The cities of Hirosaki and Hakodate in Hokkaido have announced that they will team up with Hatsune Miku’s popular iteration Snow Miku to promote tourism in the area this winter. A number of activities will begin in December 2022.

[Snow Miku x Hirohako] Collaboration Project

■Hirohako Winter Tourism Campaign Poster Featuring Snow Miku

・Period: Mid-November~February 28, 2023

・Locations: Facilities in both cities, tourist facilities, hotels, shopping areas

■Snow Miku Illustration Contest Exhibition Event

Over 50 illustrations have been submitted under the theme of Snow Miku and Hakodate / Snow Miku and Hirosaki. These will be on display through the winter!

・Running: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

・Venues: Hirosaki Municipal Tourist Center (Hirosaki)
                    Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse (Hakodate)

■Snow Miku Photo Spot

Snow Miku panels featuring shamisen and apples from Hirosaki will be on display, while the Hakodate version will include references to squid fishing and footbaths. 

・On Display: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

・Locations: JR Hirosaki Station, Chuohirosaki Station (Hirosaki)
                        JR Hakodate Station, Hakodate Airport (Hakodate)

■Digital Stamp Rally Using the Mikunavi App

A number of panels will be installed at five checkpoints in Hirosaki and Hakodate. A total of 1,000 people–500 in each city–will win original merch including a Snow Miku mask case and decorated masking tape. All you need to do is check in!

・Available: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

・Locations: (Hirosaki) Hirosaki Municipal Tourist Center, Hirosaki City Machinaka  Information Center,

                         Hirosaki Tourist Information Center, Hirosaki Castle Information Center, Tsugaru-han Neputa Village

　　　　　　(Hakodate) Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Yunokawa Hot Spring Footbath, Goryōkaku Tower,

Hakodate Green Plaza C Block (Hakodate Lumi-Pop), Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward

■Hirohako Winter Tourism Campaign Theme Song and Music Video 

The tourism theme song will get a new music video that will be broadcast on YouTube, at local tourist facilities, and on TV and radio!

・On Air: December 1, 2022~

・Theme Song: Mahou no Keshiki (Lyrics/Composition: ryuryu)

■Snow Miku Welcome Announcements to be Broadcast at Tourism Facilities, etc. 

A one-minute welcome announcement by Snow Miku will air at tourist facilities!

・Running: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

・Locations: Tourist areas in both cities

■Snow Miku Filters Using AR

When each barcode is scanned with a smartphone, Snow Miku will appear on the screen! Visitors can take pictures with Snow Miku to commemorate their winter trip to Hirosaki and Hakodate.

・Available: December 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

On November 19, Nijigen no Mori, an amusement park located on Awaji Island in Hyogo, will begin its fifth collaboration with the popular anime series Demon Slayer. New merchandise, such as acrylic keychains and long-sleeve t-shirts, and menu items will be available, so fans shouldn’t miss their chance to visit!

A limited number of hand warmers with an original illustration of Kyojuro will be given to guests who participate in the Natagumo Mountain Night Walk event after November 19. Don’t let the cold weather stop you from taking part in the festivities!

New Merchandise

Rectangular Pin

Acrylic Keychain

Acrylic Stand

Long-sleeve T-shirt (White/Black)

The new lineup of original goods includes pins, keychains, acrylic stands, and long-sleeve T-shirts featuring beloved characters from the series. All illustrations were provided by ufotable exclusively for this collaboration event.

New Menu

Tanjiro’s White Dashi Udon

Kyojuro’s Spicy Korean Soup with Shredded Beef

Drinks: Original Clear Bottle (8 varieties)

Exclusive Lunch Mat

Hand Warmer with Original Design

The Demon Slayer food truck will offer warm food and drinks for the winter season. The White Dashi Udon features tasty noodles and yams, while Kyojuro’s collaboration dish is filled with spiciness. Hot drinks will be served in a special way–just pick a clear bottle featuring your favorite character!

Those who purchase items from the collaboration menu will receive a coaster with an exclusive design, and those who want to purchase a special lunch mat can do so for only ¥650. Come enjoy the cold months with your favorite characters!

©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the globally popular Naruto anime series, NARUTO THE GALLERY will be held at AKIBA_SQUARE inside Akihabara UDX from December 10, 2022 until January 31, 2023. The gallery will feature collaborations with five animators. 

This will be the first Naruto exhibition held since 2015. The event will focus on the growth of the characters, the bonds they share with their friends, and the many fights that have taken place over the past two decades. 

Iconic scenes from the Naruto anime series will be on display in collaboration with five up-and-coming animators: Ai Niina, Kohei Kadowaki, que, Kosuke Sugimoto, and Kohta Morie. This will give fans the chance to see an unprecedented and unique view of the world of Naruto which can only be seen at the event. 

Admission Bonus: Gemaki-style Card

Goods

An original Gemaki-style Card featuring a newly-drawn visual will be handed out to those visiting the exhibition. 

The first lineup of exclusive event-only merchandise has been revealed and longtime fans of the series won’t want to miss adding some of these goods to their collection. 

Participating Artists / Episode

Ai Niina / Sasuke’s Ninja Way

Kohei Kadowaki / Naruto’s Path

que / The Land of Waves

Kosuke Sugimoto / Sasuke’s Vessel

Kohta Morie / Naruto and Kurama

©NARUTO THE GALLERY実行委員会

A pop-up collaboration cafe for the popular anime series NARUTO and BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, has been announced! The event will be held from October 29 until November 25 on the fourth floor of Tokyo Solamachi.

Original Merchandise & Cafe Menu

There will also be a large collection of new merchandise featuring brand new illustrations for fans so snag. Along with acrylic keychains and pins, printed cookies, T-shirts, and towels will also be available!

At the collaboration cafe, fans can enjoy a lineup of dishes inspired by popular characters from both series, including Boruto’s Spiral Burger, Sasuke’s Stew, and Sasori’s Puppet Pancakes. A full dessert and drink menu will also be available for fans wanting to try dishes like Sakura’s Life-Long Love Parfait and Itachi’s Tsukiyomi Chocolate. A total of eight original coasters will be available, and one will be handed out with each dish ordered.

Sasori’s Birthday Project

The event will also celebrate Sasori’s birthday from November 8 until November 13. Guests can enjoy a special pancake set featuring the popular character along with a festive birthday decoration! 

More information will be posted on the official Twitter page, so be sure to check that and the official website!

Crayon Shin-chan’s 30th Anniversary Exhibition will be held at Ikebukuro Sunshine City starting December 17, 2022. Humorously titled The Adventure in Ass Wonderland, the interactive exhibition will pay homage to the past three decades of the beloved anime series. In conjunction with the event, a key visual drawn especially for this exhibition has also been unveiled.

This special exhibition looking back on the 30th anniversary of the anime series and films will feature many hands-on Crayon Shin-chan projects based on the theme of Shinnosuke’s butt. More details will be announced soon, so stay tuned.

Advance tickets for the exhibition will be on sale starting November 17, 2022. The exhibition is also scheduled to travel to other venues in Japan beginning in 2023. See the official website for more information. 

©臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ADK

Nijigen no Mori, an amusement park located on Awaji Island in Hyogo, has teamed up with the popular anime and manga series Demon Slayer for a special collaboration event. While the event wrapped up at the end of September, due to fan response, it will be extended for a further 87 days starting on October 15. Many fans weren’t able to attend due to the pandemic or due to distance, so this decision was made at the last minute. All guests visiting during the extended period will receive an original postcard as a special gift.

Original merchandise and food items inspired by Demon Slayer characters will be available during the event period, with some merchandise newly-created for the extended period. Check out the official website and Twitter page for the latest information.

Nijigen no Mori x Demon Slayer Collaboration Event Contents

Venue: Awajishima Anime Park, Nijigen no Mori  (2425-2 Kusamoto, Awaji, Hyogo)

Details: The Nijigen no Mori theme park will be taken over by characters from the popular Demon Slayer franchise, with unique events taking place in the morning and at night. Original food and merchandise will also be available.

① [Nighttime Event] Nijigen no Mori x Demon Slayer ‘Natagumo Mountain Night Walk’

 Participants will go on to experience the world of Demon Slayer on a 1.2 km long walk through the night forest, brought to life by a projection mapping spectacle showing Tanjiro and friends and their battle against the demons.

On the Natagumo Mountain Night Walk, where they become members of the Kakushi and participate in a battle to the death between the characters Tanjiro Kamado and Rui. Those who fulfill their mission will get a special report.

② [Daytime Event] Nijigen no Mori x Demon Slayer Mystery Walk ‘The Flower Falling Village and Scene of Illustions’

Participants will go on a riddle-solving quest in an area with original character panels illustrated by ufotable. Those taking part in the event will receive an original wooden strap as a special gift.

③ Original Goods

At the Demon Slayer store in the event area, event-exclusive goods will be available for fans to enjoy.

④ Original Collaboration Menu

An original collaboration menu, featuring character-inspired dishes, will be featured at Mori no Terrace, a forest hideaway restaurant within Nijigen no Mori. A food truck will also be open. Guests can enjoy many different treats, including Tanjiro’s Charcoal Stew, a rich black stew inspired by the main character of the series.

⑤ Premium Ticket Bonus

Those purchasing a Premium Ticket will receive Tanjiro’s Backpack as a special gift.

©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable

Today, luxury brand Montblanc launched a new collaboration collection with the popular anime and manga series Naruto. Items from the collection are available to purchase worldwide.

Since its release 20 years ago, Naruto has captured the hearts of fans around the world with its inspiring story and beloved characters. The designs featured in the new collection feature illustrations of the character printed in dynamic poses. The collection features everything from leather goods to writing instruments. 

The new items highlight Naruto’s relationship with his mentor Jiraiya, stressing the importance of mentors and knowledge. The brushstroke-like curves on each piece emphasize the anime style, and all bags come in a refined black color with orange accents.

To celebrate the launch of this collaboration, a special short anime was created to highlight the power of writing and communication. The brief animation shows Jiraiya reflecting on Naruto’s journey and the ample advice he passed down while focusing on what’s important in life. Meanwhile, Naruto uses a fountain pen to write down what it really means to be a ninja.

The collection also features a new edition of Montblanc’s iconic Meisterstück. The special-edition fountain pen features a Hidden Leaf Village motif in gold with a matching nib and a ruthenium-coated embellishment.

A special pop-up store is open on the first floor of Hankyu Men’s Osaka until October 18. By snapping a photo of the collaboration products and posting it on social media with the hashtag #MontblancXNaruto, fans can snag an original Montblanc x Naruto memory card game. Additionally, those making a purchase will get an original furoshiki!

Whether you’re a fan of Naruto or a fan of Montblanc’s goods, this collaboration might be impossible to pass up.

Aeon’s fashion brand DOUBLEFOCUS has announced a unique apparel collection featuring Crayon Shin-chan and Sanrio’s popular character Cinnamoroll! The collection itself will include 14 items and will release on September 29, 2022. Those interested will be able to purchase these items at over 150 AEON and AEON-STYLE locations around Japan, as well as online. Crayon Shin-chan has been a popular series for decades, and Cinnamoroll has won first place for three consecutive years in the Sanrio Character Awards. 

Many characters from Crayon Shin-chan will be featured in the collection, including Shinnosuke, Himawari, Shiro, and Buriburizaemon. These unique items can only be purchased at AEON stores, and fans can find everything from cushions and key chains to clothing. Be sure to grab your favorite items before they sell out!

Ⓒ臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ＡＤＫ

Ⓒ２０２２ ＳＡＮＲＩＯ ＣＯ．，ＬＴＤ．ＴＯＫＹＯ．ＪＡＰＡＮⓁ

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Naruto anime series, Usaburo Kokeshi has created two traditional dolls modeled after Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. The original manga series by Masashi Kishimoto has become a global phenomenon, and fans won’t want to miss out on these unique pieces! Preorders are now open.

Usaburo Kokeshi makes each of these pieces by hand, transforming them from children’s playthings into traditional works of art. The wood used to create these pieces is from trees in Gunma Prefecture.

Usaburo Kokeshi Doll – Naruto Uzumaki

Usaburo Kokeshi Doll – Sasuke Uchiha

These adorable dolls completely recreate both character’s outfits and hairstyles, and the designers clearly focused on the small details. Enjoy these palm-sized versions of your favorite Naruto characters!

©岸本斉史 スコット／集英社・テレビ東京・ぴえろ

The Grand Chariot Big Dipper 135° Hotel is a luxury hotel located within Awaji Island Park in Hyogo Prefecture. The hotel has an incredible Crayon Shin-chan collaboration room, and guests reserving this room will receive an original postcard featuring a new illustration for a limited time starting on August 1, 2022. Those finding Buriburizaemon within the room will receive this exclusive gift only available at the hotel!

Original Postcards

The collaboration room, dubbed ‘My Cocoon,’ is a one-of-a-kind suite filled with Crayon Shin-chan imagery. Perfect for fans, the room is filled with playful gadgets, a massive skylight, and a large rug in the shape of the dog Shiro. 

©臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ADK ©臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ADK 1993-2022

Mizu to Takumi, a company associated with the Toyama West Tourism Promotion Association, has teamed up with SKYTREK to offer guests a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit the area via private jet. Reservations for the incredible experience began on June 17, 2022.

Offering an entirely new tourism experience in Toyama Prefecture, visitors can see the area’s natural wonders from miles above the Earth. The program also aims to share local culture and more about traditional craftsmanship and cuisine.

Toyama Prefecture boasts dramatic topography, from the massive peaks of the Northern Alps and the Tateyama Mountains to the deep waters of Toyama Bay. To better allow visitors to see the sights, these private jet tours will be chartered on special courses different from standard airlines.

After the flights, guests will be welcomed to explore Takaoka’s deep history and culture. Kane no Sanzun, a restored and preserved inn, will welcome visitors, offering a relaxing and rejuvenating time.

Visitors can also book optional excursions to further explore the area, such as a Zen meditation experience at a famous temple in Takaoka, a traditional crafting workshop, and a tour and tasting of the only whiskey distillery in the Hokuriku region.

Come enjoy a trip to Toyama with a whole new perspective!

Airbnb boasts one of the largest travel communities in the world, filled with users offering up lodging and those eager to visit somewhere new. The Japanese subsidiary of the company has revealed the top spots added to Japanese users ‘Favorites (Wish Lists)’ from May 1 to May 17, 2022. Where will travelers in the country be headed this summer?

Golden Week is long gone and users are starting to think about where to visit during the hottest part of the year. This national ‘Wish List’ might make it easier to pick a spot, with many locations highlighting lesser-known areas!

Gujo Hachiman Villa, Limited to 1 Couple Per Day (Gifu)

This completely private rental villa was made for sauna enthusiasts. One lucky pair per day can book this suite along the Yoshida River flowing through Gujo Hachiman, known as the “City of Water and Dance.” Currently booked through the end of August, reservations for September and beyond will be available in early June. Book a stay to enjoy the gorgeous autumn foliage!

A House Surrounded by Lush Greenery in the Countryside (Tottori)

Hosted by a family of musicians and architects, this guesthouse invites guests to enjoy gorgeous Nordic-inspired interiors and the serene quiet of the countryside. For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the perfect spot.

Hoshina Satomachi, Limited to 1 Couple Per Day (Nagano)

There’s nothing like spending the summer in a traditional Japanese home. Enjoy a barbeque on the terrace and relax on the massive lawn. This is the perfect spot for families with children or pets!

Coastal Cabin (Chiba)

You can’t have summer without a pool. This luxurious coastal retreat boasts a 15-meter pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, bonfire space, and a barbeque. Relax by the pool while listening to your favorite songs or soak in the outdoor bath as you watch the waves crash along the shore.

An Elegant and Peaceful Log Cabin (Nagano)

Located at 1,300 meters above sea level on the Iizuna plateau, this log cabin is situated in the midst of a dense forest. A perfect space for couples, families, or small groups of friends, guests are welcome to enjoy hiking through this gorgeous landscape in the center of Japan!