Special Chinese New Year courses

The Peninsula Tokyo is celebrating the Chinese New Year by offering a special festive six-course lunch as well as dinner at its Chinese restaurant Hei Fung Terrace, through Jan. 31.

The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the Chinese lunar calendar. Traditionally, people celebrate with cuisine that is said to bring good fortune. Such dishes are being prepared by the head chef of the Peninsula's Hong Kong branch.

The lunch course, called Wishes, includes stewed abalone with pigs' knuckles, bird's nest soup with crab roe and bamboo fungus, and stir-fried shrimp balls stuffed with asparagus.

The lunch course is available at ¥9,880 per person, and the dinner course, called Lucky, which includes wok-fried spicy lobster, costs ¥26,880 per person. Both courses include a glass of Champagne. The prices include tax and are subject to a 10 percent service charge.

Hot springs and French cuisine

The Odakyu Hakone Highland Hotel in a hot springs resort area in Kanagawa Prefecture is offering a special winter La Foret accommodation plan that comes with dinner and breakfast, through Feb. 29.

With the plan, guests can enjoy the hotel's hot springs from the Owakudani volcanic gorge in Hakone, and then dine at the hotel's restaurant, La Foret, featuring a special French-Japanese dinner made with ingredients from the surrounding area.

The hotel has joined a project to promote local production for local consumption, and more products from nearby, such as vegetables from the Miura area and seafood from the Numazu area, are being used than before.

For breakfast, guests can choose from French-Japanese or traditional Japanese dishes.

The plan is available from ¥18,150 per person for double occupancy, including tax and a service charge.

New restaurant opens at Keio Plaza

On Jan. 20, a new restaurant opens on the second floor of the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo's South Tower, in the Shinjuku area of the capital.

Duo Fourchettes will serve prize-winning chef Shinichi Sato's original dishes inspired by French and Italian traditions.

A daily pasta lunch will be available at ¥2,000 per person (weekends and holidays at ¥2,300) and guests will be able to choose from a pasta or a risotto dish, which will be changed monthly.

Lunch courses will start at ¥3,500 and dinner courses will start from ¥4,500 per person. An a la carte menu will also be available.

The restaurant will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (weekends and holidays until 4 p.m.) and from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The prices will include tax and a service charge.