Coffee brand Beasty Coffee by amadana, which uses the same coffee-making equipment and by the the top baristas in the country, as well as has delivered high quality coffee beans like them, is opening its new flagship store Beasty Coffee [ cafe laboratory ] in Shibuya on September 27.

Beasty Coffee [ cafe laboratory ] boasts inventory of stock developed by the company themselves, including its own hand-drip coffee tools, as well as original coffee bean blends, an espresso machine, and coffee roaster. The coffee house will also host workshops and other experimental activities, creating a new way to enjoy your cafe experience.

The cafe itself is renovated from a buckwheat noodle restaurant which was deep-rooted in the local area. It has a Japanese-style aesthetic with a modern approach, using mortar as its main decoration.

The furniture is walnut wood, which looks gorgeous in both Japanese and western-style decor, while the entrance has a stylish sliding door with a black frame. There is also a partition inside the cafe. All of this makes for a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

Drip Coffee

Lemonade

If you’re interested in ordering the hand drip coffee, there are three types to choose from. They also sell an in-house original lemonade, is a mix of lemon, which uses no preservatives, and herb tea.

The espresso machine comes in a navy colour, which is the brand’s main colour, with which the baristas can make customers coffees like cappuccino using original blends.

Behind the partitions sits two coffee roasting tester machines where the cafe will research making original blend coffees day to day to create coffee that people will love.

When you heard about a cafe that is set on creating delicious coffee every time, you want to become a repeat customer. If you’re a coffee lover then make sure you pop into Beasty Coffee [ cafe laboratory ] when it opens in Shibuya, Tokyo on September 27.

The new Shibuya PARCO shopping complex is set to open on November 22, 2019. It will house the new PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO and GALLERY X, both of which aim to promote art and culture to the people of Tokyo.

The opening exhibition is titled “AKIRA ART OF WALL Katsuhiro Otomo × Kosuke Kawamura AKIRA ART EXHIBITION” which will see an entire wall decorated in a collage of art by manga author and film director Katsuhiro Otomo and his legendary series AKIRA. It is a collaboration with collage artist Kosuke Kawamura.

The art wall is in fact a relocation of the AKIRA art wall that has existed at the infrastructure building site in Shibuya for almost two years. Parts of it have been damaged over time, and so it will resurface at PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO on the 4th floor of the new Shibuya PARCO. That’s not all: there will also be valuable original works displayed as well as posters, 3D model recreations of things seen in AKIRA, the series soundtrack by Geinoh Yamashirogumi playing, and more.

Down in GALLERY X on floor B1F there will be various life-sized installations. There will be a graphic design zone with exhibits from YAR spearheaded by Japanese graphic artist YOSHIROTTEN who has teamed up with numerous projects both inside and outside Japan.

Fans of AKIRA can also look forward to getting their hands on a selection of exclusive merchandise, including t-shrits made in collaboration with apparel brands.

*Product pictures are for illustrative purposes only; actual designs are subject to change without notice. Prices TBA.

Shibuya is a popular tourist spot for overseas visitors, so if you’re an AKIRA fan planning a trip there this November or December, be sure to hit up the exhibition.

The new blockbuster hit from internationally-acclaimed animator and film director Makoto Shinkai Weathering with You dropped back in July and has since amassed over 10 billion yen (approximately US$101 million) in the box office.

A music video for the movie edit of the film’s main Shukusai by RADWIMPS featuring Toko Miura has just been released on the band’s official YouTube page. The gorgeous video is inspired by the film’s story, with the change in sunny weather simultaneously uplifting peoples’ feelings.

The video features a lone Toko Miura in a cave with the sunlight shining down. The life that exists down in the cave begins to bloom at the sound and echo of Miura’s bright and clear voice.

RADWIMPS, who are responsible for the film’s entire soundtrack, have announced that they will release a new album entitled Weathering with You complete version on November 27, 2019. The album will include all 5 main themes, including both the full versions and versions edited down for the film.

©️2019 “Weathering with You” Production Committee

Tokyu Land Corporation has announced that Shibuya’s all-new tourist information center will be named “shibuya-san.” Located on the first floor of Shibuya FUKURAS, the tourist information and are center is set to open its doors to the public this December.

Tourist Information: Where you can become a Shibuya local

The tourist information section of the center is staffed by people from countries around the world, from Europe to Asia, most of which are non-Japanese students studying abroad. They are able to offer detailed tourist and sightseeing information for Shibuya from the perspective of a “foreigner in Japan.”

The center also does away with the ordinary set-up of most tourist information centers in which you speak to someone over the counter. Instead, tourists entering shibuya-san will be greeted directly by staff and talk to them side by side.

They also offer English guide books with a map produced by Time Out Tokyo. Time Out is a city guide service published in 108 countries around the world in 39 languages.

Art Center: Where art brings Shibuya and the world together

shibuya-san will be the first tourist information center in Japan to have its own art gallery. Being located right in front of Shibuya Station means that people visiting from around the world will be exposed to Shibuya’s culture through art. Focused on “Travel, City & People,” the art gallery will offer not only exhibitions and performances, but also events in which tourists can participate, as well as opportunities to talk directly with artists.

Open Late: Shibuya’s nightlife propelled with the center’s night hours

Almost all tourist information centers close in the late afternoon/early evening, but not shibuya-san. Shibuya’s nightlife is a huge part of the city’s culture, and so to make it more accessible to tourists, shibuya-san will be open until 11:00pm, offering helpful information and suggestions for getting around and enjoying yourself after-hours.

shibuya-san even has its own drinks counter where alcohol is served in the evenings. Events will be held there periodically where you can meet and talk with people.

Limousine Buses: Haneda Airport and Narita Airport

The bus terminal in front of the tourist center offers regular buses and will soon offer airport limousine buses from Haneda and Narita Airport. They will serve to create a new doorstep to Shibuya at Shibuya Station’s west exit for tourists visiting Shibuya. They will begin running in early December.

Whether you’re visiting Shibuya for the first time or are a returning guest, find out all there is to know about the area when shibuya-san opens this December.

LEGS COMPANY is opening four BT21 themed cafe called “BT21 CAFE 2019 WORLD”over the next couple of weeks. The Tokyo and Osaka branches opened on August 22. The Nagoya branch will open on September 4 and the Sapporo branch will open on September 5.

BT21 are the LINE messenger app characters created by K-pop group BTS. The cafe will serve up many different dishes of food from around the world, all with motifs of the various BT21 character line-up. Pictured below is just a select portion of the menu and merchandise you can look forward to.

Cafe Menu

Japanese Food Plate: Temari Sushi (Salmon, Duck, Minced Tuna, Fried Tofu, Shrimp Avocado) & Meat Udon – ¥1,490

American Food Plate: Slider Burgers (Macaroni Cheese, Egg Salad, Grilled Chicken), Potatoes & Carrot Salad – ¥1,490

South Korean Food Plate: Tteok-bokki, Japchae, Yangnyeom Chicken & South Korean-Style Rice Ball  – ¥1,490

Brazilian Food Plate: Churrasco, Mashed Potato & Feijoada – ¥1,490

Japanese Dessert (Left): Custard Taiyaki, Strawberry Daifuku, Berry Bean Paste Dango, Matcha Ice Cream – ¥1,290 / American Dessert (Right): American Waffles – ¥1,290

RJ (Left): Peach Calpis – ¥990 / CHIMMY (Right): Pineapple Soda – ¥990

COOKY (Left): Guava Soda – ¥990 / TATA (Right): Pineapple Soda – ¥990

Exclusive Merchandise

Japan Acrylic Key Rings (Left) – ¥750 / South Korea Acrylic Key Rings (Right) – ¥750

Folders (Left) – ¥400 Each / Hologram Stickers (Right) – ¥500 Each

Bonus Items

Every person who books a table in advance (¥650) will receive one of 7 possible mini fans pictured above on the left. Those who order a drink will receive one of 12 possible coasters pictured on the right.

There are lots of other cute pieces of merchandise and menu items to look forward to too. Full details can be found on the cafe’s official website below.

*All listed prices are pre-tax. Photos are for illustrative purposes only.

©BT21

Tea enthusiasts THE ALLEY are opening a flagship store in Dogenzaka, Shibuya on September 14, 2019.

THE ALLEY’s main customers are women and office workers. It’s custom for people to go out for a cup of coffee with friends and coworkers, but THE ALLEY hopes to bring that same idea of “grabbing a coffee” to tea with their drinks line-up. Located at the top of Dogenzaka, the new branch aims to make tea even easier to enjoy while embedding a culture of tea.

Enjoy a drink between shopping or work in one of their 73 comfy seats spread across two floors, or grab a takeaway cup to sip.

“THE ALLEY x thermo mug” 300ml Tumbler – ¥3,500 (Before Tax) / “THE ALLEY x thermo mug” 300ml Stainless Steel Bottle – ¥3,500 (Before Tax)

The cafe has also teamed up with thermo mug to create a seriously stylish tumbler and stainless steel bottle. Both are limited in availability, and if you do decide to grab one, you can get a coupon for one free drink of your voice. They are perfect for using at home, out or at the office.

THE ALLEY is known for its three tea bases: Assam, Royal No. 9, and Jasmine. But the new Dogenzaka branch will have two extra exclusives. The first is White Peach Oolong which originally appeared as a limited-time flavour and in the cafe’s milk foam series. It’s now a regular at the new cafe. The other is Tieguanyin, a premium oolong tea, whose sales ended in May this year. Due to high demand, they are bringing it back to THE ALLEY Dogenzaka and plan to put it on the menu of other branches in the future.

The cafe has also incorporated paper straws to help combat the use of single-use plastic straws. This includes their thick straws used for tapioca bubble tea drinks and ordinary thin straws for their regular teas.

THE ALLEY Dogenzaka marks the cafe’s move from a tea stand into a full-fledged tea shop. If you’re in Shibuya, be sure to pay them a visit when they open on September 14.

The Hostile Planet documentary series by National Geographic is set to air in Japan from August 22. To celebrate the show’s airing, a promotional shoot will take place at Inari Bridge in Shibuya on August 24 and 25 where three hippos will make an appearance to help spread the word of how animals have had to adapt to the recent rapid changes in the environment in order to survive.

A Tale Of Hippo Parents & Child, Living Off Grasslands, and Rapid Environmental Changes From the Seasons

Dry seasons are becoming regular, where water is snatched away from the earth’s surface by the scorching sunlight. These are especially merciless seasons for hippos and a real threat to their survival. They cannot enter the water even for a brief moment. Their only options is to walk under the fire of the blazing sun. Their homes used to be packed full of watering holes, but now all they can do is embark on an aimless search. And the severity of this―the beating of the sun and lack of water―is becoming more and more of a problem.

Three panel cutouts of hippos will be set up under Inari Bridge to tell a story of two parents and their child who who survived these harsh conditions by escaping from Katavi National Park in Tanzania and arriving in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Tokyo singer and lolita fashion model Luna Haruna finished her premium solo summer concert at SHIBUYA TAKE OFF7 on August 4. The concert title Lupa and Aries no gastronomie was named after her single Lupa to Aries which was released earlier this year in June and is so far only available on streaming services. Haruna performed once in the afternoon and once in the evening with a live band. She performed a total of 28 songs, including some brand new hits.

 She launched into her concert with her hit songs Stertear, Kimi Iro Signal, Stella Breeze and Overfly. She then performed her two new fairytale-themed songs Lupa to Aries and Kaiten Mokuba live for the first time. 

Afterwards, she turned to her fans and said:

“I challenged myself to something completely new this time. I want to show you all a side of me you have never seen before.”

What the fans heard next was an unexpected surprise. 

She announced that she will be performing at Mt.RAINIER HALL SHIBUYA PLEASURE PLEASURE, Tokyo on November 16. The venue, packed with fans, could not contain their excitement, responding to the glorious news with cheers of joy that echoed throughout the entire room. 

Her recent release Kaiten Mokuba follows the same fairytale theme as Lupa to Aries. The beautiful harmonies created by the strings pierce through the strong and pressing beat of the song. This gothic fairytale song is appropriately titled Kaiten Mokuba (Carousel) to further emphasise the distorted feeling of being spun around in endless circles. Luna is an artist who represents the lolita scene for lolita fans worldwide. This fairytale video is where her true self comes alive. Her new, mysterious visuals are a fusion of lolita fashion and Alice in Wonderland themes. 

Luna Haruna Music Video: Kaiten Mokuba 

The head-spinning music video shows Luna in different lolita fashion outfits. Each outfit explores the depths of a different character from Alice in Wonderland. Watch Luna spin her way through five Alice in Wonderland-themed lolita dresses including the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and of course, Alice.  

Luna will also be singing the theme song for the upcoming anime film Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Fine, which will premiere on October 26. This isn’t the first time Luna has been involved in the Saekano anime series. She performed the theme songs Kimi Iro Signal and Stella Breeze, which were the TV anime’s first and second anime openings respectively. 

The anime film opening will be written by Miku Sawai, who wrote the lyrics for the TV anime’s first and second ending theme songs Colourful and Sakura Iro Diary respectively. Miku Sawai and Luna Haruna have become massive sensations in the news for their anime hits. Just what kind of chemical reaction will unfold when these two heroines collaborate on the anime film’s opening theme song? Please keep your eyes peeled for future updates. 

Photos: ©美澄

A collaboration café dedicated to the adorable penguin character Koupen chan will run over the summer period. The café will open on August 8 in Tokyo and September 5 in Osaka. 

The baby emperor penguin Koupen chan, who is often the go-to sticker for many Twitter and LINE users, is illustrated by the well-known RURUTEA. Many SNS users turn to the relaxing, soft and cuddly penguin to send soothing words of encouragement and a fuzzy hug to their loved ones. No wonder our adorable penguin has over 300,000 followers on Twitter. 

Yokoshima Enaga-San Burger: ￥1,490

Koupen Chan Ochazuke (Rice served with broth): ￥1,390

The first time the Koupen Chan Collaboration Café opened for a limited period was on November 2017. Now, the café is back with a refreshed image which plunges deeper into the depths of Koupen chan’s affectionate world. There are even more features packed into this year’s collaboration menu. No matter what you order, your table will be overflowing with adorable penguin love. 

Pink Koupen Chan Strawberry Milk Pancake: ￥1,390 (before tax)

Two Best Friends Lemon Peach Parfait: ￥1,290 (price before tax)

Don’t forget to check out the drinks and desserts which are bound to melt your heart.

Acrylic Drink Coaster (random design ), 4 designs available: ￥900 (before tax) 

Bonus Gift for Café Customers: Placemat and Paper Drink Coaster (1 of 6 designs presented at random)

You won’t just be served a cute meal, however. Customers have the chance to get their hands on original merchandise with cute café-themed designs. The designs, which were illustrated by RURUTEA, include Koupen chan as your personal café server, a pink-themed Koupen chan and even a light blue Koupen chan relaxing in the café.

The reservation period opened recently. Reservations are now being accepted via the official website. This café is the perfect place to escape from the blazing summer heat and humidity to get refreshed. Come relax and enjoy a moment of cute food and drinks in this comfortable atmosphere.

©RURUTEA

* The images shown in this article may differ slightly to the actual merchandise/menu items.

* English menu names above are not official translations. 

Hello everyone! This is Midori from MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON.

Candy apples are the staple food of summer festivals. A crunchy candy coating and a sweet, fruity apple is such a divine combination. It can be quite difficult to find candy apples outside of festivals. That’s where Candy Apple steps in. This is a brand new shop on the block that specialises in candy apples!

This is located just a five-minute walk from Shibuya Station’s west exit. If you check out their saved Instagram story, you probably won’t get lost. During the weekdays and on Saturdays, this is an Italian restaurant called Buonappetito. On Sundays, when the restaurant is closed, it transforms into a candy apple shop.

The shop interior is gorgeous.

Plain: ¥600

I ordered the plain apple without wasting any time. This is much larger than what you would usually get at a festival. Although these are usually eaten by immediately sinking your teeth in and biting out a big chunk, you can cut your apple here and enjoy it at your own pace. 

After taking your first bite, you will realise just how different this is to your normal candy apple. The apple is coated in a thin layer of candy, creating a delicious crunch. The apple is fresh, juicy and sweet. Some candy apples are made with mushy apples that are not fresh, however these apples are extremely fresh and delicious right to the last bite. 

These candy apples are full of a variety of flavours.

Cinnamon Sugar: ¥600

The apple with the dusting of beige-coloured powder is cinnamon-flavoured. The sweet cinnamon scent spreads everywhere as soon as you set it on the table. The sweet flavour of the apple and the fragrant cinnamon is a match made in heaven. 

Cocoa: ¥600

The apple covered in the brown powder is cocoa-flavoured. The slightly bitter flavour of the chocolate is a perfect match for the sweet apple. The colour contrast between the brown chocolate and white apple is also beautiful. ♪

Matcha: ¥600

The apple with the green powder is matcha as you may have already guessed! The flavouring of the Uji matcha used for this apple was carefully balanced to maximise the flavour when combined with the apple. After you take your first bite, you just won’t be able to stop. 

Blueberry Yoghurt: ¥600

The bright white dusting on this blueberry yoghurt-flavoured apple is beautiful. The blueberry scent is mild and is perfect with the yoghurt.

Black Cocoa: ¥600

The pitch black colour of the Black Cocoa Candy Apple is very appetizing. The black cocoa is even more bitter than the cocoa apple, which really brings out the flavour of the sweet apple even more.

You can even get chocolate fondue for your candy apple (¥400). By adding the fairly bitter chocolate to your candy apple, you can enjoy three different kinds of sweetness when it mixes with the chocolate, candy and the apple. 

You can even order your candy apple to go, making it the perfect summer souvenir. Taking it home to enjoy is also another wonderful way to make the most of your experience. 

This candy apple shop is only open on Sundays, but you can order to take away on other days. 

This is a flavour that a festival candy apple will never be capable of offering. You can tuck into your apple inside the beautiful shop, or take it home to enjoy at home at your own pace. 

To commemorate the collaboration between mobile game Monster Strike and manga My Hero Academia, XFLAG STORE SHIBUYA, SHINSAIBASHI and +(PLUS) HANEDA are releasing a new limited period café menu, which includes brand new drinks that come with original sleeves for the cups.

Character Sodas: Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugou, Shoto Todoroki, Ochaco Uraraka, Tenya Iida

Price: ￥750 each (before tax)

If you order any drink from this café menu, you will be presented with an original badge that is chosen at random. During the commemoration period, the café space will be decorated with special illustrations and there will be special videos running for visitors to enjoy.