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 begins in the clear winter air of Nasu Kogen. From December 13th (Sat).

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 that spreads out at its base, has prepared a special Christmas project limited to 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 with sound and light.” Santa Claus appearing in this project is Santa Claus certified by the International Association.

Special time with Santa Claus to give together with the Finnish Forest

Meet "Real Santa" coming from a distant Nordic forest

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

"Real Santa Claus" comes to Nasu Kogen from Finland, the home of Christmas. Gentle gaze, 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 in Nasu Town, the local Nasu Town 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) or December 21 (Sun), 2025　※Limited to 2 days
[Fee] 1 night All-inclusive 27,400 yen ~ (when using 1 room for 2 people, per person, tax, tax 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 your 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" made of domestic and Tochigi prefecture wood. Her music, living with nature, is gentle, deep, and resonates comfortably on winter nights.

Akutsu Hitomi, who plays the 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, and then moved to Ireland for one year studying Irishharp. Since 2017, he has presided over the harp class "harp classroom forest sound" in Utsunomiya City. Opened Ohtawara Kurobane classroom in 2024. Since I started learning harp at the age of 22, my specialty is teaching harp learning after becoming ADULTS. It conveys the importance of using Japanese wood by planning, selling, and performing activities of domestic timber 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 Suka and the warm tone of marimba spread. A story that unfolds a picture book and famous songs such as "Kurumicracker" and "Kiyoshiko Night" overlap, delivering an experience where the scene rises in front of you. The sound of Nasu's quiet winter night creates a dramatic time as the climax of the 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 Graduate School of Music.
Performed in a graduation concert by top performers when graduating from high school or university. Upon graduating from university, he was recommended to the 39th percussion instrument rookie concert hosted by the Japan Percussion instrument association and the 3rd Tochigi New Musician Concert.
Received the Gold Award and Special Award for the second consecutive year in the Japan Orchestra Percussion Solo Contest. Performing solo at the 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. Lecturer of Maniwa Marimba Class.

Kogayu

Begins 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 instruments major at the same school.
At the 13th Keiko Abe International Marimba Academy, she passed audition and performed at premium concerts.
Participated in the 14th Contemporary Music Competition "Kaigaku XIV" Final Selection.
He has studied in the Toho Orchestra Academy training course, and is currently performing mainly in professional orchestras and brass bands.

Yumiko Suga (affiliated with Yumiko Suga, Horipro)

Born in Ana, Niigata Station.
Tochigi Television "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 narrations.
Ambassador Tochigi, Ambassador Sakura City PR Ambassador, and Ambassador Nakagawa Town Hometown Ambassador.
Tokyo Olympics Tochigi Prefecture Recommended Torch Runner, Ichigo Ichikai Tochigi Tournament General Moderator, Tochigi 150th anniversary opening ceremony moderator, etc.
He also appears in the stage and reading dramas.

About "NPO Eco Santa"

The Nasu Kogen Santa Claus Village Project is an initiative started mainly by Eco-Santa, who has been active as a local citizen group based on the Finnish Forest in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The origin is that Santa Claus, a certified state of Lapland, Finland, was invited to interact with Nasu, where the number of tourists in winter is decreasing, with the aim of creating new attractions to enjoy the season. This activity spread with the thoughts of the community and was evaluated as being responsible for 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. And now, 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 overlooking the magnificent view of the Nasu Mountains and the Nasu Kogen that stretches 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 even families can enjoy.

[Location] 4449-2 Takaku Hei, 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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