Roll up to McDonald’s in Japan from November 20 to enjoy the return of the delicious Cinnamon Melts dessert, coming to all branches across the country.

McDonald’s Melts series is a popular dessert in Japan. It introduced the new Double Chocolate Melts earlier this year. Customers have been waiting for the return of the elusive Cinnamon Melts since 2017, the first time the flavour made an appearance in seven long years. Well, their wish has finally come true. Look forward to tucking into soft pastry glazed with cinnamon sugar and drizzled in a sweet cream cheese syrup.

When customers open a box of these delicious delights, their noses are met with the tempting cent of cinnamon. Served warm, they are the perfect choice for tackling the harsh cold weather.

Compare their test with the Double Chocolate Melts which were released on November 6 and are still available for a limited time, or pair them with a cup of Premium Roast Coffee which the fast food chain revamped this year with a richer and more delicious flavour.

BAR & GRILL DUMBO is a restaurant heavily inspired by the Brooklyn neighbourhood town of Dumbo in New York. They will be adding a sprinkle of New York Christmas magic to the menu from November 7 – December 25, 2019 with the Christmas New York lunch and dessert buffet.

The buffet table will be filled with irresistibly cute and delicious desserts. From the Statue of Liberty to Brooklyn Bridge, the background is lined with skyscrapers and New York’s most iconic landmarks. 

The S’more Bar is the perfect opportunity to toast your own marshmallows. Sandwich your molten marshmallow between two crackers to enhance your New York Christmas experience. 

Put your icing skills to the test at the Iced Biscuits Corner where you can enjoy decorating your own biscuits to your liking.

There is more than just desserts, however. You must try the Christmas gratin, which is garnished with a jolly green Christmas tree made from romanesco broccoli. There is also a DUMBO Caesar Salad in the shape of a wreath, a delicious Roast Turkey Breast dish and much more. 

Make sure to pop down to Omotesando for a jolly New York-style Christmas celebration.

MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS is a hotel accommodation service run by MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON located in Harajuku and bookable via Airbnb. Our hotel isn’t just popular for sleep, however: it has become a hot spot with stylish girls who get together and use it as a party space. 

Today we’ll be looking at the different ways you can have fun when staying at our pink paradise room SAKURA. 

Girls’ Night In Edition: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/262308

Birthday Party Edition: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/264752

【8】Extend your adventures to the rooftop 

The rooftop of MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS can be used freely by our guests. There are tables and chairs and even a hammock so make yourself comfortable. We particularly recommend spending a morning here. Enjoy bathing in the morning light on our spacious rooftop right below the clouds and make some good memories eating breakfast with your friends. 

*Please note that the rooftop is not accessible when booked.

MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS is located near a number of breakfast foodie favorites including Bread, Espresso & and whyte which have made their fame on Instagram. How about a baked good and a drink to enjoy on the rooftop with your friends?

【9】Barbeque it up on the rooftop with zero preparation

There is still more to your rooftop adventures. There is a barbeque course which you can enjoy without having to prepare anything at all. The barbeque course includes meat, fish, vegetables, dessert and even more luxurious dishes. The course even comes with a selection of drinks so you can spend less time preparing and more time enjoying.

This course is available to book for groups of six people or more. You can even invite your friends who are not staying at MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS so feel free to invite many people. Find out more about what’s on the menu here. 

【10】Feast out with your foodie friends near MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS: Recommendations from locals

Where do the locals and people working in Harajuku choose to eat out? As our office is located in Harajuku, we have plenty of knowledge to share with you:

Okonomiyaki at Sakura Tei

Just a five-minute walk from MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS lies the Okonomiyaki restaurant Sakura Tei. From the beautiful interior decoration and wonderful atmosphere to the delicious food, this restaurant should be on your food adventure list. As many foreigners eat here, the staff can even speak in multiple foreign languages. Make use of Sakura Tei’s simple guide on how to make okonomiyaki and put your skills to the test. 

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE TOKYO

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE TOKYO is one of the landmarks of Harajuku. Welcome to the vivid world of bright pop colours where you will be staring in awe at everything from the decorations to the food and drinks. Some of the crazy meals to satisfy your kawaii cravings include rainbow pastas and cakes. Don’t leave without getting your hands on some KAWAII MONSTER CAFE-limited merchandise! Your meal will also be interrupted by the Monster Girls who will put on an incredibly fun performance for you. 

Gonpachi Nori-Temaki

Seaweed from the well-established shop Maruyama Nori and only the freshest and luxurious fish is used to make these temaki sushi. The seafood used in these temaki sushi rolls is of a quality that you won’t find at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant so if you are looking for a new experience of sushi, make sure to stop by.

cafe Hohokam

If your burger cravings get to you then cafe Hohokam is for you. The interior is spacious and there is even terrace seating, creating a refreshing atmosphere. From mozzarella to barbeque to cheese, the menu is full of different flavours and is filling enough to leave any foodie fully satisfied.

Harajuku Ice Cream Shops

Harajuku is a kawaii ice cream shop hot spot. The shops serve up a range of toppings and will fill your cone with heaps of colours and fun flavours. A trip to an ice cream shop in Harajuku is an adventure in itself. When you’re done with dinner and the sweet cravings kick in, let the kawaii ice cream shops of Harajuku be your saviour. 

MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS is located at the heart of Harajuku and is surrounded by great places to shop, eat, sightsee and much more. Enjoy a stay at MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS and embark on a wild Harajuku adventure.

If you’re looking for a cool café experience in Tokyo then head to Nakameguro for a goldmine of craft beer taprooms, coffee roasters and restaurants. One café to consider adding to your list of must-go places is music café and wine bar epulor. The café has added a number of exquisite and unique items to its menu this November including a matcha drink, black bean paste and butter toast and craft cola.

Take a seat and admire the walls of old records which create a soothing artistic atmosphere while sipping your cup of the café’s specialty hand drip coffee or sommelier-selected wine as the music of old records fills the air. When you have finished, feel free to take a gander at the gallery corner to appreciate the cafés art. 

The November menu introduces a high-quality matcha by UK brand Matchæologist®, providing the opportunity to make and enjoy your own matcha drink. From the high-quality rich flavour to the contemporary design of the tea vessel, Matchæologist® lives up to its reputation as artisanal matcha green tea specialists.

Fans of epulor’s popular Red Bean Paste and Butter Toast are in for a treat as the café is now serving up the Black Bean Paste and Butter Toast. The bread is a charcoal bread from the bakery Lotus baguette, which uses only natural yeast, Japan-produced wheat and no additives. The binchotan charcoal used to prepare the bread is a traditional charcoal which has been used since the Edo period. The appearance is just as striking as its taste. 

The café has also started to sell Japan’s craft cola TOMO COLA. The cola is spiced with flavours from around the world including kola nut, nutmeg, Japanese herbs and Japanese citrus fruits. This natural cola contains no additives so you can indulge in the taste of nature and enjoy a unique flavourful experience of Japan. 

epulor is the perfect spot to enjoy a luxurious moment of relaxation during your busy day while immersing yourself in an artistic and cultural experience. 

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Japan is releasing three new end-of-year doughnuts on December 26. They will be available for a limited time only.

2020 is the Year of the Rat in the Chinese zodiac, and so Krispy Kreme has taken that theme to create its own adorable rat doughnut. Lathered in caramel chocolate, this cute doughnut is filled with rock salt caramel cream. Its eyes, tail and large round ears are made of  dark chocolate while its nose is made of coffee chocolate.

The second New Year’s doughnut in the series is the Lucky Strawberry Ring (¥230), which gets its deep crimson colour from the sweet and sour nappage made from strawberry puree and milky white chocolate. It’s finished with sprinkles of freeze-dried strawberries and gold leaf for that festive touch.

The Snowman Chocolate (¥230) is a cute snowman shaped doughnuts filled with a rich chocolate cream and covered in a milky snow white chocolate coating. Together with the Lucky Strawberry Ring, you get a festive mix of red and white which are symbolic colours of the New Year in Japan.

The three doughnuts are also available to purchase in a box set called Good Luck Zodiac Dozen which comes with twelve doughnuts including four Original Glazed®, the chain’s most popular doughnut.

Welcome the new year with some delicious and kawaii doughnuts from Krispy Kreme Japan.

BAKE CHEESE TART will be baking up another fresh flavour which will be released in BAKE CHEESE TART shops across the country from November 15. The new featured flavour is of a Japanese Satsuma sourced from Shizuoka prefecture called Mikka Mikan. The brand new Mikan Cheese Tart will be sold at BAKE CHEESE TART shops countrywide. 

The Mikka Mikan Satsumas used for the cheese tart are sourced from Shizuoka, which is renowned for its deep history of producing Mikka Mikans, which are a kind of Satsuma Mandarin (Unshu Mikan). The Mikka Mikans are used to make a purée and powder which is then mixed with an original recipe cheese mousse for the tart.

This flavour first arrived at BAKE CHEESE TART’s PARCHÉ branch in Shizuoka to celebrate its grand opening back in November 2018. The tart was intended to be a delicacy limited to the Shizuoka branch and to only be sold for a limited time. However, following its immense popularity, the Mikka Mikan Cheese Tart is going to be released again this winter for a limited time. 

The mild and fresh cheese mousse is perfectly balanced with the tangy sweetness of the Mikka Mikans. The subtle sweetness of the biscuit base makes for the perfect match with the soft cheese mousse which will melt in your mouth. 

BAKE CHEESE TART is also running an Instagram campaign involving the hashtag #おすそわけタルト. Those who purchase the Mikan Cheese Tart and post a photo of it on Instagram during the limited time period have the chance to enter a prize draw for a BAKE CHEESE TART coupon.

Warm up your heart with a soft and sweet, freshly-baked cheese tart and join in the campaign fun. 

Jolly faces are all around at Tokyo Disney Resort right now as Disney Christmas kicked off last Friday. It’s set to sleigh its way up to Christmas Day this year.

The editorial team at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON jumped ahead and got a taste of the festive fun at the parks recently, so we’re going to showcase some more of the seasonal food and merry merchandise you can get your hands on this Christmas at Tokyo Disneyland.

Food that makes you want to kick back and enjoy a nice break

Special Set – ¥1,500 @ Grandma Sara’s Kitchen

Grandma Sara’s has created the perfect hot lunch for warming up cold guests this year, adorned with a clam and seafood tomato cream, cheese and white sauce. Dip your bread into the rich sauce and tuck in! For dessert, you get a cranberry cake inspired by the look of a snow-tipped Christmas tree.

Hot drinks of all kinds

‘Tis the season to stay warm, and so Tokyo Disneyland has devised a line-up of tasty drinks to warm the cockles of your heart, with flavours ranging from ruby chocolate to matcha and tapioca cheese teaーa unique flavour that’s all the rage right now.

We actually covered these drinks in detail last Monday, so check out our report here.

Deck the halls with these dessert & souvenir sets

Cranberry & Tea Cake With Souvenir Cup – ¥800 @ Sweetheart Cafe and elsewhere

Strawberry Dessert With Souvenir Cup – ¥800 @ Sweetheart Cafe and elsewhere

Head to the Sweetheart Cafe to enjoy some desserts which come with cute take-home souvenirs, like cups and plates. The cranberry and tea cake is a subtly sweet cake with a fragrant tea flavour and filled with sweet and sour cranberries.

The strawberry dessert is like strawberry shortcake with ascending layers of cake batter, cream, and strawberries. It’s topped with holly to give it that Christmas-y finish.

Chocolate Doughnut – ¥380 @ Cleo’s and elsewhere

The chocolate doughnuts at Cleo’s are completely lathered in a chocolate danish-like dough and custard cream.

The doughnuts even come in this cute Mickey and Minnie packaging, who are dressed ready and for giving gifts to guests.

If you pay an extra ¥700 you can get this adorable pouch featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy as snowmen.

Have a merry little Christmas with these holiday season goodies

Headband – ¥1,800

Fun Cap – ¥3,000 / Plush Toy Wristband – ¥1,700

Feel happy simply by placing these Mickey & Minnie headband ears and getting into party mode. The park has also developed a Christmas version of the Pluto fun cap so he has reindeer antlers and holly attached. Both items were previously available in a pre-sale on the park app, so depending on the shop you visit, they may have none left in stock. But if you see one, be sure to grab it quick!

There’s also a Mickey version of the Minnie Mouse plush toy wristband. Wear one and have your friend or loved one wear the other!

Popcorn Basket – ¥2,400 @ The Gazebo (Popcorn Wagon)

Pick up some popcorn served in a Christmas present basket decorated with cute illustrations of Mickey and company celebrating Christmas.

It comes strung with a ribbon decorated with green, red and white colouring like a candy cane.

Spend a Disney Christmas this winter at Tokyo Disneyland where you can stay warm with some comfort food and dress up!

Model: Yuna Yabe

Writer: Sayuri Mizuno (MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON)

Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

The butter sandwich specialists over at PRESS BUTTER SAND are bringing their famous Uji matcha flavour butter sandwiches to their Tokyo Station branch on November 13.

Known as the Uji Matcha Butter Sand, this tasty snack was developed to celebrate the grand opening of the Kyoto Station branch of PRESS BUTTER SAND. Due to high demand, they’ve decided to take the product to Tokyo for a limited time.

The exterior is made with butter cream and carefully selected Uji matcha. You get the full rich flavour of the matcha and delicious taste of the butter at once. The sandwich itself is filled with bitter matcha butter cream and sweet caramel butter for a sumptuously smooth combination that marries temptingly with the crunchy cookie exterior.

The sandwich biscuits come in packaging that features navy Kyoto-esque artwork inspired by the characteristic cultivation method for Uji matcha which blocks out sunlight. The sandwiches themselves are individually packaged in matcha green packets to contrast with the box.

Don’t miss out on a chance to enjoy the flavours of Kyoto while in Tokyo. Available at Tokyo Station only.

With Halloween now out of the way, it’s time to plunge ourselves into that Christmas spirit! We’ve compiled a list of some of the most delicious-looking and Instagrammable Christmas cakes available to buy in Tokyo this year that make for the perfect Christmas party accompaniments.

Noel Tokyo Station Hotel @ Tokyo Station

Noel – ¥6,200 (Tax Included) @ Tokyo Station Hotel

This chestnut cake is inspired by the pine pillars that supported the Tokyo Station Marunouchi station building until it was restored. It has a chestnut and sweet potato base and is layered with chestnut mousse and coffee mousse to recreate the rings of a tree which are used to tell a tree’s age.

*10 served per day

*Reservation Window: November 5 – December 17, 2019

*Delivery Window: December 22-25, 2019

*Online reservations available. Exclusive to GRANSTA.

More Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/267999

pon pon×Chris.P @ Tokyo Solamachi

Crispy Cakes (Happy Wreath/Santa/Reindeer) – ¥508 Each @ pon pon×Chris.P (East Yard Floor 2F) [Available From November 15]

These tiny crispy cakes are another great little bite to eat. The cute Santa version is cookie and milk flavoured and has marshmallows as the fluff of his hat.

More Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/269015

Café Cova Milano @ GINZA SIX

Panettone Babbo Natale – ¥7,407 @ Café Cova Milano

Cova’s panettone is made with a secret recipe that has been handed down since the beginning of the 19th century.

More Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/265169

Tokyo Disney Resort

Christmas Cake: ¥1,480 / Available at: Tokyo DisneySea (Horizon Bay Restaurant), Tokyo Disneyland (Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall)

There’s lots going on at Tokyo Disney Resort this year, at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Don’t miss out on this cute Mickey and Minnie Mouse Christmas cake!

More Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/266495

Which is your favourite from the list? Christmas cakes are a must-have on Christmas Day, so make sure you pick one up before the big day!

In this edition of The Café That You Want to Visit to See Someone, I visited J-COOK in Gaiemmae, a place I visited one time while off work which ended up in me wanting to absolutely feature it in the series!

It’s just a 5-minute stroll from Gaiemmae Station.

The cafe enjoys lots of sunlight, which is brightened further by all the plants scattered through the shop. The cafes I have visited to date are often a little darker with only a little light seeping through the windows to create a certain atmosphere, and they are wonderful, but this was the first I have ever visited with so might light and so many plants. The air felt clear, adding to the level of comfort in the cafe, perhaps because there are so many plants adorning the interior.

The cafe also has a space with a slightly more darker light and atmosphere on the left side. I haven’t sat in that area yet, so I think I’ll try it out on my next visit.

When I come to J-COOK, my eyes always wander over to the marzipan creations (¥450).

These ones here were actually all individually handmade by the owner’s husband from the early morning.

If you look really closely, you’ll notice all the dog designs are different. When ordering, get to pick out which one you want, so try finding your perfect pup!

I had mine together with an iced coffee (¥450). The sweet marzipan is a delicious combination with the bitterness of the coffee.

I also got some potted cream (¥450). It’s kind of like a Japanese custard pudding with just a moderate amount of sweetness.

I had mine with a bit of brandy which had fragrant vanilla notes. They’ve had this brandy for 33 years since the store first opened.

The cream was sensational, and the gentle notes linger afterwards.

They have a lot of different homemade soups too which are perfect for the coming cold weather. I got the New Orleans-style gumbo soup. It’s spicy with clam and okra in it.

Relaxing jazz music plays in the cafe while you sit and enjoy your drink and meal.

J-COOK is a wonderful little cafe run by a husband and wife. When I first came, the wife came and talked to me. She’s super friendly, and although it was our first meeting, she made me feel really comfortable and welcome. She must be full of happiness, which in turn naturally gives people who visit the strength to be positive and work hard.

I reckon their smiles have saved a lot of people.

I can’t wait to visit again!

Writer/Model: Ema Tanioku

Photographer: Haruka Yamamoto

Design: Yuko Abe (ASOBISYSTEM)

Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

2019 is the year of BABYMETAL, with their latest album METAL GALAXY having dropped in October and making them the highest Japanese group/artist to place on the Billboard Top 200 in the US in 56 years. As they continue knee-deep in their ongoing world tour, you might be wondering what else they have in the pipeline.

Well, we can confirm that for you right here and now: they have teamed up with internationally-lauded Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto on his revolutionary Ground Y collection which boasts a genderless and ageless style.

Pre-sales of the collection will take place at the new Shibuya PARCO which is set to open on November 22. This will be followed by sales at GINZA SIX, Laforet Harajuku, and the online store THE SHOP YOHJI YAMAMOTO.

The collection will bring together the unique world of BABYMETALーa band which has won love the world over and has featured as guest acts on many tours of international artistsーand Yohji Yamamoto, a rebel and innovator in the fashion industry whose DNA is woven into the Ground Y line. The inspiration for this jet black collaborative collection is “galaxy,” an homage to BABYMETAL’s latest record METAL GALAXY.

There are numerous items in the collection, including a jumbo cut and sewn embroidered with both the BMD FOX APPAREL logoーBABYMETAL’s official apparel brandーand the Ground Y logo. There’s also a big hoodie featuring a 360° print and BABYMETAL’s logo, a draped silk satin long shirt, and more.

MASATOSHI YAMASHIRO snapped the photos in this photoshoot, a Tokyo-based photographer who started his career in LA and New York and works with fashion magazines, advertisements, and more.

Tabemas is a Japanese confectionery series of small, traditional sweets designed to look like characters. For the first time, Tabemas is collaborating with the popular fictional character series Sumikko Gurashi to release Shirokuma and Penguin? sweets. The new confections will be sold in the chilled desserts corner of Family Mart convenience stores across Japan from November 12, 2019.

The lovable characters who have been transformed into delicious sweets are Shirokuma: the shy polar bear who tends to get cold easily; and Penguin?, who has no confidence in their identity as a penguin. 

The series name “Tabemas” means “edible mascot” and as the name suggests, these are traditional nerikiri confections which are made from bean paste and soft mochi, creating an adorable plump appearance.  Shirokuma’s body is white with pink ears whereas Penguin? has a pea-green body with a white stomach and yellow feet and beak. Both confections are kneaded with the characters’ charm and stand joining their tiny hands, staring at you with their adorable round eyes. 

Both confections are filled with the mild flavour of red bean paste. To match the colour schemes of the characters, the white Shirokuma is milk-flavoured and the pale green Penguin? is apple-flavoured. The flavours of these confections are just as irresisitble as their appearance. You’re bound to be taking lots of photos of them for your next social media post in no time!

As these confections are in limited supply, make sure to buy them as soon as possible if you are interested.

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