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

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

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!

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!

Tsujiri, a staple of Uji, Kyoto, has announced an exclusive autumn menu! Guests can enjoy the Tsujiri Soft Autumn Parfait, the Kyo Latte Smoothie with Purple Sweet Potato, and the Kyo Latte with Hojicha at the Kyoto location and three other stores starting September 1, 2022.

Tsujiri Limited Time Autumn Menu

These three limited-time items are filled with fall flavors. The Tsujiri Soft Autumn Parfait is filled with Uji green tea carefully selected by tea masters and topped with purple sweet potato paste, sweet potato nectar, and other gorgeous goodies.

The Kyo Latte Smoothie with Purple Sweet Potato features an autumn-only flavor combining purple sweet potato bean paste, cream, and sweet potato nectar with Tsujiri’s matcha green tea smoothie. The Hojicha version is made with luxurious Uji Hojicha and milk for a soothing experience.

Enjoy autumn with these tasty treats filled with seasonal flavors!

Q-pot CAFE in Omotesando will be offering up some Halloween treats to celebrate the location’s 10th anniversary! Guests will be able to sample these special sweets from September 3 until October 31, 2022.

Happy Halloween! Afternoon Tea Set

The festive Happy Halloween afternoon tea features pink Jack-o’-lantern macarons and other Halloween-inspired sweets.

Fluffy Floating Ghost Plate (Drink Included)

The adorable ghost is made from fluffy milk mousse covered with gyuhi, a typical ingredient in Japanese sweets made from rice flour. Inside is blackcurrant and redcurrant jelly with an incredibly sweet and sour flavor.

Black Devil Tea Mocha

Featuring large devil wings, this tasty and eye-catching beverage is a mix of black tea, chocolate, and milk. When the cocoa cream melts, the taste changes to something creamy and cozy, perfect for the autumn months.

Shimmering Blueberry & Grapefruit Soda

This refreshing sweet and sour drink combines blueberries and pink grapefruit along with soda and pearl powder.

Come enjoy Halloween while celebrating the cafe’s 10th anniversary!

Pastel, a sweets brand known for its smooth pudding, has announced a collaboration with the Sanrio characters My Melody and Kuromi! Fans can snag some tasty treats from September 1 to October 31, 2022.

This year’s collaboration is based on a sweet circus. Fall is full of wonderful events like Halloween, and the company is ready to celebrate with these colorful desserts.

New items include limited edition puddings featuring illustrations of My Melody and Kuromi and sweet and sour treats made with strawberries that will crackle and pops in your mouth!

My Melody Mini Pudding: ¥430 (Tax Included)

Left 2 Puddings: September 1 – September 30 / Right 2 Puddings: October 1 – October 30, 2022

Kuromi Mini Pudding: ¥430 (Tax Included)

Left 2 Puddings: September 1 – September 30 / Right 2 Puddings: October 1 – October 30, 2022

Pastel’s original mini puddings are topped with whipped cream and finished with a My Melody illustration in cocoa powder. Enjoy the smooth texture and soft whipped cream!

My Melody’s Merry-go-Round Pudding: ¥600 (Tax Included)
Top: September 1 – September 30 / Bottom: October 1 – October 30, 2022

This exclusive pudding was inspired by My Melody. Smooth pudding is topped with sponge cake and diced strawberries, sweet and sour strawberry cream, and colorful marshmallows.

Kuromi’s Circus Pudding: ¥600 (Tax Included)

Top: September 1 – September 30 / Bottom: October 1 – October 30, 2022

Smooth chocolate pudding is accented with raspberry sauce and finished with fluffy cream. This treat is perfect for fall, and the chocolate that crackles in your mouth is sure to amaze and delight!

Come enjoy some autumn sweets decorated with your favorite Sanrio characters!

© 2022 SANRIO CO., LTD.　APPROVAL NO. L632735

*AEON Mall Shin-Rifu South Building, AEON Mall Okazaki, and THE OUTLETS HIROSHIMA will only offer mini-puddings of each character.
*All images are sample images.

Halloween is on the way, and the Hyatt Centric Kanazawa hotel is prepping some spooky sweets to celebrate! From October 1 until October 31, a Monster Halloween Cake Set will be available at the hotel’s restaurant FIVE – Grill and Lounge. Guests can also enjoy a Halloween lunch and dinner menu featuring a chic menu filled with black, red, and purple dishes. Visitors who come in costume will gain access to some special offers as well!

Halloween Lunch / Dinner Course

Poached Eggs with Black Chaudfroid Sauce

Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Beet Variation

The courses were inspired by an adult Halloween party and will be available for four days only. Each dish contains colors perfect for the season, like haunting black and bloody red punctuated with a purple-tinted memory of moonlight. While the dishes may look strange, they are made with the finest ingredients. 

Monster Halloween Cake Set

Witch’s Mont Blanc Pudding

Mummy Macaron

Denture Parfait

Jack-o’-Lantern Cream Puff

Frankenstein Brownie

Gyuhi Ghost

Spider Web Mousse

GO FOR KOGEI 2022 Collaboration 5×5 Cake Set

A special cake set featuring everything from Frankenstein to spider webs will get you in the Halloween mood. The lineup includes Witch’s Mont Blanc Pudding topped with purple sweet potato cream, and the adorable Jack-o’-Lantern cream puff filled with–you guessed it–pumpkin cream. Come enjoy some other playful treats like the Mummy Macaron filled with apricot and the Denture Parfait with berries and marshmallows. On weekdays from October 3 until October 21, the cakes will be served on a special Kutani ware in collaboration with GO FOR KOGEI 2022. This 5×5 set will be limited to five servings per day. Kutani ware is a style of traditional Japanese porcelain found in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Halloween Cocktail

This year’s Halloween cocktail is the rock-themed Back in Black. With a tequila base, you’re sure to have some extra fun after downing this classy beverage. 

Come enjoy some spooky and cute Halloween sweets while you can!

From August 18 until November 3, visitors to the Hilton in Nagoya will be able to enjoy a special autumn buffet featuring the popular Sanrio characters Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, and Hello Kitty. 

These three characters are some of Sanrio’s most loved. Kuromi is the self-proclaimed rival of My Melody, while the fluffy Cinnamoroll won first place in this year’s Sanrio Character Awards. Hello Kitty has been beloved by audiences worldwide for decades, and her iconic ribbon really shines in this buffet collaboration. Themed around an autumn harvest festival in a dark forest, the event includes 27 varieties of sweets and seven savory items. From sweet potatoes and pumpkins to chestnuts and apples, guests will be able to taste the fall season!

Kuromi’s Dark Forest Cake

Autumn Cinnamoroll Cake

Hello Kitty’s Ribbon Cake

Crazy Mushrooms / Praline and Gianduja Truffles / Tonka Bean & Chocolate Caneles

Kuromi’s Dark Forest Cake is a traditional German black forest cake featuring decorations inspired by the character’s black hood and a pink skull. The Autumn Cinnamoroll Cake is made with rice flour and is inspired by the adorable puppy’s fluffy appearance. Hello Kitty’s Ribbon Cake is topped with apple compote simmered with strawberries and red wine. 

At the popular Live Station, guests can also enjoy an artistic performance by the chef himself. Visitors can also find and harvest their own Crazy Mushrooms and Truffles. 

Kuromi’s Autumn Soup

Pumpkin Mont Blanc

Hello Kitty’s Apple

Pastry Chef Mamoru Watanabe’s specialty autumn sweets and Sanrio Characters-inspired goodies will invite you into a cute and dark forest world. Kuromi’s Autumn Soup is made with Japanese chestnuts and chicken consomme poured over panna cotta made with purple sweet potatoes. The Pumpkin Mont Blanc includes four layers of milk chocolate cream, chocolate crumble, pistachio cream, and pumpkin Mont Blanc cream.

Praline Paris-Brest

Hojicha Basque Cheesecake

Green Tea Tiramisu

Come enjoy the taste of autumn with your favorite Sanrio characters!

© ’22 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPR. NO. L632215