Located along the Meguro River, Haute Couture Cafe is known for serving up some of the best afternoon tea in Tokyo. The location is incredibly photogenic and often pops up on social media, covered in flowers welcoming guests to what feels like a fairy tale land. From July 1 until September 4, visitors to the cafe can enjoy a Peach and Shine Muscat Afternoon Tea set, perfect for summer and incorporating seasonal fruits. 

The fresh peaches and shine muscat (a type of luxurious grape found in Japan) are delivered from a nearby market daily. By using peaches without heating them, such as in the compote, guests can enjoy the juiciness of the raw fruit in a new way.

The lineup of delicately prepared and hearty savory dishes includes Peach and Prosciutto Cappellini, and guests wanting to enjoy more can order this as a lunch or dinner course as well. There are six courses in total, including the fresh-squeezed grape and muscat Mont Blanc plan and a Peach Cheesecake plan with a drink included. The cafe also offers anniversary plans, so why not bring your sweetheart?

The theme of this summer afternoon tea is ‘an adorable purple space.’ Guests will be surrounded by light purple wisteria as they enjoy this colorful spread.

Why not enjoy this summer treat as you look out over the river? 

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!

Anniversaire Cafe Minatomirai Yokohama has opened a limited-time fair inspired by beautiful hydrangea! The ‘Purplish Flower Garden’ event is currently inviting guests to enjoy gorgeous sweets and drinks inspired by these spring and summer blooms until July 10, 2022.

Purplish Flower Plate

Purplish Flower Pain Perdu

Matcha Mont Blanc

Purplish Soda / Rainy Peach

Purplish Flower Stand Afternoon Tea

Purplish Flower Plate Afternoon Tea

Petits Fleur

The menu includes three desserts, two beverages, two afternoon tea plans, and one take-out dessert perfect for enjoying beside the sea. Come enjoy an elegant moment at the ‘Purplish Flower Garden’ event if you can!

English VTuber group NIJISANJI EN will appear in a collection of spring goods! The Sakura Bloom Goods & Voice 2022 lineup will be available to purchase at the NIJISANJI EN Official Store on April 22 and at the NIJISANJI Official Store on April 27, 2022.

This collection will see the first items inspired by the male VTuber unit Noctyx. In addition, fans can grab goods featuring new illustrations featuring members of Luxiem and Elira Pendora, Selen Tatsuki, and Nina Kosaka.

Sakura Bloom Goods 2022

Clear Folder (Set of 3)

Acrylic Keychain

Pin (Random)

Sakura Bloom Voice 2022

The new lineup includes a clear file set, acrylic keychains, and pins, all completely made to order. 

For Sakura Bloom Voice 2022, 19 NIJISANJI members will participate to bring fans a relaxed spring chat, making it feel as if you were out enjoying the weather with some of your favorite VTubers. Each voice product also includes a special smartphone wallpaper!

Sakura Bloom Voice 2022 Participants

Pomu Rainpuff, Elira Pendora, Finana Ryugu, Selen Tatsuki, Rosemi Lovelock, Petra Gurin, Reimu Endou, Nina Kosaka, Enna Alouette, Ike Eveland, Luca Kaneshiro, Mysta Rias, Shu Yamino, Vox Akuma, Yugo Asuma, Sonny Brisko, Fulgur Ovid, Alban Knox, Uki Violeta

*Sakura Bloom Voice 2022 may be made available again in the future.

Hibiya Hayashiya Shinbei in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya is now offering a scrumptious Strawberry Matcha Parfait until April 24, 2022! If that’s not up your alley, four Kyo Hayashiya locations in Shinjuku, Omiya, Yokohama, and Ikebukuro will begin offering a Matcha and Berry Mascarpone Parfait from April 1 until May 8, 2022. 

Strawberry Matcha Parfait

The Strawberry Matcha Parfait is an eye-catching mix of green and pink, reminiscent of cherry blossoms and bright green grass. Green tea blends with rose jelly and lychee sorbet, offering a refreshing taste with a hint of bitterness. The sweet accent of crunchy chocolate feuillantine gives each bite a little kick.

Matcha and Berry Mascarpone Parfait

The Matcha and Berry Mascarpone Parfait mixes the deep, bitter taste of Uji matcha, the sweet and sour taste of berries, and the gentle sweetness of mascarpone cream. The berry sauce is blended with crunchy chocolate feuillantine, a layer of whipped cream, green tea jelly, green tea ice cream, and milk panna cotta. To finish, it’s garnished with refreshing raspberry sorbet, bittersweet matcha ice cream, and fresh strawberries.

Adventure World, located in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, has opened its 2022 Spring Festival until April 10, 2022. The event includes a limited-time picnic menu inspired by adorable animals, with desserts made using fresh local fruits. 

Picnic Offerings

Kannonyama Fruits Garden Collaboration Menu

Adventure World Original Menu

From March 16 until April 20, Maison Marunouchi at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo At Marunouchi will offer a special spring-only cherry blossom afternoon tea set!

The restaurant’s head chef, Daniel Calvert, is also the executive chef of the French restaurant Sezanne, which was listed in the Michelin Guide last year. Starting in mid-March, visitors can enjoy a variety of cherry blossom-themed sweets created by executive pastry chef Elwin Boyles.

Covered in bright marzipan, the Princess cake was created by Boyles by combining the image of a princess cake, a Swedish cake traditionally eaten on special occasions, and the image of cherry blossoms, which symbolize the coming of spring and new beginnings.

The Pink Gateau Opera combines the image of cherry blossoms with green tea buttercream and almond cream. The Sakura Choux Bombe combines the sweetness of cherry cream and sour lime juice, while the Preserved Sakura Macaron will serve as the perfect Instagram photo. 

Cafe and gift shop Disney Harvest Market in Shibuya, Tokyo, has introduced a limited-time spring menu featuring Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck! With the theme of ‘Hello, Spring,’ the tasty and fresh new items were added on March 8, 2022.

Menu

Spring in Full Bloom! Afternoon Tea Set

Colorful Temari & Bite-sized Sushi Plate

Pinkish Strawberry Amazake Float (Non-alcoholic) / Floral Lilac Honey Lemonade

Merchandise

Original Minnie Mouse & Daisy Duck Mug

Spring Limited-edition Colored Paper

With themed dishes colored pink and purple, guests can enjoy sushi rolls, oatmeal pancakes with green tea bean paste, cherry blossom-colored yogurt, and more! Afternoon tea sets and non-alcoholic drinks will allow everyone to welcome spring in style, and new merchandise will also be available in limited quantities. 

Tohouen, a Japanese confectionary maker in Gifu Prefecture, has begun selling a springtime version of its popular cat-inspired manju. Inspired by the many cats that like to stroll around the shop’s headquarters, the new release includes cherry blossom-colored cat paws. 

A traditional sweet in Japan, Manju is made from flour, rice powder, and buckwheat, with a tasty sugar and anko (red bean paste) filling.

Do you think these are too cute to eat? 

On February 25, TAVOLA TAVOLA by ZILLION opened at Hotel InterContinental Tokyo Bay. The restaurant offers courses featuring seasonal ingredients while each round table is decorated to suit a certain theme.

‘Tavola’ means ‘table’ in Italian, with the restaurant’s concept being to enjoy Italian cuisine with friends around a large round table. Three entertainment options will be available to create the best possible memories for guests.

Large Round Table Decorated with Cherry Blossoms

Dinner Course

Hors d’oeuvres

Pasta

Fish Main Course

Risotto

The first theme is ‘cherry blossoms,’ which is fitting for the soon-to-be spring season. Artful flowers are arranged in the center of each table to set the scene, and guests will enjoy a blend of authentic Italian cuisine and Japanese style. The main course features grilled Spanish mackerel and a cherry blossom-colored cream sauce, as well as an Italian veal filet and prosciutto. At the end of the meal, guests will enjoy a risotto made with seasonal strawberries and a cherry and berry ice cake!

To celebrate the arrival of spring, Q-pot Cafe is introducing a cherry blossom-themed menu for a limited time!

Cherry Blossom Romantic Dress Cake  Plate with Drink: ¥2,100 (Tax Included)

Enjoy this pink cherry blossom mousse and pure white whipped cream to celebrate the end of the gloomy winter season.

Rich pistachio mousse, strawberry pulp, fragrant almonds, and fluffy genoise come together in a scrumptious melt-in-your-mouth explosion of flavor.

Romantic Berry Blossom Tea: ¥850 (Tax Included) / Set Menu +¥200 (Tax Included)

A play on Q-pot Cafe’s popular Flower Garden tea, the Berry Blossom Tea has a rich cherry blossom aroma with raspberries and milk added. 

Romantic Berry Blossom Tea with Bottle: ¥1,296 (Tax Included)

Take-out drinks in patterned bottles are also available! By bringing the bottle with you, the Berry Blossom Tea will be discounted to ¥750 (tax included). 

Taiwan-based e-commerce platform Pinkoi, one of Asia’s largest, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a special project! Virtual model imma is the face of the campaign as a character named ‘Pin Tripper,’ and a new web commercial featuring the personality along with a song written by popular artist Daoko is now available! In addition, the newest issue of the web magazine ‘Pinkoi Zine’ is also available on the official Pinkoi website, featuring a tour of unique items from cities around Asia in the style of a travel report. 

For the campaign, the Pantone Color Institute defined Pinkoi’s two corporate brand colors, ‘Pinkoi Navy’ and ‘Pinkoi Salmon Pink.’ Japanese illustrator Noritake then designed the Pinkoi x Noritake Limited Collaboration line of goods using these unique shades. These will only be available for a short time, so be sure to snag some while you can!

Comments

imma

“Pinkoi is fun to use, because it allows you to find trendy items from cities all over Asia. I found lots of items I don’t come across very often, and items that made me feel as though I were travelling around the continent. (laugh) I hope that you’ll enjoy the new web commercial and the special ‘Pin Trip Report’ in the newest Pinkoi Zine issue! And, of course, enjoy shopping at Pinkoi too.

Daoko

For this campaign, I was able to create a new song with trackmaker Yohji Igarahi. The theme was ‘sense of speed.’ I think I was able to express my identity as a rapper, while also maintaining the important image of neon lights shining at night. My impression of Pinkoi is that it has a huge variety of products not available on typical Japanese sites, and as someone who loves online shopping, I was super excited to work with them!