OH MY CAFE, a chain of cafes in Japan, is now running a special Pixar-themed food event called ‘PIXAR FEST’ which will run in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

“Keep On Smiling” is the the concept of the event, which will serve up a whole range of different foods including a Lightning McQueen exclusive on September 5, a special drink inspired by Disney Pixar’s Onward which released earlier this year, a collection of strawberry desserts centred on Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear to celebrate Toy Story’s 25th anniversary, and more. There’s lots to see, so we follow MIOCHIN to the Tokyo event in Omotesando.

PIXAR FEST at OH MY CAFE is packed full of exciting things for both kids and adults alike. Here’s our report.

The fun begins even before you enter the cafe, as at the entrance, you are met with a wall poster of numerous popular Pixar characters.

The moment you step inside, Sully is there ready to greet you! You can even take a picture with him, so if you visit, don’t miss the chance.

You’ll find familiar faces scattered all around the cafe, like Woody, Buzz, Mike, Nemo. The decorations and designs are really wonderful.

The original menu has a cute lineup too, with dishes, drinks, and desserts inspired by characters from the animated movies.

The food tastes really good too, so be sure to pick out a menu item based on your favourite movie.

Until October 9, you can order the special Onward and Lightning McQueen menu items. This includes ‘Ian & Barley’s Pink Sunset Blue Mallow Tea’ and ‘Lightning McQueen’s Kachow Lightning Hamburger Sandwich.’ You can see the full menu lineup here. It makes you want to watch Pixar movies all day then grab some Pixar food!

Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear from Toy Story 3 will have his own special menu items too: the ‘Lots-o’s Strawberry Chicken Hamburger’ and ‘Lots-o’-s Strawberry Drink.’ These will be served from October 10 to November 24.

The cafe has its own collection of PIXAR FEST merchandise in three different types: the “PIXAR FEST Series” which uses the cafe’s main visual for its design, the “Vintage Series” which uses a cute purple, and the “Alien Mix” which has a pop design with the Little Green Men from Toy Story.

Customers can also receive a limited-edition OH MY CAFE sticker if they order something from the menu, buy some merchandise, and post their thoughts about the cafe and their items on Twitter with the hashtags #キャンペーン #PIXAR FESTカフェで最高の思い出を作ろう #OHMYCAFE. Be sure to get involved if you’re in Japan this summer and autumn.

PIXAR FEST at OH MY CAFE is a dreamland for Pixar fans, and is best experienced in person.

©Disney/Pixar

The Tokyo branch of New York-based restaurant chain Sarabeth’s has announced a special autumn event that goes by the name ‘HIGH TEA TERRACE NIGHT.’ Set to run from September 23 to October 31, customers will be able to sit on a rooftop terrace in the evening with Tokyo’s towering cityscape surrounding them while drinking sparkling wine and other all-you-can-drink free-flow alcoholic beverages—high tea style.

High tea refers to post-dinner evening tea time. At Sarabeth’s, customers can look forward to dining on a special set menu for grown-ups with alcohol and other treats.

High Tea Style Set Menu With Free Drink | ¥5,000 (Before Tax)

Served on an afternoon tea stand, tuck into six different appetisers, meatball sliders, and truffle flavoured French fries. For the main dish, there’s steak made in a red wine sauce and boletus mushrooms. Free drinks include sparkling wine, red and white wine, beer, high balls, cocktails, soft drinks, and more.

Feel the evening breeze of autumn while indulging in a special high tea experience in Tokyo.

Hi, everyone. It’s Banako of MOSHI MOSHI FRIENDS. Today I’m reviewing Chatei Hatou, a long-standing cafe in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Shibuya is a place that bustles with youth culture and fashion. It’s also home to many eateries, but there aren’t many places around that you can go to to get away from the busy streets for a quiet break.

Chatei Hatou opened in 1989 at Miyamasuzaka Shita in Shibuya, where it has gone unchanged and welcomed customers for the past 30 years. It’s very easy to get to, being just a 3-minute stroll from the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station.

When opening the door to the cafe and stepping inside, the first thing to jump out at you are the rows of coffee cups lined up along shelves behind the counter.

The coffee cup collection features a selection of works by many different makers. There’s even a cup in there valued at ¥200,000!

The antiques littered here and there around the cafe elevate the vibe of the cafe. There’s a number of seating areas, including the counter seats as well as tables for two, four, or big groups.

I felt the faint tasty scent of the Japanese pudding calling to me so I went and ordered a pumpkin pudding along with a hot chocolate.

Cafe Chocolat (Hot) ¥950 / Pumpkin Pudding ¥500

The pumpkin pudding was nice and moist and rich in flavour. Nothing short of delicious. It’s made even sweeter when eaten together with the fluffy whipped cream―which also elevates the flavour of the pumpkin too.

I was inspired by the cafe owner to go for the cup I chose for my hot chocolate. There is so much variety between the cups; it’s fun getting to see rare ones. Be sure to check their Instagram page where they have more detailed write-ups about their coffee cups and coffee varieties.

The cafe has a selection of original coffee blends which they make fresh with the utmost care and consideration. You can buy their coffee beans, take cake away from you, and even order whole cakes, so you can enjoy their delights at home.

Chatei Hatou has stood together with Shibuya these past 30 years. According to the owner, the most important thing about running a cafe is making sure its doors are always open. It’s been tough as a result of the pandemic this year, but the cafe is still there as a part of people’s lives.

The next time you’re in Shibuya, why not enjoy a drink and a sit down at Chatei Hatou?

Starbucks Coffee Japan has revealed the second beverage in its Artful Autumn @ Starbucks® series of drinks. The “Candied Sweet Potato Frappuccino®” will be released at Starbucks branches in Japan on September 23, 2020.

Candied Sweet Potato Frappuccino® | Tall Size Only – ¥590

Each drink is made using a whole chopped and blended Japanese daigaku imo candied sweet potato to serve those autumn flavours, with its marbled golden colour also reminiscent of the autumn leaves. It’s topped with whipped cream, black sesame seeds, and sweet potato syrup.

Truly the perfect dessert drink to sip on for the changing seasons.

In this edition of The Café That You Want to Visit to See Someone, I visited Kayaba Coffee, a coffee shop in Yanaka, Tokyo, which is a perfect example of the old and traditional shitamachi neighbourhoods.

Kayaba Coffee is just a 10-minute walk from both Nezu Station and Nippori Station.

This is a place I’ve visited in my private time out of work and I’m always excited to go. Kayaba Coffee was established in 1938, and actually closed in 2006. But due to public demand, the cafe reopened just two years later in 2008. It’s a popular coffee shop loved by people of all generations.

Time to head on in.

The first floor houses the counter and table seats, while the seating on the second floor is traditional zashiki style on tatami flooring. Although it’s a cafe, you I feel so relaxed in there that it’s like I’m visiting my grandma’s house. The sun shines through the big windows, making you all warm and want to take a nap.

I ordered their super popular egg sandwich! The menu was changed in May this year, and a new and improved version of their egg sandwich was put on there. It’s made using sourdough bread from VANER, a local bakery in Uenosakuragi not far from the cafe.

Breakfast Menu – Egg Sandwich | ¥1,000

The chewy, sour bread is the perfect combination with the fluffy eggs.

Lemon Squash | ¥600

The lemon squash has a cinnamon aftertaste. Everything on the menu is made with love and perfection; before I realised it, I was hooked on going there.

Strawberry Shaved Ice | ¥800

This was my first shaved ice of the year! I went with the classic strawberry flavour. The syrup is super juicy and nearly collapsed the fluffy shaved ice the moment I put it on. It has a syrupy texture and the strawberry juice has a sweet and sour kick that’s just simply delightful♡

And you can make it even sweeter by pouring over your desired amount of condensed milk. It was really tasty.

Kayaba Coffee is the same as it was back in the day, and continues to be loved dearly. I think even people who visit it for the first time will feel a sense of nostalgia. If you have a place you can go to relax on bad days or when you’re feeling down, it’s sure to give you the strength to work hard again. This cafe is a wonderful place that’s close to people’s hearts.

I want to visit there again already.

Writer/Model: Ema Tanioku
Photographer: Haruka Yamamoto
Design: Yuko Takayama (ASOBISYSTEM)

Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

A new spaghetti carbonara restaurant by the name of Nama Carbonara opened in Harajuku, Tokyo on September 17, 2020.

The restaurant opened in the same building as Harajuku’s popular fresh cream shop MILK and bubble tea shop Mot Tram. The restaurant makes its own fresh flat pasta everyday and uses fresh, rich cream sourced from Hokkaido.

The current menu lineup consists of six dishes, from classic carbonara to Japanese twists. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Classic Carbonara | ¥790

Walleye Pollack Roe Japanese Carbonara | ¥1,090

Freshly Grated Cheese & Bacon Carbonara | ¥1,090

Seafood, Avocado & Basil Carbonara | ¥1,190

Discover a brand new world of carbonara like never before at Nama Carbonara in Harajuku.

Tower Records Shibuya will host an exhibition dedicated to the ongoing manga series Tokyo Revengers from September 26 to October 18. The exhibition is being held to promote the release of the 19th volume which hits shelves in Japan on September 17.

Tokyo Revengers is a manga series written and illustrated by Ken Wakui. An anime adaptation is scheduled to broadcast in 2021.

The exhibition will feature a variety of works drawn by Ken Wakui for the series, both black and white as well as coloured illustrations, as well as panels of each character, and more. There will also be an exhibit for the upcoming live-action film.

Tokyo Revengers x TOWER RECORDS OSMO Stamps (22 Designs) | ¥909 Each (Before Tax)

Tokyo Revengers Monochrome Panels | ¥30,000 Each (Before Tax, Includes Shipping)

Fans can also get their hands on a range of exhibition-exclusive merchandise, and from October, the exhibition will sell some Tokyo Revengers x Tower Records collaborative merch. There’ll be some signed artwork for sale too.

Character Business Cards (11 Designs)

And for every ¥1,000 spent at the exhibit, fans will receive one of 11 possible character business cards.

Crayon Shin-chan: Crash! Rakuga Kingdom and Almost Four Heroes was released on September 11, 2020 as the 28th animated feature film in the Crayon Shin-chan series. To promote the film, a themed cafe is set to open at BOX cafe&space in the city of Koshigaya in Saitama Prefecture from October 1 to November 1.

The cafe originally opened at TOKYO PARADE inside Shibuya PARCO back in March for a limited time, and now it’s headed north of Tokyo to Saitama.

Shin-chan fans can look forward to a menu lineup of dishes, drinks, and desserts inspired by the film’s theme of “drawing.”

Rakuga Kingdom Cafe Crayon Shin-chan Curry | ¥1,390 (Before Tax)

The Shin-chan curry is a spicy yellow curry combined with coconut milk. The white sauce is inspired by the light blue colour of the smocks worn at Futaba Kindergarten in the series.

Rakuga Kingdom Cafe Buriburizaemon Curry | ¥1,390 (Before Tax)

This one’s a spicy black masala curry centred on Buriburizaemon.

Uki Uki Da Zo Crayon Shin-chan Pancakes | ¥1,390 (Before Tax)

Pancakes toped with cream and a cute Shin-chab illustration. It’s served with a wafer featuring pictures of other characters from the film.

Minna Suki ni Kakeba? Rakugaki Pudding Plate | ¥1,390 (Before Tax)

Two pudding tarts and a crepe which you can draw on with a chocolate pen to create your own cute illustrations like Shin-chan.

Shin-Chan’s Miracle Colourful Jelly Soda ¥890 | Shiro’s Cotton Candy Strawberry Milk ¥990 (Before Tax)

A soda served with jelly in five different colours and a strawberry milk topped with Shiro who’s made from cotton candy. It becomes a sweet strawberry milk as soon as the cotton candy hits and melts into the drink.

Pin Badges (8 Designs) | ¥400 (Before Tax)

Canvas Art | ¥3,500 (Before Tax) *Limited edition

Bonus Items

The merchandise lineup features items with original artwork. There’s also bonus items for customers who book a table in advance as well as order a drink.

Enter the Rakugaki Kingdom of drawing at the limited-time Crayon Shin-chan cafe.

ⒸYoshito Usui/Futabasha・Shinei・TV Asahi・ＡＤＫ 2020

Chun Shui Tang, a chain of Taiwanese bubble tea stores, is adding a new limited-time drink to the menus of all branches in Japan on September 16: the “Tapioca Sweet Potato Milk Tea.”

Tapioca Sweet Potato Milk Tea | ¥650 (Before Tax)

The beverage is made with annouimo sweet potatoes grown on the island of Tanegashima in Kagoshima Prefecture. The potatoes are known for their high sugar content, adding a delicious natural sweetness to the tea. It’s blended with a high grade sugar syrup and topped off with whipped cream and sweet potato chips to create a dessert drink.

Those who order the drink via the Smatapi (スマタピ) app from September 9 can get the drink early before its general release on September 16.

In Japan for the autumn season? Enjoy the tasty autumn flavour of sweet potato with the Tapioca Sweet Potato Milk Tea.

Shibuya is set to welcome tourists to its all-new tourist information centre SHIBU HACHI BOX which will open on October 1, 2020.

Conveniently located outside of Shibuya Station next to Shibuya’s iconic Scramble Crossing and Hachiko statue, SHIBU HACHI BOX, managed by PLAY! DIVERSITY SHIBUYA, will act as the hub for tourist and sightseeing information on events, food, shopping, hotels, and more.

The centre will also house a PR space for its supporting partner NTT Docomo which will offer entertainment and video content related to the latest in technology and more.

SHIBU HACHI BOX will be ready waiting to welcome the people of the world to Shibuya as they step outside of the famous Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station.

eXcafe Kyoto Arashiyama is collaborating with Kyoto Neko Neko to release a new breakfast menu order on September 15, 2020.

eXcafe Kyoto Arashiyama sits in an alley off the main street of Arashiyama, one of Kyoto’s most famous sightseeing spots. The cafe is home to a spacious 400㎡ modern Japanese garden.

Hoku Hoku Dango Set

The cafe is open from 10am-6pm and is so popular that it’s common to always see a line of people waiting to go in. Some of their most popular dishes include the “Hoku Hoku Dango Set” which has you frying your own dango using a traditional Japanese shichirin BBQ, and the “Kuromaru Roll” roll cake.

Ikusu Cafe Breakfast | ¥1,280 (Before Tax)

The cafe’s collaboration with Kyoto Neko Neko comes with cute thick-cut cat-shaped bread that you fry on a charcoal shichirin.

Toast toppings include red bean paste, butter, whipped cream, and fruits which you are free to use to create your own topping combination. The breakfast also comes with two mitarashi dango for dessert.

Tokyu Food Show Edge and +Q Beauty inside Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Square mixed-use skyscraper are now serving a succulent selection of autumn fruit desserts, incorporating autumn flavours like chestnuts, apples, and Japan’s famous Shine Muscat grapes.

Let’s take a look, and try not to drool too much on your keyboard.

MORI YOSHIDA PARIS

Mont Blanc | ¥918 (Tax Included)

A mont blanc with cream draped around like a helix. Inside you will find Crème Chantilly and chestnuts, while the base is baked in parcel.

apple & roses

Caramel Apple Rose Cake/Raspberry Rose Cake | ¥2,160 (Tax Included)

These rich butter and almond rose cakes come in two flavours: caramel apple with apples specially selected from Nagano Prefecture, and raspberry, which add a sweet and sour kick.

Péché Mignon

Feuilletée (Box of Two) | ¥756 (Tax Included)

Feuilletée pies filled with a chestnut paste which add a delightful sweetness. The box contains two base flavours: chestnut and chestnut chocolate.

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Fresh Fruit Tablet Shine Muscat | ¥2,592 (Tax Included)

Whole specially selected Shine Muscat grapes wrapped in chocolate and shaped into a tablet bar. The chocolate is a rich 70% Piura Quemazon from Pacari Chocolate which blends deliciously with the grape juice.

Atelier Anniversary

Whole Chestnut Pound Cakes (Set of 4) | ¥1,404 (Tax Included)

The dough is combined with chestnut paste and each mini pound cake contains a whole chestnut.

ANNA’S by Landtmann

Red Apple | ¥693 (Tax Included) *Eat-in price

This apple cake is filled with apple mousse, chocolate mousse, and chocolate sponge. The entire thing is coated in a red apple glaze, giving it a cute appearance.