Rainbow sweets are now trending. As well as being very popular overseas, a large variety of shops that sell rainbow sweets have also been opening in Japan. Today we’ll be looking at rainbow sweets that you can eat in Tokyo! The impact of their vivid colours makes them perfect for an Instagram shot!

 

 

LE SHINER (Takeshita Street, Harajuku)

This shop has appeared many times on TV for its Instagram-worthy aesthetics. The pink bear is a real eye-catcher! The exterior is also cute ♡

 

The shop's speciality is the rainbow soft serve ice cream. Colourful rainbow ice cream spirals around the base of pink ice cream.

 

 

🎀Le Shiner 광택🌈さん(@le_shiner_jp)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 4月月11日午前5時08分PDT

🎀Le Shiner 광택🌈さん(@le_shiner_jp)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 3月月21日午前6時23分PDT

Their colourful menu also includes rainbow cake sticks, rainbow sandwiches and much more!

 

Further information: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/ja/93444

 

 

 

 

Totti Candy Factory (Takeshita Street, Harajuku)

 

Totti Candy Factory has cute petit cakes, cotton candy and much more. There must be so many people who have tried this! Whatever you may have heard about this place, their showstopper is definitely the huge colourful cotton candy!

If you're looking for a present or souvenir, we recommend you get one in a cup!

 

 

 

 

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE, HARAJUKU

The KAWAII MONSTER CAFE is a new famous spot in Harajuku that has attracted many from all over the world.

 

One of their specialities is the colourful poison parfait, which is a photogenic masterpiece that is topped with ice cream, fruit, and even a piece of roll cake.

 

There are even rainbow cakes, rainbow pasta dishes, and much more!

 

Further information: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/ja/64096

 

 

 

 

LOLA’S Cupcakes (Roppongi, Harajuku)

 

LOLA'S Cupcakes Tokyoさん(@lolascupcakestokyo)がシェアした投稿 - 2017年 7月月11日午後2時43分PDT

It is possible to say that LOLA'S Cupcakes are the instigators for the rainbow sweets trend. Their cupcakes may be famous, but their rainbow cakes are also a popular choice!

 

Seven different colour layers of cake are sandwiched together with buttercream.

 

 

 

 

A WORKS (Gakugei-daigaku Station)

 

Haruka Uminoさん(@umiharu428)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 3月月21日午前3時29分PDT

What makes this cafe appear so Instagram-worthy is its resemblance to a traditional Japanse-style house. In this popular cafe, all the cakes are made by hand. Sales end once all the cakes are gone.

 

☺︎ n a g i ☺︎さん(@i_am___nagi)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 2月月3日午前2時19分PST

This place has more to offer than just a rainbow-coloured cheesecake — there are also unicorn cakes, Cheshire cat cakes and much more ♡

 

 

 

 

NEW NEW YORK CLUB (Azabu-Jūban/ Jiyūgaoka station)

 

@ab_fried.shrimpがシェアした投稿 - 2018年 1月月21日午前3時29分PST

This shop was built for those who want to experience and taste New York culture in a New York atmosphere. Their signature treat is the rainbow-coloured bagel. However, they are only available on the weekends!

 

 

 

What are you waiting for? Get your hands on some rainbow sweets!

Hi, everyone. I'm Shiota, the Director of the MOSHI MOSHI BOX Harajuku Tourist Information Center.

 

Foreigners coming to Japan love ramen, as shown in our questionnaire where it ranked 2nd place. I'm sure there's a lot of you reading those who like it too.

 

AFURIさん(@afuri_official)がシェアした投稿 - 2017年 8月月27日午前2時15分PDT

Did you know, there's actually a famous ramen place in Harajuku listed by Michelin? Today, I'll introduce you to AFURI Harajuku, a ramen shop recognised worldwide.

 

It's easy to get to. Just take the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station and it's a 3-minute walk from there. Head left out of Takeshita Exit and make a right when you come to Nescafe Harajuku. You'll be able to see it on your left.

 

The restaurant itself has a very stylish and modern exterior. You'll actually wonder whether it's really a ramen shop when you see it. It has a welcoming atmosphere even if you go by yourself. When we went, despite it being 3pm on a weekday, most of the seats were taken up. And half of the customers were non-Japanese! As expected of such a popular restaurant.

 

The smell of citrus hits your nose upon entering the restaurant, something you wouldn't expect in a place that sells ramen.

 

The inner section of the U-shaped counter is in fact an open kitchen, giving the whole restaurant a feeling of openness, and the background music that plays is calm. It feels like you're in a fancy café.

I ordered the Yuzu Salt Ramen (¥980).

 

The toppings are simple. It comes with juicy mizuna, a boiled egg, bamboo shoots, char siu chicken fillet, and refreshing yuzu skin. You can choose from a boiled char siu packed with the chicken's good flavour or a light and healthy chicken char siu.

 

Infatuation Denverさん(@infatuation_den)がシェアした投稿 - 2016年12月月12日午前9時34分PST

The noodles are thin and a healthy mix of wholewheat flour from Hokkaido and rye. The soup is made with carefully selected ingredients such as roast chicken,  seafood and potherbs that have been carefully cooked in natural spring water from Mount Afuri. The flavour is both full-bodied and light and will have anybody who's tasted it addicted.

 

Maria Eduarda Costaさん(@duudacostaa)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 3月月14日午後8時23分PDT

There's also a vegan ramen (¥1,350) option too made with seasonal vegetables for vegans, vegetarians and healthy eaters. It's made with freshly-harvested Kamakura vegetables. No animal products are used in the dish, whether that's in the noodles, soup or toppings. The salted soup goes perfectly with the vegetables. This option is also recommended for people who aren't good with thick ramen.

 

AFURI in Harajuku is celebrated not only by worldwide fans of ramen, but healthy eaters and vegetarians too. There's no doubt you'll become hooked once you give their food a try.

 

Hey, everyone. Shiota here, the Director of the MOSHI MOSHI BOX Harajuku Tourist Information Center. Harajuku is a candy and sweets battleground, with many different stores lining the streets. Today, we take a look at Instagram-worthy goodies from much talked about newly opened stores!   “THE PARFAIT STAND” – Takeout Parfaits Located exactly ZERO minutes from the Takeshita Exit of Harajuku Station is THE PARFAIT STAND, the sister store to popular cheese tart shop BAKE CHEESE TART.   Topping the parfait isn’t fresh cream, but meringue! The taste and texture of the parfait is irresistible throughout, with ice cream, purin, mousse and more. Just holding it is kawaii and something new to take onto the streets of Harajuku with you♡   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/100198       “LONG! LONGER!! LONGEST!!!” – Japan’s Longest Food & Sweets Opening as Japan’s first shop to center around the ‘length’ of food, LONG! LONGER!! LONGEST!!! is located along Takeshita Street. The menu has three size variations, the same as in the store’s name. ‘LONGEST’ in fact offers the longest food product in Japan!   They have lots of products on offer, including soft serve ice cream, tornado potato, churros and more. You’ll never forget about their crazy length once you try one!   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/93395      

ｰ`, M☽ ‘､ｰさん(@m.lxiii)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 4月月9日午前3時53分PDT

“GOMAYA KUKI” – Sesame Ice Cream GOMAYA KUKI is a store selling sesame ice cream which has received support from inside and outside Japan. They have opened a store in Ura-Harajuku. One serving is covered in close to 9,000 sesame seeds!   Their menu is full of new, unique products including ice cream made with sweets friend in sesame oil, Japanese-style parfaits sprinkled with sesame seeds, and more. They also offer takeaway ice cream in cups.      

Q-pot. & Q-pot CAFE. OFFICIALさん(@qpot_official)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 4月月7日午後9時19分PDT

“Q-pot CAFE.” – Accessories Turned Into Sweets This café is inspired by Q-pot., an accessory brand who create kawaii products themed around sweets.   The café is decorated in all things sweet as far as the eye can see. The interior has a fairy-tale like atmosphere that female customers will love. The sweets here are both sweet in appearance and taste looking exactly Q-pot.’s necklaces, rings and so on.      

The Pie Hole Los Angeles™️さん(@thepieholela)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 2月月22日午後4時43分PST

“The Pie Hole Los Angeles” – Original Pies from LA This popular store hails from Los Angeles and sells their own original pies and organic coffee, and it’s found its way to Takeshita Street in Harajuku!   Since April 4, they have been holding their second all-you-can-eat session for all their pie products every Wednesday. From sweet pies to classic pies, each and every one is handmade with care and attention. Why not head to one of their all-you-can-eats to try them yourself?       Are you hungry now? Be sure to use this list as reference if you’re looking for a café in Harajuku!   And if you’re unsure of how to get to any of these places, then pop into the MOSHI MOSHI BOX and we’d be happy to help!    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi everyone! I’m Midori Blackmore from MOSHI MOSHI BOX Tourist Information Centre. As you all know, second-hand clothing has quickly become the new fashion. I have never worn a matching second-hand clothing outfit with a friend before. My friends are very different from me. They can effortlessly coordinate second-hand fashion whereas I can’t. I love second-hand clothes so much that they make up half the clothes I own in my closet.

 

…Despite this, I still feel a scared to enter second-hand shops, don’t you?

Whenever I see a new collection of second-hand fashion items making their debut appearance in a shop, I always think to myself, “only fashionable people can buy this stuff!” Running out of courage, there are times that I stop right before the entrance of the shop. That’s why I’m dedicating this article to all the second-hand fashion newbies out there. Today I’m going to introduce you to some second-hand clothing shops that are not scary to enter!

 

 

KINJI

KINJI原宿店さん(@kinji_harajuku)がシェアした投稿 - 2017年12月月5日午後8時09分PST

What is scary about second-hand clothing shops you ask? Sometimes they can look kind of dark. After all, dark clothing is fashionable. The dark atmosphere can be quite intimidating and can even put you off checking out the new arrivals of second-hand clothing. However, KENJI is a large shop with a bright interior. The atmosphere is comparable to that of a supermarket. Of course, the items inside are also super cute!  

ばぶかぼんさん(@bbkpp_bn)がシェアした投稿 - 2016年 3月月20日午後8時08分PDT

I recommend KENJI’s remade goods! If you own one of these, you will find yourself often being asked by people where you got that from.

 

 

 

 

flamingo

フラミンゴ原宿店さん(@flamingo_harajuku)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 3月月9日午後10時06分PST

Flamingo is the mecca of second-hand shops. This famous shop also has a branch in Shimokitazawa. We are often asked about this shop at MOSHI MOSHI BOX. Compared to shopping malls, not only are there less customers in second-hand clothing shops, but the staff at second-hand shops approach you more, so there are times that I get put off from entering at all. I recommend flamingo because unlike other second-hand shops, it is always busy with customers. The atmosphere of “no unfashionable people allowed” might play on your mind in some second-hand shops but not here! At flamingo, everyone is too busy daydreaming about clothes to even notice you so there is no need to overthink!  

フラミンゴ原宿店さん(@flamingo_harajuku)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 3月月4日午後8時13分PST

Flamingo has a reputation of selling lots of shoes. Although brand new shoes are cute, worn out shoes also have their charm. You can wear them down yourself but this can be quite difficult to achieve, so it might be worth just buying some from a second-hand shop.

 

 

 

 

WEGO Harajuku main shop

WEGO VINTAGE TOKYOさん(@wego_vintage_tokyo)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 2月月15日午後10時07分PST

WEGO is popular with middle school students because it is cheap, affordable and sells second-hand clothes! There used to be a second-hand shop next to H&M but now there is a special second-hand clothing floor inside WEGO Harajuku main shop. The shop is filled with friendly staff and the kindest of people, so this is definitely a place you could challenge yourself to!  

WEGO VINTAGE TOKYOさん(@wego_vintage_tokyo)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 3月月8日午前2時27分PST

Second-hand clothing plus new accessories… It’s fun to think about creating an outfit at WEGO. The prices here are fairly cheap, so you’ll probably end up buying lots of things. Sometimes there are limited sales events where you can stuff your bag with as many clothes as you like for a fixed price, so make sure to keep checking their SNS feeds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARTE

Have you ever made the effort to buy specifically from a second-hand shop but then the clothes you have and the atmosphere in which you try the clothes on have changed so much that you cannot coordinate anything? When you buy basic items, patterned shirts and large jackets from a second-hand shop, you sometimes think your new purchases are cute when you see them in the shop but then when you go home you lose the confidence to wear them…what a waste, right?

For those of you out there who have experienced this, I recommend MARTE.

 

MARTE　vintage fashion boutiqueさん(@marte_vintage)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 3月月9日午前3時14分PST

I definitely recommend the dresses from here. Just put one on and you will transform into a vintage girl. You can always coordinate these dresses with a jacket and trainers. Consult the fashionable shop assistants and make sure to get your hands on some clothes that are easy to mix and match!  

MARTE　vintage fashion boutiqueさん(@marte_vintage)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 2月月27日午前1時43分PST

MARTE’s original items are also really cute!

 

 

 

 

I have so many more recommendations for you in mind but the more I write the more likely I am to expose just how nervous I am about entering shops so I’m going to stop here!

 

If you are ever lost, please come see us at MOSHI MOSHI BOX!

 

 

 

Hi! I’m Ellie from MOSHI MOSHI BOX Tourist Information Centre. At MOSHI MOSHI BOX, we get a lot of people asking us to recommend a place where they can eat authentic Japanese food in Harajuku. That’s why I’ve decided to take a trip to “Sakura Tei”. Sakura Tei is a restaurant not far from MOSHI MOSI BOX that serves a typical Japanese dish – onokomiyaki. Half of Sakura Tei’s customers are tourists from outside of Japan, so I would really recommend this place to foreigners.   What exactly is okonomiyaki? Its basic form is a savoury pancake made from water, wheat flour, shredded cabbage and fried batter pieces. The name okonomiyaki means grilled (yaki) as you like it (onkonomi). Therefore, it can be customised with seafood or meat. The ingredients are mixed together and then grilled in a cast iron pan. This is one of the most popular dishes in Japan.   Look out for the artistic exterior and bamboo Walk down Meiji-dori in the direction of Murasaki Sports (ムラサキスポーツ) . Meiji-dori is the street on which MOSHI MOSHI BOX is also located. Once you are at Murasaki Sports, walk down the street between Murasaki Sports and New Balance (NB) and then turn left at the Family Mart. You will immediately notice that the road splits off into two directions. From this point, take the thin pathway on your left. You will see a white building on your left called “DESIGN FESTA GALLERY”. The restaurant Sakura Tei is on the left of this building. Look out for the vivid wall art and bamboo exterior – this is a sign you are in the right place. If you get lost and don’t know the way, don’t hesitate to ask us for help at MOSHI MOSHI BOX. The interior is also photogenic! Each wall is painted with beautiful artwork. A new design is painted on the walls every half year, so you might see something different if you come back later in the year! Some paintings were offered by a solo exhibition artist from the “DESIGN FESTA GALLERY” next door. Other designs were even painted by the restaurant staff! The restaurant seats more than 200 people, making it perfect for even large parties. Being hit by a wave of beauty, it was fun to take pictures of the interior even before having entered. What caught my attention the most were the trees that are growing inside the restaurant. I was told that they were growing here before this place became a restaurant, and rather than cutting them down, the owner nurtured them, incorporating them into part of the restaurant. From this dynamic and unique idea, an atmosphere of freedom formed. You wouldn’t even believe you are still in Harajuku. The atmosphere is so relaxing.   Order an original Okonomiyaki at Sakura Tei! Besides okonomiyaki, the menu includes an abundant range of dishes such as monjayaki (similar to okonomiyaki), yakisoba (fried noodle dish) gyoza (dumplings) and teppanyaki (grilled food served on an iron plate). There is also an English menu available and many foreigners belong to the team of staff. They can speak many languages including English and Korean. You can order vegetarian and vegan food too so if you have any questions, feel free to talk to the staff! I ordered Sakura Tei’s most popular item off the menu – the “Sakura yaki” (￥1,400). All the prices on the menu are the prices including tax. Pork, squid, shrimp, matsutake mushrooms, welsh onions, pork belly slices and egg are the eight ingredients mixed into the batter of this okonomiyaki. Each table has a hot teppanyaki plate fitted into it so you can make your own okonomiyaki yourself. It’s ok even if you’ve never made one before! Easy instructions on how to make it are provided on each table. I immediately took up the challenge of making one. First, you have to mix the ingredients with the batter with all your might – that’s the key to making it so delicious. After mixing well, place the batter onto the grill plate and form it into a round shape. Then, place the pork belly slices on top and cook until golden brown (Approx. 6-8 minutes). Once the underside is golden brown, it’s time to flip it over! It’s heavier than I thought… I wasn’t sure if I could do it… I drew up all my courage and went for it!! I did it! Whenever customers flip their okonomiyaki particularly well, there is always a mini celebration. It’s all about celebrating the process of making okonomiyaki and having fun here. A staff member even mentioned: “I love seeing the customers having fun while making okonomiyaki”.   After flipping, cook for another 6 minutes. When your okonomiyaki is cooked, place your egg on top (that you lightly cooked on the teppanyaki grill) and then add the original sauce and mayonnaise. Sprinkle on some katsuobushi (dried skipjack tuna flakes), some more mayonnaise and you are done! I immediately took my first bite while it was still piping hot. Normally, okonomiyaki is slightly thinner than this one…but what about the flavour..? …Super delicious!!! The batter is packed with ingredients that taste great with the seafood stock. The slightly sweet sauce makes it into a delicious specialty that can only be experienced at Sakura Tei! Normal okonomiyaki uses wheat flour that makes you full very quickly, however Sakura Tei’s okonomiyaki is soft and thick – you will hungrily eat it all up! ♡   A fried parfait?! My first dessert experience here After having okonomiyaki, you always want something sweet in your mouth! Skimming the menu, the one thing that caught my eye was the “ama-imonja yaki banayan” (￥550). Monjayaki uses wheat flour that is lightly mixed with water amongst a range of ingredients and then fried on the pan. It resembles okonomiyaki but is thicker. I quickly gobbled up the ama-imonja yaki. It was easy to make! Just mix all the parfait ingredients together and then cook it. Just looking at this dessert made feel like an excited child. I had never tasted anything like this before! It tasted a bit like a banana muffin and the caramelised golden-brown areas were sweet – I just couldn’t stop! You should try making this one too! There is one more thing I would like to recommend you to have after your meal. The homemade “Sakura Lemonade” (￥500 ). Their lemonade includes a Sakura-salted flavor that is popular among foreigners. The fresh flavor and taste of sakura brings back memories of spring. You can enjoy this drink at any time of year, so please check it out! That was my first visit to Sakura Tei. It wasn’t just the okonomiyaki, dessert and drink that I enjoyed, but also the way the restaurant makes the customers laugh and smile. If you’re ever in Harajuku, make sure to check this place out!   Model & Writer Ellie