STAR COTTAGE ACHI "Hoshiai no Mori" (星合の森), a private cottage facility in Achi Village, Nagano Prefecture, an area known for "Japan's best starry sky," will hold "Winter Sky Candle Night in Hoshiai no Mori" (冬空のキャンドルナイト in 星合の森) on weekends from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, December 27, 2026. The event is a private one open only to overnight guests.
Guests are wrapped in a sky full of stars and the warm glow of candles. The venue is set up with reclining chairs for relaxing and a telescope for observing the moon and planets, so guests can spend a heartwarming, out-of-the-ordinary time with family or loved ones in a private space.
Event Details
- Dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, December 27, 2026 (19 days in total)
- November: 20 (Fri), 21 (Sat), 22 (Sun), 23 (Mon, national holiday), 27 (Fri), 28 (Sat), 29 (Sun)
- December: 4 (Fri), 5 (Sat), 6 (Sun), 11 (Fri), 12 (Sat), 13 (Sun), 18 (Fri), 19 (Sat), 20 (Sun), 25 (Fri), 26 (Sat), 27 (Sun)
- Time: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Venue: STAR COTTAGE ACHI "Hoshiai no Mori," 1192-337 Namiai, Achi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture 395-0501
- Eligibility: Guests staying at STAR COTTAGE ACHI "Hoshiai no Mori"
- Fee: Free
- Note: The event may be canceled if rain or severe weather makes it difficult to hold.
Official website: STAR COTTAGE ACHI "Hoshiai no Mori"
Telescope
A Vixen Porta II A80Mf telescope is provided, and guests can freely view the moon and planets.
Optional Extra
Hand-held fireworks are on sale during the event period at ¥550 per set, to be enjoyed within the venue.
About STAR COTTAGE ACHI "Hoshiai no Mori"
STAR COTTAGE ACHI "Hoshiai no Mori" opened in 2023 in the Namiai district of Achi Village, surrounded by abundant nature. It is a private cottage facility where guests can enjoy "Japan's best starry sky" together with their pet dogs and cats. The log houses stand in a forest on high ground, offering four private spaces where families and their pets can relax freely without worrying about the people around them or the clock.
The facility is designed for those who want to "go out with their pet," "make memories with their pet," or "stay without worrying about the surroundings." Dinner can be chosen from two courses, a barbecue made with plenty of local ingredients or creative cuisine prepared by a chef in front of the guests.
- "Hoshiai no Mori for DOG" (2 cottages): Cottages with dog-specific flooring and a paw-washing area
- "Hoshiai no Mori for CAT" (2 cottages): Cottages with cat-specific flooring and a cat tower
About Achi Village, Nagano
Achi Village lies at the southern tip of Nagano Prefecture and is a quiet mountain village known for Hirugami Onsen and "Hanamomo no Sato" (the flowering peach village). Hirugami Onsen began flowing in 1973 (Showa 48). Its alkaline simple sulfur spring, with a pH of 9.7, has a smooth, silky texture, as if guests were soaking in warm lotion, and leaves the skin slick and smooth, which has earned it the nickname "bihada no yu" (beauty-skin hot spring).
The village's starry sky was ranked first as a "place suitable for star observation" in the Ministry of the Environment's nationwide continuous star observation survey (2006). Since 2012, the village has built events and places around the theme of the starry sky, and the events held under this effort have drawn more than 1.3 million visitors in total through the end of March 2026.
