Coronavirus

[Corona ni Makeruna] Bathe in Beaujolais Wine Amidst the Autumn Colors of Hakone

Travelers to Japan’s Hakone resort in mid-autumn enjoy a reprieve from the restrictions of COVID-19 while being treated to hot baths of wine-infused hot spring waters.

Published

3 years ago

December 9, 2021

The Sankei Shimbun

Beaujolais nouveau is poured into the wine bath as the bathers raise their glasses in a toast. On November 18, 2021 at Hakone Gavel Garden Yu Nessun, (Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture)

When the new French wine beaujolais nouveau was released on November 18, 2021, the Hakone Gavel Garden Yunessun hot spring park celebrated the annual event by pouring beaujolais nouveau into the baths of its local hot spring.

The bathers at the resort were specially served glasses of beaujolais nouveau that day.

*A family enjoying the beaujolais nouveau bath while drinking wine. Grape juice was served to children. (Hakone Gavel Garden Yunessun, Kanagawa Prefecture) November 18, 2021.*

A 49-year-old office worker in Yokohama, who was visiting the popular Hakone region of Kanagawa Prefecture with his wife and 3-year old son for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, smiled and said, "I'm happy I can drink wine at the hot springs while watching the autumn leaves."

Hakone Yunessun is an easy ride of two and a half hours from central Tokyo (Shinjuku Station to Hakone Yumoto Station) by train and bus (a short ride from the train station). The special event was over on November 23 this year, with wine poured into the bathtub twice a day, at noon and 2:00 P.M.

If you missed it, you can always make plans for the 2022 event in mid-November next year!

(Read the Sankei Shimbun article in Japanese at this link.)