As Tokyo settles into winter, TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN continues its seasonal celebrations with a thoughtfully curated lineup that blends comfort, visual beauty and cultural moments. Following its New Year festivities, the iconic precinct turns its focus to food-led indulgences, romantic illuminations and fleeting natural spectacles, inviting visitors to slow down and savour the quieter side of the season. Rooted in Japanese traditions and shaped by modern lifestyle experiences, the winter calendar unfolds around one of Tokyo’s most recognisable landmarks.

Winter begins on a sweet note with Strawberry and Chocolate Tokyo Solamachi 2026, an outdoor gourmet event celebrating two flavours eagerly awaited each year in Japan. The festival brings together strawberry-based desserts, rich chocolate creations and warming cheese comfort dishes, offering visitors the perfect accompaniment to crisp winter evenings. The Sky Arena is enhanced with floral wall installations and seasonal décor, creating an inviting visual pause within the city and a popular photo spot for those exploring the area.
Dates: January 15 – February 15, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Last order at 8:00 PM)
Venue: Sky Arena, 4F, Tokyo Skytree Town
Entry: Free

As Valentine’s Day approaches, Tokyo Solamachi adopts a more romantic atmosphere with Happy Valentine Tokyo Solamachi 2026. A collection of limited-period pop-up stores features chocolates and sweets from established Japanese chocolatiers, alongside brands making their debut. The experience is complemented by Tokyo Skytree’s seasonal illuminations, designed around themes of affection and gifting, adding warmth to winter evenings spent in the district.
Dates: January 23 – February 14, 2026
Venue: Various locations across Tokyo Solamachi
Special Lightings:
Valentine’s Day Lighting – “My Gift to You” (February 11–14)
White Day Lighting – “Thinking of You” (March 12–14)

One of the season’s most anticipated moments arrives with Diamond Fuji on February 3, 2026. This rare natural phenomenon occurs when the setting sun aligns perfectly with the summit of Mount Fuji, forming a glowing diamond-shaped silhouette. Tokyo Skytree is regarded as one of the city’s most striking vantage points to witness this event, which takes place only twice a year. Beyond its visual appeal, Diamond Fuji carries cultural meaning and offers visitors a moment of calm above the Tokyo skyline.
Date: February 3, 2026
Time: Around 5:00 PM
Viewing Location: Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck & Tembo Galleria

With its blend of food festivals, romantic winter illuminations, cultural traditions and rare seasonal spectacles, TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN continues to present a layered winter narrative that appeals to travellers of all age groups. For visitors seeking both indulgence and reflection, the destination offers a memorable way to experience Tokyo during the colder months.

To learn more about event schedules and visitor access, please visit:
https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en
https://en.www.tokyo-solamachi.jp/

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi has revealed the first phase of its resortwide design transformation, marking an important step in the resort’s evolution under Sun Siyam’s newly launched Luxury Collection. The five-star Maldivian resort has introduced a reimagined portfolio of overwater accommodation, setting a fresh design direction rooted in refined island luxury and local craftsmanship.

The newly reimagined Water Villas and Horizon Water Villas with Private Pool form the opening chapter of this transformation. Designed with a contemporary take on rustic Maldivian luxury, each villa offers an open-plan layout that frames uninterrupted ocean views. Spacious bathrooms feature bathtubs overlooking the lagoon, while private decks include multiple lounging areas, suspended hammocks, and intimate corners styled in soft green tones, creating a relaxed yet elevated living experience.

All Horizon Water Villas now feature a 22 sqm private pool with sunken seating, turning each space into a personal retreat suited for sunrise rituals, unhurried afternoons, and sunset views. Tailored experiences have also been curated for couples and honeymooners, ensuring stays feel personal and thoughtfully designed.

The overwater portfolio includes 40 Water Villas with Pool measuring 123 sqm, 16 Horizon Water Villas with Pool at 128 sqm, and 19 Sunset Horizon Water Villas with Pool, also spanning 128 sqm. Each category offers a seamless balance of comfort, privacy, and connection to the surrounding lagoon.

To guide the transformation, Sun Siyam appointed international interior design consultants Lee McNichol and Jose Rivero, Founders and Creative Directors of London-based Studio Sixty7. Their design approach brings together muted tones, natural textures, and softly sculpted forms that reflect effortless barefoot luxury. Gently imperfect plastered walls, tactile finishes, and layers of breathable linen define the villas’ calm and inviting atmosphere. “Every element has been chosen to feel grounded and sensorial, inviting guests into a deep sense of calm.” said Lee McNichol and Jose Rivero.

Highlighting the intent behind the redesign, Resort Manager Abdulla Atham shared, “This transformation goes beyond aesthetics, it’s a careful orchestration of space, service excellence, and emotional detail. From villa layouts and in-villa experiences to the minibar selection, outdoor offerings, views, and quiet gestures from your butler, each moment is designed to immerse guests into the spirit of chic island living”.

With this unveiling, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi continues its journey toward becoming a destination defined by understated luxury and authentic island living, offering guests a refined yet deeply relaxed Maldivian experience.

Azerai La Residence, Hue continues to strengthen its position as a culinary landmark in central Vietnam with the introduction of several new local specialities at its all-day dining restaurant, Le Parfum. The latest additions reflect the hotel’s ongoing commitment to showcasing authentic Vietnamese flavours while celebrating regional culinary traditions.

Executive Chef Nguyen Dong Hai, who has been with La Residence since 2005, recently earned further recognition after being named a finalist in the Gourmet Vietnam Awards presented by Epicure magazine. Last year, he was also honoured with the title of “Master Culinary Artist of Vietnam,” a rare distinction that highlights his contribution to the country’s culinary scene.

The newly launched Vietnamese dishes draw inspiration from Hue’s royal and local cuisine. Highlights include Hue Royal-Style Braised Duck Leg, slow-braised in Minh Mang wine with goji berries, star anise, carrots, mushrooms and ginseng, and served with mung bean sticky rice. Another addition is the Hue Five-Spice Roasted Chicken with Turmeric Rice, featuring free-range chicken marinated in five local spices and honey, paired with shitake mushrooms, turmeric-scented rice and sautéed bok choy. The menu also includes Hue Caramelized Pork & Prawn in a Clay Pot, served alongside sautéed broccoli and steamed rice.

Beyond Vietnamese specialities, Chef Hai has introduced global flavours to the menu. New offerings include Thyme Semi-Smoked Japanese Wagyu Striploin A5, served with pear potato, organic vegetables and yakiniku sauce, as well as Steamed YellowTail Kingfish with Black Bean Soy, accompanied by sautéed mushrooms, carrots, onions, bok choy and glass noodles.

Chef Hai is also the creative force behind several of the hotel’s signature dining experiences. These include “The Colonial Life,” a concept that blends Nguyen Dynasty imperial cuisine with refined French gastronomy in a riverside setting inspired by Indochina’s colonial charm. In 2017, he curated the “Majestic Menu” for the state visit of Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan, hosted by then-Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. This menu has since become one of the hotel’s most popular culinary offerings.

Over the years, Chef Hai’s work has attracted global attention, including praise from the late TV host and author Anthony Bourdain, who stayed at the hotel in 2014 and admired his inventive take on the Vietnamese banh mi, now famously known as the “La Residence Banh Mi.”

Azerai La Residence, Hue features 122 rooms and suites set around a colonial mansion built in 1930 as part of the residence of the French Resident Superieur. The property’s art deco façade reflects the streamline moderne architectural style. Recently, the hotel was recognised among Vietnam’s top 16 hotels for 2025 by The Times of London and is part of hotelier Adrian Zecha’s Azerai portfolio, which also includes Azerai Ke Ga Bay in southern Vietnam.