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.

Godiva Japan has announced an exclusive collaboration with Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Valentine’s Day 2023! Products in the collection will be available in limited quantities and for a limited time starting January 6, 2023 at Godiva stores nationwide, Godiva Online, the Godiva cafe, and convenience stores nationwide.

Fans of chocolate and this beloved Nintendo Switch title can find unique assortments of tasty treats decorated with images of different characters and logos from the Nintendo Switch game. Certain bundles also come with an original pouch, and some assortments are only available at certain locations or at convenience stores nationwide. A total of six items will be available.

These products will also be sold in an original collaboration-only box depicting Godiva’s 2023 Valentine’s Day collection theme, a merry-go-round, and characters from the game.

~Godiva meets Animal Crossing~

Heart

Leaf Symbol

Chocolate with Game Logo

Tom Nook

Timmy and Tommy

Isabelle

Dom

Marshall

Rosie

Godiva meets Animal Crossing Assortment (6 pieces)

Godiva meets Animal Crossing Assortment (6 pieces) with Original Pouch

Godiva meets Animal Crossing Assortment (9 pieces)

Godiva meets Animal Crossing Assortment (9 pieces) (Events Only)

Tom Nook

Isabelle

Timmy & Tommy

Chocolate with Game Logo

Godiva meets Animal Crossing Assortment (4 Pieces) *Convenience Store Exclusive

Godiva meets Animal Crossing G Chocolate Assortment & Tin (7 pieces)

©2020 Nintendo

Kobe is filled with famous sightseeing spots like the nostalgic Ijinkan neighborhood and port. The city is packed with fashionable shops and restaurants and is highly regarded for its selection of tasty sweets!

The port city, with over 150 years of history, has fostered a unique and diverse culinary culture.

Recently, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began starring in a series of promotional videos for the Gastropolis Kobe project. The artist traveled to the city to partake in plenty of delicious treats, and MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON went along for the ride! Here are some of the singer’s favorite spots around town.

Kobe, known as a city where East meets West, is lined with sweets shops that are unique to the area.

The tea salon TOOTH TOOTH Dekoboko Sabo opened in 2019 in the Kobe City Museum and offers a menu that mixes Western food and sweets with tea and ingredients from traditional Japanese cuisine. Kyary ordered the Dekoboko Sabo Afternoon Tea Set, a collection of western sweets blended with the essence of traditional Japanese flavors. Guests are invited to enjoy their tea and sweets in a one-of-a-kind space filled with Meiji period flare and retro Western furniture. Those interested will need to make a reservation, so be sure to remember the next time you’re in Kobe.

TOOTH TOOTH Decoboco Sabo

Address: 24 Kyomachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe (Inside the Kobe City Museum)

Hours: 9:30-17:30 (Last Order at 16:30) 

Closed Mondays

Official Site: https://toothtooth.com/restaurant/decoboco-sabo

The next stop was Kobe Nankin-machi, one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan. Kobe MILK is known nationwide for its Apricot Pudding, which is made with local ingredients. The raw apricot pudding is mixed with milk brought from the foot of Mt. Rokko and other ingredients from Hyogo Prefecture. Of course, Kyary ordered some, and was amazed by its fluffy texture. You can only enjoy it in Kobe–also, the shop sells other puddings mixed with seasonal fruits, so don’t miss those either!

Kobe MILK

Address: Shin-Motomachi Building 1F (1 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe)

Hours: Weekdays 9:30-19:00 / Weekends 9:30-19:30

Official Site: https://kobe-milk.com

For Kyary’s final stop, the singer visited the Moore House, a cafe located in a building with over 100 years of history. Guests are surrounded by greenery, and the Western-style building is incredibly elegant. The Strawberry Mille-feuille Kyary ordered was created by an expert patissier and based on the strawberry mille-feuille recipe from the legendary French restaurant Maxim’s de Paris in Ginza. A generous amount of custard cream complements the crispy pie crust and enhances the sweetness of the fresh strawberries. We’d recommend it with a glass of champagne–if you’re of age.

Kitano Ijin-kan Moore House

Address: 2-9-3 Kitanocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe

Hours: 11:00-17:00

Closed Tuesdays

Official Site: https://www.kitanomoore.com/cafe/

The streets of Kobe are packed with sweets that you can only enjoy if you visit. Why not come experience these incredible spots like Kyary did?

Kobe Sweets Trailer: https://youtu.be/Sx9B1ZdAvlI

Over the past few decades, Star Wars has become one of the most beloved properties with fans around the world.

Grogu, known by many fans as Baby Yoda, first appeared in The Mandalorian, a series on Disney+ currently celebrating its third anniversary. 

With his mysterious background and incredible use of the Force, the tiny and adorable character became a hit with fans around the world, quickly making him one of the most popular characters in the recent Star Wars series.

World-renowned Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli recently produced a short animation starring Grogu and Makkuro Kurosuke, also known as the Wandering Soot or, in the title for the short, Dust Bunnies. The characters first appeared in the film My Neighbor Totoro.

Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki have long been friends with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who readily agreed to produce the short as a symbol of their longstanding friendship. The short was directed by Katsuya Kondo.

Will you give this a watch on Disney+?

（C）2022 & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.（C）2022 Studio Ghibli.

From November 9 until December 25, the Disney HARVEST MARKET by CAFE COMPANY Shibuya Hikarie location will be offering a special Christmas menu and exclusive holiday merchandise. 

The location’s popular Afternoon Tea Party set will see a Christmas makeover, and a limited number of original Christmas cards will only be handed out to those who order one. Other menu items include a Stew Plate with Meatballs and Vegetables, Minnie’s Berry and Cocoa Mousse, and plenty more tasty treats to get visitors into the holiday spirit. 

Menu

HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Afternoon Tea Set (Christmas Exclusive)

Original Christmas Cards (Limited quantity, not for sale)

​Meatball and Vegetable Stew Plate

Berry & Cocoa Miss Sweet Mousse ~Minnie Style~　

Berry Dot Cioccolata

Holiday Fruit & Spice Tea

Exclusive Goods

Almond Chocolate

A 2.7-meter-high pure white statue of Mickey Mouse will welcome guests to the location, which will be filled with Christmas decorations. Come enjoy a fun Christmas season

Orders are now open for some tasty chocolates inspired by the many handsome characters from Touken Ranbu ONLINE! These sweets come in decorative tins, and while they can be ordered now from Premium Bandai, they will also be available in supermarkets and other shops starting December 26, 2022.

Chocolate Tins / Touken Ranbu ONLINE

These tins feature many popular characters, and customers can choose from Yamanbagiri Chogi, Nankaitarou Chouson & Hizen Tadahiro, Suishinshi Masahide & Minamoto Kiyomaro, Kokindenjunotachi & Jizou Yukihira, or Ichimonji Norimune. These gorgeous tins contain three types of chocolate: rolled chocolate, fan-shaped chocolate printed with the swordsman’s crest and motif, and cherry-blossomed-shaped strawberry chocolate.

Assorted Chocolate Tin / Touken Ranbu ONLINE

These assorted chocolate tins are available in four designs. The first depicts Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Ishikirimaru, Iwatooshi, and Imanotsurugi. The second features Kashuu Kiyomitsu and Yamatonokami Yasusada, while the third depicts Taikogane Sadamune, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, Ookurikara, and Kuninaga Tsurumaru. The fourth shows Higekiri and Hizamaru. The chocolates in each tin are inspired by these characters, and these would make perfect gifts for fans of the mobile and online game.

Variety Chocolate Tin / Touken Ranbu ONLINE

Those who can’t choose a favorite character will want to snag one of these assorted tins, filled with familiar faces from the series. Grabbing all three will net you all 101 swordsmen!

(C)2015 EXNOA LLC/NITRO PLUS

ANNA’S by Landtmann, a cafe located inside +Q Beauty on the 6th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, has begun selling two Halloween cakes! These spooky sweets will be available until October 31, 2022.

Halloween Mont Blanc

Halloween Poison Apple

Guests will be able to snag the Halloween Mont Blanc and Halloween Poison Apple cakes, available for ¥580 each including tax. The Mont Blanc is filled with pumpkin custard and Chantilly cream. The Poison Apple is a sweet and sour cake featuring a blend of chocolate mousse covered in red glaze and applesauce with apple pulp.

Which of these two adorable cakes would you like to enjoy this autumn?

Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo will hold a special Christmas-themed Sylvanian Families buffet starting November 1, 2022. This is the second Sylvanian Families event following the previous Halloween-themed buffet, which became extremely popular. Some guests even bring their own Sylvanian Families dolls!

Starting in November, visitors can enjoy a full lineup of 20 scrumptious dishes inspired by the cake shop found in Sylvania Village. Some sweets are also inspired by the many beloved characters found in the series, and anyone wanting to get into the Christmas spirit won’t want to miss this exclusive event. For those without a sweet tooth, some light lunches will also be available.

The restaurant will also erect a decorative display of Sylvanian Families enjoying a Christmas party and a sweet diorama made exclusively of desserts by the pasty chef. Guests can enjoy tea time while getting lost in this magical world, so get excited about the Christmas season!

1. Sweets Inspired by the World of Sylvanian Families

2. Become Enthralled by a Wonderful Winter World of Sweets

3. Exclusive! Sweets Diorama and Sylvanian Families Photo Spot

4. Light Meals Perfect for Winter and Burgers Featuring Original Illustrations

5. A Special Plan to Enjoy the Buffet with Sylvanian Families Babies

Popular Japanese accessories brand Maison de FLEUR has started selling new goods as part of the Disney Collection. This time, Baymax from Big Hero 6 takes center stage, and items are available now at Maison de FLEUR locations nationwide and online.

The company chose Manami Enosawa to model the collection–a fitting choice, as Baymax is her favorite Disney character. Enosawa will also act as the director of the apparel brand ARUMDY starting this fall.

The Baymax collection features a total of eight items perfect for everyday use. Fans can find everything from slippers featuring the robot’s face to bags, charms, and pouches perfect for bringing to school or carrying around town. 

Come enjoy Maison de FLEUR’s newest goods featuring Baymax, one of the most popular Disney characters in recent memory.

From October 21 until November 30, 2022, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba will hold the Touken Ranbu ONLINE Special Buffet ~Black & White~ event! This second collaboration with the popular series will be held Grillogy Bar and Grill on the second floor.

Dessert Menu

Drink Menu

Drink Order Bonus: Original Coaster (8 varieties)

At the buffet, guests can enjoy luxurious dishes inspired by characters from the sword-centered game and anime series. The desserts blend Japanese and Western cuisine, and special cocktails will be available during the first phase, each coming with a special coaster as a bonus! In addition, original goods will be on sale at the venue, so don’t miss it!

Chip ‘n Dale will appear in a new bedding collection from the roomwear brand gelato pique! As part of the gelato pique Sleep collection, the adorable chipmunks will appear on a number of new products inspired by the theme of ‘getting ready for bed.’ Fans of the characters won’t want to miss the body pillow, nightcap, pillowcase, and other products sure to liven up your bedroom and sleep routine!

Merch Lineup

Chip ‘n Dale / 3-piece Set (Single)

Chip ‘n Dale Jacquard Cover

Chip ‘n Dale Jacquard Pillowcase

Chip ‘n Dale Nightcap

Chip ‘n Dale Body Pillow

The products will go on sale on the official site and online department store USAGI ONLINE starting on September 20, 2022 at 12:00 PM. They will also be available to purchase in select stores starting October 14.

From October 1 until October 31, Yokohama Royal Park Hotel will hold a special Halloween Fair at its delicatessen and lounge Coffret. In addition to six playful sweets from the Halloween Frankenstein to the Halloween Mummy, two types of autumn bread featuring pumpkin and purple sweet potato will be available, allowing guests to enjoy the taste of the season!

Halloween Frankenstein

Halloween Cat

Halloween Mont Blanc

Halloween Mummy

Halloween Pudding

Halloween Pound Cake

Pumpkin Cream Fondue / Halloween Anpan

Come enjoy this Halloween with some cute and silly sweets!