The Yo-Kai Express ramen vending machine at Haneda Airport has introduced two new menu items in collaboration with the popular ramen chain Ippudo! Guests can now enjoy Ippudo’s Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen and Ippudo’s Plant-based Tonkotsu-style Ramen. 

Guests can also enjoy Chicken Yuzu Shio Ramen, Tokyo Shoyu Ramen, Kyushu Tonkotsu Ramen, and Sapporo Spicy Miso Ramen. Each order only takes 90 seconds to prepare, so if you’re rushing to chow down before your flight, this is the way to go!

*Yo-Kai Express is a start-up company headquartered in Silicon Valley developing ramen vending machines. The company’s name comes from the word yokai (monsters) and reflects the brand’s desire to entertain people whenever and wherever they are. 

teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM, located in Toyosu, Tokyo, have completed the refurbishment of their outdoor food stand, opening Vegan Ramen UZU Tokyo on October 8 2021. The new shop allows customers to eat vegan ramen from Kyoto in a new art space from teamLab. In addition, the teamLab Flower Shop & Art will be opening, a shop where customers can purchase orchids previously used in one of the group’s art pieces to take home with them. 

Menu

Vegan Ramen Flower (Cool): ¥1,980 (Tax Incl.)

Vegan Ramen Tea: ¥1,650 (Tax Incl.)

Vegan Ramen Soy Sauce: ¥1,320 (Tax Incl.)

Vegan Ramen Miso (Spicy): ¥1,320 (Tax Incl.)

Newly Released Works

Reversible Rotation – Non-Objective Space, teamLab, 2021

Table of Sky and Fire, teamLab Architects, 2021

Floating Flower Garden: Flower, Myself and Cognate, Garden and Myself as One

teamLab Planets Original Tote Bag

The menu at Vegan Ramen UZU uses no animal products like meat or fish, instead condensing the taste of vegetables into a delicious ramen that you can enjoy in a space designed by teamLab. Vegan Ramen UZU Kyoto first opened in March 2020 to great popularity, with many customers queuing for over an hour to get inside the store. 

At the new Tokyo store, customers can enjoy a bowl of vegan ramen while enjoying teamLab’s latest art installations, the Non-Objective Space and the Table of Sky and Fire.

Not only that, you can also take home some of the orchids used in the Floating Flower Garden: Flower, Myself and Cognate, Garden and Myself as One exhibit that was held from July 2, along with a section of teamLab merchandise such as stickers, patches, postcards, and more, at the newly opened teamLab Flower Shop & Art store.

Look forward to tasting this healthy ramen while immersed in an artistic space!

Gion’s Tatsumi Bridge, a picturesque area plucked straight from a painting. From there, continue south and into the backstreets, you’ll find the popular Kyoto Ramen store, Ramen Muraji.

The bridge takes you over the Shirakawa River which flows into Lake Biwa, with the connecting street spanning a distance of only 180m, with paths the width of three adults. Once you head into the alley, the scenery will completely change. 

The asphalt becomes cobblestone, surrounded by Kyoto-style lattice windows. Here you’ll find Ramen Muraji, located in a renovated 100 year old Kyoto-style building, perfectly blending into its surroundings. 

At first glance you wouldn’t believe it to be hiding a ramen shop,  with many people calling their discovery of the shop a once-in-a-lifetime encounter as they wander the streets of Gion.

The back alleys of Gion retain the history of Kyoto, with hidden shops shrouded by curtains, gently glowing lanterns, and carefully handwritten signboards. Each spot has been crafted to become a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with those who visit.

Ramen Muraji was built in the alley

Tatsumi Bridge, an area famous for retaining the distinctive Gion look.

Muraji’s Speciality White Chicken Ramen

Gion has been popular with Kyoto tourists for years, surrounded by attractive buildings and cityscapes. Located here is the Yasaka Shrine, a world heritage site which hosts the annual Gion Summer Festival. 

While the locals rarely explore the area, Gion is full of traditional beauty that has inspired many novels, maintaining the culture and history that has been passed down for generations. 

Why not relive the splendor of Gion at Ramen Muraji, a shop that was born 、

With its long history and culture that weaves towns, humans, and spirits together, why not relive the splendor of Gion with a historical cup of Muraji ramen? 

Ramen Muraji is a space where anybody can enjoy ramen, surrounded by Kyoto-style interior decor and Japanese-style decorations. 

Their chicken ramen, boiled in a plain water soup, boasts a selection of carefully selected ingredients that condenses the taste of Kyoto’s unique food culture. Kyoto Sake matched to the flavor of the ramen is also available.

Enjoy the charms of Kyoto’s food for yourself at Ramen Muraji.

As a company aiming to bring a new kind of happiness to many people, Ramen Kourakuen have announced their new slogan: All New Happy! 

In order to spread the message even further, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has been appointed as Kourakuen’s new CKO – Chief Korekara (Future) Officer. 

Their new goal is to work towards each step of the New Happy 5 Plan in order to spread cheer across Japan.

Plus, a new Kourakuen commercial featuring Kyary Pamyu Pamyu will be released nationwide.

The special commercial will be promoting the new student discount set, where students will be able to enjoy ramen meals for ¥550 on weekdays, plus the mobile order service which allows customers to order their ramen in advance, meaning it’ll be ready when you arrive.

The students and workers shown in the commercial are so satisfied that their face morphs into Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s as she dons the Kourakuen logo on her cheek. Make sure to check out Kyary’s China themed hair and costume!

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Japanese ramen restaurant chain Tenkaippin. To celebrate, they have joined hands with men’s apparel brand MONO-MART to release a collection of ramen-inspired t-shirts in collaboration with Japanese illustrator Isogai Hitohisa. The limited-edition collection dropped on ZOZOTOWN on June 10.

Tenkaippin | Comment

“Thanks to all of our customers, Tenkaippin turns 50-years-old this year. It’s a turning point for us, and so we’ve decided to develop products in collaboration with an apparel brand for the first time. We hope it helps to spread word of the Tenkaippin name amongst the youth. Designs include photos of when we first opened, illustrations drawn for us, and more. Please enjoy Tenkaippin through these super rare tees!”

Each t-shirt in this collection is branded with Tenkaippin’s logo along with their ‘KOTTERI’ logo. There’s another with a photo of the brand’s legendary founder Tsutomu Kimura, another with the encouraging message ‘Righht effort,’ and more. Other designs include illustrations by Isogai Hitohisa on the back, various photos, and so on.

Sanrio Characters’ Collab Café has extended the opening period of the cafe at Narita International Airport passenger terminal 2 until July 30. The café serves a menu of food and drink collaborated with Sanrio’s beloved characters Cinnamoroll, Hello Kitty and My Melody.

Additional Menu: Cinnamoroll’s Fluffy Egg Pancake

Cinnamoroll’s Fluffy Egg Pancake is on sale for a limited quantity from June 19 to celebrate Cinnamoroll’s 1st place at 2021 Sanrio Character Ranking. The pancake represents the fluffy clouds in the sky. Additionally, the 2nd edition of visit campaign limited to weekdays has been launched from June 14.  2 original coasters will be given for each menu item ordered for a limited quantity so don’t miss out! 

© 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO.627430

Narita Anime Deck opened its Gintama pop-up event last Tuesday which is set to run until July 15.

The Narita Anime Deck opened inside Narita International Airport Terminal 2 in November 2019. It’s an entertainment facility where travellers from around the world can experience and enjoy Japanese anime culture in various forms such as with character merchandise, food, events, and a variety of photo spots.

The event sees anime series characters Gintoki Sakata, Toshiro Hijikata, and Okita Sougo dressed as pilots and Shinsuke Takasugi as a traveller. These designs are featured on a range of merchandise, decorations, and the food menu.

One must-grab item is the face mask case which arrives in four designs – one for each character.

The food line-up includes the Uji Gintoki Don & Katsudon Hijikata Special Set. This meal and dessert comes with an Uji matcha syrup-covered anko bowl which is based off the food that Gintoki gives to a cat. You can also order a latte featuring latte art of your favourite character. For every item ordered on the menu, you get a free coaster. These come in two design collections: one is available now and will be replaced by the other on June 19.

And if you spend over ¥3,000 on Gintama merchandise at the event, you’ll receive a free card. Fans can also get a free lunch mat if they spend over ¥4,000 and the shop or eat-in restaurant and show their receipts.

Kamo Dashi Chuka Soba ROKU is a new ramen restaurant set to open at GOOD NATURE STATION, a shopping facility in Kyoto, on December 12, 2020.

The restaurant is produced by Yuki Iwasaki, a chef at VELROSIER which acquired its first Michelin Star in Michelin Guide 2021 Kyoto, Osaka & Okayama. It will serve ramen in a variety of duck-flavoured dashi broths made with duck from Kyoto and France.

Duck Sei Tanmen | ¥1,000

Duck Shiro Tanmen | ¥1,000

ROKU will initially offer three types of ramen dishes which includes the two pictured above as well as a special served each season. The Duck Sei Tanmen uses a broth made from a blend of duck meats and has a distinctly refreshing yet rich taste. The Duck Shiro Tanmen uses the same broth but adds chicken to the base together with mayu burnt garlic oil. The restaurant also makes its own thick noodles to enjoy with the soup. No tare sauce is used, allowing for customers to enjoy the umami flavour of the dashi and the various ingredients added.

The ramen bowls used are original wares created by TOKINOHA, a Japanese crockery brand specialising in traditional Kiyomizu ware which are perfect for enjoying your ramen.

MENBAKA Kyoto Fire Ramen, a ramen restaurant in Kyoto that’s particularly popular with foreigners in Japan, is expanding overseas by opening a new branch on the 5th floor of Singapore Orchard in Singapore on November 24, 2020.

MENBAKA Kyoto Fire Ramen

Menbaka first opened in 1984 and has gone on to become a popular ramen bar, focusing on the use of green onion in its dishes for its flavour and fragrance enhancement. In recent years, the Kyoto branch has seen a significant increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan dining at the restaurant, and in 2017 it ranked number six in the country on Tripadvisor as the most popular restaurant in Japan with foreigners. It has gone on to be reported on in news and media outlets, including the video created by the Japan National Tourism Organization as part of its global campaign.

MENBAKA Kyoto Fire Ramen Singapore

The Singapore branch will open as a franchise of SOUTH EAST ASIA FOOD ENTERTAINMENT PTE. LTD. with carefully-selected suppliers and ingredients to ensure the taste is as close to the Japanese as possible. The restaurant will serve not only ramen but food entertainment as well.

Singapore Orchard, where the restaurant is opening, is a shopping mall and major tourist destination of Singapore. Like other countries around the world, Singapore is having to restrict the number of foreigners entering the country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which has also led to restaurants limiting the number of available tables, social distancing measures being put in place, and so on. The restaurant’s opening date was originally scheduled for April 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic so its grand opening is now scheduled for November 24.

If you’re in Singapore and want to try some authentic Japanese ramen at the same time, be sure to visit MENBAKA Kyoto Fire Ramen.

A pop-up event for the hugely popular TV anime series Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World is set to open at Narita Anime Deck—which is located on the Main Building second floor of Narita International Airport Terminal 2—for a limited time from October 9, 2020.

The event will include a themed menu, pre-sales on Re:Zero merchandise, and more. The first week of the event will introduce a booking-only system as a precaution against COVID-19. Bookings for the cafe will run from October 9-15 and for the merchandise store from October 13-19.

Re:Zero Entertainment Cafe

Running: October 9, 2020 – January 11, 2021

Fans of Re:Zero can look forward to tucking into a menu of themed food, drinks, and desserts, including a traditional Japanese plate topped with Emilia, Rem, and Ram wafer cakes, as well as super spicy Natsuki and Subaru black noodles, and more. Customers who order from the menu will receive a free Re:Zero coaster and lunch mat. These are limited in stock, and there are two sets of designs to get your hands on: the first will be available from October 9 and the second from November 27.

And for the first four days that the cafe is open, from October 9-12, they will serve up a special matcha mont blanc cake based on the Re:Zero character Betelgeuse. Only 30 will be served per day.

Merchandise Shop

Running: October 13, 2020 – December 14, 2020

Fans can get their hands on a merchandise pre-sales featuring items designed for the event itself. The theme of the line-up is “Isekai Inn” and includes pins, acrylic stands, mini folding screens, charms, and more.

Bonus Items

But that’s not all. Customers who spend over ¥3,500 (tax included) on the merchandise in one transaction will receive one of the above postcards.

The merchandise sold at the pop-up event will also be sold at KADOKAWA’s Da Vinci bookshop which is set to open inside Tokorozawa Sakura Town on November 6.

Kourakuen Holdings Corporation launched a collaboration campaign together with Sanrio’s popular character Hello Kitty on September 26 which is set to run to October 25.

Hello Kitty takes over Kourakuen

For the duration of the collaboration, the Roppongi and Dogenzaka branches of Kourakuen will be decorated in all things Hello Kitty

Free folder with child meal sets

A free and exclusive A4 size folder will be given to all who order the children’s meal set. This is available at select branches only and the folders are limited in stock.

Kourakuen original merchandise

Kourakuen x Hello Kitty Soy Sauce Plate | ¥200 (Tax Included)

Kourakuen x Hello Kitty Folder | ¥100 (Tax Included)

A special line-up of original and exclusive merchandise will also be sold at all Kourakuen branches including soy sauce plates, folders, and more.

Narita International Airport Terminal 2 is set to host a pop-up event for the TV anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba at its 2nd floor Narita Anime Deck from September 10 to October 9. Fans can get their hands on exclusive and pre-sale merchandise, tuck into food themed on the series, and participate in an event to find Nezuko who is lost in Narita Airport.

Uchiwa fans

The Nezuko event has players going to each terminal at Narita International Airport to solve puzzles dotted around them. Those who clear the event will receive one of three possible uchiwa fans with original art.

To participate in the Nezuko event, you must first pick up a kit which you can get at the pop-up store.

©Koyoharu Gotouge/Shueisha・Aniplex・ufotable