A Winter Holiday Visit to Rwanda: Memories from Japan to Africa

 

The winter holiday season around New Year is always special, but this year it became truly unforgettable. From December 28, 2025 to January 3, 2026, we had the joy of hosting dear friends visiting us all the way from Japan here in Rwanda.

They arrived on Sunday afternoon at Kigali International Airport, and despite the long journey, their excitement was contagious. We started our time together with dinner at the German Butchery, easing into the visit with good food and conversation.

The following day, we spent time exploring Kigali, getting to know the city together. For lunch, we stopped at Sundowner, giving our friends a taste of East African cuisine and one of Kigali’s beautiful viewpoints.

Our adventure then took us south toward Huye, with an important stop at the King’s Palace in Nyanza. There, we learned more about Rwanda’s royal history and experienced the impressive Inyambo cows, a powerful symbol of Rwandan culture. Another highlight of the day was the coffee experience from seed to cup, where we learned how Rwandan coffee is grown, harvested, and processed. The experience ended perfectly with coffee prepared and served in the traditional way. We enjoyed dinner in Huye that evening, reflecting on a full and fascinating day.

The next morning started early as we headed to Nyungwe National Park. Surrounded by ancient rainforest, we hiked to experience the famous Canopy Walk, suspended about 70 meters above the forest floor and stretching across three suspension bridges. Walking above the trees was both thrilling and humbling. Along the way, we were lucky to see mountain monkeys, birds, and even a squirrel.

After our hike in Nyungwe, we made a spontaneous decision. Instead of driving back the way we came, our friends wanted to see Lake Kivu, and we’re so glad we changed plans. We drove west and then north along the lake before heading east back to Kigali. The scenery was stunning: endless tea fields, views of the DRC across the lake, a beautiful waterfall, and countless people walking along the roads carrying goods to local markets. It was a powerful glimpse into everyday life and the natural beauty of western Rwanda.

Back in Kigali, we welcomed the New Year together. As midnight approached, fireworks lit up the city from all directions. At home, we prepared a special New Year’s meal, homemade kara-age, croquettes, French fries, and plenty of other potato-based dishes. Everything was delicious, and the atmosphere was warm, joyful, and full of gratitude.

On our last full day, we visited the Niyo Arts Center, spending time enjoying art, music, and creativity, before exploring Kigali a bit more and picking up souvenirs for our friends to take back to Japan.

All too soon, departure day arrived. We saw our friends off at the airport, and the goodbye was emotional. There were tears, hugs, and a deep sense of how special this time had been. In just a few short days, we shared laughter, adventure, culture, and countless memories.

We are so thankful that they traveled all this way from Japan to Africa to spend the holidays with us. It was a visit we will never forget, and one that reminded us how meaningful it is to share our home, our country, and our lives with people we love.