Character cafés are an exciting experience in Japan which sees a café collaborate with well-known anime series, game series and various franchises by decorating the café interior with designs and illustrations based on them and meals and drinks inspired by them.   There are lots of themed collaborations happening this month, including Christmas ones. So many in fact that we've had to split the list into two parts! This is part one.   Pompompurin x Muffin Christmas Menu (November 1 - December 25) Christmas has fallen on the Pompompurin Cafés in Harajuku and Umeda this month with a Pompompurin and Muffin Christmas themed menu being served. The menu includes a cream stew is topped with potato potage and fresh whipped cream that’s uneven to make it look like white snow, a yule log on top of which sits a mango ice cream Pompompurin and vanilla ice cream Muffin who are both wearing raspberry winter hats while enjoying Christmas together, and much more. There's plenty of cute Christmas celebrations to be had at the Pompompurin Café this year.   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/137629     Pompompurin x Gudetama Christmas Menu (December 1 - December 25) Four Christmas food items have arrived to the Yokohama and Nagoya branches of the Pompompurin Café, two of which are collaborations between Pompompurin and Gudetama! One of these is the "Purin Santa & Gude Reindeer’s Xmas Beef Tongue Stew" which has been delivered to warm up both your heart and stomach this Christmas. This dish is a slowly cooked beef tongue stew cutely topped with our favourite Pompompurin who is wearing a Santa hat made from a walleye pollack roe mashed potato. Next to him his his trusty pal Gudetama the Reindeer who has lotus roots for antlers. Surrounding them are star shaped potatoes, carrots and assorted vegetables. A very special plate!   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/147566     Gudetama Café x Tuxedosam Christmas Menu (December 1 - December 25) Over at the Gudetama Café in Umeda, Osaka they are serving up a collaborative menu with the popular Sanrio character Tuxedosam. On the menu customers can look forward to tucking into a white stew featuring a Santa Tuxedosam sleeping under a fluffy Gudetama omelette. For dessert there are Gudetama pancakes crowned with ramune flavoured Tuxedosam sherbet. The sweet and sour mix of the colourful fruits and berry sauce match perfectly. There's other options too, and all of them are a must-have for Instagram feeds!   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/146662       Cardcaptor Sakura x Cafe THE SUN (October 26 - January 3) Cardcaptor Sakura Exhibition: Magical Art Museum is an ongoing event over at the Mori Arts Center Gallery which is located on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. As part of the exhibition which celebrates the popular manga series, a themed cafe called "SAKURA Cafe&Parlor" has been set up where they are selling a range of original dishes inspired by the series including the Star Burger, Suppi's Manpuku Curry and more. Non-alcoholic cocktails are also being served with motifs of the Cards from the series.   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/135915       Evangelion x Ikebukuro 46 Shokudou (November 16 - January 6) EVANGELION STORE TOKYO-01 is celebrating its 7th anniversary and to celebrate, they have opened an Evangelion themed izakaya in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The concept of the bar is an “izakaya for everyone.” Fans of the series will instantly recognise the red entrance curtain and lamps in the bar as representing NERV from Evangelion. They can also enjoy some very reasonable prices on the menu. The bar has over 30 drinks and meals for fans to enjoy, and affordable lunch sets which are served until 4pm. Everything on the menu is packed with references to Evangelion.   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/141872       BT21 x BOX CAFE & SPACE (November 1 - January 14) The BT21 café is based on the BT21 character brand, a collaboration between South Korean boy band BTS and LINE FRIENDS, and it's back again in Tokyo and Osaka. The café is reservation-only. Customers who make a reservation can get their hands on a free clear file. The menu includes "RJ's Coconut Red Curry," "TATA's Hot Sandwich" and more as well as a line-up of 8 drinks based on each member's character.   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/135570     Did you enjoy part one of this list? There are plenty of cute cafes to enjoy in Japan this winter. Look forward to part two!

Having already shown off the first line-up of Christmas food at the Harajuku and Umeda branches, the Pompompurin Café has unveiled an all-new cute Christmas menu arriving to the Yokohama and Nagoya branches on December 1.

Purin Santa & Gude Reindeer's Xmas Beef Tongue Stew: ¥1,490 (Pre-Tax)

Warming up both your heart and stomach this Christmas is a slowly cooked beef tongue stew which is topped cutely with our favourite Pompompurin who is wearing a Santa hat made from a walleye pollack roe mashed potato. Next to him his his trusty pal Gudetama the Reindeer who has lotus roots for antlers. Surrounding them are star shaped potatoes, carrots and assorted vegetables.  

Purin Santa's Xmas Basket: ¥1,290 (Pre-Tax)

Also on the menu is an absolutely adorable burger featuring a Pompompurin design bun which is filled with a delicious patty, cheese, avocado, red onion, tomato and lettuce. It comes in a cute basket with chicken fillets and shoestring fries. This sure is one filling set!  

Gift Giving♪ Chimney Honey Toast: ¥1,290 (Pre-Tax)

For dessert, you can look forward to tucking into a danish spread with honey butter and made to look like a chimney. On top of that is Pompompurin Claus made from vanilla ice and next to him Gudetama's marshmallow butt. It is all sat on top of a French floating island dessert inspired by Santa's present sack and served with an anglaise sauce which is best enjoyed together with the danish.  

Purin Santa's Tiramisu Parfait: ¥990 (Pre-Tax)

Wrapping up the Christmas dessert menu is this tiramisu parfait which combines chocolate sponge cake and espresso. It's topped with tiramisu cream and decorated with vanilla ice cream Pompompurin, gateau chocolate, ladyfingers, fruits and more. Of course, there's exclusive Christmas themed merchandise to get your hands on too at the Yokohama and Nagoya branches. Those who dine at the café will receive the above original lunch mat and postcard. And if you order a drink you'll get the coaster pictured above. These are all available in limited supply.   Feel the Christmas spirit with a cute holiday season menu at the Pompompurin Café!

Three cafes themed on the popular LINE stamp character Usamaru opened in Harajuku, Umeda and Nagoya on November 2. The cafes are now taking limited reservations for a special Christmas course and pair seats. Projection mapping is used on the table in collaboration with Sony Japan's latest technology. Once your meal is placed on the table characters will appear in front of you and perform animations. The animations are synced to whichever item you pick on the menu whether it be Christmas cake, non-alcoholic sparkling wine or something else. Customers can purchase a meal plan that features special Christmas projection mapping along with a special Christmas course. Those who do make a reservation will receive the pair of original acrylic coasters pictured above. Customers will also receive an original lunch mat upon entry selected randomly from a possible 4 designs. There are also stickers, muddlers and more to get your hands on, so be sure to roll up to the Usamaru Cafe this holiday season.