Five Characters, Fresh Out of the Bath
The event, officially titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba x Yunessun — Hakone Hot Spring Tale: Rest Under the Wisteria Flowers, brings the franchise to one of Japan's most popular resort complexes. To mark the announcement, ufotable (Demon Slayer, Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works) released brand-new post-bath illustrations of five characters: Tanjirō Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Giyū Tomioka, Shinobu Kochō, and Kanao Tsuyuri.
The Shinobu and Kanao illustrations in particular blew up on Japanese social media. Fans praised the pair's wet-hair, flushed-skin look — comments ranged from "Shinobu is incredibly alluring" to "post-bath Kanao with the glossy hair and red cheeks is too much." Oricon News compiled a highlight reel of the reactions, and the consensus is clear: ufotable's character art remains in a league of its own.
What the Event Includes
The collaboration spans nearly three months at Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, a sprawling hot spring and spa resort in Kanagawa Prefecture. Planned attractions include:
- Themed baths and saunas styled around the Demon Slayer world
- Collaboration drinks and food
- Limited-edition merchandise
- Themed hotel rooms at the adjacent Hakone Hotel Kowakien, with reservations opening June 11
- Special accommodation plans
Full details on each component will be announced at a later date. The event ties into the theatrical run of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle, the blockbuster first chapter of the Infinity Castle arc. The timing also lines up neatly with the film's Blu-ray and DVD release on July 29 — just 11 days after the event opens.
The collaboration is part of Yunessun's 25th anniversary initiative, branded PROJECT NICO NICO, which has been bringing high-profile entertainment partnerships to the resort throughout 2026.
Looking Ahead
The Demon Slayer x Yunessun event runs July 18 through October 4, 2026, making it one of the longer-running anime collaboration events in recent memory. Collab room reservations open June 11, so fans planning a Hakone trip this summer will want to mark that date.
For international visitors, Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is about 90 minutes from central Tokyo by Romancecar express train — it's one of the more accessible resort destinations for tourists already in the Tokyo area. No word yet on whether any of the exclusive merchandise will be available through online channels for overseas fans.
The Infinity Castle film is currently available on Crunchyroll for international streaming. The source manga by Koyoharu Gotouge is published in English by Viz Media, with all 23 volumes available.