Hello, everyone. My name is Midori Blackmore and I am a staff person of MOSHI MOSHI BOX Harajuku Tourist Information Center.

Do you like strawberries? I love strawberries so, I feel happy during this spring season because many desserts using strawberries are released every year.

This time, I visited the very popular shaved ice specialized shop, “SULBING HARAJUKU” from Korea.

The shop is always crowded in summer, but you don’t have to wait to get into the shop during the winter season.

It might sound weird to eat ice cream during winter, but I think it is nice to eat something cold inside a warm room, for some reason.

Eating a shaved ice inside a warm shop is the same!

The shop is located on the 2^nd floor of the building where the sports store, SKECHERS is located, near the Takeshita Exit of Harajuku Station (make a right turn after getting out of the exit). The sign of the shop is small so be careful not to miss it.

The inside of the shop is spacious and warm. Many of the customers are women but I saw some groups of men as well. A wide generation of people visit the shop.

Secure a table first before making an order at the counter. The product I ordered was a winter-limited, “Nama Ichigo SULBIN”(fresh strawberry shaved ice)!

After ordering, take a buzzer and wait at your seat.

When the buzzer rings, go to the counter and receive your shaved ice.

“Nama Ichigo SULBIN”(fresh strawberry shaved ice) 1,400 yen (tax included)

Boom!

The product was bigger than I thought. Look at the size of it!

You will realize that it is not a normal shaved ice as soon as you put it into your mouth.

The ice is very fine and has a soft texture. Even when it is cold out, the ice will not result in a “rush to the head”and you will be able enjoy the fresh ice texture.

Also, the shaved ice of this shop has the flavor of milk! The combination of the milk-flavored shaved ice and lots of strawberries goes very well.

Red bean jam paste is inside the shaved ice so you will never get tired of eating this sweets item.

SULBIN HARAJUKU sells many kinds of menu items.

@chikatetsu0727がシェアした投稿 - 7月 30, 2016 at 8:04午前 PDT

One popular menu item is“Mango Cheese SULBIN” 1,500 yen (tax included)

ソルビン原宿店さん(@sulbingharajuku)がシェアした投稿 - 12月 27, 2017 at 3:13午後 PST

For those of you who do not have “a sweet tooth,”I recommend that you share an ice shaving dish with your friends or with your boyfriend.

“Nama Ichigo SULBIN” will be sold until February for sure but it might not be sold in March. Let’s go to the shop as soon as possible!!

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

As the cold winter continues to freeze forward, we're all waiting in anticipation for spring's warmth to break through. Did you know, there are places in Japan where the cherry blossoms bloom as early as the end of January? Keep that in mind as we introduce you to some cherry blossom inspired food and drink hitting Japan very soon.

"Cherry Blossom Drink" - Lindt

Lindt is an established premium chocolate brand from Switzerland founded in 1845 loved all over the world. The company will release some limited edition, early-springtime items including the "Lindt White Chocolate Sakura Ice Drink" and the "Lindt Delice Sakura" on February 16th. Enjoy this refreshing cherry blossom drink and feel the vibe of spring early.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/88257

"Sakura Mini Bon" - Cinnabon

Cinnamon roll specialist store "Cinnabon" are selling a limited edition cherry blossom flavoured cinnamon roll, the "Sakura Mini Bon," from February 1st to March 31st. The roll is topped with a gracious amounts of cherry blossom flavoured cream cheese frosting and a crunchy decoration. Enjoy an exquisite balance of subtle cherry blossom and specially made cinnamon.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/88270

"Spring Coloured Veggie Pota Soba" - Cafe & Bar BW CAFE

SOBA (buckwheat noodles) CAFE & BARU BW CAFE which sells original soba dishes serve up their new menu “Haruiro Vege Pota Tsuke Soba” from February 1st. Their new menu “Haruiro Vege Pota Tsuke Soba” uses lots vegetables such as fresh potatoes and corn and one can eat soba with a warm dipping soup that tastes like potage. The dipping soup and ground vegetables go well with soba since it uses a Japanese-style broth. Also, the baked cheese used as a topping adds a mildness and special aroma to the dish. Enjoy this pink-coloured soba that brings to mind cherry blossoms.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/87477

"Matcha Milk Sakura Flavour" - Tsujiri

CAFE & BARU BW CAFETsujiri Online Shop will sell a seasonally limited product of an established store in Kyoto, Tsujiri’s “Tsujiri Matcha Milk – Sakura Flavor” with only a limited supply. “Tsujiri Matcha Milk -Sakura Flavor,” is a matcha milk which has the scent of cherry blossoms and the soft flavors of Ujimatcha and milk. It is a seasonally limited flavor which uses matcha from “Tsujiri,” an established store in Uji, Kyoto. The tea masters of Tsujiri selected the Uji Matcha that goes well with milk by blending two kinds of matcha to draw out the flavor of matcha. A cherry blossom leaf powder produced in Japan is added to the soft flavor of milk to give the product its cherry blossoms flavour.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/84872

"Spring Bouquet Salad Set" - BOTANIST café

"BOTANIST Tokyo," the flagship store in Omotesando, is serving a spring themed menu on the 2nd floor "BOTANIST café" from February 1st to March 31st. The "Spring Bouquet Salad Set" uses lots of fruit and vegetables reminiscent of springtime to look like a botanical bouquet. They're selling a range of other foods and sweets too which taste great and are fun to look at. Everything on the menu is available for this spring only!

Feel the warm breeze of spring early with these cherry blossom inspired foods and drinks.

We recently covered the springtime strawberry buffets being held in Japan right now, but today we’re going to take a look at some healthier buffet options that use nutritional ingredients like seafood and warm vegetables. But we might throw some desserts in there too.

Strawberry Field

Did you know that Hilton Tokyo Bay is an official Tokyo Disney Resort® Hotel? Well, from January 13th to July 1st this year, a dessert buffet lusciously listed as “Strawberry Field” will make an appearance at the hotel’s “lounge O.”

Scrumptious strawberry desserts will be lined up ready for savouring in a dreamily cute space that will look like it has been taken straight out of a fairy-tale. 35 gorgeous items will grace the menu, including regular desserts and light food, all of which will have you grabbing your phone to take a snapshot without even realizing to share before relishing in the moment. Look forward to enjoying your time as the heroine of a fairy-tale story in curious surroundings.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/84449

essence cafe

This café opened in Ebisu in April 2017. Since December, they have been serving up their “One Shot Buffet” for customers looking to enjoy meal and dessert time even more. Food is served in a buffet style – something unique for a café. They offer freshly baked bread, special cakes crafted by dedicated patissiers, fresh seasonal fruits and more.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/80942

Onkatsu Buffet

SALVATORE CUOMO & BAR began serving a limited edition winter lunch buffet from January 17^th. This warm veggie menu aims to warm the bodies of its customers in the cold winter by serving warm-coloured veggies, from red to black and brown, as well as fiery ingredients such as ginger and red peppers. They also serve meals made with soy milk and red beans as well as spicy dishes containing curry powder, cumin and chilies, all of which will warm you up and are also good for dieting and skincare support.

Winter Seafood Fair

InterContinental Yokohama Grand Hotel are holding a seafood fair where you can get your fill of luxurious winter flavours including crab, ebi and scallops. The lunchtime live kitchen offers a range of dishes using seasonal seafood and vegetables, including the “Sakura Shrim & Winter Vegetable Risotto” which is dressed in giant cheese balls, and the “Grenoble Style Wakazaki Meunière”.

“Hokuriku Buffet” – Enjoy the flavours of winter

Karuizawa Prince Hotel West is serving up meals with traditional Kaga-yasai vegetables, Koto pork and more, as well as seafood from the Sea of Japan that faces the three prefectures of Hokuriku: Fukui, Ishikawa and Toyama. This Hokuriku style winter buffet will be available for two days on February 10^th and 11^th.

Fill up your belly this winter with a delicious and healthy buffet.

Recently, ‘houjicha,’ a type of roasted Japanese tea, has become popular among people of all ages in Japan. Right now, there are lots of different stores selling various houjicha beverages. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular, newly-released houjicha drinks!

Hachiya (Sendagaya)

“Houjicha Smoothie” (S￥500 / L￥600)

This houjicha smoothie is special for its aromatic fragrance. It uses white bean paste instead of sugar meaning you can enjoy an elegant sweetness together with a faint touch of anko.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/81322

Tsujiri (Ginza)

“Houjicha Chocolat” – ￥610 (pictured left)
The Ginza branch of Uji, Kyoto tea shop “Tsujiri” are currently serving a limited edition winter menu. This rich houjicha hot chocolate is mixed with flavoursome Vanhouten chocolate and Tsujiri’s own fragrant houjicha tea.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/79035

Nanaya (Aoyama)

Nanaya in Aoyama sells sweet and refreshing matcha gelato. As well as the regular matcha flavour, they also sell a houjicha flavour too, which has a subtle fragrance of tea embedded in the sweetness!

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/58538

Oyaizu Seicha (Fukuoka, Main Branch)
Oyaizu Seicha is a producer of green tea, with its main branch in Fukuoka. They are now selling 7 varieties of gelato with tea as the main focus. They also sell a unique “houjicha rum raisin” flavour.

Sanpi Ryoron Yorimichi (Shibuya)

Sanpi Ryoron (‘Pros & Cons’) is a sweets shop selling sweets, dashi and houjicha. They have beverages, soft cream, purin and more on their houjicha menu.

Heal your soul with the indulging fragrance of houjicha.

Spring draws close, and in Japan, that means all the delicious strawberry sweets and confectioneries make an appearance.

Droves of delectable and dreamy sweet products using Japanese-grown strawberries are currently being announced. Let’s take a peek!

Hilton Tokyo Bay

Did you know that Hilton Tokyo Bay is an official Tokyo Disney Resort® Hotel? Well, from January 13th to July 1st this year, a dessert buffet lusciously listed as “Strawberry Field” will make an appearance at the hotel’s “lounge O.”

Scrumptious strawberry desserts will be lined up ready for savouring in a dreamily cute space that will look like it has been taken straight out of a fairy-tale. 35 gorgeous items will grace the menu, including regular desserts and light food, all of which will have you grabbing your phone to take a snapshot without even realizing to share before relishing in the moment. Look forward to enjoying your time as the heroine of a fairy-tale story in curious surroundings.

 Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/84449

Quil Fait Bon

The fruit tart specialist shop Quil Fait Bon will hold their immensely popular annual event “Strawberry Week!” again this year from January 25th to January 31st.

A tantalising total of 10 treats will be available this year. Decorated with delicious strawberries, loved by kids and adults alike, this one-week showcase of full-bodied strawberry goodness will feature goodies only available at this event and more.

Full Details:https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/85001

Hyatt Regency Osaka

A city resort hotel in Osaka located near the bay, Hyatt Regency Osaka is bringing back their strawberry dessert buffet “Strawberry Mania ～kiss to berry～” which has been gaining popularity every year. They will serve up cute and sophisticated desserts containing bountiful strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

 Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/80612

Sunshine City Prince Hotel

Sunshine City Prince Hotel will hold their “Strawberry Sweets Fair” again this year, an event that never fails to be well-received. Expect to sink your teeth into one of their 15 strawberry sweets that change with each season, as well as freshly made waffles and pancakes.

Every 3 weeks, five event-only sweets will be available, as well as dinner menus containing a line-up of meals made with quality obtainable only at Sunshine City Prince Hotel.

Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland

This hotel is offering up an afternoon tea set on their second floor lounge & bar. Titled “Strawberry Afternoon Tea ～La Sweet de Ichigo Kari～,” the set is loaded with strawberries from Hyōgo Prefecture.

From welcome drinks to sweets, scones, savoury snacks and more, the menu is so lavish with strawberries you’ll almost think you’re in a strawberry field yourself. If you’re in need to feel the springtime early, then look no further.

Ginza Cozy Corner

For a limited time only, Ginza Cozy Corner are introducing 8 brand-new sweets bountiful with fresh seasonal strawberries.

So that the strawberries can be enjoyed even tastier, the store will combine their strawberries products with cream again this year.

Powdered Snow Rich Strawberry Chocolate

Bourbon have released a velvety, winter-only delight. This product is dusted with strawberry powder and fresh cream - an exquisite chocolate indulged with strawberry sensation.

Because of the ganache, it proves mouth-watering, which can be enjoyed together with the rich flavour of the strawberries. With its snow-dusted surface, it has a subtle, almost fleeting image to it, fitting for a limited edition snack.

Did you enjoy the list? Is your mouth watering yet? It may still be cold, but that’s all the more reason to warm up your spirit with Japanese sweets infused with scrumptious strawberries, available this season only!