Doraemon’s Mirai Department Store, Doraemon’s official shop, has announced a limited edition black tea flavored with the character’s favorite food: dorayaki! The tea and four special themed plates will be available starting November 11, 2022. The tea itself is provided by the tea specialty shop LUPICIA. 

Doraemon’s Mirai Department Store Black Tea (Dorayaki Flavor)

Doraemon’s Mirai Department Store is now offering this special tea in an adorable themed tin.

The flavor of the tea is inspired by Doraemon’s favorite food, dorayaki, a sweet Japanese pastry filled with red bean paste. The gorgeous blue and red toppings blended into the tea leaves were inspired by Doraemon himself, and fans will want to enjoy a cup as they lose themselves in the classic manga or anime series.

Doraemon’s Mirai Department Store Tasty Plate (4 varieties)

These 14cm square plates are perfect for snacks with tea. Dishwasher-safe, fans can pick from four designs, each showing Doraemon enjoying some tasty treats. 

©Fujiko-Pro

Since its start in 2007, the Snoopy tea brand SNOOTEA has remained popular with Peanuts fans and tea fans alike. Typically, the brand has sold black tea in cute tins featuring Snoopy and his friends.

Starting November 7, fans can purchase a special Chocola tea made by tea blender Shuntarou Kumazaki. Blended to suit Japanese water and inspired by the world of Peanuts, it promises to be the perfect flavor for the holidays.

Made with cacao nibs, the flavor of standard black tea is punctuated with a chocolate aroma. The tea leaves themselves come from India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya, and are blended together in a balanced way to create an appealing taste that will have tea lovers coming back again and again. This blend is also perfect for making milk tea, and fans can even add whipped cream and marshmallows. This tea also goes well with strawberries, oranges, bananas, and other fruits, as well as nuts!

Snoopy and his friends dressed in winter attire will appear on each tin, adding to the festive holiday spirit. On the online store, customers can also find Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Apple Tea, and other varieties.

© 2022 Peanuts Worldwide LLC

Kimikura, a specialty tea shop in Shizuoka Prefecture, is collaborating with Laid-Back Camp Season 2! Fans will be able to purchase Kimikura’s popular green tea in limited edition packaging showing Rin Shima enjoying a piping hot cup. This limited edition item will be available at the Kimikura online store and Kimikura’s physical shops starting July 8, 2022. 

The high-quality Kakegawa tea is made from leaves picked after 88 nights and has a lovely mellow fragrance and a full-bodied flavor.

This is the third collaboration with Laid-Back Camp, and fans of the series or Rin won’t want to miss it.

Why not rewatch Laid-Back Camp with a nice cup of this tasty tea?

Nara-based tea ceremony brand Saron is serving up a tasty treat perfect for the warm weather! White shaved ice with dark matcha topping is now available until mid-September, and guests are invited to adjust the taste by altering the amount of tea added.

Lately, Nara has been experiencing a major shaved ice boom. Inspired by Himuro Shrine, known for housing a guardian deity of ice, the city introduces plenty of created recipes for the summer treats each year. The tea ceremony brand Saron was founded by Nakagawa Masashichi Shouten, in business since the Edo period–so it’s safe to say that the company knows what they’re talking about!

Guests can enjoy shaved ice made from pure Yamato ice, which is frozen for 72 hours, gently shaved, and topped with Nara’s Kasiya sweet bean paste, shiratama, agar, and condensed milk that has been boiled for four hours. 

To finish off this luxurious dish, guests can add koicha, a thick matcha tea with concentrated flavor and incredible sweetness and depth. Polished twice as much as typical matcha, this is a taste you’ll never forget.

Why not come enjoy this traditional Japanese sweet this summer?

The pandemic has caused problems for people all over the world. Mental health has taken a beating over the last few years, and in order to help people take back control of their mental wellness, The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Kyoto will begin offering immersive meditation rooms for guests only! These rooms will allow guests to enjoy a soothing private space and will be available starting April 1, 2022.

Blank meditation 

tea mediation 

The Medicha meditation rooms consist of two spaces: ‘blank,’ where guests are surrounded by mist, and ‘tea,’ where guests will immerse themselves in beautiful water patterns. An original program shown on in-room televisions at the hotel will also instruct guests in the art of meditation. 

In ‘Blank Meditation,’ guests will stand in a cool mist and immerse themselves in layers of diverse sounds and shifting colors of light. This will help quiet the mind and create a ‘blank slate’ mentally. 

The ‘Tea Meditation’ room invites visitors to spend time with themselves while getting lost in shimmering water patterns in a dimly lit space as they carefully brew their own tea. Two types of tea are on offer, each with distinct aromas and flavors.

McDonald’s Japan locations with ‘McCafe by Barista’ areas will begin selling special spring treats for a limited time starting April 6, 2022. Customers will be able to grab the ‘Strawberry Uji Matcha Frappe’ and the ‘Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart.’

McCafe by Barista invites guests to enjoy high-quality frappes and smoothies. The Uji Matcha Frappe was added to the regular product lineup in June 2021, and features a mellow matcha flavor. The Strawberry variant is coming back for the first time in three years. The Mont Blanc Tart is a new addition, and is a perfect treat to enjoy with this popular frappe! 

Strawberry Uji Matcha Frappe: ¥490

The Strawberry Matcha Frappe mixes together the full-bodied flavor of matcha together with sweet and sour strawberries. It includes both a strawberry paste made from whole strawberries and a strawberry whipped cream at the bottom. The drink is topped with more strawberry whipped cream and a sprinkling of matcha powder. The refreshing taste of the strawberry sauce coupled with the whipped cream serves to elevate the great flavor of the Uji Matcha even more.

Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart: ¥390

The Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart is made with Uji Matcha batter, Uji Matcha whipped cream, white bean paste, and green tea cream. The refined sweetness is complemented by the mellow aroma and slight bitterness of Uji Matcha.

How would you like to enjoy these treats beneath the cherry trees?

The pandemic has changed our lives forever. People have spent the last two years missing travel as they spend more and more time at home, and while many are ready to travel again, it can be difficult to know if it’s the right time to return to normalcy. To make the situation a little easier, many local tourism associations in Japan are posting images on Instagram to inspire people to give traveling another try. These three Instagram accounts are our personal favorites, and once Japan opens to tourists again, you won’t want to miss visiting these areas!

[Official Kumamoto Tourism Association] Motto, motto, Kumamoto!

 

Instagramでこのプロフィールを見る

 

もっと、もーっと！くまもっと。【熊本県観光公式】(@kumamotto.official) • Instagram写真と動画

Discover the charms of Kumamoto on this local Instagram account featuring photos from four unique local photographers. Many will know the area as the home of the character Kumamon. The images capture the daily lives of Kumamoto residents and include local food and gorgeous scenery. The postings also include the location of the photo and comments from the photographers, making things feel more personal. 

[Official Hokkaido Tourism Association] GoodDay Hokkaido

 

Instagramでこのプロフィールを見る

 

GoodDay北海道(@goodday_hokkaido) • Instagram写真と動画

Hokkaido is an area rich in gourmet seafood and dairy, but its spectacular landscapes are reason enough to visit. GoodDay Hokkaido shows off both the common and uncommon elements of Hokkaido life, often introducing little-known areas. Each photo is vividly colored, and followers can see different seasons at every time of day as they scroll through the feed. See the best images from Japan’s northernmost island each and every day on your smartphone!

[Ome / Okutama] Umetama

 

Instagramでこのプロフィールを見る

 

うめたま｜OME&OKUTAMA TOKYO(@umetama.official) • Instagram写真と動画

Umetama is an account that introduces places of interest in Ome and Okutama, two of Tokyo’s most scenic towns. Each can be reached in about an hour by train from Shinjuku Station. Visitors can enjoy a gorgeous day trip from the Tokyo center, with the area featuring plenty of campsites and hiking trails. There are tons of stargazing spots, and visitors are often surprised that such incredible nature is so close to Japan’s hectic capital. Those with kids will find plenty to do here, so start taking notes while you scroll through the Umetama page!

More and more young people are finding the appeal of Ome and Okutama, and the area has become the perfect relaxation spot for those seeking refuge from their busy lives. In addition, the craft beer bar Ome Beer, located near Ome Station, sells local alcohol, including Okutama’s popular craft beer ‘Vertere.’ See the lesser-known side of Tokyo on this picturesque account. 

Remember how wonderful it is to travel? Hopefully, Japan opens for tourism again soon, and you can visit all of these gorgeous locales.

Established in 1716, Nara-based store Nakagawa Masashichi will release two types of open-air tea ceremony sets in limited quantities at its online store and select locations around Japan on April 6, 2022.

The last time the shop released these items in 2020, they sold out instantly. The set is a collaboration with Snow Peak, a manufacturer of high-quality outdoor goods, and Salon, a brand attempting to get more young people involved in tea ceremonies by injecting the tradition with a modern touch.

The coating around the light and strong titanium teacup is made of a sturdy cotton canvas often used in outdoor tools. Each of the eight items in the set were made with the ruggedness of nature in mind while also preserving traditional beauty. The double set is a new addition to the lineup and includes two tea bowls and two confectionary bowls to make entertaining others more simple.

Open-air tea ceremonies date back to the Muromachi period, and in the Sengoku period, it is said that tea was served in the mountains during the march of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. These ceremonies are traditionally less formal than the indoor version, so it’s easier for those new to the experience to relax and enjoy!

Two limited-time-offer collaboration cafés named “Nintama Rantaro Chaya” are coming to Tokyo and Osaka! The Tokyo location is now open, and the Osaka location is scheduled to open on February 18. Based on the long-running anime series Nintama Rantaro, this cafe invites guests to enjoy the falling cherry blossoms set to bloom in the spring. While the series hasn’t found much popularity outside of Japan, it premiered in 1993, and continues to be a big hit with kids and adults alike!

Reservation Bonus: Original Sticker Sheet (3 varieties)

Drink Order Bonus: Original Coaster (20 varieties)

Menu

[Bento Team] Piping Hot Dashi Udon and Onigiri Bento Set

[Bento Team] Mountain & Seafood Bento

[Dumpling Team] Chicken Meatball Set

[Teahouse Team] Chouji & Isaku’s Chazuke Set

Desserts

[Bento Team] Cherry Blossom Viewing Sweets Set

 [Dumpling Team] Two Peas in a Pod Anmitsu

 [Dumpling Team] Shaved Ice and Sweet Dango Set

 [Teahouse Team] Traditional Garden Plate

Drinks

Free Tea　

Shinbei’s Dango Latte / Rantaro’s Matcha Milk / Kirimaru’s Shiny Lemon Soda

Fourth Grade Transforming Drink / Fifth Grade Purple Sweet Potato Milk Tea / Sixth Grade Matcha Lemonade

Original Merchandise

Pin (20 varieties, random)

Acrylic Keychain (20 varieties, random)

Acrylic Pin (20 varieties, random)

Acrylic Stand (Bento Team, Teahouse Team, Dumpling Team)

Clear Folder Set (Set of 3)

10-piece Sticker Set A, 10-piece Sticker Set B

The cafe menu has been divided into three ‘teams’: the Bento Team, the Dumpling Team, and the Teashop Team. Characters have been divided into these three teams, and many of the available dishes are based on everyone’s favorite aspiring ninjas! Original merchandise and special offers will be available at the cafe as well, with the items featuring newly-drawn illustrations for the event.

©尼子騒兵衛／ＮＨＫ・ＮＥＰ

Those familiar with the Ginza district of Tokyo will recognize the iconic Wako clock tower. The department store sells everything from watches to chocolates, and on the second floor of the Wako Annex, guests will find the Tea Salon. The bright and relaxing place invites adult shoppers to enjoy seasonal sweets, with its popular Strawberry Parfait constantly reinvented depending on the time of year.

This season’s strawberry parfait includes pistachios and local fruit. For a limited time, guests can also enjoy the Lychee and Raspberry Parfait until the end of February. A Fruit Parfait is available in March and April, and the Chocolate Parfait is available year-round.

At the Wako Annex Tea Salon, visitors can also enjoy light meals alongside tea and coffee specially blended for Wako by Yoshiaki Kawashima, known as the ‘coffee hunter.’

Strawberry Parfait

Lychee and Raspberry Parfait

Fruits Parfait

Chocolate Parfait

ティーサロンのメニューの中でも人気の高い、季節限定のパフェを堪能してみては？

The domestic crowdfunding service Makuake has opened preorders for a unique new product: ‘tea crayons,’ made from tea leaves that would otherwise be thrown away. These will be available for purchase from January 31 until March 21, 2022, and a set of teas specially blended by tea masters will also be available to buy on the site. 

Hojicha (Roasted Green Tea): These leaves have a light brown color reminiscent of the color of a roasting fire.

Sencha (Green Leaf Tea): Asamiya, known as one of Japan’s five most famous tea-producing areas, produces sencha exclusively. This yellow color is to be expected of the variety.

Kabusecha (Covered Tea): The pride of Tsuchiyama, these tea leaves are cultivated by covering the fields to produce a sweeter taste. Kabusecha is characterized by its vivid green color.

Gyokuro (High-Quality Green Tea): To produce this fine tea, the land is covered for more than 20 days in a very time-consuming process. Gyokuro has a strong, sweet flavor, and can be recognized by its darker green color.

Matcha (Powdered Green Tea): Matcha from Shiga Prefecture is not very well known throughout Japan, but it is extremely tasty and is popular in tea ceremonies. It also has a beautiful dark green color.

Yasuharu Maeno, a tea master, includes the names of each region and species of tea leaves used.

Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo is a unique hotel combined with a shop selling traditional Japanese tools and kitchen items. Kura Daily Store and Kawataki Kyoto Kitchen Shop, both in business for over 100 years, sell their wares at this cozy lodging space.

Fuya Ryu-Ryoku Japanese Tea Workshop

Hachidaime Gihei Rice x Mimaru Tool Shop Earthenware Pot Lunch

Following the six months since the shop’s opening, the hotel has collaborated with Fuya Ryu-Ryoku, a Japanese tea salon promoting the tea found in Miniamiyamashiro Village in Uji. They are also working with Hachidaime Gihei, one of Kyoto’s oldest rice shops with a line of restaurants in Gion and Ginza. Guests can now take a workshop led by knowledgeable instructors to make a delicious meal of rice and local tea! The workshop is open to non-guests as well.

Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo features spacious guest rooms with two or more bedrooms and separate living and dining areas. The Mimaru Tool Shop in the lobby sells a wide variety of goods from vases and cutlery to cooking utensils and more. Guests can actually choose their favorite items and enjoy them in their room’s kitchen.