Shops in and around Tokyo Station are starting to roll out their Christmas products this month. We've select our Top 5 must-buy Christmas cakes and desserts if you're travelling in Tokyo or passing through Tokyo Station this year.

Christmas Koisuru☆Kumagoron - ¥980 (Tax Included) @ Siretoco Donuts (ecute Keiyo Street)

The perfect, most adorable doughnut treats to pick up this Christmas to share with friends and familyーor to enjoy yourself! *Exclusive to the ecute Keiyo Street branch. Online orders available.

Suica Penguin Waffle Cake - ¥540 (Tax Included) @ RL waffle cake (GRANSTA)

Inspired by the adorable Suica penguinーthe mascot for Suica travel cardsーthis mini cake is a fluffy waffle rolled into whipped cream and yellow peach and is coated in chocolate.   *Only 100 to be sold. Sales begin from November 5 and is are first-come, first served. Reservation-only. Online reservations available.*Delivery Window: December 20-25, 2019.*Exclusive to GRANSTA.©︎Chiharu Sakazaki/East Japan Railway Company/DENTSU by East Japan Railway CompanySuica is a registered trademark of East Japan Railway Company  

Christmas Box (4 Included) - ¥1,940 (Tax Included) @ Fairycake Fair

Cute cupcakes decorated for Christmas. Also available in boxes of 6 and 9.   *Reservation Window: November 5 - December 20, 2019*Delivery Window: November 30 - December 25, 2019*Available for direct purchase in-store between November 30 - December 25, 2019*Online reservations available. Exclusive to GRANSTA.

Chestnut Yule Log - ¥3,780 (Tax Included) @ le billet (ecute TOKYO)

This Christmas yule log is a mix of chestnuts and hazelnuts and contains a rich tiramisu-style chestnut cream. *Online reservations available.  

Noel - ¥6,200 (Tax Included) @ Tokyo Station Hotel

This chestnut cake is inspired by the pine pillars that supported the Tokyo Station Marunouchi station building until it was restored. It has a chestnut and sweet potato base and is layered with chestnut mousse and coffee mousse to recreate the rings of a tree which are used to tell a tree's age. *10 served per day *Reservation Window: November 5 - December 17, 2019 *Delivery Window: December 22-25, 2019 *Online reservations available. Exclusive to GRANSTA.   Eat all of the cute treats you can this Christmas and holiday season.

The dessert shops and and bakeries on the second floor of Tokyo Solamachiーthe shopping facility at the base of Tokyo Skytreeーare reading themselves for Christmas by baking up a whole range of festive delights for the holiday season, perfect for parties, gifts, or as a little self-indulgence. Let's dive in and take at what's on offer this year.  

The perfect cakes for spending Christmas at home

Bonheur du Noel - ¥6,480 @ Ginza BOUL'MICHI (Tower Yard Floor 2F) [Reservations: November 1 - December 13 / Serving: December 21-25] *Tokyo Solamachi exclusive

Macarons are in this year in Japan, so BOUL'MICHI has whipped up the perfect strawberry chocolate cake adorned with colourful macarons and fresh strawberries to give it that Christmas-y look. Only 50 of these precious cakes will be sold, so don't miss out.

Fromage Citron @ - ¥2,970  Ginza Ginger (Tower Yard Floor 2F) [Reservations: November 1 - December 10 / Serving: December 23-25] *Tokyo Solamachi exclusive

This no-bake cheesecake is made with Oceania cheese and layered with an almond base followed by a sumptuously sour lemon cream.

16cm Yule Log - ¥4,104 @ Sweet Heart Tree (Tower Yard Floor 2F) [Reservations: November 1 - December 20 / Serving: December 15-25]

A gourmet yule log made with rich chocolate and packed with fruits and nuts. This sophisticated dessert is one for the adults to enjoy.  

Takeout Sweets & Christmas Merchandise

 

Tiny Waffles (Dark Chocolate/White Chocolate) - ¥486 Each @ RL waffle cake (Tower Yard Floor 2F) [Reservations: November 1 - December 23 / Serving: December 20-25]

If you're looking for something a little smaller, perhaps as a Christmas present to friends and family or as a little gift to yourself, then check out these fluffy waffles made with strawberries, chocolate and whipped cream. Simple, but delicious!

Mamegui Towels (Santa Clause/White Christmas/Snowman) - ¥550 Each @ Mamegui (East Yard Floor 4F) [Available From November 1] *Gifts inside sold separately from ¥388

Mamegui are a type of towel used in Japan to wrap gifts in for people. These Christmas versions are perfect for wrapping up small presents for people, like Japanese snacks and candy.

Crispy Cakes (Happy Wreath/Santa/Reindeer) - ¥508 Each @ pon pon×Chris.P (East Yard Floor 2F) [Available From November 15]

These tiny crispy cakes are another great little bite to eat. The cute Santa version is cookie and milk flavoured and has marshmallows as the fluff of his hat.  

Tokyo Skytree's THE SKYTREE SHOP Christmas Items

  THE SKYTREE SHOP is the official souvenir store of Tokyo Skytree®. This Christmas they are selling a new batch of themed items, including plenty featuring their cute official mascot Sorakara-chan.

TOKYO SKYTREE Premium Chocolates - ¥1,706 @ Tokyo Skytree Floors 345 & 450 [Available From November 7]

This luxurious assortment of Tokyo Skytree-shaped chocolates come in a variety of flavours, including ruby chocolate.

Left: Sorakara-chan Winter Collection S - ¥2,200 / Right: Sorakara-chan Winter Collection Mascot - ¥1,375 @ Tokyo Skytree Floors 1, 5 & 450 [Available From November 7]

You can't leave Tokyo Skytree without a little memento, so why not pick up a cute duffle coat clad Sorakara-chan? Available this winter only.

Sorakara-chan Compact Mirrors - ¥968 @ Tokyo Skytree Floors 1, 5 & 450 [Available From November 7]

Also part of the Sorakara-chan winter collection are these compact mirrors which are filled with glitter that falls like stars or snowflakes depending which one you go for. They are small enough to fit into your pocket or bag making them super convenient.   And that's not allーTokyo Solamachi has countless other goodies, from desserts to souvenirs, to pick up this Christmas too. If you're in Tokyo this winter season and are planning a trip to Tokyo Skytree, be on the lookout.   *All listed prices include tax. Applicable tax rate may vary on certain products in line with Japan's consumption tax increase.*Products and sale periods subject to change. Products available while supplies last.*Pictured photos are for illustrative purposes only.©TOKYO-SKYTREE

The city of Ise is located in central Mie Prefecture on the eastern tip of Kii Peninsula, the largest peninsula on Japan's largest main island Honshu. Every year, the autumn season brings in a flurry of tourists and sightseers who flock to see the city's leaves expressing their vibrant hues of red and yellow. The city boasts a magnificent catalogue of sightseeing spots, but perhaps the most famous of all is Ise Grand Shrine, whose inner and outer shrine give visitors a sense of what the townscape looked like in ancient times. This can also be seen at Sarutahiko Shrine, amongst other places.   In this article, we're going to introduce you to 4 must-visit souvenir shops near the inner shrine for your Ise travel bucket list.   Amano Pearl When talking about specialty products of Ise, the one thing that's sure to come to the minds of Japanese people are the pearls sold in the city. Amano Pearl can be found in Oharaimachi, an almost 1km long street lined with traditional shops. The owner themselves purchases and appraises the pearls while the shop staff manufacture and design gorgeous accessories to sell at an affordable price.

Accessory - ¥2,200

This rose-shaped necklace is a design favoured by women of all ages. They have plenty of other high-quality bargain picks like this too. The shop’s diverse line-up of beautifully accessories includes those perfect for combining with one pieces and dresses, as well as for parties. Prices and designs vary greatly, so there’s bound to be something for everyone who steps inside this quaint store. So if you’re shopping for souvenirs during your trip to Ise, then you absolutely have to pay a visit to Amano Pearl to see the city’s famous pearls.   ▶︎Amano Pearl - Oharaimachi Branch Address: 45 Ujiimazaikechō, Ise, Mie Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 No Fixed Holidays Official Website: https://www.amanopearl.jp/     Matsujiro Honey - Ise Oharaimachi Branch Matsujiro Honey is a long-standing honey shop that was established back in 1912. The shop sells various varieties of honey, including flavours you won’t find in supermarkets like apple honey and soba honey.

Hanabana - ¥864

Hanabana is the shop’s No. 1 most popular variety of honey and it’s made in Mie Prefecture. Its name in Japanese means “flowers,” and as the name suggests, it includes the nectar of numerous types of flowers. It has a smooth texture and distinct full-bodied floral fragrance.

Centre: Mini Honey Soap - ¥503 / Right: Honey Soap - ¥2,200 / Left: ¥2,200 Honey Face & Body Oil (48ml) - ¥2,200

The shop even sells its own honey-imbued cosmetics, all made with natural ingredients. Their soap is made with their popular Hanabana honey, and gives off a flavoursome honey smell. Your skin is left smooth, moisturised and smelling great after using it. Their rich honey oil too is made with 90% plant-derived oil and is free from preservatives. It’s a great option for the coming dry season and is gentle on the skin.   If you visit the shop, they let you taste test their different types of honey too! Find your favourite.   ▶︎Matsujiro Honey - Ise Oharaimachi Branch Address: 7 Ujinakanokirichō, Ise, Mie Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00 No Fixed Holidays Official Website: https://www.matsujiro.shop/     Uoharu Uroharu first opened its doors in 1931. Their products are sold as souvenirs to help spread the word of Ise’s rich food culture.

Same No Tare - Salt Flavour / Mirin Flavour

The item you absolutely want to look out for when going into Uohara is their “Same No Tare,” another Ise speciality. It was originally only eaten in Shima, Ise, but it was picked up on national television, leading it to become a food souvenir associated with Ise. Uoharu’s products are seafood based, and there’s plenty to choose from. If you’re looking for a food product specifically from Ise then look no further than Uoharu.   ▶Uoharu Address: 49 Ujinakanokirichō, Ise, Mie Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (*Changes depending on season) Closed: Wednesdays (Except on national holidays in which case closed on Thursdays) Official Website: https://www.samenotare.jp/uoharu/     Henbaya - Oharaimachi Branch Yet another speciality product of Ise comes from the much-beloved Henbaya, which first opened way back in 1775. The speciality products, also called “henbaya,” can be ordered either for takeout or enjoyed in the shop.

Henbaya (Includes 2) - ¥160

Henbaya are thin, round sticky rice cakes made with top of the range domestic ingredients and packed with smooth red bean paste. Both sides of these deliciously fragrant rice cakes are browned, and when bitten into, fill and melt in your mouth with the sweet, smooth flavour of the bean paste. At the Oharaimachi branch of Henbaya they sell various other rice cakes too, all chewy and made with high quality ingredients from Japan. Pick up a pair and enjoy the sweet taste of Ise.   ▶︎Henbaya - Oharaimachi Branch Address: 1-149-1 Ujiurata, Ise, Mie Closed: Mondays (Except on national holidays in which case closed on Tuesdays) Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Eating in-store runs until 16:30) *Products may sell out before 17:00 *Opening hours subject to change for January     So, if you’re making a trip to the beautiful city of Ise, you now know the must-visit spots for finding souvenirs. Let us know if you visit any!