PRESS RELEASE

Press Release

[Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa] "Winter Stories" with sound and light, and exciting Christmas Week 2025 with Santa Claus

An exciting Christmas week that begins in the clear winter air of Nasu Kogen. From December 13th (Sat).

At the resort hotel "Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa" (Location: Nasu-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture / General Manager: Richard Tingun) located in a location overlooking the magnificent view of the Nasu Mountains and the Nasu Kogen spreading over the base, we have prepared a special Christmas project for 2025 that allows guests to experience with their loved ones. This Christmas season features two winter stories that can only be found at our hotel: “Real Santa Claus Visiting Event in Finland” and “Winter Stories” – I will give you a winter story that sounds and lights play.” Santa Claus appearing in this project is Santa Claus certified by the International Association.

Special time with Santa Claus to give together with the Forest of Finland

Encounter with "real Santa" coming from a distant Nordic forest

[Date] December 13, 2025 (Sat) 16:00 to 17:30 / Saturday, December 20 16:00 to 17:30
[Venue] Hotel 1st floor lobby
[Details URL] https://grand-mercure-nasuhighlands-resortandspa.jp/plan/finland-santa2025/

"Real Santa Claus" comes to Nasu Kogen from Finland, the home of Christmas. Gentle look, deep voice, red coat appearance…。 It is a valuable time to meet "That Santa" in Japan, where Finnish children are looking forward to. With the cooperation of the Finnish Forest, a complex amusement facility located in Nasu Town, the local area, and the NPO Eco Santa Claus International Association, the authentic atmosphere will be reproduced at the venue. A warm Christmas experience that both ADULTS and children can enjoy, such as photo sessions and gift distribution, is waiting for you.

Santa comes to the room, limited accommodation plans are also available

Santa will visit the guest room and give the gift you received in advance to your child. In addition, it is a heartwarming surprise that Santa recognizes your child's daily efforts with a "Certificate of Good Child". The heavy sound knocking on the door, the slow opening door, and the appearance of Santa…。 It is a special plan for guests only, where excitement like "one scene of a movie" wraps your family. Please spend a special night full of family smiles on the winter of Nasu Kogen.

[Provision period] Accommodation on December 14 (Sun), 2025 or December 21 (Sun)　※Limited to 2 days
【Price】 All-inclusive 27,400 yen per night (when using 2 people in one room, per person, tax / s included, bath tax included)
【Reservation · Details】 https://grand-mercure-nasuhighlands-resortandspa.jp/plan/finland-santa2025/
[Remarks]
・After check-in, we will keep your present at the front desk.
・Present delivery time: 20:00 to 21:00 (Time cannot be specified)
・We will ask you to send it to the room with a "Certificate of Good Child".

“Winter Stories” – The Winter Story of Sound and Light –

One-day Christmas events such as Christmas markets and harp performances

[Date] Saturday, December 20, 2025
[Place] Hotel 1st floor lobby

Lunch program (from 14:00)
・Balloon art present
・Christmas Market / Fair / Workshop (Lantern making, Card making, etc.)

Special performance by harp player Hitomi Akutsu (from 21:00)

Akutsu plays a "forest harp" using domestic and Tochigi-ken timber. Living with nature, her music is gentle, deep, and sounds pleasantly on winter nights.

Akutsu Hitomi, who plays a harp in the forest

Born in Haga-cho, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture. Forest instructor.

Graduated from the Department of Forest Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University in 2011, and completed the Graduate School of Regional Revitalization Science, Utsunomiya University in 2022. After graduating from university, he studied harp while working as a natural guide for three years, then moved to Ireland to study Irishharp for one year. Since 2017, he has presided over the harp class "harp classroom forest sound" in Utsunomiya City. Opened the Ohtawara Kurobane classroom in 2024. Since he started learning harp at the age of 22, he specializes in teaching harp learning after becoming ADULTS. It conveys the importance of using Japanese wood by planning and selling and performing activities of the domestic harp "Mori no Harp".

"Christmas Night" Spun by Reading and Marimba

Set in the lobby, a one-night special stage where the story of the reader Yumiko Suga and the warm tone of marimba spreads. The story of turning a picture book and famous songs such as "Kurumicracker" and "Kiyoshiko no Night" overlap, delivering an experience that shows a scene in front of you. The sound of the quiet winter night in Nasu creates a dramatic time as the climax of Winter Stories.

[Date] Tuesday, December 23, 2025 21:00 to 22:00
[Venue] Hotel 1st floor lobby
[Direction] PROPRE Co., Ltd. (Nasu-cho, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture)
[The performers]

Misaki Maniwa

Graduated from Utsunomiya Junior College High School Music Department, Toho Gakuen School of Music, Marimba major, and completed percussion instrument major at the same university.
Performed at graduation concerts by top performers when graduating from high school or university. When he graduated from university, he was recommended to the 39th percussion instrument rookie concert hosted by the Japan Percussion instrument association and the 3rd Tochigi rookie musician concert.
Received the Gold Award and Special Award for the second consecutive year in the Japan Orchestra Percussion Solo Contest. Perform solo at KALIMA Festival "Asian Connection" held in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2019.
Part-time lecturer at Ochanomizu classroom “Music Class for CHILDREN” attached to Toho Gakuen School of Music. Maniwa marimba classroom lecturer.

Kogayu

He started percussion instruments at the age of 10 and marimba at the age of 16.
Graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music, Marimba major, and completed percussion instrument major at the same school.
At the 13th Keiko Abe International Marimba Academy, she passed an audition and performed at a premium concert.
Participated in the 14th Contemporary Music Competition “Rakugaku XIV” final selection.
He has studied in the Toho Orchestra Academy training course, and is currently performing mainly on performing in professional orchestras and brass bands.

Yumiko Suga (affiliated with Yumiko Suga, Horipro)

Born in Ana, Niigata Bureau of TV.
Tochigi TV "Eve 6+", FM Tochigi "Mina Terrace Tochigi of Music",
Tochigi Broadcasting "Tochigi CATV" HOT Station, which celebrates the four seasons of Yumiko Suga, and is currently in charge of four regulars.
A wide range of activities, including reading activities that value words, moderators, and narration.
Ambassador Tochigi, PR ambassador to Sakura City, and hometown ambassador to Nakagawa Town.
Tokyo Olympics Tochigi Prefecture Recommended Torch Runner, Ichigo Ichikai Tochigi Tournament General Moderator, Tochigi 150th anniversary opening ceremony moderator, etc.
He also appears on stage and reading plays.

About "NPO Eco Santa"

The Nasu Kogen Santa Claus Village Project is an initiative started mainly by Eco Santa, who was active as a local citizen's organization based on the "Finnish Forest" in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. With the aim of creating a new attraction to enjoy the season in Nasu, where the number of tourists in winter is decreasing, we invited Santa Claus, which is certified by the state of Lapland, Finland, to interact. This activity spread with the thoughts of the community, and was evaluated as a role in promoting social education, international exchange, and community development. In 1996, it was officially incorporated as "NPO Eco Santa". Since then, we have continued to create a place for children to experience cultural experiences and learn about nature. At present, as part of our efforts to nurture Santa Claus Village as a regional brand, we are promoting community revitalization in cooperation with various companies.

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/npo.ecosanta/
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NPO_ecosanta

Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa

 

Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa is a resort hotel located in a location where you can overlook the magnificent view of the Nasu Mountains and the Nasu Kogen that spreads out at its base. About 15 minutes by car from Nasu IC and about 30 minutes by taxi from Nasushiobara Station. It is located in Nasu Kogen, which is also known as the Royal Resort Nasu because the royal family visits for recreation. There are plenty of areas such as Kids Park, and it is a hotel that can be enjoyed by families.

[Location] 4449-2 Takahisa, Nasu-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi 325-0302, Japan
【TEL】 03-5539-2597 (Reservation Center)
【URL】 https://grand-mercure-nasuhighlands-resortandspa.jp/
[Access] About 15 minutes by car from Nasu IC on the Tohoku Expressway, about 30 minutes by taxi from Nasushiobara Station on JR

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