Worried about what to wear for Halloween this year? No need to panic. If you’re spending your Halloween in Shibuya this year, which is known the world over for its incredible Halloween festivities, then head to Tokyo Culture Culture on October 27 where a very unique event is taking place.

Jimi Halloween is an event that takes out the stress of having to go all out for Halloween as people go dressed as ordinary people. It has been held annually since 2014, with the number of attendees growing each year. Over 800 people took part last year, all clad in their plain clothes.

This year’s event will be split into three slots, with a capacity of 200 people per slot. Sign-ups begin on October 15 at 12:00pm (JST).

Past Examples

①Situational attire

Beauty salon client

Dressing up as someone doing something has been a popular choice at the event recently. You can come up with some creative ideas that’ll make people say, “You came as that?!”

②”I’ve seen people like that!” attire

Flea market woman

There’s always certain types of people that everyone sees, and in Japan this is one of them!

③”I get it, but I don’t get it” attire

Hawaii vibe  uncle

You’ve heard all about them, but have you seen them?

④Work attire

Handing out tissues with pachinko ads on them

Work attire is a go-to at the plain clothes event. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this is the one that started the entire movement.

⑤Miscellaneous attire

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

The final entry is those which are hard to categorise. They serve whatever vibes they are feeling.

Attend this year’s event and show off your own unique ideas!

Royal Park Hotel Tokyo in Nihonbashi has begun its Halloween festivities for 2019, including a bone-chilling black and orange food and dessert menu, spooky decorations, a photo spot in the first floor main lobby, and more.

Check out their mouth-watering sweets assortment! Their Halloween Afternoon Tea set is packed full of autumntime flavours, from the glass desserts, to the apple chiboust, chocolate pocket watches with bats on them, adorable monster burgers, and more.

The hotel is also offering a Halloween Dinner Buffet on weekends and holidays decorated in Halloween colours. Pile your tray with figs and blackcurrants, chestnut mousse, pumpkin tarts, and plenty of other tasty treats, all prepared fresh in the kitchen.

This is just a peek into the hair-raising fun happening right now at Royal Park Hotel Tokyo. There’s also the Halloween Cocktail Fair, Halloween Sweets & Bread event, and much more.

Spend your Halloween here, or even use it as an opportunity to try wearing your Halloween costume out so you’re ready for October 31!

The 25th Kobe Luminarie light festival will take place from December 6 to 15. The theme of this year’s festival is “25 Years, Guided by the Light of Hope” (Original Italian title: Da 25 anni, guidati dalle luci della speranza).

Kobe Luminarie is an illumination festival that has been held annually since 1995 in commemoration of the Great Hanshin earthquake which hit Kobe that year on January 17. The event has continued as a symbol of hope for Kobe and has also become a festival associated with the winter season. Last year’s festival saw around 3.43 million people in attendance.

The “Light Bulbs” make a comeback radiating their warm light

Formerly the doorstep to foreign culture, Nakamachi-dori, lined with countless tasteful stores, will be lined with around 270 meters’ worth of decorations. The entrance decoration, named Frontone, stands almost 22 meters tall with three towering gates each connected to each other. The Sparri Ara is a wide wall of lights which runs 50 meters from Frontone all the way to Kyomachisuji Crossing. And as a special instalment to the 25th run of the festival, the light bulbs used at the first festival will be strung up to create another wall illumination from Itomachi to the East block which will be dubbed the “Memorial Zone.”

The event’s largest light dome

In the eastern amusement park plaza, Cassa Armonica―an illuminated church structure set up every year―will be enveloped in a large 21 meter high dome featuring an arch for the first time standing 4 meters tall in the memorial area

Over in the floral clock area, the Sparri Ara wall lights twinkle beside the wisteria trees. The lights will change and transform to the sound of the music. Attendees will also be able to pick up small gifts too as well as take pictures at the various photo spots.

Earthquake Talk Booth

Talks will be held discussing the origins of Kobe Luminarie and why it started. Earthquake survivors will also talk about their real experiences.

International Creative Director and Executive Producer Daniel Monteverde, who has been working with Luminaire for 20 years, made the following comment: “The city of Kobe will bustle once again this year, which will mark 25 years. People will fill the streets and look to the sky while they wait for the chime of the bell to signal the illuminations. We hold the memories of the people we lost 25 years ago close to our hearts. I hope we can convey our hopes and dreams and our story to our children and the young people who will bear the next generation. I hope people will be proud of Kobe which has recovered from the earthquake.”

He continues: “The Kobe Luminarie lights will shine once more for Hyogo, for Japan, and for the world. These lights are a symbol of each and every person’s devotion, their efforts, and their love. I pray that the Luminarie lights will send a message of hope to the world and continue shining in our hearts for the rest of time.” * Full comment translated from Japanese

Ruby chocolate is a variety of chocolate that was introduced in 2017 as the 4th main type of chocolate alongside milk, white and dark. It didn’t hit Japan until October 2018, but since then, the luxury pink delight has been getting much love with the release of many new products. The ruby colour of the cocoa beans is completely natural.

I attended a product conference held by Barry Callebaut, the Belgian-Swiss chocolate company which introduced ruby chocolate to the world. I got to try out various confections made using this chocolate.

When talking about ruby chocolate, you’re inclined to highlight its striking pink colour. But the looks are just part of the story. Compared to dark, white and milk chocolate, ruby chocolate is said to have the strongest cacao fruit flavour. Though it’s chocolate, it has a sour, fruity kind of taste.

Until last year, I was more about the eye-catching pink colour of the chocolate, so I ended up overlooking that ruby chocolate is often paired with berry-type fruits when it comes to confections. I get it nowーso it has a sour taste? Well then, this year I really want to go all out and appreciate the unique flavour of this ruby chocolate.

Today, I’m going to showcase six new products made with Callebaut® Ruby Chocolate. I’ve tried them all, so I can properly break down the flavours and how delicious they are for you!

Ruby Chocolate Otabe – ¥660 (Before Tax)

This Japanese confection is a combination of ruby chocolate and “Otabe,” which is a confection known as “yatsuhashi,” a popular souvenir sweet from Kyoto. Much time is put into making the ganache to ensure the fruitiness of the ruby chocolate remains intact. The ganache is wrapped in chewy yatsuhashi which is made with domestic koshihikari, which is a type of rice, and carefully selected water. There’s no way this could be anything short of delicious!

At the taste-testing session, I got to see the ruby chocolate Otabe being made right in front of me. It was done by a kimono-clad Nara who normally makes confections in the factory.

The rich and sour ganache combined with the chewy yatsuhashi is a match made in heaven! The pink colour really is cute after all, isn’t it? By wrapping the fruity chocolate in mochi, it creates even deeper flavours in your mouth.

This product will be sold at Kyoto Station and various tourist sites around Kyoto, so if you ever visit the city, make sure you’re on the lookout.

Ruby Chocolate Otabe

Running: October 11, 2019 – Early May 2020

Available: At Kyoto Station and tourist spots around Kyoto

Official Website: http://www.otabe.kyoto.jp/

Ruby Mille-feuille – ¥600 (Before Tax)

From Juchheim comes these ruby chocolate-coated mille-feuille fingers, laced with butter from Hokkaido and strawberry and raspberry mixed cream layered into a crunchy sandwich.

The puff pastry is of course tasty, and the sour flavour of the ruby chocolate mixed with the sourness of the berry cream packs a seriously fruity punch. It’s an overall crunchy and rich dessert, but it also has a refreshing taste to it, so one person is sure to be tempted by more than one.

Ruby Mille-feuille

Released: October 1, 2019 (Online orders from October 8, 2019 )

Available: At all 272 branches of Juchheim in Japan / Juchheim Premium Online Shop

Online Shop: https://e-shop.juchheim.co.jp/

Pretzel Cookie – ¥480 Each (Before Tax)

Food company Rosenheim have taken their crunchy butter pretzel cookies and coated them in various chocolate flavours, including ruby, sweet, milk, and white.

The ruby pretzels have that distinct vivid pink colour and of course taste fruity. There’s six in a pack, so you can share them with friends.

Pretzel Cookie

Released: September 20, 2019

Available: At mass retailers across Japan

Christmas Wreath Ruby Framboise – ¥5,000 (Before Tax)

Callebaut’s new ruby chocolate iced cake will be released from Maison Givrée. It’s topped with a ruby chocolate and raspberry ice cream and is adorned with cool and refreshing lychee sorbet.

The best way to eat this cake is when the ice cream has melted a little bit. You can enjoy the sweet fragrance of the ruby chocolate and the marriage between its sour flavour and the raspberry. Try savouring the melted sorbet and ruby chocolate ice cream by leaving it in your mouth.

Christmas Wreath Ruby Framboise

Running: October 11, 2019 – December 13, 2019

Delivery Window: December 20, 2019 – December 25, 2019 (subject to change)

Stock: 50

Available: At Maison Givrée and its online store

Official Website: https://givreetokyo.shop-pro.jp/

Ruby Chocolate Corn Puffs – One Box ¥1,450 (Tax Included)

You can pick up a box of these ruby chocolate corn puffs at Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux on the 2nd floor of InterContinental ANA Hotel Tokyo. They have a shiny pink pearl-like appearance. The crunchy corn puffs are thick-cut which goes well with that fruity ruby chocolate taste.

Ruby Chocolate Pear Tart – ¥650 (Tax Included)

These cocoa-laced and ruby chocolate powdered baked tarts are also sold at Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux. They’re topped with almond cream and a pear compote. They’re also topped with a ganache made from ruby chocolate and a redcurrant puree. Their design is made so that it looks like a flower, crowned with extra redcurrants.

Ruby Chocolate Corn Puffs

Running: All year round

Ruby Chocolate Pear Tart

Running: October 1, 2019 – January 14, 2020

Available: Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux (InterContinental ANA Hotel Tokyo – Floor 2F)

Hotel Official Website: https://anaintercontinental-tokyo.jp/en/

I’m all about ruby chocolate’s deep flavour now. If you’ve yet to try it then you’ve got to get your hands on some, to enjoy both its striking pink appearance and that sour cacao fruit flavour.

Writer: Sayuri Mizuno (MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON)

Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

RINGO, a shop which specialised in freshly-baked custard apple pies, has announced that it will release its new Yakitate Custard Oimo Apple Pie on October 17.

RINGO opened its first branch in Ikebukuro, Tokyo back in 2016. Since then, it has expanded and opened 12 branches across Japan, including Osaka and Fukuoka, and 3 stores overseas. They sell over 6 million custard apple pies every year. Since their products are baked fresh in-house, you can watch and see how they are made.

The new Yakitate Custard Oimo Apple Pie is a crunchy 144-layer pie packed full of custard cream and an autumntime sweet potato paste for an added subtle sweetness.

The sweet and sour apple filling is made with a range of domestic apples, including the hatorazu ringo apple from Aomori Prefecture. The pastry is also laced with cocoa powder and topped with roasted white sesame seeds. A deliciously fitting dessert for the autumn season!

It has been seven years since Sarabeth Levine took her New York-based cafe and restaurant Sarabeth’s to Japan back in 2012. To celebrate, the establishment will hold a special one-night event with a commemorative menu.

“Fermented Foods” is the theme of the event, which will see an incredible line-up of premium dishes. There will also be a talk by Sarabeth Levine herself who will be in attendance.

The menu line-up features a range of healthy fermented foods, like pancakes and Eggs Benedict, while drinks options include lemonade with fermented syrup, goishicha tea from Aichi Prefecture, and more. There will also be Sarabeth cookies which you can take home with you.

October is here, meaning Halloween is right around the corner. If you’re not up for dressing up in a costume or going out this year, then you can still get in the Halloween spirit by picking up one of the many Halloween exclusive goodies now being sold at Japanese convenience stores. We’ve picked out our top 5 favourite for you.

Starbucks® Sweet Caramel Pudding Latte

Starbucks Japan is now stocking its sweet caramel pudding latte across most convenience stores in Japan. The golden-capped cup features a spooky Halloween design, decorated with ghosts, pumpkins and bats. Enjoy Halloween in a cup with the beverage’s rich and sweet caramel pudding flavour.

▼Starbucks® Sweet Caramel Pudding Latte

Price: ¥200
Available: Most convenience stores across Japan. Select branches not stocking.

Calbee Jagabee Black Consomme

These crunchy potato sticks are a popular savour snack in Japan. This Halloween, Calbee has coloured their sumptuous sticks black, and made them taste like delicious consomme. This is a 7-Eleven and Ai Group-exclusive. Its cute pot design will have you grabbing one off the shelf without even thinking.

▼Calbee Jagabee Black Consomme

Price: ¥138 (Before Tax)
Available: 7-Eleven and Ai Group

KOIKE-YA Karamucho Hot Chili Flavour

The classic thick-cut Karamucho potato chips have been sprinkled with extra spiciness for that heated kick. The packet features all the familiar faces of Halloween, from a witch to a pumpkin, bats, a graveyard and more. If you’re a spice-seeker then this one’s for you. Also a 7-Eleven and Ai Group exclusive product.

▼KOIKE-YA Karamucho Hot Chili Flavour

Price: ¥128 (Before Tax)
Available: 7-Eleven and Ai Group

7-Eleven Marshmallow Chocolate Ganache Daifuku

7-Eleven is also releasing a range of its own original Halloween treats, including this sweet white daifuku which looks like a marshmallow and is filled with rich chocolate ganache. A Japanese and Western-combined confection you can enjoy with one hand.

▼7-Eleven Marshmallow Raw Chocolate Daifuku

Price: ¥118 (Before Tax)
Available: 7-Eleven (Except in Okinawa)

7-Eleven Black Cat Sachertorte

Black cats are a popular symbol of Halloween, particularly in Japan. This cake is made with chocolate cream and vanilla cream and is coated in a crunchy chocolate coating for even more tasty texture. This is a seriously cute choice you’re sure to love!

▼7-Eleven Black Cat Sachertorte

Price: ¥308 (Before Tax)
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Available: 7-Eleven

Did you enjoy our picks? There are plenty of Halloween-themed foods, confections and sweets to look forward to this year at convenience stores in Japan. Head to your closest one and see what they have in stock.

Nestlé has announced that it is revamping its 16 products* at the KitKat Chocolatory which will be released on October 11, 2019.

*One of these products will be released in late November

The KitKat Chocolatory is a direct-to-consumer chain, serving premium, handcrafted KitKats made with top quality ingredients and production methods under full direction by Takagi Yasumasa―the owner and chef of LE PATISSIER TAKAGI. Its luxurious line is endless, with products ranging from the elusive ruby chocolate, whose cocoa beans give the finish product its pink colour, to volcanic chocolate made from rare cocoa beans sourced from volcanic islands, and beyond.

The Chocolatory takes regular KitKats and the brand to a whole new level while still having that sense of familiarity, making their products great gifts and personal treats.

The new line-up of 16 products is considered by four categories: 1) the chocolate type, 2) where the cocoa beans are produced, 3) the production process from bean to bar, and 4) the combination between chocolate and other ingredients. Each and every bar has been given equal attention to create chocolates with different flavours, enabling consumers to discover not only which tickle their taste buds, but the story behind each unique bar.

There is a rapidly growing interest amongst consumers who want to know where their food comes from and how it’s made. When it comes to specialist chocolate products, a lot of information isn’t widely known. That’s the reason behind KitKat Chocolatory’s revamp, as well as to create chocolate that nobody has experience before.

Let’s take a look at four of the new KitKats you can get your fingers on.

Enjoy the Chocolate Varieties

KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Bitter – ¥300 Each (Before Tax)

A hallmark product since KitKat Chocolatory opened, the Sublime Bitter is couverture chocolate made with 66% cocoa. The bar is a blend of three different cocoa beans from Ghana, Madagascar, and the Dominican Republic. This addictive delight reserves the original bitterness of the cocoa while having a fruity tinge to it.

Enjoy the Difference Between Cocoa Production Areas

KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Volcanic Malakula Island – ¥400 Each (Before Tax)

This mysterious ‘volcanic chocolate’ is made from extremely rare cocoa beans sourced from the volcanic Malakula Island which was voted one of the happiest places on earth. It has a distinct bitterness and very fragrant scent reminiscent of the ground.

Enjoy the Chocolate Making Process

KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Raw – ¥300 Each (Before Tax)

The cocoa beans of this “raw” chocolate are cooked at a lower temperature than usual to draw out a more natural flavour of the original bean, like it’s been plucked right out of a cocoa bean farm and placed into your hands.

Enjoy the Combination Of Ingredients

KitKat Chocolatory Moleson – ¥500 Each (Before Tax)

Finally, here is the world’s first ingredient-topped KitKat. It uses the smooth, melt-in-the-mouth KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Milk bar as the base, and is topped with sweet and sour dried cranberries and fragrant crushed almonds, creating a flavourful and textural ensemble.

Discover a whole new world of KitKat and chocolate when the new products drop at KitKat Chocolatory on October 11.

As the almighty creator of the chilled chocolate drink called the Chocolixir, GODIVA has now transcended to a whole new level with its Tea Magic Series which pairs luxurious GODIVA chocolate with a specially made tea. The fourth and final heavenly Chocolixir drink for the Tea Magic Series has now been revealed to be called the Chocolixir Uji Matcha Kiwami. This is a pairing of GODIVA white chocolate and Uji matcha. A limited number of these will be released for sale from October 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.  

The GODIVA Tea Magic Series is made using the finest GODIVA chocolate. The chocolatier considers the most appropriate tea to enhance the flavour of the chocolate and only uses the finest tea leaves to make the drink. The result is a chilled chocolate tea which is filled with a flavour that will enlighten you. Hojicha Chocolate tea was the first tea of the series and was released on July 1st.

Chocolixir Uji Matcha Kiwami (270ml): ¥602 (before tax)

GODIVA’s mildly sweet and velvety white chocolate is blended with rich uji matcha tea and then chilled to a perfectly refreshing temperature. A light cloud of whipped cream floats on the surface and is sprinkled with carefully made uji matcha powder. Matcha chocolate sticks garnishe the drink. 

From your first sip to your last, your mouth will be filled with a rich and luxurious matcha flavour. From time to time, your tongue will discover the exciting texture of small pieces of smashed white chocolate pieces.

This is the perfect opportunity to indulge in the luxurious flavour of mild white chocolate blended with rich uji matcha. 

Tobu Zoo is set to collaborate with the upcoming drama anime series Beastars from November 2 to December 29.

Beastars is a manga series written and illustrated by Paru Itagaki. It is serialised in Weekly Shōnen Champion which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Beastars is set in a world of herbivores and carnivores. The story follows Legoshi, a quiet and gentle grey wolf and student at Cherryton Academy. His world is turned upside down when one of his fellow students is brutally murdered.

The collaboration event will see Tobu Zoo decorated with illustrations drawn specifically for the event. There will also be exclusive and original merchandise on sale, as well as themed food and more.

Beastars will premiere in Japan on Fuji TV’s +Ultra programming block on October 9. It will also be streamed exclusively on Netflix.

©板垣巴留(秋田書店)/BEASTARS制作委員会

It has been 30 years since Disney’s The Little Mermaid came to theatres. To celebrate, The Little Mermaid cafe has dropped its anchor in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Hokkaido and will be around for a limited time only.  Curious travellers are sure to fall in love with this world filled with Disney magic.

As a big Disney fan, curious model Kanako just could not miss the opportunity to visit, so we headed over to Tokyu Plaza, Omotesando (Tokyo) to create a tongue-tantalizing report just for you. 

The entrance was a treasure trove of exciting 30th anniversary celebratory designs.

Venturing deeper, we came across illustrations of the exciting underwater world. 

Seeing all the images of the characters, memories of the film will come floating into your mind. Just how many wonders can one cafe hold?

There are five delicious meals and five delicious drinks on the menu. Everything was so cute that it was difficult to decide what to order. Time to dive in!

Ariel Vegetable Pasta with Genovese Sauce: ¥1990

This dish particularly caught Kanako’s eye. A graceful print made of powdered spices and sauce depicts Ariel gliding through the sea. It went perfectly with the salad. Feel free to take the beautiful paper mat home with you as a souvenir. 

Cream Beach Risotto: ¥1,990

This creamy risotto depicts a beautiful beach. Look closely and you will spot Ariel’s most prized treasure: a dinglehopper.  Feel free to take the dinglehopper home with you and add it to your collection of treasure. A layer of shrimp sauce lies hidden between the rice and mountain of salad. Can you spot Sebastian keeping a careful eye on Ariel? 

Seven Princesses of Atlantica Colourful Tartine Plate: ¥2,290

 This plate of tasty tartines depicts the seven sisters and will send you on an exciting flavour journey. The fruity tartine will fill your mouth with a fresh fruity burst of blueberries and strawberries. Next on the plate is a luxurious cream cheese tartine, followed by a chunky vegetable tartine and finally, a filling boiled egg and potato salad tartine. The tartines are surrounded by colourful sauces such as blueberry sauce, pumpkin sauce and carrot sauce. 

 Sebastian’s Strawberry Smoothie: ¥890 (with themed drink coaster: ¥1,790)

This yoghurt smoothie is dedicated to King Triton’s royal court composer Sebastian. Mix in the strawberry sauce before tucking in to enhance the flavour. You can also take the decoration on the glass back home with you. 

Upon noticing the coaster that came with her drink, Kanako’s eyes were sparkling with desire. The drink coaster is a sure way to add some magic to all your drinks at home. Unfortunately, they are in limited supply, so make sure to get one before they are all sold out.

Next, the curious Kanako explored the merchandise corner. The illustrations on the merchandise have been specifically designed for this special cafe.

Canvas Art A/B  (two designs): ¥3,500

Now you can decorate your room with your own collection of whose-its, whats-its, and thingamabobs.

Letter Writing Set with Case (1 design): ¥800

BIC Ballpoint Pen (2 designs): ¥500 each (Flounder/Seahorse)

The pink-themed gadgets and gizmos are very cute too.

Spend over ¥1000 (before tax) in the merchandise corner and you will receive a special Little Mermaid 30th anniversary shopping bag. There are a limited number of these and they are available on a first-come-first-serve basis, so we recommend you go to the cafe as soon as possible if you want one.

This cafe is a whole world waiting to be discovered. Reservations cost ¥500 per person (before tax). Just ordering from the menu will grant you the special gift of an A5 clear file and you can even pick your favourite from 30 designs. Make sure to reserve your spot in advance and get ready to plunge straight into the fun!

©️Disney