Checking Out Jaejoong’s Cafe ‘cafe de KAVE’ in Shin-Okubo
Hey everyone! This is Midori from Moshi Moshi Nippon’s Editorial Department!
Kim Jae-joong who was one of the original members of famous South Korean pop group TVXQ, is currently working as a solo artist. Did you know that he’s now produced his own cafe?! The cafe is called “Cafe de KAVE”. It opened in Shin-Okubo in November 2018, and even now it’s as popular as ever!
The cafe is full of pastel colours and has a fairytale-like atmosphere…
There’s even a spot where you can take a picture with Kim Jae-joong!
Terrace seating too!
I ordered my food to take away but the interior was just as cute as the exterior ー too cute! ♡
There was also merchandise on display along with his autograph. Fans would just go wild at the sight of this!
I ordered a popular Instagram drink: The brown sugar tapioca milk tea!
What a strange design! It looks like a can…yet it’s see-through!
You open it just like a tin can and poke the straw through to enjoy.
You can’t ask to have the sweetness of this drink adjusted, but it’s pretty balanced and you can really enjoy the taste of the sweet brown sugar!
Whether you’re a Kim Jae-joong fan or not, come enjoy this beautiful atmosphere and delicious, Instagram-worthy drink!
Information
Cafe de KAVE
Address: Dai 2 Tamaya Building 1st floor, 1-17-16, Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo
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CHAVATY’s Houjicha Ice Cream & Tea in Omtesando is Bringing Autumn Early
Hi, everyone, it’s Midori from the MOSHI MOSHI BOX Harajuku Tourist Information Center.
It’s gotten cold lately. It feels like autumn is here. It’s the season where numerous shops in Japan start selling houjicha sweets. With that in mind, I visited CHAVATY, an uva tea shop in Omotesando!
CHAVATY is located at the back of Tonkatsu Maisen, a famous restaurant in Omotesando. Maisen is along a road with a lot of signboards so follow it along towards 7-Eleven and you’ll find it. It’s in a part of Omotesando with a calm atmosphere.
I ordered the houjicha soft serve ice cream and the bottled uva tea latte.
First up, the ice cream!
You can pick from three flavours: uvacha, matcha or houjicha. I went with houjicha.
It’s pretty big. It has a lot of volume too as the ice cream seeps all the way down to the bottom of the cone!
It has a really rich flavour, it’s like eating houjicha. It’s ice cream but isn’t sweet at all so I recommend this for the non-sweet tooths out there.
This is the bottle tea latte! Again you can pick from the same three flavours as before. I chose uvacha.
Isn’t the bottle so cute?
Drinks like this are usually served in cups with or without lids which can be a nuisance when shopping. But with this you get a cap so you can seal it completely and carry on shopping. It might even be an idea to take it home, wash it and fill it again with whatever drink you like.
The taste of course is light and it smells good too. It kind of makes you feel like a grown-up.
You can ask for a vinyl bag which looks cute too. The colour scheme is sophisticated Instagram-worthy.
Enjoy some authentic houjicha treats for yourself too at CHAVATY.
Information
CHAVATY
Address:Jingumae 4-6-9, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Hours:10:00~21:00
TEL:03-3401-2378
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Visiting the LINE FRIENDS Flagship Store in Harajuku―BT21, Usamaru Merchandise & More
Hey, MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON readers. It’s Midori again from the MMN editorial team.
LINE is a messaging app used around the world, but especially in Japan where it is as ubiquitous as WhatsApp is in the West. It’s popular for its wide range of character stickers, many of which have earned such a reputation as to spawn merchandise lines.
In Harajuku there is a shop dedicated to these very characters: the LINE FRIENDS Flagship Store. It’s packed with customers every single day. I went to visit for the very first time and see what all the fuss is about.
The store is located along Meiji-Dori Street, just a five-minute walk from Harajuku Station’s Omotesando Exit.
You’ll spot it right away from the LINE FRIENDS characters waiting for you at the window!
It’s opposite H&M.
It’s fairly large-looking, isn’t it? Upon entering I was met by a huge Brown, a popular bear character on LINE.
This huge and fluffy Mega Brown is so popular it’s not uncommon to see people lining up to take a photo with him. He’s so cute I understood why people line up for a picture!
At the store you can buy merchandise for familiar LINE characters like Brown & Friends, super popular faces created by users in the Creators Market like Usamaru, items from the BT21 character brand―a collaboration between K-Pop group BTS and LINE FRIENDS―and more.
The BT21 range is on the third floor.
The BT21 characters were created by the BTS members themselves. At this Harajuku branch of the LINE FRIENDS Store there is an exhibition of original sketches by the members as well as details on their characters and more.
It’s also a big screen showing the characters being made. This is an irresistible area for both BTS and BT21 fans!
There’s even statues of the characters on display. They’re all cute so you just want to take photos of them all! The characters are even up the stairs – there were people taking photos of them while walking up.
Back down on the second floor are lots of items of characters designed by Creators.
Usamaru (above) was there to meet me. So cute!
There’s even merchandise exclusive to the Harajuku branch which would make for perfect gifts. But all the items are so cute I want to keep and use them myself.
And the list just goes on. There’s so much to choose from I just want everything!
There’s also items made in collaboration with the Helvetica font. It’s really stylish and would be great for guys or for using in the office!
There was BT21 merch on the second floor too.
Fans of the original Brown & Friends posse can rejoice in knowing that there are plenty of items from them too, all of which can’t be bought at any other souvenir shops.
Not only are there decorative pieces but practical things you can incorporate into your daily life too like plates, cups, containers and more.
Brown & Friends, BT21 and other characters can be found on the first floor as well.
Japan-inspired goods too like the above daruma doll plushies.
These are Hasami ware mamezara dishes. This fusion of traditional and modern Japan is really stylistic.
Gashapon capsule toy machines can be found next to the till area, so if you’re standing there in the store thinking to yourself, “Well, I’ve accumulated a bunch of coins during my Harajuku trip, so…” then try your luck.
The highlights of the LINE FRIENDS Flagship Store in Harajuku are its great line-up of items and cute interior design and decor. Their stock of daily necessities are adorable too, some of which can’t be found with other regular character products. Pick and surround yourself with your favourites to use each day!
Whether as a gift from Harajuku or Japan everything can easily be made use of. You’ll find lots of cute character statues too in addition to the Mega Brown so shopping there is incredibly fun.
Whether you’re visiting Harajuku for the first time for spring break or making a long-awaited return, be sure to visit the LINE FRIENDS Flagship Store where time flies by in an instant.
Information
LINE FRIENDS Flagship Store Harajuku
Address: Harajuku Zero Gate, 4-31-12, Shibuya, Tokyo
Business Hours: 11:00-21:00 (No Fixed Holidays)
TEL: 03-5785-3001
Website: https://www.linefriends.jp
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3 Shops in Harajuku That Sell Korean Cosmetics
Hi, everyone. It’s Midori from the MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON editing team.
If you want to style your face like they do in Korea then you need Korean cosmetics! There are plenty of items that do the job and all for a low price too. But they can be hard to get your hands on in Japan and you can be left in the drug store wondering where they are.
But you’re in luck if you head to Takeshita Street in Harajuku! Today I will show you three cosmetic shops that stock Korean cosmetics.
1. Etude House
If you’re looking for cute, cheap and effective then Etude House is the place to go, a South Korean makeup brand. It’s a popular chain with more and more branches opening up throughout Japan.Takeshita Street has two Etude House stores.
The first is located just a little after the ALTA shopping mall. It’s really close to Harajuku Station so I recommend going at a time when Takeshita Street isn’t packed.
The other shop is the main branch and sits in the centre of Takeshita Street right next to the Croquant Chou Zakuzaku.This is a pretty spacious store and just underwent renovation in October.
■Information
Etude House (Takeshita Street Branch)
Address: 1-16-5 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00
TEL: 03-5413-8170
Website: http://m.etude.jp/smart/index.jspEtude House (Takeshita Street Main Branch)
Address: CUTE CUBE HARAJUKU Floor 1F, 1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00
TEL:03-6455-4453
Website: http://m.etude.jp/smart/index.jsp2. STYLENANDA
Another shop growing rapidly in popularity is STYLENANDA, a South Korean clothes brand. This place is frequented by many idols. It’s characteristically cute and simple.
STYLENANDA is directly opposite Etude House so you can have fun going between both! There are plenty of photo opportunities inside the store too.■Information
Address: OM169 Bldg., 1-6-1 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00
TEL: 03-6721-1612
Website: http://m.jp.stylenanda.com/product/list_3ce.html?cate_no=1383. innisfree
Last up is innisfree, another South Korean cosmetics brand which is located opposite PINK-latte at the entrance of Takeshita Street. It’s popular for its skincare products which are made with natural ingredients and are friendly to sensitive skin.The shop is bustling with greenery so it has a fresh vibe to it.
■Information
Address: 1-6-5 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00
TEL: 03-6804-6352
Website: http://www.innisfree.com/jp/ja/main/index.doThese South Korean cosmetic stores are decked out with decor that matches the brand’s concepts. The staff are really friendly too so I recommend them more than going to a boutique. Be sure to check them out for yourself!
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Three Perfectly Peachy Parfaits This Summer In Nagoya
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy Japanese peaches, which are particularly juicy and sweet around this time. Peaches go well with red bean paste, cream and a variety of other flavours, which is why you will be seeing a lot of peachy desserts this summer. You just have to try them!
Today, Instagrammer meme, who is a big fan of cute and stylish cafés, will be introducing you to peach parfaits that you absolutely must try in Aichi prefecture.
BLUE STAR CAFE(ブルースターカフェ)/Nagakute
BLUE STAR CAFE has started selling a peach parfait. The peaches are so sweet and juicy that I was moved to tears. The parfait is made up of fresh cream, vanilla ice cream, peach sherbet and frozen peach. It is simple, delicious and very satisfying.
▼BLUE STAR CAFE
Address: 504 Tsukada, Nagakute, Aichi
TEL:0561 42 6878
Official Website: https://bluestar-cafe.com/
Halleloo Garden(ハレルゥ ガーデン)
I was just waiting and waiting for Halleloo Garden to release their peach parfait and I was far from disappointed. Just looking at the pretty pink peaches is enough to get your mouth watering. When you cut into the peach, it will explode with colourful popping boba. What a fun parfait.♡
The parfait is made up of a variety of fruits including melon, blueberries, grapefruit and apple. It also contains vanilla ice cream, custard, fresh cream, and dried fruit too. Be aware that the contents of this parfait will change according to the season.
This peach parfait also comes with peach-flavoured black tea with boba. Add this to your parfait and notice the change in flavour as your parfait becomes a milk bubble tea! This was my first experience of popping boba. It was such a fun experience to bite into the boba and feel them explode, flooding my tastebuds with a delicious juicy flavour. Whether Halleloo Garden can serve this parfait seems to be dependent on whether they can receive peaches from their supplier, so I recommend phoning up the café before you turn up to if you want to try this.
▼Halleloo Garden
Address: Kami-222-1 Miyoshicho, Miyoshi, Aichi
TEL: 0561 56 1080
Official Website: http://www.halleloo.jp/
merry café(メリーカフェ)/Toyoake
merry café serves a beautiful peach parfait that looks just like a bouquet of flowers.
The simple peach compote allows you to enjoy the natural deliciousness of the peaches. During this season, finding peaches that are highly sweet can be a bit of a hit or miss, however there is no doubt that they will be sweet when made into a compote. It was a delicious peach parfait. ♡
▼merry café
Address: 7-18 Komochimatsu Shindencho, Toyoake,
TEL:0562-91-3230
Opening Hours: 11:00 ー 15:00, 17:30 ー 22:00
Official Facebook Page: https://ja-jp.facebook.com/merrycafe1218/
All these pink peach treats look so beautiful. This peachy season is the perfect time to wrap yourself in the wonderful fragrance of sweet peach. Please check out meme‘s Instagram which is full of information on cute cafés you can visit for delicious desserts.
Author/ Photographer: meme
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Korea Town Shin Okubo’s Hottest Shaved Ice This Summer | Seoul Café
Hi, everyone. I’m Banako of MOSHI MOSHI Friends!
Shin Okubo is known as Japan’s Korea town, taking in all the current trends from Korea before anywhere else. It’s also become a hot spot for food and dining. Today, I’m here to show you the perfect thing to cool you down from the summer heat. I visited the Seoul Café to try their “Seoul Bingsu” which looks like a spool of thread. It’s looking to be the next big thing with its unique texture.
Seoul Café is located on the second floor of a building just a 5-minute walk from Shin Okubo Station.
It just opened in March of this year. Its interior is based on the colour white against white sits stylish decor. At this café you order at the counter. I went ahead and got the “Seoul Bingsu Mango” (¥1,300).
It comes with a huge slice of mango! And just like its name implies, it looks like thread. Using a fork to eat it feels fresh too, it’s a fun way to enjoy shaved ice.
The centre is packed full of fluffy shaved ice. It’s super soft and melts in your mouth, but since it’s packed tightly it’s satisfyingly filling. It’s easy to eat and has a unique texture. And if you eat it together with the mango it makes for an even tastier dessert♡
Seoul Café’s menu is full of Instagrammable desserts. In addition to the Seoul Bingsu there’s also Seoul Waffles and lots more.
If you’re passing through Shin Okubo on a trip to catch up with the latest in Korean pop culture then be sure to pay a visit to Seoul Café to try their Seoul Bingsu and experience a whole new kind of shaved ice.
Information
Seoul Café
Address: Seoul Café 2F, 1-16-30 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Business Hours: 11:00-23:00 (Last Order Food 22:00/Drinks 22:30)
No Fixed Holidays
Access: 5-minutes on foot from Shin Okubo Station and Seibu-Shinjuku Station
Tabelog Site: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130404/13232939/
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Taiwan’s Favourite Brown Bubble Milk Tea Drink Arrives in Tokyo’s Korea Town Shin Okubo
Hey everyone! This is Midori from MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON’s Editorial Department!
Tapioca is really booming in Japan! But it’s not just Japan… there’s a tapioca craze all over Asia! Tapioca drinks from Taiwan and many other countries are gradually arriving in Japan! Today I just had to try a drink from Taiwan’s incredibly famous shop Fukkadan, which is booming with popularity in Korea! No wonder there’s a Fukkadan located in Tokyo’s largest Korea Town Shin Okubo! I hurried over as fast as I could.
Fukkadan is located along Okubo-dori Street, which is one of the main streets of Shin Okubo. As you exit Shin Okubo station, take a right turn and after a short walk… you’re there!
It’s a small shop and you can’t drink in, so be careful to not miss it!
You just have to see the pan full of tapioca pearls!
There are five drinks on the menu ranging from brown sugar tapioca to matcha. I just had to go for the brown sugar tapioca milk tea. By looking around me, this does seem like a popular drink. You cannot customise the amount of ice or syrup in your drink.
The luxurious shop logo is the perfect place for a picture! There’s also something written in Hangul under the logo! How rare!
The gradation of colours of the brown sugar tapioca and the syrup is so cute! I chewed the tapioca balls to find that the brown sugar flavour completely penetrates through them. This sweet drink is very refreshing and delicious! You can really taste the milk of the milk tea. Overall, it’s quite sweet…like a brown sugar latte. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this drink has you name written all over it!
While you’re strolling the streets of Shin Okubo, this tapioca milk tea is the perfect companion! It offers a unique flavour that you absolutely must try! How about comparing it to a Korean tapioca drink ??
Information
Fukkadan (黒花堂)
Location: 2-minute walk from Shin Okubo Station (JR Yamanote line), 2-2-1 Hyakuninchō, Shinjuku
Opening hours: 10:00 ー 22:00 -
Love Korea and Oreos? Have Both At CAFE de BINGSU in Tokyo’s Korea Town Shin Okubo!
Hi Everyone! This is Midori from MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON’s Editorial Department!
Did you know that oreo desserts are popular in Korea? If you’re a big fan of Korea and oreos, then I’ve got great news for you: You can enjoy both these things in Tokyo, too! More and more Korean cafés are releasing oreo ice creams and oreo bingsu (Korean shaved ice desserts). You can find these cafés in Harajuku…but why not go all out and visit Tokyo’s biggest Korea town Shin Okubo?
One Korean-style dessert that I really can’t get off my mind is the Oreo Cheesecake I had at CAFE de BINGSU. That day, I left Shin Okubo station and headed down the main street called Okubo-dori. This is where I encountered CAFE de BINGSU.
There was a sign inside the building that pointed me in the right direction. I tackled those stairs to the 2nd floor.
Look at that neon sign!!
Once I entered, I was immediately greeted by a cuddly bear. When you visit, make sure you get a photo together! ♡
The illumination of the café is soft and beautiful. ♡ Whichever seat you take, your photos will always look good. I made my way over to the counter quickly to place my order.
Soooo cute!!
An oreo cookie with a face! Under the oreo cookie is a generous mountain of oreo cream cheese. It’s just so cute I can’t eat it…
…Oops I did.
This was like an enhanced luxury oreo. The oreo cream cheese was full of flavour that no oreo fan would be able to resist. The cheese flavour was very pronounced yet not overpowering and the aftertaste was very refreshing. Although this cheesecake is full of rich flavors, it was easy to eat without feeling any regret.
It’s not just the Oreo Cheesecake at CAFE de BINGSU that you should try, however. The bingsu, drinks, in fact the whole menu is mouthwatering. You can order your food and drinks to go and enjoy them whilst strolling the streets, but the café’s atmosphere is just so wonderful… I recommend taking a break inside to make the most of your experience!
Information
CAFE de BINGSU
Address: 2F, 2-32-3, Shin Okubo, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
TEL: 03-6302-1018
Opening hours: 10 am ー 10 pm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafe_de_bingsu/?hl=ja
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Milk tea specialist shop CHAYAM lands in Japan! Now open at Shin-Okubo!
22.April.2019 | FOOD
YOPU collaborated with the world’s most famous Chinese tea brand and Korea’s no.1 fresh juice brand to create the milk tea CHAYAM. The first branch to open in Japan opens on Friday 19th April 2019 in Shin-Okubo, Tokyo.
The name CHAYAM is a combination of the words “cha” (tea) and “yammy” (yummy). CHAYAM arrived in Japan thanks to the expertise of Boduo Holding Group, which owns over 20,000 businesses in China. Whether young or old, everyone in Japan can enjoy this high-quality drink at an affordable price!
Tapioca is one of the best toppings for milk tea, and at CHAYAM, an original recipe is used to make these fresh by hand every day at the shop. Customers can enjoy the fresh, chewy texture! To preserve the original flavour of the tea leaves, homemade black sugar syrup is used. The rich sweetness of the black syrup draws out the flavour of the milk tea.
The long-awaited first shop will be linked to JUICY&88hotdog in Shin-Okubo. This is just a 10-second walk from JR Shin-Okubo station and a 1-minute walk from JR Okubo station. What a wonderful location! There is table seating inside but you can also order it to take out! As it is located near the station, this is the perfect place for a tea break. Alternatively, you can enjoy the streets of Shin-Okubo when you order to take out!
Besides the standard advertised menu, CHAYAM plan to launch seasonal menus every season and create collaboration drinks with JUICY.
This carefully-made, high-quality tea has finally landed in Japan! If you’re a tapioca-lover, you have to check this out! ♡
Information
CHAYAM Shin-Okubo
Location: 1st floor, 2-10-2, Hyakunincho, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo
Opening hours: 10:00 ー 23:00
No regular holidays.
TEL :03-3227-3750
Official Instagram: http://instagram.com/chayam.jp -
Tai Parfait Cafe, Yokohama sells cute, fluffy tapioca pancakes!
18.April.2019 | FOOD
Tai Parfait Cafe, which is located on the 5th floor of Yokohama World Porters, is currently selling spring-limited Tapioca Pancake flavours! The spring-limited pancake sales were supposed to end on 14th April, however, due to their overwhelming popularity, the sales will continue until the end of May!
Tapioca Tai Pancake
There are three kinds of spring-limited Tapioca Tai pancakes!
The Tapioca Milk Tea pancake (¥1,200) is made by kneading earl grey tea into the batter. The pancake is then fried and then topped with milk tea cream. The Houji-cha pancake (¥1,200) is topped with buttermilk and houji-cha sauce. Finally, the strawberry pancake (¥1,300) is topped with strawberry sauce as well as fruit pieces.
These fluffy pancakes are generously topped with cream and tapioca! ♡
Besides The Tapioca Tai pancakes, the tapioca rock salt and cheese drink is also popular. This is your chance to enjoy mascarpone sauce with an accent of French rock salt! Whether it be pancakes or drinks, come enjoy tapioca served up in a variety of ways! ♪
Information
Tapioca pancakes
Available: Friday 1st ー Thursday 28th February 2019
Tai Parfait Cafe
Address: World Porters (5th floor), 2 Chome-2-1 Shinko, Naka Ward, Yokohama
Opening hours:11:00 ー 22:00
Official website: http://tai-parfait.com/ -
BW Cafe in Shin Okubo just introduced the new Sobaya Baked Egg dessert to its menu on March 27.
The sweet omelette, which is made with mascarpone cheese, is as delicious as purin, or Japanese custard pudding. They are made to order so can be enjoyed fresh and gooey in the middle. Each one is served with a dollop of refreshing and irresistible vanilla ice cream.
If you’re in Shin-Ōkubo for a spot of K-pop indulgence then be sure to stop by BW Cafe!
Information
Sobaya Baked Egg
Price: ¥650 (Tax Included)
Released: March 27, 2019
Serving: [Monday-Friday] 14:00-16:00, 17:30-22:00 / [Saturday & Holidays] 12:00-21:00
BW Cafe
Address: 2-7-5 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-6278-9658
Shop Details: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13177140/
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Harajuku’s New Bubble Tea Shop Chakasho―Review
Hey, everyone. It’s Midori from the MMN Editorial Team.
It feels like a new bubble tea shop opens in Harajuku every single month. Chakasho is the latest to do so having opened on February 23. It has been trending on social media so I decided to take a trip myself to see what it was all about.
This is the second branch of Chakasho to open, the first being based in Ōkubo, Tokyo. It’s very convenient to not have to travel all the way to Ōkubo to try this shop’s famous bubble tea!
It’s located next to Etude House in Cute Cube which can be found in the Meiji-dori side of Takeshita Street. Take care not to miss it as the shop sign is one step down from the main street!
There are no seats in the shop so you can line up inside which makes it great for rainy days. On the day I visited the staff were guiding the line so it felt like we moved forward more smoothly than other bubble tea shops.
Menus are handed to customers upon entering the shop. This one I’m looking at alone was the recommendations menu―so many to pick from!
There are menus up at the counter too. I ordered the “Brown Sugar Latte Tapioca & Au Lait.” It has tapioca au lait which I think it pretty rare!
Ta-da!
I have Oreos piled on top in my cup. Speaking of which, with this bubble tea you don’t have to pierce a film with straw. There aren’t many bubble tea places that serve drinks with a lid like this, are there?
There’s a heap of brown sugar sauce and tapioca at the bottom of the cop. Those who aren’t good with the lumpy looking distinct texture of tapioca might find it easier to try brown sugar tapioca. The tapioca served at Chakasho are large-grained so I don’t think they have that lumpy kind of texture.
I was surprised at how delicious the drink really tastes. Up until the moment where I tried it I saw how simple the designs of the cups were and wondered if this place really was popular, but balance between the refreshing sweetness of the brown sugar tapioca, which you wouldn’t think that’s what it actually is, together with the full-bodied flavour of the tea and texture of the Oreos is amazing. I now understand why it’s a well-regarded shop.
The tapioca balls are fairly big and are more gummy than chewy. They have a satisfying texture. I felt really happy after having finished and enjoyed the drink.
For people tired of “flashy” bubble tea, or who didn’t enjoy the last bubble tea they tried, or want to try drinking it but aren’t so sure about the kawaii cups they come in, then I recommend Chakasho to anyone and everyone!
Information
Chakasho – Harajuku Takeshita Street
Address: 175 Honkan Bldg. Floor B1F, 1-7-3 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
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Food Review: Seahorse Bubble Tea at Sin an ju in Front of Harajuku Station
22.February.2019 | FOOD
Hey, everyone. Midori here again from the MMN Editorial Team.
The bubble tea boom in Japan is still rife. Harajuku in particular has become a war zone with new bubble tea shops opening all the time. Si an ju is one of them and it has become popular for its delicious drink selection so I went to try it out myself!
Si an ju is located just in front of Harajuku Station. Bubble tea shops in Harajuku tend to open along Cat Street or in Ura-Harajuku. Surprisingly there was even one in front of the station so it’s safe to say bubble tea life is making progress.
To get there, exit from Harajuku Station’s Takeshita Exit, cross at the traffic lights. Turn left and you’ll be able to see the outdoor shop sign.
Also beyond that is Cafe Yolum, a South Korean cafe.
Related Article: Cafe Yolum: The Popular & Pretty Pink South Korean Cafe in Harajuku
At the storefront is a huge and airy bubble tea monument. Now I’m getting excited!
There are several tables inside for customers to sit down, relax and enjoy their beverages, but not many.
The menu is fairly big and they even have options without tapioca balls. The Blue Lagoon drink sounds interesting, it has a mysterious colour.
On my visit thought I ordered the shop’s recommended Brown Sugar Bubble Milk.
The sauce in the cup is a brown sugar sauce which together with the decorative seahorse makes it look like a coral reef. Very beautiful!
The sauce is collected at the bottom and sinking around the sides so be sure to give the drink a good mix before drinking. Compared to other bubble teas the tapioca look pretty big. They might be almost as big as the thickness of the straw.
Time to drink!
It’s pretty sweet-tasting. It’s sweet even for me who orders their bubble tea with the maximum sugar option. But it’s not an overpowering sweetness – the brown sugar has a refreshing sweet flavour. The tapioca balls are large and so are filling
The brown sugar sauce will fall and mix into the drink as you sip so it’s best to take a photo right away.
I visited the shop at the same time as they opened so I was able to buy my drink without waiting, but if you go on the weekend in the afternoon the lines can get pretty long, so it might be an idea to go earlier.
A lot of bubble tea shops open at 11:00am but Sin an ju opens at 10:00am so I recommend going there if you’re in Harajuku early in the morning when no others are open!
I also highly recommend it for people who like chewy tapioca balls. Be sure to pay them a visit.
Information
Sin an ju
Address: 1-19-14 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
TEL: 03-5843-0229
Official Website: https://sin-an-ju.com/
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Strawberry Tapioca Pancakes Pile Their Way Into Osaka’s #702 CAFE&DINER
19.January.2019 | FOOD / Uncategorized
#702 CAFE&DINER in Namba Parks has introduced new tapioca pancakes to its menu which can now be ordered until February 28.
Towering four thick individual pancakes, each serving is topped with smooth and fluffy cream before being decorated with chewy and colourful tapioca. There are four tapioca flavours to choose from: strawberry, mango, matcha and tea.
To give an example of how delicious this pancakes really are, the milk tea versions come with tea flavoured tapioca balls, milk tea flavoured sauce, and cream. It’s like eating milk flavoured bubble tea. The toppings may look simple but they are sumptuous, vibrant and photo-worthy.
Information
#702 CAFE&DINER Namba Parks
Address: Namba Parks Floor 7F, 2-10-70 Nanbanaka, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Access: 1-minute on foot from the central and south exits of Namba Station via the Nankai Main Line and Nankai Kōya Line
TEL: 06-6643-9233
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00
Website: http://www.sld-inc.com/702.html -
Review: Trying the New Cheese Tea at The Alley in Omotesando
Hi, everyone. Midori here, editor at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON.
Have you heard about ‘cheese tea’? It’s a drink that’s getting a lot of attention right now. It’s tea topped with cheese foam which results in a perfect match of sweetness from the tea and sourness from the cream cheese.
Related Article: Drink Tea in Style With FORTUNER tea-box’s Cheese Tea Tapioca in Harajuku
I heard that The Alley, a well-known bubble tea cafe recognised by its deer logo, released its own cheese tea so I took a trip there straight away!
I went to the branch in Omotesando. There are lots of other branches too so head to the closest one to you. The one in Omotesando sits right next to Gong Cha, another bubble tea store.
Cross the intersection at Laforet towards ICE MONSTER and turn the corner at the flamingo (pictured above).
You’ll come to a road with Cafe Ron Ron on the left and Gong Cha on the right.
Turn right at the FamilyMart at the end of the street and you’ll find The Alley!
The photo above was taken on a weekday before opening hours so there was no line, but it was a different story in the afternoon on the weekend!
Ta-da!
The line is so long it’s hard to know where the end even is! It sure is popular. According to the staff working there, the line is constant on weekends from opening hours to when they close, so if you don’t want to line up they recommend visiting during the week.
There’s also a stylish indoor section where you can enjoy your drink.
Other menu items include the following:
Bonsai bubble tea and aurora drinks are really popular on Instagram in Japan right now!
When talking about The Alley you’ve got to mention the deer! There was a big one drawn on the wall inside.
I went with the brown sugar tea from the cheese foam series.
I recommend drinking cheese tea without the lid. If you drink it with the lid on it’s hard to get the cheese foam and tea at the same time. The Alley is best known for its tapioca bubble teas, but they have other ranges too like this one.
Now, onto tasting! Mixed in with The Alley’s famous fragrant tea is brown sugar. It has a smell that is sure to make you happy. The cheese doesn’t have that super sour taste, it’s a mellow flavour. The drink isn’t served hot but “mild hot” so you can get to drinking right away without burning yourself. It’s safe for those with sensitive tongues too. I have to let hot drinks cool down first before drinking them too so I was glad with my choice.
Head to The Alley to try out their new cheese tea yourself!
Information
The Alley
Address: 6-6-6 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00
No Fixed Holidays.
TEL: 03-6712-5185
Website: http://www.the-alley.jp/ -
Visiting Harajuku’s Newest Tapioca Drink Store KOI Thé
Japan is going through an unprecedented tapioca boom right now, and Harajuku is no exception, with tapioca stores opening left, right and centre. With so many to choose from no matter which you go to on a weekend there will be a huge line. I visited KOI Thé, a new shop that just opened on November 25.
It’s located right near the MOSHI MOSHI BOX Tourist Information Center where you’ll find us.
Head through Takeshita Street from Harajuku Station and go down the path between New Balance and Murasaki Sports.
Follow straight down and you’ll find KOI Thé on your left. Look for the big tapioca drink outside – you can’t miss it!
It’s quite spacious instead and has simple decor rather than being stylish. Guys can line up without worry too.
This is how the menu looks. You can adjust how much ice and sugar you want in your drink.
I went with the classic tapioca milk tea!
The tapioca balls here aren’t black but in fact golden. The reason they are gold is because they don’t use food colouring.
Tapioca that is transparent like this is cute too. The balls are comparatively smaller and are chewy and taste delicious!
I ordered the drink with the normal amount of sweetness and it tastes even more refreshing than at other stores. It’s a simple tapioca drink made for adults.
If you’re a little embarrassed at lining up at a tapioca shop then I recommend getting it from one for grown-ups in Omotesando!
Information
KOI Thé
Address: 4-27-1 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00
No Fixed Holidays.
TEL: 03-6434-5753
Website: https://koithe.jp/