The Kyoto Brighton Hotel is offering a special morning plan that will charter temples and shrines exclusively for hotel guests between November 17 and November 30 2021.

Hougon-in

Anrakuji

Kitano Tenmagu Shrine

Koudaiji

Shisendou

Taizouin

Touji

Even throughout Japan, Kyoto has one of the highest amounts of Autumn leaf viewing spots. This unique viewing plan allows guests to enjoy the vivid autumn leaves by charter, with special permission to visit each spot before it opens to the general public. With this plan, you can experience the wonders of Kyoto in Autumn while avoiding the crowds.

The “Morning Plan” proposed by the Kyoto Brighton Hote offers guests the chance to spend a peaceful time in the fresh, dignified early morning air while avoiding the crowds. This popular plan has been running for 20 years.

Not only is the viewing private, but you will also learn more about the area with guidance from the priests and staff. 

After returning to the hotel, you will be treated to a special “Kyoto Breakfast” which uses local ingredients arranged in both Japanese and Western styles. This breakfast will taste even better following the cleansing of body and mind in the crisp early morning air.

Why not take part in this purifying “Morning Activity” and immerse yourself amongst the Autumn leaves?

THE STRINGS Omotesando will be offering a new and limited ‘Violet Halloween Afternoon Tea’ at the ‘Cafe & Dining ZelkovA’ 1F between October 5 and October 31 2021.

The Halloween themed afternoon tea offers a selection of cute sweets, including black monster themed Maritozzo and purple taro Mont Blanc cream puffs topped with witch hats.

The cool Autumnal menu is made up of sweet and savory violet snacks, with purple potatoes, cassis, blueberries and more. You’ll find yourself able to taste the season, with the rich fig cheesecake and sweet chestnut scones.

Enjoy bottomless drinks with a selection of 16 herbal and flavored teas, coffees and lattes. You can even enjoy a cup of tea from TWG, a luxury brand from Singapore.

This adult-aimed afternoon tea is full of luxurious ingredients, such as parfait-like organic vegetables and salmon micuy, roasted Angus beef, and violet desserts. Spend your afternoon relaxing on the French and Italian crafted sofas while you take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Why not spend an elegant Autumn afternoon enjoying a luxurious afternoon tea, watching out over the iconic zelkova-lined streets of Omotesando?

Between October 1 and 31 2021, Sumida Aquarium will be hosting the ‘HALLOWEEN in Sumida Aquarium’ event, where you can enjoy an exciting Halloween alongside the Jellyfish. 

A workshop will be held at the event, teaching guests all about the floaty, mysterious and ghost-like jellyfish.

The aquarium’s famous 50m ‘Kaleidoscope Tunnel,’ which is formed of 5,000 mirrors, will be transformed into a Halloween wonderland for the ‘Jellyfish and Halloween’ event. Eight aquariums are embedded into the walls, with colorful background panels which feature Halloween motifs such as witches and pumpkins. The jellyfish look just like festive ghosts!

Moon Jellyfish Aquarium in the Kaleidoscope Tunnel 

Each aquarium introduces seven mysterious facts about jellyfish – For example, did you know that jellyfish have no heart, and have tons of eyes?

The mysterious tunnel wall is covered in images of cute jellyfish that transform into ghosts and jack-o-lanterns, while Halloween themed music plays in the background.

A jellyfish comparison workshop

A jellyfish comparison workshop will also be held at the aquarium’s Aqua Academy. Young children can participate in the workshop which explains the visual differences between different types of jellyfish, while crafting a cute jellyfish mobile under staff supervision.

Spend this Halloween at the incredible Sumida Aquarium!

Hotel Gracery Taipei, which can be found inside Taiwan’s TOKYU HANDS Tailung, have opened the new ‘HANDS CONCEPT ROOM’ which offers the experience of visiting Japan without having to get on a plane.

‘Take a Vacation to HANDS’ Room

‘Go Camping at HANDS’ Room

Coupon

TOKYU HANDS Tailung have created two new concept rooms, the ‘Take a Vacation to HANDS’ room and the ‘Go Camping at HANDS’ room. While it is difficult to visit Japan at the moment, these rooms provide an authentic Japanese experience which allows guests to experience the culture and feel the charms of Japan.

The ‘Take a Vacation to HANDS’ room is based on Mount Fuji, Japanese railways, and vending machines, which are popular even in Taiwan. Popular tourist spots are also recreated using famous characters. 

The ‘Go Camping at HANDS’ room is inspired by glamping, which has become popular in Taiwan, using outdoor equipment to create a fun, indoor camping experience.

The guest-limited service also offers guests two 10% coupons, one that can be used while shopping at TOKYU HANDS Tailung and one that can be used for accommodation. During the campaign period, guests who spend over 5,000 Yuan at TOKYU HANDS Tailung will be entered into a lottery to win a one-night stay in the new themed rooms.

 Try Japanese-inspired indoor camping with the new ‘HANDS CONCEPT ROOM!’

Have a Nice TOKYO! (HanT), a new tourist communication center promoting both local and nationwide events and attractions, celebrated its grand opening on September 14, 2021. 

This new facility aims to provide assistance and guidance to both domestic and international visitors, helping with matters relating to sightseeing, culture, food, and technology. It’s three main functions are tourism assistance, providing useful and necessary information, and selling goods from around the country. As the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a major blow against the country’s tourism industry, this new venture was opened in a conveniently-located space, well-suited for the important task of helping the local and nationwide economies when the country opens to travel once again. The nearby Marunouchi Happ. Stand & Gallery, a cafe, will act as a partner facility and will offer a special menu linked to the project. 

Tourism Advice & Guidance

Information Counter

The information counter provides helpful information for tourists regarding events, stores, and facilities in the area. In the future, a variety of tours will be available to choose from, highlighting the attractions of the region, as well as providing ticket sales, luggage storage, and sightseeing vehicles such as buses and rentable bikes. 

Travel Information & Assistance

POP UP ZONE

In the POP UP ZONE, visitors can experience all sorts of unique things from around Japan using the five senses! See, hear, and taste different areas of the country using crafts, food, and technology, and get personalized recommendations regarding where to explore next!

Sale of Goods

SHOP ZONE

See, smell, or taste something you liked in the POP UP ZONE? The SHOP ZONE will offer tons of different specialty products from all around Japan!

Be sure to stop by the next time you’re in Tokyo!

American music-themed restaurant Hard Rock Cafe has locations across Japan, and the Ueno location is now selling some very cute black-and-white goods. At the nearby Ueno Zoo, the oldest in Japan, two giant pandas were recently born, and that’s cause for celebration! Limited quantities of these goods will be on sale at the physical location and online starting September 18, 2021!

Twin Pandas Pin #1

Twin Pandas Pin #2 (Only available at Online Shop.) 

These two original pins depicting the two newly-born pandas with the Hard Rock’s signature guitar are available in gold (online only) and silver. 

Panda T-shirt

Grab one of these before they sell out–they’re going quick! This cute original design will look perfect as you walk through the zoo gates, ready to show your love for pandas and rock music. 

Guests presenting an Ueno Zoo ticket stub or annual pass at the Ueno Hard Rock Cafe location will receive 10% off. (Full details available on the Hard Rock Cafe website.)

Congrats to the happy family!

Sebastian Masuda is a powerhouse of all things cute. From starting the popular Harajuku-based brand 6%DOKIDOKI in 1995 to creating the now-legendary music video for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s PONPONPON, Masuda is now celebrating 30 years in the industry. An exhibition of the artist’s works will be shown in an upcoming exhibition in both Tokyo and Osaka from Fall 2021 until 2022. Prior to that, a Sebastian Masuda pop-up shop is coming to Roppongi Hills and Shibuya PARCO starting this month!

From September 23 until October 17, the art goods brand Sebastian Masuda ART will hold a pop-up shop within the Mori Art Museum Shop on the third floor of Roppongi Hills West Walk. In addition to the latest art goods, including the brand-new ‘Inner Voyage’ series, a number of Masuda’s colorful art pieces will be on display, with some being for sale. 

When visiting Roppongi Hills, don’t forget to head up to the 52nd floor for the 60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition: The Beginning of Kawaii, running from September 17 until January 10, 2022. Sebastian Masuda’s work ‘Unforgettable Tower’ will be on display when entering the event, while the Tokyo City View store will be selling some of the artist’s products! Basically, both the 3rd and 52nd floors will be nothing but kawaii. 

Mori Art Museum Shop

Stickers: ¥550 – ¥2,860 (Tax Included)

 Inner Voyage T-Shirt: ¥7,480 (Tax Included)

Microcosmos -Tattoo Pink & Me-   

Sebastian Masuda & 6%DOKIDOKI 1995→2021

Mesh Top:  ¥10,450 (Tax Included)

Long Sleeve T-Shirt: ¥8,250 (Tax Included)

DOKI DOKI Earrings: ¥4,290 (Tax Included) / Logo Plate Necklace: ¥7,590 (Tax Included) / 6% Logo Pochette: ¥6,050 (Tax Included)

Charm Pouch – Kawaii Company: ¥2,860 (Tax Included) / Sebastian Masuda STUDIO COLOR PALETTE: ¥4,400 – ¥2,860 (Tax Included) Felissimo

The Sebastian Masuda & 6%DOKIDOKI 1995→2021 event will be held from September 17 to October 3 at Hobonichi CultureN, located inside Shibuya PARCO. Guests will be able to look back at the 26-year history of the 6%DOKIDOKI brand. 

2021, much like 2020, has lost a lot of it’s brightness due to the ongoing pandemic. Why not surround yourself with some kawaii goods to raise your spirits? 

Taiwan-based e-commerce platform Pinkoi, one of Asia’s largest, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a special project! Virtual model imma is the face of the campaign as a character named ‘Pin Tripper,’ and a new web commercial featuring the personality along with a song written by popular artist Daoko is now available! In addition, the newest issue of the web magazine ‘Pinkoi Zine’ is also available on the official Pinkoi website, featuring a tour of unique items from cities around Asia in the style of a travel report. 

For the campaign, the Pantone Color Institute defined Pinkoi’s two corporate brand colors, ‘Pinkoi Navy’ and ‘Pinkoi Salmon Pink.’ Japanese illustrator Noritake then designed the Pinkoi x Noritake Limited Collaboration line of goods using these unique shades. These will only be available for a short time, so be sure to snag some while you can!

Comments

imma

“Pinkoi is fun to use, because it allows you to find trendy items from cities all over Asia. I found lots of items I don’t come across very often, and items that made me feel as though I were travelling around the continent. (laugh) I hope that you’ll enjoy the new web commercial and the special ‘Pin Trip Report’ in the newest Pinkoi Zine issue! And, of course, enjoy shopping at Pinkoi too.

Daoko

For this campaign, I was able to create a new song with trackmaker Yohji Igarahi. The theme was ‘sense of speed.’ I think I was able to express my identity as a rapper, while also maintaining the important image of neon lights shining at night. My impression of Pinkoi is that it has a huge variety of products not available on typical Japanese sites, and as someone who loves online shopping, I was super excited to work with them!

A new collaborative exhibition is coming to WHAT CAFE in Tokyo! The WHAT CAFE x DELTA EXHIBITION -EXPANSION- will run from September 25 until October 24, and will give guests some incredible pieces to ponder while sipping some warm coffee. 

WHAT CAFE is an art and culture facility opened with the goal of supporting artists with promising futures in the industry. Guests can wander the gallery while enjoying a meal or beverage, with some art being available for purchase.

Flash FINCH – Ji-hae Park

Combination-cut in 2 – Saki Matsumura

Galloping on a Free-floating Planet – Yui Suzuki

real screen – Takuro Sugiyama

This exhibition was inspired by WHAT CAFE’s interest in the activities of DELTA, an art project that helps plan and organize art fairs and exhibitions around Japan. It’s mission is to create a new place connecting galleries, artists, and collectors, while also breaking the norm and making a space that is more accessible. The WHAT CAFE x DELTA EXHIBITION -EXPANSION- will feature 60 works by 17 cutting-edge artists carefully selected from seven different galleries based in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. The showing will ask visitors to expand their minds and become more flexible when pondering the meaning behind each of the pieces on display.

Does this art-gallery-meets-cafe sound like your kind of place? 

Museum-Hotel Gajoen Tokyo will be opening pre-orders for their Patisserie ‘Shiori Kyou 1928’ 2021 Christmas cake selection between October 1 and December 17.

The theme for this year’s Christmas cakes is “Art Temptation,” with seven unique, artistic cakes to choose from. The hotel is full of Japanese beauty and artistry, while the cake line-up features gorgeous cultural motifs and traditional crafts. 

Tamatebako *Limited to 10 cakes

First Layer

Second Layer

A shortcake with strawberries from Kayama Farm.

Pralines & Pistachio

Cassis & Fig

Coffee & Tonka

Fromage & Cru

Stollen

This year’s lineup, of course, features the standard seasonal products; First is the Tamate Box, a two-tiered box made of chocolate, filled with cakes, gateaux, pound cake, and more. The Kayama Farm Strawberry Shortcake is their most popular product and is covered in high quality brand strawberries. The Stollen, with its spicy accents, is perfect for adults.

Alongside them is a selection of four new products; The Praline & Pistachio cake, which is covered in poinsettia and pine-shaped chocolate, and the Cassis & Fig is formed of four delicate, paper-cutting inspired layers. The Coffee & Tonka has a mature, bitter flavor and is topped with a Christmas tree, while the Fromage & Cru is made of a refreshing combination of cheese and apples.

Enjoy a precious moment that can be enjoyed by both adults and children with these beautiful and artistic cakes!

TOKYO 23, a shop promoting basketball culture, is set to reopen as a large-scale shop in Harajuku on September 18, 2021. 

TOKYO 23 x JUN INOUE TEE (Black/White): ¥5,500 each (Tax Included)

Guests will enter the space to find a basketball court at the center, both keeping with the theme of the shop and maintaining a minimalist vibe. The location is bold, using a balance of different upcycled materials and gray-tone colors reminiscent of the Tokyo streets. 

JUN INOUE was in charge of designing the lanterns throughout the store, giving a more traditional Japanese feel to the modern storefront. The store is dotted with artworks by Inoue as well as Reina Koyano, both located in Los Angeles. 

The coffee shop “LATTEST” will also be a permanent fixture in the store, and is the perfect place for visitors to relax and take in the art and feeling of the TOKYO 23 store. To commemorate the opening of this massive space, special collaborative JUN INOUE x TOKYO 23 T-shirts will be on sale for a limited time. 

BANDAI NAMCO Amusement is hosting a character pop-up store for anime ‘Kuroko’s Basketball,’ featuring new illustrations of the characters dressed in trad style. The shop will be open from September 16 2021 at the Atre Akihabara Store, stocking original goods using the new artwork.

Kuroko’s Basketball Acrylic Stand trad style ver. (7 types): ¥1,980 each (Tax Incl.)

Kuroko’s Basketball Can Badge trad style ver. (7 types): ¥540 each (Tax Incl.)

Kuroko’s Basketball A4 Acrylic File trad style ver.: ¥550 (Tax Incl.)

Kuroko’s Basketball Cloth Poster trad style ver.: ¥1,800 (Tax Incl.)

Kuroko’s Basketball Spoon trad style ver. (7 types): ¥1,200 each (Tax Incl.)

Kuroko’s Basketball Fork trad style ver. (7 types): ¥1,200 each (Tax Incl.)

Kuroko’s Basketball Acrylic Board trad style ver. (7 types): ¥530 per lottery ticket, A Prize

Kuroko’s Basketball Jacket Style Acrylic Keychain trad style ver. (7 types): ¥530 per lottery ticket, B Prize

Kuroko’s Basketball Can Badge trad style ver. (7 types): ¥530 per lottery ticket, C Prize

Kuroko’s Basketball Die-cut Illustration Sheet trad style ver. (7 types): ¥530 per lottery ticket, D Prize (random)

Be sure to check out this limited shop to immerse yourself in the world of Kuroko’s Basketball!

©Fujimaki Tadatoshi / Shueisha, Kuroko’s Basketball Production Committee