Collaborative character cafés and menus in Japan are becoming more and more popular, where cafés team up with popular character franchises from various media including anime, games and brands to serve up themed menus. Let’s take a look at some of the collaborations you can look forward to in February and March this year.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar×Marronnier Gate Ginza
The world of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, one of the most loved picture books in the world, has been brought to life in the form of a café. The café opened in Ginza on January 18th and will will be open for a limited time only. The colourful and vivid mind of illustrator and children’s book writer Eric Carle is brought to life through food. The items on the menu promise to excite the fun aspect of eating. Expect to tuck into everybody’s favourite French toast, omurice, hamburgers, pasta and more, all themed on the wonderful world of the world’s beloved caterpillar.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/84934
◼︎Information
Harapeko Aomushi Café
Date: January 18, 2018 – August 31, 2018 (*closed February 19th)
Address: MARRONNIER GATE GINZA 1 (4F), Sunday Brunch, 2-2-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 11:00-21:00
*Reservation required before visiting the café by 17:30. You can sit at any seat after 17:30
Homepage: www.harapecocafe.com
TM & © 2018 Eric Carle LLC.
Monchhichi×Asakusabashi
The plus secret café underneath JR Asakusabashi Station held its grand opening in collaboration with Monchhichi, a line of stuffed toy monkeys from Japan, on January 20th. The café is filled with limited edition goodies and there’s even be a workshop space. Monchhichi is an internationally loved character that first appeared in 1974. JR Asakusabashi Station is a bustling location situated nearby Asakusa and Akihabara. Enjoy your time together with Moncchichi underneath the station in a cute and stylish space.
plus secret
Address: 1-17-5 Asakusanashi, Taito, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 11:00-20:00 (last orders 19:30)
Closed: Wednesdays
Website: https://plussecret.shopinfo.jp/
©2018 sekiguchi Co.,Ltd.
Jalan×Hands Cafe
Travel information website Jalan’s official cat mascot Nyalan has made his way to Hands Cafe branches around Japan. A total of 8 Hands Cafe branches, including Omotesando Harajuku and Umeda, are now serving up a Nyalan themed menu. Six tasty and original meals and beverages are available including omurice, hamburgers, paw-style parfait, café au lait with cute art and more. The cafes have been completely turned into Nyalan’s world with decorations and a photo spot.
■Information
Jalan × Hands Cafe
Running: January 17, 2018 – February 25, 2018
*Please note that store times and holidays vary across branches.
Hands Cafe Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku
Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku 5F, 4-30-3 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Hands Cafe Shibuya
Tokyu Hands Shibuya 7A, 12-18 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo
Hands Cafe etomo Chuorinkan
etomo 2F, 4-6-3 Chuorinkan, Yamato, Kanagawa
Hands Cafe Umeda
Tokyu Hands Umeda 10F, 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hands Cafe Morinomiya Q’s Mall
Morinomiya Q’s Mall BASE 2F, 2-1-70 Morinomiyachuo, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hands Cafe Piole Akashi
Piole Akashi West 1F, 1-1-23 Oakashi, Akashi, Hyogo
Hands Cafe Hiroshima
Tokyu Hands Hiroshima 2F, 16-10 Hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture
Hands Cafe San-A Naha Main Place
San-A Naha Main Place 1F, 4-4-9 Omoromachi, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture
Hands Cafe Website: https://www.handscafe.jp/event.html
Sailor Moon×My Melody Candy Parlour
Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon and My Melody are teaming up to open a collaborative café called Sailor Moon × My Melody Candy Parlour for a limited period in Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo and Nagoya. See everybody’s favourite magical girls and Sanrio’s popular character come to life in the form of food, sweets and drinks served only at this café.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/90049
■Information
Sailor Moon × My Melody Candy Parlour
Sapporo PARCO (Sapporo)
Address: THE GUEST cafe & diner, Sapporo PARCO 4F, 1-3-3 Minami, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
Running: April 6, 2018 – May 14, 2018
Opening Hours: Sunday-Friday 10:00-20:00 (food last orders 19:00 / drinks last orders 19:30) / Saturdays 10:00-20:30 (food last orders 19:30 / drinks last orders 20:00)
Ikebukuro PARCO (Tokyo)
Address: THE GUEST cafe & diner, Ikebukuro PARCO Honkan 7F, 1-28-2 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Running: April 20, 2018 – May 21, 2018
Opening Hours: Café 10:00-22:00 (food last orders 21:00 / drinks last orders 21:30) / Merchandise Shop 10:00-21:00
Nagoya PARCO (Nagoya)
Address: THE GUEST cafe & diner, Nagoya PARCO West Building 8F, 3-29-1 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture
Running: April 6, 2018 – May 21, 2018
Opening Hours: Café 10:00-21:30 (food last orders 20:30 / drinks last orders 21:00) / Merchandise Shop 10:00-21:00
Shinsaibashi 161 (Osaka)
Address: THE GUEST cafe & diner, 2F, 1-6-1 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
Running: February 17, 2018 – April 15, 2018
Opening Hours: 11:00-21:00 (food last orders 20:00 / drinks last orders 20:30)
*Café will close at 18:00 on April 15th (food last orders 17:00 / drinks last orders 17:30)
THE GUEST café&diner Official Website: http://the-guest.com
©Naoko Takeuchi ・ PNP ・ Kodansha ・ Toei Animation
©1976, 2018, SANRIO CO., LTD.
Pompompurin Cafe Yokohama×Gudetama
The Yokohama branch of Pompompunrin Cafe, a café themed around the popular Sanrio character Pompompurin, will collaborate with the “lazy-egg” character Gudetama. The collaborative menu is available from February 6th. The worlds of these two popular characters can be enjoyed at this café with its cute interior.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/89912
■Information
Pomupomu Purin Café Yokohama Store
Address: Yokohama Sotetsu Square, 2-1-5, Nanko, Nishiku, Yokohamashi
Opening Date: February 6, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00 (last orders 20:30)
TEL: 045-311-6750
Homepage: http://pompom.createrestaurants.com/
©1996, 2013,2018 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO.S584328
Pop Team Epic×Sweets Paradise
Collaborative cafés paying homage to Okawa Bukubu’s four-panel manga series POP TEAM EPIC, which has become recognised worldwide, are now open in Sweets Paradise branches throughout Japan. The café will offer original menu items such as “Poptepi Manma,” “A Ichimen no Kusomidori Pasta” and “Sekihotai de Tsuchikatta Sekihan,” as well as an all-you-can-eat option. They are also serving amusing named drinks such as “Imi ga Wakarimasuka? [Do you understand?] Café Latte” and “Shogakusei Level no Drink [low-quality drink made by an elementary school student].”
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/89750
■Information
POP TEAM EPIC Café
Sweets Paradice SoLaDo – Harajuku Branch
Running: February 2nd – March 15th
Address: SoLaDo Takeshita Street 3F, 1-8-2, Jingumae, Shibuyaku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-6661-8671
Opening Hours: <Weekdays> 11:00 to 20:30, <Weekends & Holidays> 10:30 to 21:00
Sweets Paradise – Tennoji Branch
Running: February 2nd – February 27th
Address: Tennoji Mio 11F, 10-39 Hidenincho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi
TEL: 06-6775-4180
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00 (last orders 22:30)
Sweets Paradise – Machida modi Branch
Running: February 2nd – March 15th
Address: Machida modi 9F, 6-2-6 Haramachida, Machida-shi, Tokyo
TEL: 042-728-8506
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00
Sweets Paradise – Hiroshima Parco Branch
Running: February 2nd – February 25th
Address: Hiroshima Parco Main Building B1F, 10-1 Hondori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi
TEL: 082-249-0141
Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00
Sweets Paradise – Nagoya Parco Branch
Running: March 9th – April 8th
Address: Nagoya Parco West Building 8F, 3-29-1 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture
TEL: 052-263-0401
Opening Hours: 10:30-22:30 (open from 10:00 on Weekends & Holidays)
Sweets Paradise – Fukuoka Parco Branch
Running: March 3rd – March 31st
Address: 6F, 2-11-1, Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture
TEL: 092-235-7253
Opening Hours: 10:00-20:30
Sanrio Characters×Dining Park Ikebukuro
Sanrio Characters Lovely Café where popular Sanrio characters from back in the 80’s will gather, is now open at Dining Park Ikebukuro, located on the eight floor of Seibu Ikebukuro Honten, close to the east exit of Ikebukuro Station. From meals to desserts, step back in time with dishes celebrating the good-old characters from Sanrio.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/88086
■Information
Sanrio Characters Lovely Café
Running: January 31, 2018 – April 17, 2018
Address: Gourmet Stadium II, Seibu Ikebukuro Honten 8F, 1-28-1 Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-0022
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00 (open from 10:30 on Weekends & Holidays) *last orders 22:00
No fixed holidays except when specified by Seibu Ikebukuro.
TEL: 03-5949-5675
Website: https://www.sogo-seibu.jp/ikebukuro/
アニメ「銀魂」×OMOTESANDO BOX CAFE & SPACE
Anime and manga series Gintama is set to gets it own themed cafe, “Gintama CAFÉ Host Club Takamagahara,” later this month. Gintama is a science fiction series written by manga author Hideaki Sorachi. The interior design of the The interior design of the café is an original creation based on the host club that appears in the story, “Takamagahara.”
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/87388
◼︎Information
Gintama CAFÉ Host Club Takamagahara
Address: OMOTESANDO BOX CAFE & SPACE B1F, Pine Under Flat, 5-13-2 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Running: February 15, 2018 – March 16, 2018
Opening Hours: 11:00-21:40 (80 mins stay max.)
Reservations: https://gintama-cafe.jp
*reservations must be made in advance before visiting Host Club Takamagahara
ドラゴンボール×ナチュラルキッチン
Renowned anime and manga series Dragon Ball, a franchise loved all over the world, has also gotten its own character themed café. Natural Kitchen are very particular in their selection of ingredients for their meals, only picking the best. The talented chefs there have conceived a unique and original fun-packed menu completely themed around Dragon Ball.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/86377
■Information
Dragon Ball Café & Diner Tokyo
Address: Natural Kitchen Omotesando, GYRE B1F, 5-10-1 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Running: January 15, 2018 – February 28, 2018
Opening Times: 11:00-22:00 (last orders 21:00)
Contact: 03-6805-0772
*No smoking
Website: http://dragonball-cafe-diner.jp
マイメロディ&クロミ×お好み焼き
Japanese okonomiyaki restaurant chain Okonomiyaki Dohtonbori are holding a special campaign in collaboration with popular Sanrio characters My Melody and Kuromi. Titled My Melody & Kuromi wo Tsukurou, the campaign began on February 1st. The My Melody Okonomiyaki contains rice cake and cheese and is mixed with ketchup. It’s complete with a wafer ribbon and a decorated face made from soya beans. The Kuromi Okonomiyaki is cooked with pork and black coloured batter. Like the My Melody okonomiyaki, this one’s also decorated with a soya bean sheet for a face, as well as a wafer skull accessory. There’s a whole list of other delicious meals featured on this collaborative menu to tuck into too.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/87507
■Information
My Melody & Kuromi×Dohtonbori Collaboration Campaign
Running: February 1, 2018 – March 31, 2018
Location: Select Dohtonbori branches around Japan
Campaign Webpage: https://www.dohtonbori.com/campaign/mymelody/
©1976, 2005, 2018 SANRIO CO., LTD APPROVAL No. G582283
Did you enjoy this list? You can expect to find cafes around Japan collaborating with popular characters all the time. If you’re there this month or March, then be sure to check out any of the above!