In the winter, the popular resort "Hoshino Resorts Tomamu" will be introducing the fantastical ice town "Ice Village" and the spectacular "Frost Terrace". The "Ice Village", which is lined with ice restaurants, ice churches, and hotels, is a winter feature unique to Tomamu. The "Frost Terrace", which overlooks an impressive view from an altitude of 1,088m, offers a spectacular view. In this article, we will introduce the details of the "Ice Village" and "Frost Terrace", where you can fully enjoy Tomamu in winter!

Ice Church in Ice Village

Hoshino Resort Tomamu, which can be accessed by shuttle bus from JR Tomamu Station or by taking a 90-minute train ride from New Chitose Airport, is a popular resort destination visited by many tourists. Not only can you enjoy skiing and snowboarding, but the "Ice Village" we will introduce this time is an ice town with 11 domes made of ice and snow, and is very popular with tourists every year.

There are bars, parlours, ramen shops, general stores, post offices, boutiques and more, all inside an ice dome, and the building walls, chairs and tables are all made of ice and snow. Everything is made of ice, from the ice rink where you can skate, to the "Ice Church" where you can hold your wedding ceremony and the "Ice Hotel" where you can stay overnight. This event will be held until March 14, 2025.

Inside the "Ice Ramen Shop"

Now, let's take a closer look at the facilities and experiences you can actually enjoy at Ice Village! First, we'll introduce you to the food that you can only experience here, and the fantastical and stylish bar.

Ice ramen, gyoza and beer

At "Koori no Ramenya," you can enjoy "ice ramen" and "gyoza" served in ice bowls. The ramen is of course "cold" rather than "hot," and has a slightly rich flavor with a sherbet-like kelp broth that soaks into your body. The crunchy and chewy texture of the naruto and boiled egg add a nice accent. The amount of noodles is about 1/3 of that of regular ramen, so it's easy to enjoy.

The texture of the boiled eggs is also a new sensation

On the other hand, gyoza is "warm". If you dip the frozen gyoza in the sauce and eat it, you can experience a mysterious deliciousness where the crispy cold texture of the sauce and the hot gyoza are exquisitely intertwined in your mouth. Along with the ramen and gyoza, beer is also a must! Beer poured into an ice glass is ice-cold and refreshingly delicious.

By the way, the tables and chairs are all made of ice, but there are rugs on the chairs so the coldness of the ice doesn't reach your bottom directly. However, since the temperature is below freezing, it's best to wear cold-weather, waterproof clothing such as ski wear.

"Ice Bar"

If you like alcohol, head to the "Ice Bar." The sight of the bar counter made of ice and the rows of sake bottles at the back is refreshing. Of the more than 50 types on the menu, the recommended one is the ice fruit cocktail made with frozen fruit. There are mixed berry, orange, and kiwi, and the colorful cocktails poured into ice glasses are sure to look great in photos.

Fruit cocktails at "Ice Bar"

If you like sweets, try frozen cake and ice cream soda at the Ice Parlour. The cake is delicious even when frozen, but if you let it melt in your mouth, the taste changes slightly and the sweetness stands out. If you're freezing cold, you can also enjoy hot coffee or tea, or marshmallows roasted over an outdoor bonfire. You can also take the cake home to your hotel room.

Frozen cake and ice cream soda

You can even hold your wedding ceremony at the "Ice Church"

The highlights of the Ice Village aren't just the food and drinks! From here, we will introduce each facility, including the popular "Ice Hotel" where you can actually stay, the ice church, and boutiques.

Apart from the door, the structure is almost entirely made of ice, including the ice bed!

If you want to have a more precious winter experience, how about staying at the "Ice Hotel"? This special space is made of a seamless dome made from a single piece of ice, and only one group (up to two people) can stay there per day. The ceiling, chairs, and beds are all made of ice!

In addition, the open-air bath, which is only available to guests staying at the Ice Hotel, is entirely made of ice, except for the bathtub. Near the open-air bath, there is a hut where you can warm yourself up and change clothes, and there are sleeping bags designed for cold climates, so it is surprisingly comfortable! I have actually stayed there, and it was a valuable experience that I really enjoyed, as I didn't feel the cold as much as I expected. It is popular every year, so if you want to stay, please get there early!

This is the ultimate secret hot spring! An open-air ice bath that only guests can enjoy

"Ice Church" image

Another must-see in the Ice Village is the "Ice Church." Once you climb the gentle ice staircase and arrive in front of the Ice Church, the lively and fun atmosphere of the Ice Village will be completely transformed. You will be enveloped in a solemn atmosphere. The altar, cross, aisle, chairs, and everything else are made of ice and snow. It was made from a single seamless piece of ice, with the idea in mind that "the pure feelings between the two people will continue uninterrupted."

"Ice Boutique" also has costumes for children

At the "Ice Boutique," which also has a show window, you can rent pure white coats for men and women, as well as accessories that change color depending on the temperature, making it perfect for taking commemorative photos in the icy town scenery!

In addition, at the "Ice General Store," craft products such as accessories and mugs with snow and ice themes are lined up on ice shelves, making it a great place to look for souvenirs. At the "Ice Postman," postcards with designs that change depending on the temperature are sold. If you write a message and drop it in the ice post, you can send it anywhere in the world without a stamp.

"Ice General Store" Image

Then, we left the ice dome and headed outside. There are two types of ice slides: a short one for small children, and a long one that both children and adults can enjoy (for those over 130cm tall). The long one starts from an observation deck overlooking the Ice Village, so the view is great, but it picks up speed surprisingly quickly, so you'll be so excited you won't have time to look at the view! It's like being a kid again and having a blast.

Marshmallows roasting on a bonfire

And if you come to Hoshino Resorts Tomamu in the winter, you should definitely try the "Frost Terrace." The spectacular view point can be accessed by a single Unkai Gondola from the foot of Mt. Tomamu to the summit at an altitude of 1,088m. In the summer, it is a very popular place known as the "Unkai Terrace."

Cloud Walk at the Frost Terrace

From the terrace, on clear days, you can see the pure white forest of Tomamu spreading out below you, and the majestic scenery of the Hidaka Mountains in the distance. Depending on the weather, you may be able to see rare sights such as "frost" and "diamond dust," which are formed when water vapor and fog in the air freeze onto the trees.

The view from "Cloud Bar" is refreshing!

In addition, the "Frost Terrace" has observation spots "Cloud Bar" and "Cloud Walk" where you can enjoy the magnificent silvery white scenery even more, and they are sure to make for great photos! In the building where you get off the gondola, there is also "Cloud Cafe", where you can enjoy "Frost Terrace Afternoon Tea" and other things.

Image of Frost Terrace Afternoon Tea

The afternoon tea served at Cloud Cafe is served at a stand designed to resemble a Cloud Walk, with eight kinds of sweets and savory dishes that are inspired by frost and snow-capped mountains. Along with chocolates and desserts, the shop also serves a unique shrimp fritter sandwich. Apparently, this is because the shape of the frost growing upwind resembles a shrimp's tail.

For drinks, try the "Frost Cream Coffee," which is inspired by frost. Enjoy the fluffy cream and delicate candy as you melt it. "Cloud Cafe" is a warm and cozy cafe, where you can enjoy your afternoon tea while looking out at the snowy scenery outside, depending on your seat.

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu also offers a wide range of activities and experiences that are unique to winter! Not only can you enjoy skiing and snowboarding on the powdery slopes, but there are also plenty of aggressive activities such as snowshoeing, driving a snowmobile, snow rafting on the snowy fields, and banana boating. For those who want to relax and enjoy the unique winter scenery, we recommend the Ski-in Ski-out Kotatsu Lounge and the Frost Terrace.

The large crab legs and octopus legs are very filling! You can enjoy them with crab roe and other dipping sauces.

There is even a special "Kotatsu" (heated table) set up outside at Hotalu Street, a restaurant street directly connected to the slopes that can be enjoyed ski-in and ski-out! Here, you can enjoy oden made with seafood, mountain vegetables, and kelp broth while warming yourself up in the kotatsu. Although it is located halfway up the slopes, you can walk to it from the hotel via a connecting walkway, so you can easily enjoy a unique experience.

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu has so many charms that it's impossible to describe them all, no matter when you visit! There are so many more winter attractions, so one night alone just won't be enough. Enjoy experiences that are unique to this place in winter, such as the "Ice Village" and the "Frost Terrace"!

Check it out too!