The holiday season has finally hit Starbucks in Japan, and for the first drink in their series of Christmas beverages, they are serving the new Merry Strawberry Cake Frappuccino which is made to look and taste like a strawberry cake. Customers can even customise their drinks with as much free strawberry sauce as they like.
Merry Strawberry Cake Frappuccino – Tall ¥590 w/ Free Strawberry Sauce (*Sauce not available with other drinks)
The drink is built on sponge cake flavoured base, on top of which sits ascending layers of bright-red strawberry sauce, whipped cream, and a sprinkling of freeze-dried strawberries, effectively creating a dessert that you can drink. One sip of this pink delight fills your mouth with the sweet and refreshing taste of fresh fruity strawberries.
We recommend customising yours with non-fat milk or soy milk. If you want to hold back on some of the sweetness, go for the non-fat milk option, and if you want something smoother, get the soy milk. Drizzle over additional strawberry sauce to your liking, and you’ve got yourself a festive treat for the season!
Information
Merry Strawberry Cake Frappuccino
Released: November 9, 2019
Available: At most Starbucks branches in Japan while supplies last
Official Website: https://www.starbucks.co.jp/
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In South Korea, which has been dubbed "a cafe battleground," one particular cafe called Cafe de paris has stood out from the rest for their visually impacting fruity desserts. This immensely popular chain is now heading to Laforet Harajuku with a new branch opening on November 1.
Cafe de paris first appeared in Japan back in February this year, with its eye-popping "Bon Bon" parfait series attraction a great deal of attention for its Instagram-worthy appearance. In just six months, it exceeded 100,000 customer visits. The cafe, however, was only open for a limited time. But that's about to change, as Laforet Harajuku welcomes the country's first permanent branch. The cafe interior takes on a light blue and white colour scheme, with table and counter seats lining the room and gorgeous chandeliers adorned overhead. Kumo Smoothie - ¥594 (Tax Included)
To commemorate its opening, the new shop has developed a new item exclusive to the Laforet Harajuku branch: the "Kumo Smoothie." Inspired by fluffy clouds, this fruit-packed smoothie comes in a pink strawberry milk flavour and blue sky-coloured soda flavour.And of course, Cafe de paris's famous fruit-topped Bon Bon parfaits will be sold too, with the upper part of the parfait towering 20m high. There are 5 seasonal fruits to choose from, such as strawberry, mango and grape. Cafe de paris has plenty of cute must-buy goodies for customers to enjoy, so if you're in Japan, why not take the opportunity to try out something popular in South Korea too while strolling around Harajuku? Information
Cafe de paris
Address: Laforet Harajuku Floor B1F, 1-11-6 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Grand Opening: November 1, 2019
Opening Hours: 11:00-21:00
TEL: 03-6447-0084
No Fixed Holidays (Except when Laforet Harajuku is closed)
Official Website: http://www.cafedeparis.jp/
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The holiday season at Starbucks in Japan is set to begin on November 1 when it will begin rolling out new drinks and products celebrating those special moments during Christmas, such as when making a toast at a party, or switching on the Christmas lights.
Merry Strawberry Cake Frappuccino - Tall ¥590 (Tall size only)
The first of the Starbucks holiday season beverages is the Merry Strawberry Cake Frappuccino. This drink is layered beautifully and temptingly like a cake in a cup, containing a strawberry sauce made from fresh strawberry pieces, a sponge cake crumble made with thinly crushed shortbread and sponge cake, and topped with whipped cream and freeze-dried strawberries.Merry Strawberry Cake Milk - Short ¥450/Tall ¥490/Grande ¥530/Venti® ¥570
There's also a hot version, filled the same sweet and sour strawberry sauce and delicious sponge cake that melt together deliciously with the milk. This one's a no-coffee beverage made with lots of steamed milk. One sip will make your eyes widen at how fruity the strawberries are, as well as the richness of the fluffy whipped cream. It's like Christmas cake and hot milk in your mouth at the same time. These two beverages are just the first release of drinks to come in Starbucks Japan's holiday season beverage line. Feel the Christmas spirit and warm yourself up this autumn and winter by stopping by Starbucks.Information
Starbucks Japan Holiday Season Beverages – ① Merry Strawberry Cake Frappuccino/Milk
Running: November 1, 2019 – November 21, 2019
Available: Most Starbucks branches in Japan (*While supplies last)
Starbucks Japan Official Website: https://www.starbucks.co.jp/
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Are you feeling the cold yet? Don't worry if you're in Tokyo this year, because Tokyo Disney Resort has you covered with its new batch of hot drinks which they began serving on November 1.
Left: Ruby Chocolate & Raspberry Milk - ¥500 / Right: Cheese Caramel Milk Tea
The Ruby Chocolate & Raspberry Milk drink is sold at Squeezer's Tropical Juice Bar and Ice Cream Cones at Tokyo Disneyland. It is made with the elusive ruby chocolate and retains its characteristic sour taste which melds temptingly with the sweet and sour raspberry syrup to create a luxurious hot beverage. Enjoy the gentle sweet notes of the chocolate and fruitiness of the cacao tickle your nose. You'll find the Cheese Caramel Milk Tea at either Cafe Orleans or Rackety's Raccoon Saloon at Tokyo Disneyland, or Sultan's Oasis at Tokyo DisneySea®. The drink is a caramel-lined milk tea topped with a rich cream cheese. The subtle sweetness of the caramel milk tea coupled with the salty cream cheese is a flavour you're sure to become addicted to.Hot Matcha Milk (Tapioca & Strawberry) - ¥450
Roll up to Hudson River Harvest in Tokyo DisneySea for a cup of this Hot Matcha Milk which has been filled with chewy matcha flavoured tapioca pearls, a texture that's deliciously enjoyable when fused with the faint fragrance of the strawberry.Hazelnut Milk Hot Cocktail - ¥760
And if you head to Ristorante di Canaletto, also at Tokyo DisneySea, you can enjoy this cocktail served hot with a hazelnut liqueur and foamy milk. The added chocolate only makes the milk more delicious.The drinks are a part of the Sweets & Sips campaign now running around Tokyo Disney Resort. There are plenty of other drinks as well as churros, doughnuts, crepes and more to enjoy too, so be sure to check out the official websiteーor better yet, head to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea! Information
Special Website: https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/treasure/sweets_sips/menu/
Tokyo Disney Resort (English): https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/index.html
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The 2024 holiday campaign by CASETiFY, the global lifestyle brand that advocates for its customers to embrace their individuality with its customizable smartphone cases and tech accessories, has officially begun. Nagomi has been named an ambassador for this year’s CASETiFY Holiday Gift Guide. The key message of the campaign is “You will definitely find the perfect gift for that special someone.” The Holiday Gift Guide features a selection of gifts selected by Nagomi either for yourself or a loved one at CASETiFY's official online store and physical stores. On December 14, Nagomi will hold at event at CASETiFY STUDIO Shibuya PARCO.
Information
Nagomi Holiday Gift Event
Date: December 14, 2024, 12:00~
Venue: CASETiFY STUDiO Shibuya PARCO (Tokyo)
*Times are subject to change.[Content]
・Autographs by Nagomi on product displays in the store
・Holiday Gift Selection advice from Nagomi
・Polaroid photo shoot with select fans
・Special gift giving from Nagomi[How to Participate]
Make any purchase at participating stores between November 25 and December 13
*Participating Stores: Shibuya PARCO, Ikebukuro PARCO, Shinjuku Marui[Participation Details]
From November 25 to December 13, keep any receipts from purchases made at Shibuya PARCO, Ikebukuro PARCO, or Shinjuku Marui and bring them to CASETiFY STUDIO. On December 14, CASETiFY STUDiO will distribute 30 numbered tickets at the store on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 11:00 AM when the store opens. Numbered tickets will be distributed until they are gone.Holiday Gift Guide Official Site
https://www.casetify.com/collection/holiday-gift-guide -
The Mine City Tourism Association has announced a Christmas & Valentine’s Day event at Akiyoshido Cave, one of the largest limestone caves in Japan. The event will see the natural wonder illuminated by a number of colorful lights. The Christmas event will run from December 21 to 25, 2022, while the Valentine’s Day event will run from February 10 to 14, 2023. Akiyoshido Cave is one of Yamaguchi Prefecture’s most popular tourist attractions. The interior will be decorated with colorful lights and unique soundscapes, creating a once-in-a-lifetime setting for visitors. These illuminations and sounds were directed by world-renowned lighting designer Motoko Ishii, known for her work on Tokyo Tower and the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge.
Information
Christmas & Valentine Theater ~ Akiyoshido Cave ‘Fantasy of Light and Echoes’
Dates:
Christmas Theater: December 21 – December 25, 2022
Valentine Theater: February 10 – February 14, 2023
Times: (1) 10:00-11:00 (2) 12:00-13:00 (3) 14:00-15:00
3 events per dayVenue:
Akiyoshido Cave, Shuhocho Akiyoshi, Mine, YamaguchiTickets/Details: https://karusuto.com/event/christmas-valentine-theater-2022/
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Eve has announced a special YouTube LIVE scheduled to take place on December 24 at 19:00. The stream will take place on the artist’s official YouTube channel and those with YouTube Premium memberships will be able to take place in an Afterparty starting at 19:30. Starting at 19:00 on Christmas Eve, fans can enjoy a rare live studio performance complete with a full band. The Afterparty will include a special chat with Eve in which the artist reflects on the past year and gives hints on what’s to come. Fans won’t want to miss this exclusive opportunity!
Information
Christmas EVE Live on YouTube
Supported by YouTube | SoftBank
Streaming December 24 at 19:00~
Streaming URL: https://youtube.com/live/SX34pDlkGrQ
Christmas EVE YouTube Premium Afterparty
Supported by YouTube | SoftBank
Streaming December 24 at 19:30~
Streaming URL: https://youtube.com/live/xnpUGzqKjU4
*YouTube Premium Required to Join the Afterparty
https://www.youtube.com/premium
Official Site: https://eveofficial.com/
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There are plenty of events going on in Tokyo to celebrate the holiday season, but this one might be the most peculiar. Elemis, a skincare brand from England, has teamed up with bus operator Upstar for Japan’s first bus tour featuring afternoon tea! This extremely limited event will drive guests around the city to see some of the most impressive Christmas lights in Shibuya, Roppongi, Omotesando, and other spots. Only 60 seats are available each day and the bus will run from December 1 until December 25, 2022.
5 Unique Features of the Elemis Special Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
① Enjoy a Special Christmas Afternoon Tea Menu by ElemisA special Christmas menu will be available on board, including a Santa Claus shortcake and a party popper-inspired sandwich.② Travel on a Bus Filled with Elemis Christmas DecorationsInside the bus, guests can enjoy fir trees and original decorations inspired by the Elemis holiday collection! ③ Best-Selling Elemis Goods will be Gifted to Guests!Guests will receive a trial size of Elemis’ best-selling Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm as a Christmas present! ④ A Special Gift Campaign will run from November 15 until December 25Prior to the start of the bus tour, a campaign will be held on Instagram and Twitter. Winners will snag tickets for the bus tour and an Elemis makeup set worth over $12,000! ⑤ Travel on a Special Route to Enjoy Tokyo’s Christmas Lights!The bus tour will take visitors to some of Tokyo’s best Christmas locales, from Shibuya and Omotesando to Keyakizaka and Roppongi. The 90-minute journey starts and ends in Omotesando. How would you like to enjoy Tokyo’s Christmas lights on a British bus enjoying some of the best beauty products on Earth? Get into the holiday spirit with this unusual and unique tour! Information
Elemis Christmas Afternoon Tea
Running: December 1 – December 25, 2022 *Not running December 12, 13
Times:
1st Service / 15:00~16:30
2nd Service / 17:00-18:30
3rd Service / 19:00-20:30Length: 90 minutes
Departure Point: In front of the Shioda Building (5-10 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Price: ¥6,800 (Adults, Tax Included) / ¥3,000 (Children, Tax Included)
Reservations: https://www.upstar-londonbus-travellingnewtokyo.com/booking
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Popular singer Eve will sing the theme song for the film Black Night Parade, coming to theaters nationwide on December 23, 2022. A new trailer featuring the track has also been released alongside the announcement. Eve’s YouTube channel has over 4.2 million subscribers with video views of over 1.9 billion. The new song, Shirayuki, was written by the singer himself, who has become incredibly popular with overseas music fans as well. The track manages to be both gentle and powerful in equal measure, combining an orchestra with Eve’s unique vocals. In conjunction with the release of the trailer, an exclusive pre-release version of the song has been posted to TikTok. Black Night Parade Trailer: https://youtu.be/57CkdVMky4o Black Night Parade was originally manga series by Hikaru Nakamura, the creator of Arakawa Under the Bridge and Saint Young Men. The live-action film will be directed by Yuichi Fukuda, who has worked on a number of live-action film adaptations of manga series including Gintama and Kyo Kara Ore Wa! Fukuda also wrote the screenplay along with Tetsuo Kamata. The protagonist Miharu Hino will be played by Ryo Yoshizawa, while Shino Hojo will be played by Kanna Hashimoto. Taishi Nakagawa will play Kaizer Tanaka and Keisuke Watanabe will play Teppei Kohira. The story follows Miharu Hino, a man who is completely hopeless at everything he does. He failed his entrance exam, failed at job hunting, and has no love life to speak of. After working at a convenience store for three years, he meets a man in a black Santa suit who kidnaps him, offering him a job. Miharu then begins working at Santa Claus House, a mysterious company at the North Pole that delivers gifts to children around the world.
Comment from Eve
"I’m incredibly honored because I loved both the original manga and Fukuda's past works. I wrote this song Shirayuki with the hope that Christmas could be an important day for everyone. I would be so glad if this song makes you nostalgic for winter, making you imagine the cold air that stings your nose and the stars in the clear night sky. I love Kunehito, so I am looking forward to seeing him in the film."©︎2022「ブラックナイトパレード」製作委員会 ©︎中村光／集英社 Information
Black Night Parade
Release Date: December 23, 2022
Official Site: https://bnp-movie.jpEve
Official Site: https://eveofficial.com/ -
The Sailor Moon franchise’s 30th-anniversary museum is open from July 1 to December 30 at Tokyo’s Roppongi Museum. The series became a global phenomenon in the 1990s and remains incredibly popular with audiences around the world to this day. The museum itself is located near Azabu-Juban, where Sailor Moon took place. Volume 3 of the museum, the final installment, will take place from November 12 until the museum closes on December 30. During this period, fans can see over 100 pieces of rare Sailor Moon goods from its run in Nakayoshi magazine. All of the original color drawings currently on display will be replaced, with over 60 new pieces being added including previously unreleased works. Fans will also get a glimpse of the original drawing that appeared on the cover of Nakayoshi when the final chapter of Sailor Moon was published!
Christmas Menu
Sailor Moon Museum Christmas Pancake
Sailor Moon Museum Cheese Melt Muffin
Latte Art featuring Famous Quotes
THE ALLEY Collaboration Drinks
Christmas Tapioca Banana Pumpkin
Princess Serenity Cream Cheese Yogurt
New Christmas menu items will also be available during Vol.3. Guests can enjoy the cafe’s original Christmas tree-inspired pancakes and collaboration drinks with THE ALLEY. The main menu has also been overhauled and now includes plenty of dishes perfect for the cold winter months. The drink menu will also feature original coasters and straw tags only available at the museum. Will you be visiting the museum during its last few weeks? (c) Naoko TakeuchiInformation
Sailor Moon Museum
Running: July 1 – December 30, 2022
Vol. 3: November 12 – December 30, 2022
Hours:
Weekdays: 10:00-18:00 (Last entry at 17:30)
Weekends/Holidays: 10:00-20:00 (Last entry at 19:30)
*Open from 10:00-20:00 from December 26 – December 30
Venue: Roppongi Museum (5-6-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Official Site: www.sailormoon-museum.com