Ariel is swimming to Japan this September as four branches of OH MY CAFE turn into cafes inspired by The Little Mermaid. The Tokyo and Osaka branches will open on September 21, the Hokkaido branch on September 22, and the Nagoya branch on September 27. The collaboration is being carried out by LEGS COMPANY, LTD.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid was released back in 1989 as the 28th Disney animated feature film. It tells the story of the internationally-beloved Disney mermaid princess Ariel and her curiosity about the world above the sea.

The cafe’s concept is “independent girl.” Each cafe will take on a stylish look and be inspired by Ariel’s unwavering heart and her strength to make her dreams come true.

Menu Line-Up

<Ariel> Veggie-Packed Pesto Pasta – ¥1,990

If you’re vegetarian, you won’t be disappointed with this healthy, vegetable-packed pasta dish. The plate it is served on features an illustration of Ariel swimming elegantly in the ocean.

Seaside Cream Risotto – ¥1,990

Based on sandy beaches is this creamy risotto. If you look closely you’ll see one of Ariel’s priceless treasures from her endless collection of whose-its, whats-its, and thingamabobs. Sebastian is hiding on the plate too, can you spot him?

<Kiss The Girl> Romantic Fruit Bowl – ¥2,190<Kiss the girll>

This romantic dish speaks for itself. Inspired by the breathtaking boat date between Ariel and Eric, the bowl includes assorted fruit, a cookie with the two lovers on it, and a side of jelly with Flounder cheering them on.

Drinks Line-Up

<Flounder> Stripey Yogurt Drink – ¥1,090 / With Coaster – ¥1,890

Flounder is Ariel’s closest friend, so he had to be included on the menu. This cute yogurt-flavoured smoothie takes on the same colours as our stripey fish companion.

<Sebastian> Strawberry Smoothie – ¥890 / With Coaster – ¥1,790

Servant of King Triton and music composer, everybody’s favourite Jamaican crab Sebastian gets his very own yogurt smoothie too. Mix the strawberry sauce in well for the best flavour.

Exclusive Original  Merchandise

Acrylic Badge (5 Designs) – ¥800

Lunch Mat (Set of 2) – ¥800

Bag – ¥1,500

Bonus Items

Every person that books a table in advance (¥500) and orders something from the food menu will receive one of 30 possible A5 folders.

Additionally, if they spend over ¥1,000 at the merchandise corner of a cafe, they’ll receive the above-pictured The Little Mermaid 30th shopper bag. These are limited in stock and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

There are lots of other character-themed food and drinks to be enjoyed at the cafes besides these ones too. To see everything, you’ll need to visit yourself! Immerse yourself in the magical world of The Little Mermaid with cafe decorations featuring Instagrammable illustrations drawn exclusively for this collaboration.

*All listed prices are pre-tax.

*Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual products may differ.

©Disney

With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s easy recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

For this edition of Kaori’s Easy Recipe, I used a recipe from the Disney dessert cookbook Oishii Disney Sweets Recipes to make cute Mickey Mouse-shaped ice box cookies. Ice box cookies are made by forming the dough into a cylindrical shape, leaving it to set in the fridge, and cutting into slices. This means you can make cookies even if you don’t have a specific cookie cutter, for example one in the shape of Mickey. You can create lots of different kinds of cookies using this method. They’re light, crunchy and best of all, delicious.

1. Ingredients (Makes: Approx. 30)

100g unsalted butter

80g powdered sugar

180g sieved weak flour

20g egg yolk (1 medium size egg)

A pinch of salt

10g pure cocoa

2. Bring the unsalted butter to room temperature until it’s soft. Break into small pieces until it turns creamy then add the powdered sugar and salt. Mix well until everything is blended together.

3. Add the egg yolk into the mixture and mix well with a whisk.

4. Slowly add the sieved flour. Add about a quarter at a time and mix well before adding the rest to avoid clumps. After all the flour is mixed in, divide in half and mix one of the halves with cocoa powder.

5. Shape both halves into a rectangular shape at 12cm x 6cm. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

6. Divide each half like in the picture below.

7. Put ⅞ of the plain dough to one side, and roll the rest of the plain dough and all of the cocoa dough into 15cm rods.

8. Roll the ⅞ of plain dough you put to one side into a 17cm x 15cm square. Referencing the pictures above and below, place plain “C” dough in the middle between the cocoa “B” dough. Ensure there are no gaps when pushing them together.

9. Place the cocoa “A” dough on top of the “C” dough. Take both sides of your rolled out square dough and bring together ensuring there are no gaps. Wrap in cling film and leave in the fridge for 20 minutes.

10. Take out of the fridge and cut about 5mm off the ends. Make sure to handle with care – if handled too roughly the dough will collapse.

11. Slice into single cookies and bake at 160℃ for 20-25 minutes.

Your cookies are done!

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

There are many other cute Disney recipes available in the book that Kaori used too, so if you’re in Japan then why not pick up a copy?

©️Disney

The Disney Store has announced its first ever collaboration with artist and art director Sebastian Masuda. Titled “ARTIST COLLECTION by Sebastian Masuda,” this merchandise line-up will hit Disney Stores across Japan and on the online shop on August 27.

Masuda’s second “ARTIST COLLECTION,” this time he is using items from the Toy Story film series that have been sold at the Disney Store and has re-designed them through his unique lens of cute and colourful pop art.

T-Shirt – ¥3,900 (Before Tax)

Makeup Brush Set – ¥1,900 (Before Tax)

The line-up spans from a Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear plush toy to key chains, notebooks, pencil cases, wristwatches, t-shirts and much more.

Waist Bag – ¥4,900 (Before Tax)

Backpack – ¥7,900 (Before Tax)

As well as stationery and fashion items, the collection also includes outdoor products: namely, the waist bag and backpack which not only look gorgeous but are superior when it comes to functionality.

The product designs are created in the same way that Sebastian Masuda makes all of his iconic projects: by using lots of different vivid items and materials.

Don’t miss out on this toy box-like Disney Store exclusive line-up filtered through Masuda’s colourful world.

©Disney/Pixar
　 Mr. Potato Head is a trademark of Hasbro used with permission. ©Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
　 ©POOF-Slinky, LLC

Get ready for some spooky fun as Tokyo Disney Resort® transforms for the 52-day-long horrifically exciting Disney Halloween from September 10 to October 31. Head to DisneySea to be captivated by the new harbor show Festival of Mystique, or get spooked out of your skin at the Spooky “Boo!” Parade at Disneyland. Today, we will be revealing the spooky looks of both parks.

Tokyo DisneySea Festival of Mystique Costumes

Working with the main theme of a medieval European halloween, inspiration has been taken from the living creatures and waves at the port town Porto Paradiso. 

Mickey Mouse’s costume inspiration comes from the the bones and scaly body of a sea creature. He will also be seen wearing a broach decorated with beautiful jewels. 

Minnie Mouse’s costume resembles that of a medieval princess. You will see her in a fancy hat that bears beautiful pearls. Her costume is covered in scales on the chest and on the back which really suits her.

Tokyo Disneyland’s Spooky Boo! Parade Costumes

Disney friends have joined forces with a group of spooky spirits. You just can’t miss out on this rare chance to see your favourite Disney characters disguised as ghosts and skeletons. The strange and unusual atmosphere is sure to send a chilling shiver down your spine. 

Mickey and Minnie will be completely refreshing their colourful look. Mickey’s necktie and Minnie’s skirt are very mysterious and particularly intriguing.  Please come check them out!

Enjoy the beautiful costumes and the fun range of events this Halloween at Tokyo Disney Resort.

©️Disney

Japan’s consumption tax is set to increase on October 1 from 8% to 10%. If you’re looking to bulk buy or grab up must-have items from Japan then now is the perfect time before the percentage goes up!

Today we will take a look some of Disney’s premium pieces of merchandise which are must-grabs before the tax increase.

Disney Senryobako – ¥ 2,982,650 (Tax Included) *Rate subject to change

A senryobako, or “thousand gold coin box,” is a box that was used during the Edo period to store koban, the former Japanese oval coin. This box features a Mickey and Minnie Mouse design that reads “Forever together” at the top. It also includes a set of 50 koban featuring Mickey and Minnie designs on them. This is a super special and premium gift item!

Available At: GINZA TANAKA

Mickey 90th Anniversary Design Signature Pot (18cm) – ¥30,000 (Before Tax) *Comes in 11 colours

This pot is being released in celebration of 90 years since Mickey’s screen debut. The pot lid features the iconic outline of Mickey Mouse. It’s also delivered in limited-edition packaging.

Available At: Le Creuset

Movie Masterpiece DIECAST: Avengers 1/6 Scale Iron Man Mark 7 Figure – ¥58,800 (Tax Included) 

This highly detailed figure looks like Iron Man jumped right out of the movie theatre screen. Several different models and pieces are on sale too for each movie the superhero features in the Marvel Universe. Collect them all to create a whole range of poses.

Available At: Hot Toys

ROYAL SELANGOR Star Wars Vehicles “X-Wing” – ¥37,800 (Tax Included)

ROYAL SELANGOR Star Wars Figurine “Darth Vader” – ¥54,000 (Tax Included)

Malaysian-based company Royal Selangor is the largest pewter manufacturer and retailer in the world. Their new X-Wing and Darth Vader models elicit that vintage space opera vibe.

Available At: Royal Selangor

Each and every one of these items is a luxury Disney product. If you’re a collector or are looking to buy a present for a fan then now’s the best time to grab any of these premium products!

©Disney © 2019 MARVEL © &TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

Kiyomizu Cheese Kobo opened at Kiyomizu Gojozaka at the foot of the famous Kiyomizudera Temple as Kyoto’s first ever cheesecake shop to sell its delicious cheesecakes in a cute jar. On August 13, they released a mouthwateringly rich Matcha Cheese Tea which will enlighten you with a new way to enjoy matcha.

The Matcha Cheese Tea harnesses Kyoto’s unbeatable Uji matcha which is full of rich and fresh flavour. A light cloud of fluffy cheese foam floats on top of the drink, adding a salty accent to the overall flavour. A traditional tea combined with a sweet and salty cheese flavour ー this brand new flavour discovery will leave you feeling refreshed and enlightened. The recipe for the cheese foam consists of cream cheese carefully selected by the cheesecake shop’s specialists. This is then blended with a small amount of salt to accent the flavour. 

If you mix the matcha milk tea with the cheese foam, the rich matcha mixes with the saltiness of the cream cheese, creating a sweet salty flavour that you will not be able to get enough of. As the flavour is not too overpowering, you can enjoy this drink endlessly and will feel refreshed even on a hot summer’s day. 

Matcha Cheese Tea: ￥460

Kiyomizu Cheese Kobo recommends three different ways to drink the Matcha Cheese Tea to enjoy three different levels of flavour combinations. 

① First off, drink just the matcha milk tea so you can experience the true authentic flavour of Kyoto’s famous rich Uji matcha tea. 

② Next, move your straw so that you taste just the cheese foam on its own. The fluffy foam will gently slide over your tongue and spread a mild and sweet flavour all over your mouth. 

③ Finally, it’s time to mix everything. The saltiness of the cheese foam and the sweetness of the matcha milk will create a new salty sweet flavour that you will want to try again and again.

Whether you are a Japanese local or a foreigner, this drink is a fun new way to enjoy matcha. If you are new to matcha, this is a good way to try the flavour without being too overwhelmed. 

XFLAG STORE + HANEDA is a small branch of XFLAG STORE and is located in Terminal 1 of Haneda Airport. On August 13th, they released three energising bubble tea flavours served in a bottle that you can take on board with you when travelling along domestic air routes. The three bubble tea flavours are; MILK TEA, HOJICHA (a type of green tea) and MATCHA. 

These bubble tea flavours are limited to XFLAG STORE + HANEDA and were created with the intention of providing a splash of energizing fun to tiresome travels. 

As long as you screw the lid on properly, you can store your delicious drink in your bag and even carry it onto your flight so you can enjoy it whilst soaring through the clouds. This is the first time a shop at Haneda airport has ever sold a bubble tea drink with the intention of flight passengers taking it on board with them.

*Drinks and liquids are usually permitted on domestic flights in Japan. Please check the specific rules of your flight by referring to the official website of your airline. 

To commemorate the release of the new bubble teas, XFLAG STORE + HANEDA has launched an Instagram campaign with the chance to win an Amazon gift card worth ￥10,000 (approx. 80GBP/95USD). 

To take part in the Instagram campaign for the chance to win a ￥10,000 Amazon gift card, be sure to take a photo with your XFLAG STORE + HANEDA bubble tea drink and then post the picture on Instagram with the following three hashtags:

#旅タピ #タピオカ #空の上で飲めるタピオカドリンク

Four winners will be selected.

Get your summer holidays off to a soaring start with a beautiful bottle of bubble tea. 

With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s easy recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

Today, I will show you the perfect recipe for making chocolate Minnie Mouse cakes using the Mickey Mouse Tezukuri Okazu Maker kit which you can buy on Belle Maison.

1. Ingredients

About 3-4 prep bowls

1 large egg

40g sugar

Oil or 10g melted unsalted butter

15ml milk

50g weak flour (sifted)

10g cocoa

5g baking powder

2.

①Crack the egg into a mixing bowl, add the sugar and whisk well.

②Add a drizzle of oil or melted butter and milk and whisk again.

③Add the sifted flour and stir in gently with a rubber spatula.

3.

Oil the silicone cake moulds and spoon in your mix.

4.

Steam on a high heat for about 10 minutes.

5.

Now it’s time to make Minnie’s ribbon. I got this ribbon mould from Daiso. Place it onto some baking paper and outline the shape with a pen. Fill the outline with red-coloured chocolate and leave to set in the fridge. Once it has completely set, add the polkadots.

6.

Once the cake has finished steaming, stick her onto a lollipop stick so it the cake be eaten like a lollipop, and fix the ribbon onto the top of Minnie’s head.

And she’s finished! It looks cute when you put a Mickey and Minnie one together side by side. You can make a lot of cute recipes using the Okazu Maker, so get your hands on one and try making your own!

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

©️Disney

Kyoto-based Uji tea store Itohkyuemon released its new Matcha Parfait Bars at its new branch in Gion Shijo on August 7.

The bars proved so popular that all 1,500 in stock sold out on the first day. The store is currently being piled with orders for future sales. There are five flavours to enjoy: the classic matcha parfait flavour as well as cherry blossom, tropical, mont blanc, and strawberry.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Matcha

The matcha flavoured bar retains the original rich flavour of the Uji matcha, which has been passed down since the Muromachi period, and combines it with a delicious assortment of parfait toppings including raw matcha chocolate, mini daifuku, coarse sweet red bean paste, and more.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Sakura (Cherry Blossom)

For another traditional Japanese twist there is the springtime sakura parfait bar which is made with cherry blossom pink rice flour dumplings and ice cream. It’s also topped with cherry blossom cream and salted cherry blossom petals for a cute finish.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Tropical

Tropical flavours like pineapple and mango blend together in this bar which is drizzled in a sweet, sour and refreshing tropical sauce. Topped with fresh tropical fruits, this is the ultimate summertime luxury.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Mont Blanc

This bar incorporates a sense of autumn with its mix of candied chestnut, astringent chestnut skin, and melt-in-the-mouth mont blanc cream.

Matcha Parfait Bar – Strawberry

Strawberry lovers will delight in the handmade strawberry sauce and strawberry meringue of this bar. The meringue elevates the sumptuous flavours of the parfait even more, including the fresh strawberry, raspberry and blueberry toppings which provide a sweet and sour kick.

Which of these Matcha Parfait Bars do you want to try the most?

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. 

Eggs ’n Things, Shijo Street, Kyoto will be selling luxurious Uji matcha pancakes from August 1, 2019. 

Eggs ‘n Things Shijo Street first launched their delicious uji matcha pancakes back in February 2017. The pancakes quickly became a big hit among the locals as well as the tourists, appealing to visitors who wanted to discover more about Kyoto. This summer, Eggs ‘n Things is packing their Kyoto-limited pancakes with even more Kyoto goodness.

These pancakes are luxuriously covered with rich matcha custard cream and garnished with rice flour dumplings, adzuki bean paste, chestnuts and a mini monaka wafer cake. Matcha is even kneaded into the pancake dough, maximising its mellow flavour. If you visit Kyoto, be sure to fully immerse yourself in the wonders of matcha ordering these matcha pancakes at Eggs ‘n Things Shijo Street, Kyoto.

Tokyo DisneySea launched their special event called Disney Pirates Summer which will run until September 1. The event includes the launch of 16 colourful pirate-themed menus. 

We headed straight to Mediterranean restaurant Cafe Portofino to fill ourselves up on the delicious menu. Cafe Portofino is the nearest restaurant to the entrance of DisneySea. Once you find the Mediterranean Harbor, you will find it on the right. 

 Special set: ￥ 1,880 ① Potatoes and Roast Beef Salad ②Linguine topped with Olive and Caper Tomato Sauce and served with Battered Yellowfin Sole Fish ③ Lychee Pudding with Lemon Jelly topped with Mixed Fruit ④ A choice of Soft Drink ⑤ Pay an extra ￥310 for an alcoholic drink. 

I ordered the special set which is surprisingly big but definitely enough to satisfy the hungry pirates, who are always boasting about their enormous appetite. 

I started with the potato and roast beef salad, which was dressed in balsamic vinegar. The taste was so refreshing which is just what you want during the summer. The rosemary-flavoured potatoes were soft and a perfect match with the beetroot.   

The linguine was chewy and springy and the capers produced a mildly tangy flavour. I am not usually a big fan of olives, but these were very delicious. The battered fish was crispy and not oily, which is suitable for children and adults. 

Just looking at the lychee pudding with lemon jelly is enough to make you feel refreshed. It is packed with fruit and takes on the image of a pirate’s treasure chest that is full of colourful rubies. This is the perfect way to clean your palate. 

Ordering the special set allows you to choose a soft drink. If you pay an extra ￥310, you can change this drink into an alcoholic drink. 

Sparkling Cocktail ( Rum and Mango Sherbet) On its own: ￥680

This cocktail takes on the image of a pile of pirate treasure. Mango sherbet sits on top of the cocktail like nuggets of precious gold. The base of the cocktail is rum and peach and the refreshing alcoholic flavour of the rum is moderately sweet, spreading instantaneously through your mouth on your first sip. The solid texture of the mango makes the cocktail even more enjoyable, so please mix it thoroughly before devouring. 

The bakery next to Cafe Portofino called Mamma Biscotti’s Bakery is selling desserts which come with souvenirs that you can take home with you.

Mango Jelly and Orange Mousse with Souvenir Mug: ￥800

Jelly, mousse and meringue whip is layered in the mug. This refreshing dessert not only looks pretty, but is also made up of a range of fun textures for you to enjoy. 

You can take the souvenir mug back home with you. Its design features Mickey Mouse and friends dressed as pirates. 

Coffee Roll Cake with Souvenir Plate: ￥800

This is the perfect dessert for adults because it is slightly bitter. The layers of sponge, cream and bitter coffee makes for a range of delicious flavours. This plate’s design also features Mickey Mouse, who has dressed up as a pirate for the event. This would be perfect to take home with you to remember your trip!

DisneySea is the perfect place to cool down this summer and create many wonderful memories, so please do pay a visit. 

©️Disney