A dramatic fog is drifting through the garden of Hotel Chinzanso this summer, transforming the Japanese landscape into a mysterious vista. The phenomenon isn’t a regular occurrence at the hotel, which is situated in the heart of Tokyo, but part of a special event for its guests to experience unkai in the city.
Unkai refers to the early morning fog or low-rise clouds that resemble a ‘sea of clouds’ when viewed from above – a natural phenomenon that you can currently see in Hokkaido. These clouds can be found year-round if you’re at a high enough altitude, but reach peak visibility in autumn and winter.
If you were climbing mountains just to see unkai, you’d have to be up at the crack of dawn to catch them in time. But at Hotel Chinzanso, you can see the artificial clouds throughout the day between 6am and 10.45pm from July 3 to September 18. And it gets better: after dark, 1,000 lights are lit up around the garden to illuminate the scenery and the property’s stunning three-storey pagoda.
The garden is free to visit, but it's only open to hotel guests, who can roam around the premises at their leisure. If you're not staying the night, just dine at any of the hotel restaurants, or opt for the themed dinner to enjoy a grand view of the spectacle. From July 3 to September 18, an Italian dinner course inspired by the 'sea of clouds' will be served at Il Teatro for ¥22,400, including an appetiser, risotto, pasta, meat and fish dishes, and dessert.
This article was originally published on October 7 2020 and updated on June 5 2023.
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