Kyukaruizawa KIKYO, Curio Collection by Hilton
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/55787/825/55787-825-c651a3a95a7350af89152648aebd6647-1242×828.jpg I am very honored to be involved in the start of a new journey for “Tateshina vegetables”. For this luncheon, we put our heart into presenting the vegetables that the producers have grown with all their heart in as straight a form as possible so that you can feel their charm as it is. I believe food is one way to connect feelings. Something is communicated through eating. I would be happy if this could be the trigger for such an experience. We deliver with the hope that the connection between you, the local community, and our customers will expand. Kyukaruizawa KIKYO Curio Collection by Hilton Chef Ken Shirai Profile Born in Tokyo in 1978. After graduating from Tokyo Culinary College, he worked at Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay in Maihama for about 20 years, learning the basics and applications, traditional cooking techniques, weddings, banquets, and restaurant operations. Since 2017, he has worked at Hotel Kashima no Mori in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. He was appointed sous chef at Kyu-Karuizawa KIKYO Curio Collection by Hilton in 2020, and head chef from 2023, a position he holds to this day. ■About Chino City, Nagano Prefecture Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, is a highland city rich in nature, located at the western foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains. Blessed with clear air and beautiful scenery, it is a popular area where you can enjoy the charms of the four seasons. The cultivation of highland vegetables, taking advantage of the cool climate, is thriving, and many fresh and delicious agricultural products are produced. In addition, there are abundant tourist resources such as the Tateshina Plateau and Lake Shirakaba, and it is popular with people who enjoy mountain climbing, hot springs, and the outdoors. It is a town where nature and people coexist in harmony and a comfortable life thrives. ■ Overview of “Kyukaruizawa KIKYO Curio Collection by Hilton”
“Kyu-Karuizawa KIKYO” opened in 2018 as Hilton’s first hotel in Japan, “Curio Collection by Hilton”. “KIKYO” is also the name of a flower, and it contains the feeling of “returning home”. We welcome our guests with a “welcome home” feeling, with the hope that they will return to Karuizawa, where the bellflowers bloom, again and again. Address: 491-5 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture, 389-0102 Number of rooms: 50 Main facilities: Restaurant, lounge, treatment spa, large communal banquet hall, chapel, fitness gym, gift shop, etc. Transportation: ・Approximately 1 hour by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station. 5 minutes by car (15 minutes on foot) from JR Karuizawa Station ・15 minutes by car from Usui Karuizawa IC Official website: https://www.kyukaruizawa-kikyo.com/
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/55787/825/55787-825-3bf5c8989854e250404ef2e5dfc95694-925×617.jpg ■About Curio Collection by Hilton Curio Collection by Hilton offers approximately 180 carefully selected, unique hotels in attractive destinations around the world. Through unique architecture and design, world-class food and beverages, and carefully selected experiences, we offer our guests a tailor-made story and a one-of-a-kind time. Enjoy the benefits of Hilton Honors, our award-winning guest loyalty program. To book, visit the official website or the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app. Hilton Honors members who book directly through Hilton channels receive instant benefits. For the latest information, visit , Facebook, Instagram and X. More information about this release *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.
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