To celebrate one year since opening, the Shibuya PARCO branch of Gucci in Tokyo is collaborating with the Nakameguro-based cassette tape shop waltz from November 20 to December 6.

waltz is a vintage-style boutique with shelves lined with old music and VHS tapes, cassette players, books, vinyl records, fashion and design magazines, stereo equipment, and more. Self-described as the “ultimate destination for retro multi media,” the shop is a real nostalgia trip nostalgia, and is one of 13 Gucci Places alongside places like Chatsworth House in the UK and LACMA in Los Angeles.

Gucci Shibuya PARCO features its own booth where people can listen to old cassette tapes from waltz’s Secret Room. The song selection includes tracks from the 1970’s, which Gucci’s Epilogue collection is inspired by, a playlist created by Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, and more.

Gucci Shibuya PARCO incorporates Shibuya’s creative and innovative spirit while lacing it with Gucci’s contemporary and eclectic perspective.

Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, is adding the new “Caramel Pika Pika Frappe” to its menu this holiday season from December 5, 2020 to January 15, 2021.

Caramel Pika Pika Frappe | ¥700 (Before Tax)

The adorable beverage is based on the Japanese custard pudding known as purin. It’s laced with caramel sauce, closed off with a squirt of whipped cream, and finished with a sprinkling of chocolate chips for accent.

Pikachu Sleeves

The drink also comes with one of four possible Pikachu sleeves which feature designs in promotion of the upcoming animated film Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (also known as Pokémon the Movie: Coco) which will be released in Japan on December 25, 2020 and in the US in 2021.

© 2020 Pokémon.©1995-2020 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
Pokémon, ポケットモンスター, and ポケモン are registered trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and GAME FREAK inc.
© Nintendo･Creatures･GAME FREAK･TV Tokyo･ShoPro･JR Kikaku
© Pokémon © 2020 Pikachu Project

Japanese creative company BAKERU has opened bookings for the new entertainment restaurant and bar SOAK which is set to open on November 13, 2020 on the top floor of MIYASHITA PARK’s new brand hotel “sequence MIYASHITA PARK” in Shibuya, Tokyo. The restaurant will served up a ‘Japanese innovative’ menu made by Takeshi Nagashima of Nishiazabu 81 and Hideaki Nagaya of L’Effervescence.

An otherworldly restaurant and bar serving Japanese innovative cuisine

“BUILD NEO TOKYO” is the theme of SOAK. SOAK welcomes by Takeshi Nagashima of Nishiazabu 81 which delivers performance style-entertainment to customes, and Hideaki Nagaya of L’Effervescence, who was chosen for “JAPANESE CUSINE TOP 5 CHEF IN HONG KONG.” Bartending will be Takashi Goto who has worked as the main bartender at Sake Bar DECIBEL in New York and Shampoo in Shinjuku Golden Gai.

An event and party space which can hold up to 100 people

Located just a 3-minute walk from Shibuya Station, SOAK can be used as a party and event space with a maximum capacity of 100 people whether it be a wedding reception or a gathering of friends, family, or business, as well as for events, catering to any and every need. The space was designed by Noiz, a leading interior designer in Japan. The monuments were designed by contemporary artist Akira Yoshida, while the audio design is by Acoustic Engineering and the music is selected by Hirokazu Yamasaki from the post-rock and instrumental band Toe.

OYU: The rooftop terrace offering a panoramic view of Shibuya

Take in a panoramic view of Shibuya atop the rooftop terrace, and enjoy the pool either in the sunlight or shrouded luxuriously in the night with gorgeous illuminations and a glass in hand.

The pre-opening is set for November 13, 2020, but this is subject to change depending on the state of the pandemic.

Starbucks Coffee Japan has revealed that its second instalment of its limited-edition holiday season 2020 beverages will be the “Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate” and “Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate Frappuccino®” which customers can order from November 24. A new batch of festive Starbucks merch will also hit Japanese branches on November 30.

A harmonious fusion of matcha and sweet white chocolate

Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate Frappuccino® Tall ¥590 (Tall-size only)

Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate: Short ¥450 / Tall ¥490 / Grande ¥530 / Venti® ¥570 (Hot option only)

Matcha is one of Starbucks Japan’s signature flavours and just to happens to have been in the spotlight in last year’s holiday season drinks. This year sees marbling mixture of of rich matcha sauce and sweet white chocolate syrup with the Frappuccino®, finished with a squirt of whipped cream, brownie bits, and snowy powdered sugar. The hot version comes as a marriage of matcha and white mocha mixed together with steamed milk to warm the cockles of hearts during the cold months.

New holiday season merchandise

The theme of the second batch of merchandise is “Brilliant Season” which capture the bright and sparkly vibe of winter like with the snowflake-covered stainless steel bottle, a glass mug with beads in it that move around when shaken, a snow globe, and more. The perfect line-up for capturing the holiday season mood during your coffee break.

Starbucks Japan is currently serving the Berry x Berry No-Bake Cheesecake Frappuccino® and Berry x Berry White Mocha holiday season drinks for the holiday season until November 24 when they will be replaced by the Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate and Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate Frappuccino®. It is also serving the Starbucks® Christmas Blend, Gingerbread Latte, and Macadamia Toffee Latte until Christmas Day.

Two branches of Animate Cafe, Animate Cafe Ikebukuro 3 and Animated Cafe Nagoya 2, are set to collaborate with Attack on Titan from November 25 in promotion of the anime’s upcoming final season which will begin airing on December 7. This marks Animate Cafe’s fourth collaboration with the anime.

Menu

Animate Cafe held a poll amongst customers who dined at the previous Attack on Titan collaboration cafes to find out what the most popular dishes were. These have been chosen to go on the menu for this collaboration.

5 Years Colossal Hamburger & Mother’s Handmade Stew | ¥1,000

Eren Meringue & Bertholdt Tart | ¥750

Hange’s Experiment Drink | ¥600

Eren’s Death Wish Drink | ¥600

New additions to the menu include Hange’s Experiment Drink and Eren’s Death Wish Drink.

The Final Season Special Rose Cake | ¥750

Gorgeous Champagne Jelly | ¥600

Original merchandise

Big Acrylic Stands (4 Designs) | ¥1,600

Trading Pins (A Group: 6 Designs/B Group: 7 Designs/C Group: 4 Designs) | ¥400 Each

Print Cookies | ¥1,000 Each (Comes with 1 illustration card)

©️Hajime Isayama・Kodansha / Attack on Titan The Final Season Production Committee

Sai Sai Jaran Jaran is a featured series here on MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON from the members of the all-female band SILEN SIREN (aka Sai Sai) who visit various hot spots in Japan and experience different things, the Sai Sai way.

In Episode #10, SILENT SIREN drummer Hinanchu wanted to go and stay at a hotel in Tokyo, so she decided to take a trip to sequence MIYASHITA PARK, a new hotel inside Shibuya’s new landmark shopping complex MIYASHITA PARK which itself opened in August 2020.

The newly-reborn MIYASHITA PARK is a four-storey shopping complex with stores located on the first three floors and the top floor being home to the park. The park houses a range of exercise and sports sites like a skate park and bouldering wall as well as the green area and even a Starbucks. This park is so spacious that it’s easy to forget it’s right next to busy Shibuya Station. It has been open for three months now and is already adored by the community.

sequence MIYASHITA PARK is an 18-storey hotel that stands on the north side of MIYASHITA PARK. It can even be accessed from the complex’s fourth floor park which leads visitors to the lobby lounge. The park side of the hotel is also home to a cafe called VALLEY PARK STAND.

VALLEY PARK STAND can be used by non-guests at the hotel too and is open from morning to night time. The windows tower from the floor to the ceiling, allowing plenty of natural light into the cafe. There’s plenty of seating areas with table seats, sofas, and benches.

MIYA PITA CHICKEN SHAWARMA ¥900 | FRENCH FRIES & COCKTAIL COMBO ¥800 (Tax Included)

VALLEY PARK STAND is a cafe themed on a fictitious valley park, acting as one big park situated in the middle of bustling Shibuya. Adventuring through the valley park is best done with one of the cafe’s signature “MIYA PITA” pita sandwiches in hand.

The cafe offers a selection of coffees, pastries, and pitas for lunch and breakfast. In the evenings, customers can switch to the bar to enjoy something alcoholic. Their original craft cocktails are very popular and are made by a bartender who honed their craft while working in New York.

Hinanchu ordered the “Park & Pomegranate Bellini.” Normally hotel cocktails are small, but the ones served at VALLEY PARK STAND are much more generous.

The cafe even sell their own merchandise, from mugs to tumblers and even picnic blankets so you can have a picnic in MIYASHITA PARK if the weather calls for it!

For more information about VALLEY PARK STAND, check out our full breakdown here.

VALLEY PARK STAND
Address: sequence MIYASHITA PARK 4F, 6-20-10 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 7:30-23:00 (Last Orders 22:30)
TEL: 03-6712-5442

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valleyparkstand/

The hotel check-in lounge can be found on fourth floor, the same as VALLEY PARK STAND. Check-in uses a new unmanned self-service system so all you need to do is follow the instructions.

Guest rooms are simple but the furniture and fixtures are of high quality. Hinanchu stayed in the 4-person “BUNK BED 4” room. Prices vary depending on the season, but it can cost less than ¥5,000 for one person to stay in a 4-person room which is a bargain!

The wide windows in guest rooms look out across MIYASHITA PARK. Depending on the hotel room you’re in, you’ll also be able to see landmarks like Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. The windows also read “Hi, TOKYO!” on them which makes for the perfect photo opportunity.

All rooms are also fitted with reading material by young authors. If you scan the QR code next to their piece, you can learn more about them and even make a donation.

Check-in is at 17:00 and check-out is 14:00 so guests can enjoy their stay leading into the early afternoon of the next day. The MIYASHITA PARK shops open at 11:00, so after checking-out, guests can go straight to shopping or lunch.

So, how did you find MIYASHITA PARK, Hinanchu?

“I’ve always lived in Tokyo, so I never imagined I’d stay in Shibuya, but you can really feel like a queen staying here! Despite it being smack bang in the middle of Tokyo, it’s right next to the park which feels good. I definitely recommend it to those who live in rural areas that want to come and play in Tokyo since places like Shibuya and Harajuku are close by. The hotel is littered with art and stylish design, so it’s not simply a stay but a creative experience too which I think will be popular with foreigners. I want to come here again on my own for a relaxing time!”

On the fifth floor of the hotel is the restaurant and bar Dōngxī Restaurant & Sakaba which offers both breakfast, and dinner. The new entertainment restaurant and bar SOAK is also opening on November 13.

If you’re thinking of staying in Tokyo or Shibuya, be sure to look up sequence MIYASHITA PARK.

Photo: Kayo Sekiguchi
Text: Sayoko Ishii

Translation: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

Pinkoi, the company that runs Asia’s biggest global e-commerce site of the same name, has announced a collaboration with Dick Bruna’s popular character Miffy, who is celebrating her 65th anniversary this year. A special pop-up store that will open up at Hotel Koe Tokyo from November 19 to December 6.

Miffy fans can look forward to getting their hands on 180 different exclusive items made in collaboration with designers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, China, and Japan

Pinkoi x Miffy 〜TRAVEL with Miffy〜

“TRAVEL with Miffy” is the name of the collaboration which features a collection of travel-themed Miffy goods.

Merchandise (Sample)

Re-Mask (Hong Kong) | Face Masks

Face masks have become a normal part of everybody’s life this year as a result of the pandemic, so why not go for a cute design? These cotton masks were made by a face mask company in Hong Kong and come in a variety of colours such s white, pink, and navy.

agooday (Taiwan) | Food Eco Bag

An eco-bag perfect for taking to the supermarket when grocery shopping. The inside of the bag is made from vinyl so can be washed. Its small size also makes it conveniently compact for carrying around.

一帆布包 (Taiwan) | Drink Holder

This drink sleeve has a strap on it so you can carry around your hot or cold beverage like a handbag. These are made by a Taiwanese bag brand which has been going for over 30 years.

pupupu (Japan) | Bags

Cute bags with minimalist designs and made from warm and fluffy material perfect for the winter season. Miffy’s ears are actually the handles.

寺沼麻美 (Japan) | Mobiles

These cute Miffy mobiles are all handmade, with swaying stars and clouds to help you drift you off to sleep.

Limited Edition Presents

Stickers / Tote Bag / Handkerchief

There’s also a selection of goodies visitors can get their hands on. If they post on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook using the hashtag #pinkoixmiffy while at the pop-up store they can get some Miffy stickers. If they spend over ¥8,000 they’ll get the tote bag. Pinkoi members will get one of four possible Miffy handkerchiefs.

Special Website

A special page for the pop-up store will open on Pinkoi’s official website on November 12 less than a week before the pop-up store opens so Miffy fans can order items online early.

PARCO Pte Ltd, the Singaporean division of Japanese department store chain PARCO, opened the new Jurassic World Café at ION Sky on the 56th floor of the ION Orchard shopping centre in Singapore on November 6, 2020. The café comes as the first Jurassic World Café to open in South East Asia and serves an original line-up of food and drink, an exhibit of everybody’s favourite Velociraptor Blue from Jurassic World, a selection of exclusive merchandise, and more.

Jurassic World Café Singapore

The Jurassic World film series is hugely popular in Singapore, and so it’s only fitting that the country gets its own themed cafe. The menu is diverse, consisting of a special selection created by PARCO’s own The Guest Cafe & Diner as well as local food like Nasi Lemak, unique picks like the Brachiosaurus Mint Pandan beverage, and much more. There will even be a merchandise shop for fans to pick up a souvenir on their way home.

PARCO Singapore has collaborated with The Guest Cafe & Diner, a cafe which collaborates with franchises and of which there are five branches in Japan, on five separate occasions up and down South East Asia, including the Minions Cafe which opened for a limited time in Singapore in 2017. PARCO Singapore is continuing to expand its reach outside of Singapore with other collaborative cafes and exhibitions.

The Menu

Danger lurks at every corner in Jurassic World, and that fact is captured in the menu line-up.

Cafe Bonus Items

There will also be special gifts given to customers.

To see the full line-up, be sure to check out the official website below and pay a visit to Jurassic World Café Singapore.

The chilly winter season is on the horizon, but Kirby Café Tokyo and Kirby Café Hakata will keep customers warm with their new winter menu which will be served from November 11, 2020 to February 28, 2021.

Kirby Café Winter Menu

Food

Winter Kirby Burger & Clam Chowder Pasta | ¥2,680 (Before Tax) *Comes with souvenir plate

Mogu Mogu Kirby’s Poka Poka Pie Stew | ¥2,680 (Before Tax) *Comes with souvenir cup

Kirby is staying warm and cosy with his scarf on the burger and clam chowder pasta dish. For the stew, Kirby’s entire face is made from pie.

Kirby’s Hot Crumble Bowl | ¥1,980 (Before Tax)

This hot crumble is served in a cute Kirby bento box which you can take away with you.ス

Desserts & Drinks

Ice Dragon☆Pastel Cream Anmitsu | ¥880 (Before Tax)

Kirby Café’s Authentic Oven Baked Pizza ~Berries and White Chocolate~ | ¥1,480 (Before Tax)

The Ice Dragon☆Pastel Cream Anmitsu is a Japanese-style dessert while the pizza is a dessert pizza perfect for wintertime.

Kirby Fighters 2 Menu

Wrestler Kirby Burger | ¥1,580 (Before Tax)

King Dedede & Meta Knight’s Tag Dessert | ¥1,480 (Before Tax)

The cafe is also serving up a meal and dessert in collaboration with the new Nintendo Switch title Kirby Fighters 2.

Kirby Café Original Merchandise

Postcards | ¥150 Each (Before Tax)

Winter Blanket | ¥2,700 (Before Tax)

A selection of exclusive and seasonal Kirby Café merchandise.

IKEA Japan has announced that it will open a new branch in Shibuya, Tokyo, on November 30, 2020.

IKEA Shibuya comes soon after IKEA Harajuku which opened in June of this year. The new branch will boast seven floors: the first six will offer lifestyle products and open on November 30 while the 7th floor will house the restaurant which is set to open in Spring 2021.

A special pre-opening will be available to IKEA Family members on November 27 and 28 who can get their hands on products before anyone else at a special price. Members must book their place by November 10.

A special exhibition centred on the popular manga series The Promised Neverland will take place at Roppongi Hills Tokyo City View in Tokyo from December 11, 2020.

The Promised Neverland is a manga series written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu. The series was published in Weekly Shonen Jump and concluded with its final volume on June 15, 2020. A live-action film will be released in December while the anime adaptation’s second season will air next year.

The exhibition will explore and celebrate the world of The Promised Neverland in detail, with displays, illustrations, early conceptions, and much more. A special 19-page manga episode written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu will also be shown.

Fans at the exhibition can also dine at CAFE GRACE FIELD,  the series-themed cafe opening up temporarily at Cafe THE SUN. Let’s take a closer look and see what fans can expect to see at the cafe.

CAFE GRACE FIELD Collaboration Cafe

Illustrative photo showcasing the cafe

The Promised Neverland is set inside Grace Field House, an orphanage in a forest that houses children with no relatives. It’s here that we meet the main characters: Emma, Norman, Ray, and Mom. CAFE GRACE FIELD is inspired by Grace Field House and the children who live in it, with food based on the characters and certain episodes in the series, a cafe latte you can order and get a free coaster with, and many other dishes, drinks, and desserts exclusive to the exhibition.

The Menu

Isabella’s Burger | ¥1,480 (Tax Included)

A hearty hamburger inspired by Isabella, the Mom of Grace Field House, filled with a fat patty, tomatoes, and lettuce. It’s served with chips which are topped with a key that opens all doors in the house.

Emma’s Omelette Rice | ¥1,380 (Tax Included)

A serving of omurice (rice-filled omelette) which features Emma’s trademark lock of hair that sticks up and orange edible flowers scattered over the tomato sauce, all to capture Emma’s smiley personality.

Norman’s Farm Green Curry | ¥1,580 (Tax Included)

A spicy green curry based on Norman standing in the fields of the forest. The plate includes the pen Norman finds which belongs to William Minevra, as well as the name Minevra written in Morse code around the outside of the dish.

Ray’s Final Book Sandwich | ¥1,550 (Tax Included)

This dish is inspired by the scene when Ray gives Emma the last book he reads before escaping the house. The sandwich itself is made to look like the book and is filled with egg salad, crunchy fried fish, and tomatoes.

Full Score Parfait | ¥1,450 (Tax Included)

An assortment of ingredients based on the three main characters in the series who receive a full score: Emma (orange jelly), Norman (panna cotta), and Ray (chocolate pudding and cake). A parfait that’s not overly sweet and displays each of the three characters’ I.D. Numbers which are used for identification in the series.

Little Bunny Shortcake | ¥1,350 (Tax Included)

A mixed berry shortcake with Conny’s precious Little Bunny on top. The bunny is made from milk pudding and sat on a bed of yogurt cream-filled fluffy sponge.

The House’s Lantern Drink | ¥1,050 (Tax Included)

A lantern-style dessert drink with everyone from Grace Field House, topped with chocolate whip, frozen yogurt, and two pieces of orange inspired by Emma’s hair.

The Promised Pendant Drink | ¥1,050 (Tax Included)

A refreshing combination of ginger ale, Calpis, and Blue Curaçao topped off with apple flavoured ice. The blue and green gradation of the beverage is based on the pendant given to Emma by Mujika, a key item of the story.

Emma’s Cafe Latte, Norman’s Cafe Latte, Ray’s Cafe Latte | ¥850 Each (Tax Included)

Three cafe lattes with Emma, Norman, and Ray print on them. Every cup ordered gets you an original coaster. There are three coaster designs, each given randomly for every drink order.

Twitter Campaign – Christmas Edition Cafe Latte

Running: December 11, 2020 – December 25, 2020

From December 11-25, fans who answer the official Twitter quiz correctly have the chance to order the Christmas Edition Cafe Latte. Every cup ordered gets you a special coaster.

©Kaiu Shirai・Posuka Demizu /Shueisha

Starbucks Coffee Japan is set to launch the Starbucks holiday season on November 1 with a selection of special drinks and products. The theme this year is “a Special Holiday with Starbucks Classics.”

With less than two months to go before Christmas, the coffee chain is set to release a variety of seasonal beverages including the Starbucks® Christmas Blend, Gingerbread Latte, and Macadamia Toffee Latte. It will also release the first range of holiday season merchandise on November 6.

Hot and cosy drinks for the holiday season

Macadamia Toffee Latte: Short ¥440 | Tall ¥480 | Grande ¥520 | Venti ® ¥560

Gingerbread Latte: Short ¥420 | Tall ¥460 | Grande ¥500 | Venti ® ¥540

Winter White Chocolate: Short ¥400 | Tall ¥440 | Grande ¥480 | Venti ® ¥520

The spicy Gingerbread Latte is a must-have on the menu during the holiday season at Starbucks, one that latte lovers look forward to every year. And this year, coffee consumers in Japan have two new drinks to look forward to: the Macadamia Toffee Latte which is a crunchy combination of macadamia nuts and sweet toffee, and the snowy powdered sugar-topped Winter White Chocolate.

Starbucks® Christmas Blend and Cranberry Bliss Bar Pairing

From Left: Starbucks® Christmas Blend Espresso Roast | Starbucks® Christmas Blend | Starbucks® Christmas Blonde Roast – ¥1,520 Each (Before Tax)

A cup of Starbucks’s Christmas Blend fills you with that cosy nostalgic feeling of the season. This year’s recipe at Starbucks Japan is inspired by the one first sold in 1984 which has a rich, deep blend. It’s a coffee combination of dark roast Sumatran, Papua New Guinean, Columbian, and Guatemalan coffee beans. There’s also some aged Sumatra coffee in there to elevate the flavour.

Each cup is a complex mix that brings to mind herbs and spices, and hidden within all that a subtle sweetness.

Cranberry Bliss Bar | ¥270 (Before Tax)

Starbucks Japan is bringing back its signature Cranberry Bliss Bar dessert for the holiday season and pairing it with the Christmas Blend. The cake has orange in it which brings a tangy but fresh kick that matches heavenly with the spicy notes.

The First Merchandise Batch

The first batch of holiday season merchandise to drop at Starbucks Japan incorporates Christmas motifs like ribbons, candy canes, and reds and white colouring. The line-up includes a stainless steel bottle with a gingham checked pattern and gold dots to a stainless TOGO cup with a classic design reminiscent of a candy cane, notebooks, and more.

The holiday season is shaping up to be another cosy welcoming again this year at Starbucks Japan.