Japanese construction company Daiwa House took part in the planning and construction of Nippon Foundation’s new “THE TOKYO TOILET” project which has set up new public toilets in 17 locations around Shibuya, Tokyo.

THE TOKYO TOILET

The toilets bring together two things that Japan is known for around the world: hospitality, and the best toilets around. A lot of people don’t like the idea of public toilets due to their image of being dark, dirty, stinky, and all-around unpleasant experiences. Toilets in THE TOKYO TOILET project remove all of these worries from peoples’ minds. Open to people of all ages, genders, and disabilities, the toilets were designed using the creative power of 16 international creators.

Hygiene is a big focus of these new toilets which will bring a whole new level of cleanliness to public toilets, making them a pleasant experience for users and making people considerate of the next person who will use the toilet after them.

Toilet Locations and Participating Creators

If you visit Shibuya, and are in need of a toilet, be sure to experience THE TOKYO TOILET and discover the best public toilet experience around.

Sui Ishida, the author of the internationally celebrated manga series Tokyo Ghoul which has shipped over 44 million copies worldwide, is getting his first ever large-scale exhibition.

The famed manga author made his debut with Tokyo Ghoul, which was serialised in Weekly Young Jump from 2011 to 2018. The dark fantasy, which questioned the notions of right and wrong, seduced the globe with its characters and world, eventually becoming published in 37 countries. The manga series went on to spawn anime and live-action adaptations, games, and more.

Ishida is now working on a new game entitled Jack Jeanne for which he is creating the script, scenario, and character designs. The highly-anticipated game is set for released on Nintendo Switch sometime this year.

The exhibition is a place to discover all things Sui Ishida and will focus on his career from zero to the spawn Tokyo Ghoul and the upcoming Jack Jeanne. There will be displays, illustrations, and more to see. It’s a must-see for fans of the author.

©Sui Ishida／SHUEISHA　©Sui Ishida／BROCCOLI

sequence MIYASHITA PARK is a new mixed-use hotel set to open inside MIYASHITA PARK on August 1, 2020.

sequence’s concept is to connect the people with the city. It offers a space for everyone whether they want a quiet time alone, whether they are sightseeing, having a work-do, celebrating a party or festival, and more. This is centred around the hotel’s three notions: “SMART,” “OPEN,” and “CULTURE.”

The hotel is inspired by the local concept of “PARK MIND” which offers guests a place to relax after a long, busy day, like in a park. It has collaborated with Tokyo-based designers and creators to bring this to life in room designs. Furniture and fittings are simple while still being of high quality.

The fourth floor entrance connects seamlessly to Miyashita Park and is home to a lobby lounge as well as the new VALLEY PARK STAND cafe and bar. Up on the fifth floor is the breakfast dining restaurant Dōngxī Restaurant & Sakaba. Up on the 18th floor, guests can enjoy a panoramic view of Shibuya, as well as dine at the entertainment restaurant SOAK whose design and concept mixes together history and the future, the West and the East. There is also art from artists coordinated by The Chain Museum.

Nestlé Japan is opening a new branch of KitKat Chocolatory inside Shibuya’s new shopping mall Miyashita Park on August 4, 2020.

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 product line-up features a range perfect as gifts to friends, family and co-workers, or as a treat to yourself.

Japan is home to eight KitKat Chocolatory branches. The new Miyashita Park Shibuya branch will open as the fourth in Tokyo, as well as the first where you can create your own KitKat products.

My KITKAT: ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

“My KITKAT” comes as the world’s first KitKat service where consumers can create their own original chocolate bars.

KitKat Waffle: ¥1,000 (Before Tax)

KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Soft Cream: ¥630 (Before Tax)

KitKat Chocolatory Miyashita Park Shibuya will also sell a variety of unique and exclusive KitKat desserts, like luxurious soft serve ice cream topped with couverture chocolate. It will also offer a cafe menu created by Nespresso, where customers can pair Chocolatory desserts with seasonal coffee menus, and more.

Shibuya-esque wall art will decorate the interior of the shop, making for plenty of photo opportunities.

Starbucks Japan is opening a new branch in MIYASHITA PARK on August 4, 2020. Set to be Starbucks Japan’s fifth “park” branch—opening inside a park—the new coffee shop is being produced by Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Fragment brand.

MIYASHITA PARK is a shopping complex filled with shops stocking high quality products, and stands as a new landmark of Shibuya. On the rooftop is the newly-arranged park area which has its own skate park, bouldering wall, and more. It’s home to all-new facilities, and there’s also the actual park where events can take place.

Starbucks Coffee Miyashita Park offers a new style of Starbucks conceived from the mind of Hiroshi Fujiwara. Glass doors are fitted on both the front and back sides of the cafe, allowing for a full-open design. The flooring is coloured green, making it feel as if it has become one with the green outdoors of the park, and the same mesh used inside Miyashita Park is used for the ceiling.

The cafe’s design was conceived to be a unique standout in the park, specifically with the image in mind of countries outside Japan where you walk along a lone road and eventually come to a gas station.

Starbucks Coffee Miyashita Park will also sell a range of merchandise at the back of the shop, as well as Starbucks coffee beans. There’s also a glass table in the middle of the cafe which slots in nicely with the overall aesthetic. The fun design together with the expanse of the park outside adds for an enjoyable combination that makes it a pleasant stay as you sip your beverage.

The regular line-up of merchandise sold at the Miyashita Park branch, such as the tumblers, are all produced by Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Fragment brand. Items are branded with the word “MYST” which lets you know it’s from this particular branch, as well as Fragment’s logo.

Discover a new Starbucks experience at Miyashita Park.

Shibuya PARCO has a packed showcase for summertime this July and August, with pop-up shops, events, exhibitions, new products, and much more. The YUI ARAGAKI NYLON JAPAN ARCHIVE BOOK 2010-2019 photo exhibition, which sold out tickets, was posted as an online exhibition. The popular curry house Good Luck Curry, originally located in Ebisu, has moved to Shibuya PARCO. Let’s take a deeper look at the line-up.

4F PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO Relics of Kanto Through Time

Running: August 1, 2020 – August 16, 2020 | Entry Price: ¥700

New York City-based American artist Daniel Arsham is teaming up with Pokémon for a special exhibition centred around Arsham’s concept of “Fictional Archeology.” Visitors can enter for a chance to win a “Crystalized Pikachu” as well as get their hands on a variety of exhibition products. A two-meter tall Pikachu made from bronze will also be put on display on the first floor of Shibuya PARCO.

Details: https://art.parco.jp/museumtokyo/detail/?id=425

B1F GALLERY X YUI ARAGAKI NYLON JAPAN ARCHIVE BOOK 2010-2019 PHOTO EXHIBITION

Running: July 16, 2020 – July 27, 2020 (Online Exhibition) | Price: ¥300

This exhibition is centred around Yui Aragaki’s photo book YUI ARAGAKI NYLON JAPAN ARCHIVE BOOK 2010-2019 which compiles her work features in the fashion magazine NYLON JAPAN between 2010 to 2019. The book celebrates Aragaki at the age of 31, and was so popular at the time of its release that it sold out.

Details: https://art.parco.jp/galleryx/detail/?id=424

B1F Good Luck Curry

Good Luck Curry is a curry house managed by the chefs of Ata, a bistro in Daikanyama. Originally situated in Ebisu, the restaurant has been revamped and moved to Shibuya PARCO where they are serving a range of delicious spicy curries topped with a colourful array of vegetables.

B1F GAN-BAN FUJI ROCK COLLECTION “CREW NECK T-SHIRT” Limited Edition Sale

The “FUJI ROCK COLLECTION” of T-shirts are always so popular that their stock never fails to sell out. The new crew neck version is now available at the official FUJI ROCK shop and are being sold at Shibuya PARCO.

B1F Mirai Nihonshu-ten & SAKE BAR “Summer Sake Cocktails”

For this summer only, Mirai Nihonshu-ten and SAKE BAR are serving up two refreshing cocktails.

Left: Hakuju Salty Lemon | Right: Suzu Sweet Green

The Hakuju Salty Lemon is like a Salty Dog cocktail. It has notes of citrus and a salty sea salt bite. The Suzu Sweet Green is made with a sake known as “Kubota Suijyu” which is mixed with cocoa vinegar. It has a subtle sweetness.

To promote the upcoming release of the Given anime film adaptation, Tower Records Shibuya is opening an official “Given Gallery” which will take place on the store’s 8th floor from August 8 to 23.

Given is a popular boys-love (BL) manga by Natsuki Kizu that is serialised in Shinshokan’s Cheri+ magazine. An anime adaptation aired Fuji Television’s noitaminA programming block from July to September last year.

At the exhibition, fans will find a collection of coloured illustrations by the manga’s author Natsuki Kizu, display panels from the anime series, raw images taken from the upcoming film, and more.

Given x Tower Records Merchandise

Natsuki Kizu Illustrated Merchandise

Fans of the series can get their hands on a collection of exclusive merchandise at the Given Gallery.

Backstage Pass Design Postcard

Standing Panel A / Standing Panel B

Available on a first-come, first-served basis, visitors will receive one of nine possible postcards for free, each of which is designed in the style of a backstage pass. And for every ¥4,000 spent on the merchandise sold there, they will get a lottery ticket for a chance to win one of the life-sized standing panels of one the characters from the series which will be displayed at the event. Details will be announced at the event and on Tower Records Shibuya’s official website.

Quiz Postcard

Original Postcard

All visitors will be handed the “Given Gallery Quiz” when attending the event. If they answer all the questions correctly, they’ll receive a free postcard. Participants must be following Tower Records Shibuya (@TOWER_Shibuya). If you download the official Tower Records app and sign up as a member, you can get another original Given x Tower Records postcard too.

Though the Given Gallery is only taking place at Tower Records Shibuya, other branches of Tower Records will still be selling Given x Tower Records merchandise. You can find the branch list below.

Japanese tea shop Susumu Chaya started up a takeout service for shaved ice on Tuesday (July 7) at all of its branches including in Kagoshima as well as Jiyugaoka and Shibuya’s DESCENTE TOKYO in Tokyo.

The shaved iced takeout service was originally only available at the two Tokyo branches, but now customers in Kagoshima can enjoy the tea-flavoured desserts.

Matcha Shaved Ice: ¥750 (Before Tax)

Made using Susumu Chaya’s “koicha,” a rich and full-bodied matcha variety.

Houjicha Shaved Ice: ¥750 (Before Tax)

The houjicha shaved ice is made using only first-grade tea leaves picked by Susumu Chaya. It has a refreshing taste.

The shaved ice can be ordered for takeout or eaten inside the cafes. Enjoy the full flavour of Japanese tea coupled with a refreshing portion of shaved ice.

GBL, an online clothing company whose stock features designs from Studio Ghibli’s animated feature films, is set to open its first store at MIYASHITA PARK in Shibuya, Tokyo on July 28, 2020 inside RAYARD MIYASHITA PARK.

MIYASHITA PARK is a shopping complex filled with shops stocking high quality products. GBL MIYASHITA PARK will sell a range of fun, exclusive Studio Ghibli t-shirts with designs taken from popular films from the studio.

The theme of this year’s line-up is t-shirts that have a “second-hand” design to them. There are 28 t-shirts to choose from including colour variations. Six of these are exclusive to GBL MIYASHITA PARK.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind T-Shirt (Pure White): ¥4,880 (Before Tax)

Princess Mononoke T-Shirt (Grey): ¥4,880 (Before Tax)

Kiki’s Delivery Service T-Shirt (Red): ¥4,880 (Before Tax)

The range is made from soft cotton and is inspired by American style t-shirts. To reduce the collar from stretching over time, twill tape is wrapped around the neck part of the t-shirt. The t-shirts are also stone washed during the manufacturing process to ensure they are both soft and have that ‘used’ quality to them.

Laputa: Castle in the Sky T-Shirt (Grey): ¥4,880 (Before Tax)

Porco Rosso T-Shirt (Black): ¥4,880 (Before Tax)

Whisper of the Heart T-Shirt (Navy Blue): ¥4,880 (Before Tax)

Sizes come in Small, Medium, Large, XL, and XXL. The collection is a must-have for any fan of Studio Ghibli.

PLAY! DIVERSITY SHIBUYA and Airbnb launched a new website on July 2 which lets people experience Shibuya tourism and all things Shibuya online.

The online project comes in response to the economic slump that Shibuya has faced as a result of COVID-19 which has meant less tourism. The website will feature a host of unique content that captures the essence of the Shibuya experience.

The first entry to the website will see KABA taking users on a virtual walk through the city of Shibuya. KABA, an activist for the LGBTQ community in Japan, was appointed as an official Tourism Ambassador of Shibuya this year. As well as this, the energetic Akkun, another Shibuya Tourist Ambassador and influencer amongst Shibuya’s youth, will also be hosting a “Shibuya Sake School.” There is much more content to enjoy right now too, and the website is set to expand even more.

Other features include the “WANDER COMPASS” which lets users learn about Shibuya’s history and visit local spots through a virtual tour, and Shibuya TSUTAYA O-EAST’s own DJ Bar “AZUMAYA” is showcasing how to make Japanese cocktails using various Japanese ingredients and spices.

Visit Shibuya from the comfort of your own home using Airbnb and PLAY! DIVERSITY SHIBUYA’s special new website.

New York-based ramen bar Kuro-Obi has announced that it’s opening it first Japanese branch in the food hall of Shibuya’s new shopping centre RAYARD MIYASHITA PARK on August 4, 2020.

Kuro-Obi was established in New York back in 2014. To date, it has opened 6 branches across the US as well as one branch in Singapore. It specialises in “tori paitan”, a silky chicken-base broth. The new Japanese ramen bar will serve many different tori paitan ramen dishes takeout style, which is common in the US. All ramen served here is served in paper cups rather than bowls, so it can be eaten both in the food hall or taken away.

Added to the rich soup broth and noodles is moist chicken char siu, soft-boiled egg, negi spring onion, and fried onion chips. The black pepper used adds a kick to the overall flavour. Thick noodles are also used.

“Ramen is Freedom” is the theme of Kuro-Obi’s brand in Japan, with which they aim to challenge the new possibilities of ramen.

IMADA KITCHEN in SHIBUYA109 has teamed up with Hattendo Cafe to co-create the new “Torokeru Kuma-san Pancakes” (Melty Mr. Beat Pancakes) which will be served from July 1, 2020 to August 30, 2020.

IMADA KITCHEN is a food project that aims to create original food in Shibuya. Together with Hattendo, a Hiroshima brand known for its incredible cream pastries, they have created a super cute bear design pancake. Bear designs are popular with young girls in Japan.

Torokeru Kuma-san Pancake: ¥450 (Before Tax)

The fluffy pancakes are filled with melt-in-the-mouth, handmade custard cream, meaning a single bite lets you enjoy both the moist texture of the pancake and the melty drizzle of the custard cream. Your mouth is instantly filled with flavours of maple syrup and egg, which when combined with the accompanying berries makes for a sweet amalgamation of deliciousness.

Torokeru Koro Tama Kuma Sandwich: ¥450 (Before Tax)

Normally, you would have to go to Hiroshima to try Hattendo Cafe’s “Torokeru Koro Tama Kuma Sandwich,” but now it will be available to try at IMADA KITCHEN. Made with the cafe’s “cream bread,” this moist sandwich is filled with egg salad, korokke, and cabbage for a hearty meal.