Itohkyuemon, one of Kyoto's most famous green tea shops which established in the latter part of the Edo Period, is now serving a takeout hydrangea parfait at its main branch in Uji, Kyoto.Uji, the city where Itohkyuemon is based, is home to Mimuroto Temple which is famous for its hydrangea. The temple bustles with sightseers and tourists during Japan's rainy season who flock to gaze upon the gorgeous flowers. The tea shop's limited-time hydrangea parfait was first released in 2013 and has gone to become their most popular seasonal parfait every year. So that lots of people can continue to enjoy the popular dessert, Itohkyuemon is offering the parfait as a takeout option so customers don't have to eat indoors.   The parfait is made with matcha and hydrangea mashed sweet potato and hydrangea-coloured crushed jelly, and is topped with leaf-shaped matcha cookies, blueberries, and other colourful treats that bring to mind Uji's rainy season.

The cheesecake—a popular dessert with a flavour that is both rich and refreshing. The number of shops in Japan specialising in cheesecakes has been on the rise recently, all of whom are baking up their own unique versions. Here are three summertime cheesecakes available online in Japan from three popular cheesecake shops.  

Mr. CHEESECAKE

This summer, Mr. CHEESECAKE has whipped up a seasonal "Hirami Lemon" flavoured cheesecake which they are selling in limited quantities via their official LINE account from July 12 to 19. The cheesecake is packaged in a special box featuring an illustration of the summertime ocean. Made with refreshing hirami lemons, the cheesecake has a sour and slightly bitter kick to it. By combining Japanese sansho pepper and olive oil, the sourness of the hirami lemon is elevate to new heights. Mint is also added to up the refreshing flavour, and salt from Okinawa heightens the sweetness of the cheesecake.   Mr. CHEESECAKE hirami lemon Price: ¥5,400 (Tax Included) Official Website: https://mr-cheesecake.com/  

Neko Neko Cheesecake

Neko Neko Cheesecake, a cheesecake shop which opened in Tokyo in May, serves cat-shaped cheesecakes. This summer-only cheesecake is made using setonai lemons. It was released on Friday and will be sold in limited quantities only. ​The cheesecake has lemon jelly in the middle and is topped with sliced lemons grown in the Seto Inland Sea area that are baked together with the cake. It's finished with a smear of lemon jam and cream, making for a real summertime treat.   Neko Neko Cheesecake ~Setonai Lemon~Online Release Date: July 1, 2020 Price: Single ¥3,800 / Lemon & Plan ¥5,980 Online Store: https://hbantique.official.ec   In-Store Release Date: July 3, 2020 Price: Single ¥2,200 Available: Neko Neko Cheesecake in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo  

LeTAO

Confectionery shop LeTAO has released their popular "Melon Double" cheesecake again this summer. A popular cheesecake released every year by LeTAO, the Melon DOuble is a sweet baked cheesecake made with individual layers of melon puree and mascarpone cream cheese. The refreshing sweetness of the melon goes hand in hand with the cheese.   Melon Double ~Hokkaido Melon~ Price: ¥1,728 (Tax Included) *Shipping fee ¥890 Available: Until August 31, 2020 Product Details: https://shop.letao.jp/item/F695.html

Sanrio is set to open the new SANRIO CAFE Ikebukuro in on floor B1F of Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo on June 5, 2020. Just a convenient 8-minutes on foot from Ikebukuro Station, SANRIO CAFE Ikebukuro will serve up a menu that captures the kawaii world of Sanrio's roster of characters. The cafe is divided into two areas: the main cafe space, and then the wagon corner for takeout. Enjoy dining surrounded by adorable Sanrio characters on the walls and ceiling, or take your character-inspired food and drink away with you.   The cafe is putting the health and safety of its customers and staff at the top of its list in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and so will operate the cafe while taking all necessary safety measures. If you're in Tokyo, or the next time you're in Tokyo, make sure you don't pass up the chance to dine at SANRIO CAFE Ikebukuro.

With lockdown measures in place, many restaurants and food businesses are now introducing no-contact delivery services, and this goes for Japan as well. We have picked out menu items from 3 must-try restaurants that are offering a delivery option.  

1: sio

HEY! Bánh Mì: ¥1,000

sio is a 1-star Michelin restaurant who have pondered what customers are seeking during this time of the coronavirus, and what they can do it put smiles on their faces, and so they are now serving a affordable bento and bánh mì.   "We have thought thoroughly on how to pack us into one dish to create delicious food with complex flavours and enjoyable textures."   That's the story behind the "HEY! Bánh Mì," a dish layered with Shusaku Toba's personality, a chef at sio. The dish is the perfect lunch option to enjoy while working from home.

Bento of the Day: ¥1,50

The restaurant is also rotating different bento each day, from demi-glace stew to curry to their most popular kra pao and more.

sio Zaitaku Bento (Reservation Only) | 1-2 People: ¥13,500

If you're looking for something a little more high-class, then there's this very special bento as beautiful as a flower box. The meat has sea urchin scattered over it for gorgeous visual effect. Reservations for this bento open at 8:00pm (JST) every Monday, and on a good day it can sell out within an hour.   sioAddress: 1-35-3 Uehara, Shibuya TokyoTEL: 03-6804-7607Official Website: http://sio-yoyogiuehara.com/*Reservations available on sio's official Facebook and Instagram pages*Menu line-up subject to change, please enquire directly with sio with any questions  

2: La Table de Joël Robuchon

La Table de Joël Robuchon Gourmet Box (Serves 4): ¥28,000 (Tax Included)

La Table de Joël Robuchon is one of those places that people want to dine at at least once in their lives. The "La Table de Joël Robuchon Gourmet Box" comes following the success of the "Gastronomy Gourmet Box." It includes four appetisers, such as seafood salad and a chicken breast and foie gras press with a lentil salad, as well as a main dish made from Japanese beef cooked in red wine and vegetable glacé, and to top it all off, 3 desserts including a tart and financier. It's a box of pure luxury and indulgence.

They offer champagne, wine, an anniversary gateau, and more too as an option, making it a great choice for celebrations. People are sure to be delighted by ordering takeout from La Table de Joël Robuchon as they enjoy restaurant quality food at home.   La Table de Joël RobuchonAddress: Ebisu Garden Place, 1-13-1 Mita, Meguro, TokyoTEL: 03-5424-1338 / 03-5424-1347 (Available 11:00-17:00)Collection Times: 16:00-19:00Delivery Times: 16:00-19:00Delivery Charge: ¥5,000Deliveries: Tokyo's 23 wards. For deliveries outside this area, please enquire.Official Website: https://www.robuchon.jp/shop-list/latable   

3: EBISU YORONIKU

Hana Pepper Wagyu Dish: ¥4,629 (Now Unavailable)

Jitsu Pepper Wagyu Dish: ¥2,700 (Before Tax) *Available

EBISU YORONIKU serves delicious Japanese wagyu beef, and they're offering takeout at irregular intervals. The "Hana Pepper Wagyu Dish" had a delicious peppery smell when you opened the lid, and the sliced omelette served to make the beef even more delicious. Since the season has changed, this dish is no longer available but has been replaced by the "Jitsu Pepper Wagyu Dish."   EBISU YORONIKUAddress: GEMS Ebisu 8F, 1-11-5 Ebisu, Shibuya, TokyoTEL: 050-3134-4629Official Website: https://yoroniku.business.site 

BLT STEAK GINZA, a branch of the New York-based steak house, recently teamed up with Uber Eats to offer deliveries to people across Japan. All branches in Japan closed on April 1 in response to COVID-19.   This is the first time the Ginza branch has offered a delivery service. As well as Uber Eats, the restaurant will also begin offering deliveries via Fine Dine from June.   Uber Eats Delivery Areas Chuo Ward・Chiyoda Ward・Koto City (Ginza, Yurakucho, Nihombashi, Ningyocho, Tsukiji, Tsukishima, Kachidoki, Toyosu)・Minato Ward (Shinbashi, Toranomon, Kamiyacho, Azabujuban, Roppongi)   The menu includes everything from bento to roast beef don, BLT prime burgers, the new fillet katsu sandwich, USDA-certified prime grade meat, and more.

Prime Rib-Eye Bento - ¥2,980 (Before Tax)

A bento box served with luxurious prime grade rib-eye.

Fillet Katsu Sandwich - ¥4,800 (Before Tax)

The restaurant's new fillet katsu sandwich, stuffed with a prime grade, melt-in-the-mouth fillet.

BLT Prime Burger - ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

The BLT Prime Burger is made with a well-done 100% beef patty. It's made from the same prime grade beef as the restaurant's steak. It's finished with a mix of BBQ sauce and honey mustard.

Caesar Salad - ¥1,600 (Before Tax)

Lobster Bisque - ¥1,400 (Before Tax)

They are also offering a selection of side dishes like Caesar salad and lobster bisque, as well as some new chef's specials.

Matsufuji Shokuhin, which manages numerous ramen stores including Rokurinsha, has announced that it is opening a new delivery website called Ouchi Ramen ("At Home Ramen") on May 18, 2020. This will be the company's first delivery website to operate in almost six years, and comes in response to the closure of ramen eateries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Initial sales will collaborate with super popular ramen shops

The first batch of ramen to be open for delivery will come from 8 hugely popular ramen shops in Japan as called for by the head of Rokurinsha (三田遼斉).  

1: Senrigan (Nakameguro, Tokyo)

Senrigan is a super popular ramen shop in Komaba-tōdaimae that serves gattsuri style ramenーbasically, hearty portions. It's normal to be waiting it line to get into this place for a bowl of their hiyashi chūka chilled Chinese noodles.  

2: Jump (Kasukabe, Saitama)

Another ramen shop you'll find people lining up outside is Jump which was independently set up by the owner of Junk Garage, Takayama, after he began working there. They have many loved dishes there, like their mazesoba dry noodles and taresoba.  

3: Kuriyama (Yokohama, Kanagawa)

Kuriyama placed first in many ramen competitions, and is said to have been the final place that ramen legend Kazuo Yamagishi taught his practices at before his passing in 2015.  

4: Oni Soba Fujiya (Shibuya, Tokyo)

This popular ramen shop is managed by Japanese impressionist HEY! TakuChan. It's considered the real deal amongst some of Japan's biggest entertainers and reigned as the champion at a food festival held in the US in 2019.  

5: Ootsuya (Yokosuka, Kanagawa)

There is huge support for the owner of this popular ramen restaurant which has many fans for its delicious family ramen.  

6: KaneKitchen Noodles (Toshima, Tokyo)

KaneKitchen Noodles has hailed as a Bib Gourmand restaurant three years in a row in Michelin Tokyo. Their cup noodles are popular too.  

7: Magorinsha (Chiyoda, Tokyo)

Magorinsha is a famous restaurant where its kitchen is graced by a different ramen master chef every day, including the owner of Rokurinsha. Simply eating their meals with just ramen and vegetables without seafood is enough to earn the description of exquisite.  

8: Rokurinsha (Chiyoda, Tokyo)

Rokurinsha is said to be the place that started the tsukemen boom in Japan. It's incredibly famous, and legend has it that it's had to close before because lines have been so long in the past.   Online orders are made up of a set of two meals. A price of a set starts at ¥2,980 and shipping is free (Japan only). Many more respected restaurants are scheduled to be added to the website in the near future. This is a great way to continue supporting this hardworking restaurants.