The scenic Hoshino Resort Risonare Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture, known for its spectacular views and hot springs, will begin hosting Night Strawberry Tours, inviting couples to pick strawberries in an illuminated greenhouse from January 6 until March 30, 2023. The event is only available on even-numbered days, and only one couple per day can participate. Beni Hoppe Strawberries are a specialty of the area, and this is the 10th event of its kind. Fittingly, guests can enjoy their strawberries with 10 unique condiments. 

Enjoy Fresh Strawberries with 10 Condiments

Guests can enjoy ten unique condiments with their strawberries, including condensed milk, mascarpone, and pistachio. When the mild flavor of condensed milk is combined with savory pistachios, the fresh, full-bodied sweetness of the Beni Hoppe strawberries reaches a new level. Visitors are welcome to ask the staff for the best combinations, or are welcome to experiment themselves!

Pick Strawberries at Night in a Private, Shimmering Greenhouse

After dinner, guests will leave the hotel to begin the Night Strawberry Tour. A red carpet is laid out in the illuminated greenhouse, and those taking part in the tour will enjoy strawberry picking as they sip a glass of rose champagne. 

See how Strawberries are Cultivated

Beni Hoppe strawberries are made by combining the Akihime and Sachinoka varieties. In Japanese, the name means red cheeks, and the name was inspired by the Japanese term hoppe ga ochiru*, meaning “my cheeks are falling off.” This is often used to describe food that’s extremely flavorful. These particular strawberries are award-winning, so visitors won’t want to miss this exclusive experience!

*See Shizuoka Prefecture’s official website for more information.

Pocky is one of the most popular Japanese snacks around the world, and a new way to enjoy it is here. Since the 1970s, Pocky on the Rocks has been a popular way to enjoy the tasty treats during the summer. A modern version has just been unveiled, and six special boxes with exclusive designs will be released on June 14 along with a new campaign, recipe submission contest, and a collaboration with select cafes around Japan. 

Pocky on the Rocks was first introduced in an ad campaign in 1976. People began putting Pocky sticks in a cool glass filled with ice or using the sticks as muddlers for alcoholic drinks. This stylish summer snack has been reimagined for 2022, and customers are inspired to pair the sticks with their favorite drink, stick them into ice cream, or add them to a cup of seasonal fruit!

Pocky on the Rocks in the 1970s

Pocky on the Rocks Today

Collaboration with 5 Cafes in Tokyo and Kansai

Cafe Roman – Takadanobaba, Tokyo

Cream Soda

Cafe Negura – Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
Dark Cherry Soda

DORSIA – Sannomiya, Kobe
Heart Strawberry Milk

Sunshine Cafe – Higashi-Umeda, Osaka
Almond Mixed Juice

Poem Cafe – Motomachi, Kobe
Lemon Squash

Pocky’s limited edition packaging, coming June 14, will feature a recipe for the 2022 Pocky on the Rocks. A recipe submission contest will also be held on Instagram, and anyone can participate. On the campaign website, fans can find collaboration recipes made in conjunction with five different cafes around Tokyo and the Kansai region. Of course, you can also grab these treats at each shop!

Fans can win retro goods in another ongoing campaign simply by snapping a picture of a Pocky receipt.

You’ve probably tried Pocky before, but have you ever tried Pocky on the Rocks? 

In February, Godzilla fans were excited to hear that they would be tasked with protecting Atami Bay Resort Korakuen in a new escape room coming soon. Now, the Escape from Godzilla event has a starting date: May 27, 2022!

Atami Bay Resort Korakuen has been a familiar sight in Atami since 1965. The beautiful property sits on the gorgeous Sagami Bay, treating guests to unforgettable views. The Escape from Godzilla event will ask players to solve mysteries throughout the hotel. Visitors will need to explore rooms and sometimes interact with hotel staff to reach the end. SCRAP, known for its numerous crossover escape games, created the project.

Atami is the setting of the decisive battle in the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla. 2022 is the 60th anniversary of the film, and guests are invited to enjoy an original story and original images showing Godzilla’s attack on present-day Atami in cooperation with Toho.

Five original pieces of merchandise have been announced as part of the project. These Godzilla-themed items can only be purchased during the event.

Commemorative Puzzle Game Set: ¥2,300 (Tax Included) / Door Plate / Sticker / Hotel Keychain

Plush: ¥1,800 (Tax Included)

Fans can grab a commemorative set including a special Godzilla sticker, a hotel keychain, and a door plate perfect for decorating at home. Clear folders and celebratory stickers for escape room winners will also be available, along with special hand towels printed with a special Atami design.

Tickets for the event are now on sale!

Bandai’s Japanese confectionary project Tabemas has been transforming popular characters into tasty treats for years. Starting April 5, over 16,600 FamilyMart stores nationwide will offer sweets inspired by illustrator nagano’s popular characters Chiikawa and Usagi!

This is the first time these characters have been featured in the Tabemas series. Fans can grab Chiikawa with sparking eyes or smiling with red cheeks, a sparkly-eyed Usagi, and the adorable cat Hachiware. It will be difficult to eat something so painfully cute, but each is sure to taste delicious! The Chiikawa sweets are milk and custard flavored, Usagi is sweetened with caramel, and Hachiware offers the taste of strawberry milk. 

(C)nagano / chiikawa committee

Fujiya is celebrating 111 years with a special collaboration with Hoshino Resort! The sweets company is well-known for ‘Milky,’ one of the most popular candies in Japan, and now, fans of these sweets can surround themselves completely with retro vibes. To inspire younger generations to travel again, a Milky-inspired room plan is now available to book. 

Four Unique Features of the Milky Sweet Accommodation Plan

１. A Milky Sweet Room with a Retro Feel!

This sweet room is completely covered with retro Milky style! The candy’s mascot Peko-chan takes center stage in Taisho clothing, and guests can enjoy a Milky snack set and Milky bath salts to complete this one-of-a-kind experience.

2. Become Peko-chan with Adorable Costumes!

Dress up as Peko-chan with your best friend and take some hilarious pictures! These tops and overalls are included with the room, but feel free to wear them out and about.

3.  Milky-flavored Popcorn Available in Collaboration with TAMARIBA!

Popcorn sweetened with Milky powder is now available at TAMARIBA. Enjoy this tasty treat as you explore the grounds, and enjoy the special bag featuring Peko-chan. 

Location: TAMARIBA / Available: 15:00-19:00 / Price: Free
*Available while supplies last

4.  Enjoy Special Experiences at BEB5 Karuizawa and BEB5 Tsuchiura

BEB5 Karuizawa

Find Retro Peko-chan in Karuizawa Hoshino!

All-you-can-eat French Toast with Milky Sauce

BEB5 Tsuchiura

Make a Milky Smoothy on a Bike!

Peko-chan Retro Photo Cycling Tour in Tsuchiura!

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major label debut, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is staying active in 2022. Next month, the singer will finally take to the stage at Coachella 2022 in California. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities. Finally making it to the northern Japan city of Hakodate, details surrounding the singer’s sweet new collaboration have been announced!

Kyary is teaming up with the traditional Japanese confectionary shop Senshu An in Hakodate, founded over 162 years ago. This time, the special collaboration logo was inspired by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s 2012 hit Candy Candy. The logo was originally written traditionally in black ink, but it’s recieved a major pop makeover in pastel shades of yellow and green to pay homage to the set of the Candy Candy music video.

The shop is well-known for its original Yama Oyaji, a popular souvenir from Hokkaido. The new collab product feature Kyary’s face and dancers, perfect for fans of the singer–though they might be a little too adorable to eat. Made one by one by skilled craftsman using carefully selected Hokkaido azuki beans as the base, each sweet features soft pastel colors to welcome spring. The sweets are placed in a special package wrapped in original collaborative wrapping paper. Be sure to grab them from the online store before they’re gone on April 18!

A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. Get one from the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website by March 30!

Tohouen, a Japanese confectionary maker in Gifu Prefecture, has begun selling a springtime version of its popular cat-inspired manju. Inspired by the many cats that like to stroll around the shop’s headquarters, the new release includes cherry blossom-colored cat paws. 

A traditional sweet in Japan, Manju is made from flour, rice powder, and buckwheat, with a tasty sugar and anko (red bean paste) filling.

Do you think these are too cute to eat? 

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major-label debut, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is back in the news. The artist will perform at this year’s Coachella, one of the largest music festivals in the United States, and recently released her first full-length album in three years ‘Candy Racer’ in October 2021.  On January 16, Kyary embarked on the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE,’ which will see the singer performing 30 shows across Japan. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the “LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project” was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities. Following a T-shirt collaboration with a 156-year-old kamaboko shop in Kanagawa, Kyary has teamed up with Gunma-based ekiben maker Oginoya to release her own bento box!

On February 6, Kyary held a concert in Okayama–the next stop on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project. This time, the singer is collaborating with a 165-year-old Japanese confectionary shop named Koeido. The store is famous for its original kibidango, a type of sweet mochi dumpling.

As part of the ‘Collaboration Logo’ project, partner companies see their traditional logos transformed as a tribute to Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s works. This time, the motif was inspired by ‘KPP BEST,’ an album released in 2016.

Original Kyaridango: ¥1,300 (Tax Included) / 15 pieces 

These tasty ‘Original Kyarydango’ have the same taste as traditional kibidango, but feature Kyary’s face printed in edible ink. These sweet sets were sold in limited quantities at the Okayama Civic Hall, and are now available to purchase on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website until February 20.

A T-shirt featuring the collaboration logo has also been revealed. The front features the Original Kyarydango and the updated logo, while the back is decorated with the Kyary 10th Anniversary logo and project logo. The shirt is also available on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website. 

Escape rooms invite family and friends to solve exciting puzzles and riddles within a time limit, and have become massively popular around the world. Since the first one opened in 2007, over 8 million people in Japan have participated in one of these exciting events held everywhere from apartment buildings to amusement parks.

The Escape from Godzilla event will be held throughout the Atami Bay Resort Korakuen, and will ask players to solve mysteries throughout the hotel. Visitors will need to explore rooms and sometimes interact with hotel staff to reach the end. SCRAP, known for its numerous crossover escape games, created the project.

Atami is the setting of the decisive battle in the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla. 2022 is the 60th anniversary of the film, and guests are invited to enjoy an original story and original images showing Godzilla’s attack on present-day Atami in cooperation with Toho.

Keep an eye out for more details coming later in February!

©SCRAP TM ＆ © TOHO CO., LTD.

Hoshino Resort Risonare Atami will open the Atami Plum Cafe from January 6 until March 11, 2022. Guests can experience the early arrival of spring beneath the plum blossoms, and at the cafe space on the top floor of the hotel, visitors can feast on a number of plum-inspired dishes. 

The Atami Plum Garden, located near the resort, is one of the most famous places in Japan to see plum blossoms early. The first blossoms usually open up in late November or early December, and this event will get people excited about welcoming the warmer spring months.

A false plum tree will welcome visitors to the cafe, and the ceiling will also be covered in lavender blossoms. The tables, chairs, and garlands are all themed to welcome spring, and the terrace will feature a plum-shaped kotatsu. Guests sitting beneath it can stay warm while gazing out at the vast ocean.

The Plum Gelato Plate features three varieties made with plum pulp, jam, and paste. Why not give it a try?

Plum Gelato Plate: ¥2,000 (Tax Included) *5 available per day

Made in Pierre Hermè, a sweets brand dedicated to sharing the wonders of Japan with the world, is now selling karintou, a type of fried-dough cookie coated in brown sugar and sesame seeds. 

Karintou: ¥810

The thinly-baked cookies have a gentle sweetness from the domestic flower, and combined with the fragrant sesame seeds baked into the dough, it’s impossible to eat only one. 

Left: Shimantogawa Genryu Green Tea: ¥1,404 / Right: Shimantogawa Genryu Roasted Green Tea: ¥1,404

These tea varieties are the best to enjoy with karintou. Grown in the tea fields above the Shimanto River in Kochi Prefecture, these leaves are surrounded by fresh water and clean air. Thanks to the moderate temperature and the natural veil created by the fog, sunlight is slightly blocked, giving a more mellow flavor to each green tea.

Aoki Koetsudo, a 129-year-old confectionery shop in Kyoto, and 2:00, a Kyoto-based company specializing in unique products, have come together to create some incredibly cute hamster-shaped cakes. These pastries are called monaka, and feature azuki bean jam filling sandwiched between two crisp wafers made from mochi. Each set includes 6 wafers, six helpings of bean jam, and a bag of nuts, so customers can enjoy creating the pastries themselves! 

How to Enjoy Hamster Monaka

Fill the Hamster-shaped monaka with as much azuki jam as you like. 

Cover the monaka with the wafer and add one of the nuts provided. 

Paint the eyes and ears with chocolate to give each pastry some personality!