Top 10 Most Popular Souvenirs to Pick Up at Tokyo Station’s HANAGATAYA Store | 2019 Edition

30.November.2019 | FOOD / SPOT

HANAGATAYA is a souvenir variety shop that opened in Tokyo Station’s central passage back in July. After over 5 months of sales, the store has revealed its Top 10 most popular products based on sales.

 

The line-up features a selection of HANAGATAYA exclusives, as well as products from elsewhere which have received pre-sales at HANAGATAYA. You will be spoilt for choice with this selection, all of which are perfect for ringing in the New Year when travelling back home. Let’s take a look.

 

1st Place

Banana Custard Cream – Tokyo 2020 Olympic Emblem Design (Tokyo 2020 Official Licensed Product) – Contains 8 – ¥1,134 (Tax Included)

Officially licensed by the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, these chewy cakes are made from domestic Japanese rice, and are filled with deliciously creamy banana custard.

 

2nd Place

Tokyo Banana Butter Madeleine (Tokyo Banana World) – Contains 4 – ¥560 Tax Included)

Exclusive to HANAGATAYA come these all-new butter madeleine’s created by famous confectionery company Tokyo Banana. These baked treats feature a buttery fragrance and taste, and are made with a banana confiture and finished with fresh lemon.

*Exclusive to HANAGATAYA GRANSTA Tokyo Central Street

 

3rd Place

Toro One Press Chocolate Chick (Tokyo Hiyoko) – Contains 3 – ¥648 (Tax Included)

This year marks 107 since the company Hiyoko was established. The “Toro One Press Chocolate Chick” is a new confection from them: an adorable skyward-looking chick made up of three chocolate layersーeach with their own distinct flavour. At the heart of the chick is a moist chocolate paste.

*Exclusive to Tokyo Station

 

4th Place

Cheese Wich – Contains 5 – ¥594 (Tax Included)

These light and refreshing cheese cookies, called Cheese Wiches, are filled with a chocolate-coated melted cheese sauce. Three layers means an enjoyable amalgamation of flavours and textures.

*Exclusive to Tokyo Station

 

5th Place

Chocolate Chestnut Eggs (Ginza Tamaya) – Contains 4 – ¥800 (Tax Included)

“Goma Tamago” is a popular bite-sized egg-shaped confection. This chestnut flavour was created for HANAGATAYA, a mix of dark chocolate and vanilla flavoured chestnut paste.

*Exclusive to Tokyo Station

 

6th Place

Strawberry Cookie Sandwich (Berry UP!) – Contains 8 – ¥1,296 (Tax Included)

Berry UP! is a cute confectionery brand which creates baked strawberry sweets. Keeping with that theme, they have created a crunchy quintuple-layered cookie sandwich filled with sweet and sour strawberry chocolate.

 

7th Place

Shinjuku Curry Ebi (Shinjuku Nakamuraya) – Contains 6 – ¥600 (Tax Included)

If you’re looking for something more savoury, then this one’s for you: Shinjuku Nakamuraya’s light, fluffy and melt-in-the-mouth ebi, coated in curry spices. One nibble is enough to get you instantly hooked.

 

8th Place

Strawberry Polvorón (Berry UP!) – Contains 6 – ¥1,296 (Tax Included)

Another entry from Berry UP!, these polvorón shortbreads are made from lots of fresh strawberries mixed with condensed milk and mascarpone, creating a subtle sweetness that’s enough to have your mouth watering.

 

9th Place

BLUE MELTIN SAND (Tokyo Campanella) – Contains 8 – ¥1,200 (Tax Included)

What if herbal tea and cookies became its own snack? That’s what Tokyo Campanella asked too, and so make it a reality. Their BLUE MELTIN SANDs are cat’s tongue cookies stuffed with a herbal tea sauce that has a natural blue colour.

 

10th Place

Premium Cacao Full Sablé (Mary Chocolate) – Contains 18 – ¥1,350 (Tax Included)

Finally, we have a premium edition of chocolate company Mary Chocolate’s Cacao Full Sablés. This one’s for the adults, a sophisticated combination of bittersweet chocolate and berries.

*Exclusive to HANAGATAYA GRANSTA Tokyo Central Street

 

Did you enjoy this list? Which one takes your fancy the most? Whether as a souvenir for the folks back home, or as a treat to yourself to celebrate 2020, if you’re in Tokyo this year then be sure to give HANAGATAYA a visit.

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  • Tokyo Station’s Top 10 Edible Winter Souvenirs as Chosen by Station Staff

    22.November.2019 | FOOD / SPOT

    There is just a month and a half left of 2019, with Christmas, the winter holidays and New Year celebrations right around the corner.   Tokyo Station City has compiled a list of must-grab food-related souvenirs and gifts at Tokyo Station. If you’ve ever visited Tokyo Station, you’ll know that you can be spoilt for choice from the amount of goodies you can get your hands on. The list is based on the votes of 305 station staff members working at Tokyo Station who have voted on their Top 10 most recommend souvenirs to pick up this winter.   The staff members went around the shopping area and taste-tested different edible souvenirs across an 8-day period. Their early thoughts as they went down the list were how delicious or unique things were, but they soon began to take it more seriously to consider things like price, how easy an item was to carry and transport, and what certain people might like in particular.   If you're travelling to or from Tokyo Station during the holiday season, be sure to bookmark this list so you know what to buy for on the flight back home!   1st Place

    Rakumadoka @ Terra Saison (GRANSTA) - 5 Set ¥1,080 (Tax Included) / 8 Set ¥1,728 (Tax Included)

    This cheesecake is like a cream cheese-stuffed souffle-like sandwich. Branded with the words "Gin no Suzu" (a place in Tokyo Station) and "Tokyo," this seasonal product is exclusive to Tokyo Station. In December last year, they sold over 1,500 in a day.   2nd Place

    Mount Baum Kuchen @ Nenrinya (Meihinkan) - ¥1,080 (Tax Included)

    With its French bread texture, this delightful treat has a fragrant scent, is moist, and is simply delicious. It has a rich buttery taste and is baked slowly to perfection.   3rd Place

    Shinjuku Curry Arare Ebi @ HANAGATAYA (GRANSTA) - 6 Set ¥600 (Tax Included)

    This rich curry snack is made by Shinjuku Nakamuraya, and has a light melt-in-the-mouth texture with spicy curry seasoning and shrimp flavour. The shrimp flavour comes from a mix of shrimp powder and shrimp oil. The mix of curry powder and spices gives it a really authentic curry taste.   4th Place

    Tokyo Vegetable Rice Crackers @ nomono (GRANSTA Marunouchi) - 12 Set ¥950 (Tax Included) / 18 Set ¥1,598 (Tax Included)

    An assortment of rice crackers with three different flavours: great burdock, onion, and pumpkin. They have a set of 18 too which is perfect for handing out to lots of people.   5th Place

    Maple Pie Sandwich @ The Maple Mania (GRANSTA) - 8 Set ¥1,944 (Tax Included)

    Coated in caramel, this crunchy pie is made with a cream laced with maple sugar. Exclusive to Tokyo Station, the packaging design for this dessert is made with souvenirs in mind as it's made so it's easy to carry and take around with you.   6th Place

    Kuzumochi @ Funabashiya Koyomi (ecute Tokyo) - 24 Cut (Serves 1-1.5) ¥790 (tax Included) / 36 Cut (Serves 2-3) ¥895 (Tax Included) / 48 Cut (Serves 4-5) ¥1,200 (Tax Included)

    Funabashiya's kuzumochi is made with wheat starch that is fermented over a 450 day period before being cooked. It claims to be "the only fermented Japanese wagashi confection." Since it is fermented over such a long period of time, it takes on a unique flavour and elasticity.   7th Place

    Cheddar Cheese Pie Sandwich @ Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory (ecute Keiyo Street) - 6 Pack ¥1,620 (Tax Included)

    A crunchy pie filled with an addictive cheddar cheese cream. Exclusive to ecute Keiyo Street.   8th Place (Joint)

    Premium Cacao Full Shortbread @ HANAGATAYA (GRANSTA) 8 Set ¥648 (Tax Included) / 18 Set ¥1,350 (Tax Included) / 27 Set ¥2,052 (Tax Included)

    This is a premium edition of the store's Cacao Full Shortbread, made using the methods used to make the chocolate brand Merry Chocolate. The crunchy texture and full-bodied flavour of the cacao has been left as it is, while a few things have been added to make it a little more luxurious: French sour cream butter, strawberries, and raspberries.   8th Place (Joint)

    Yaoki Senbei @ Mankaso (Meihinkan) - 16 Set ¥1,080 (Tax Included)

    These plump senbei rice crackers are made with 100% domestic rice and come in six different delicious flavours: agodashi soy sauce, salted, shrimp, seaweed, plum and coarse sugar, and chirimen pepper.   10th Place

    Tartlette Neuf @ le billet (ecute Tokyo) - 6 Pack ¥1,728 (Tax Included) / 9 Pack ¥2,592 (Tax Included)

    la billet make their own tarts, and this assortment comes in a variety of flavours. Exclusive to Tokyo Station. A great option as a gift for meeting a business in Japan.   Which of these looks most tempting to you? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook!
  • Disney Store: Find the Perfect New Year’s Souvenirs From Japan

    27.November.2019 | FASHION

    Walt Disney Japan is celebrating the New Year by rolling out a new batch of celebratory character merchandise at Disney Stores across Japan as well as the online website on December 3.   From the quintessential Japanese daruma to pine decorations and more, take home some of Japan with you for friends and family in the form of classic Japanese New Year items made into Disney souvenirs.

    Plush Toys: Mickey/Minnie Mouse ¥2,000 Each, Winnie the Pooh ¥2,800, Piglet/Roo ¥1,500, Eeyore ¥1,600, Chip/Dale ¥1,200 Each Mascots: All ¥1,000 Each Memo Pad: ¥650 Pine Decoration: ¥1,500

    The line-up includes a selection of daruma-dressed Disney character plush toys, plush toys of Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Roo in rat costumes for the 2020 Year of the Rat, and more. Perfect as gifts, souvenirs, and for decorating your room and desk.   Celebrate the New Year with your favourite Disney characters.   ©Disney ©Disney. Based on the "Winnie the Pooh" works by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard. ©Disney/Pixar 
  • Japanese Souvenir Diary: Tokyo Strawberry Whipped Langue-de-chat

    21.November.2019 | FEATURES / FOOD

    You're going on holiday to another country, but there's someone special back at home that can't go with you. What's the best way to make them feel like they haven't been left out completely? Souvenirs, of course! Picking out the perfect souvenir for the right person or people, whether friends or family, is a lot of fun as you consider what each person might like and appreciate.   We've condensed that thrill of souvenir searching into an article series. We will showcase products that the MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON editorial team have actually tried and recommend as souvenirs.

    Tokyo Ichigo Whipped Langue-de-chat (Includes 6) - ¥650 (Tax Included)

    Today, we will take a look at Tokyo Strawberry Whipped Langue-de-chat. This whipped chocolate cat tongue biscuit is nothing short of delicious. It's a fact. And the cute packaging makes it even better, both the box and individual packs when you open it up. And since they are individually packaged, you can share them amongst multiple people. Whipped chocolate is sandwiched between the cat tongue biscuits.   Time to try one. The biscuit itself has a buttery, exquisite flavour. Though they're stuffed with whipped chocolate, the chocolate itself is light on the belly. You get those sweet and sour notes from the strawberry too.   The combination of the lightly baked and delicate biscuits with the soft texture and subtle taste of the whipped chocolate is to die for. Your taste buds are tantalised by a flurry of strawberry.   I showed the 6 pack of biscuits, but they also sell a 12 pack (¥1,080) and 18 pack (¥1,620) too, so cater it to how many you need to share out (or enjoy to yourself!) They have a best before date of 30 days too, so don't have to worry if there's still some time left before you return home.   If you love strawberries, you won't be able to rest the Tokyo Strawberry Whipped Langue-de-chat. Be sure to check them out if you're looking for a Japanese souvenir from Tokyo.   Writer: Sayuri Mizuno (MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON Editorial Team)Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

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    Daikanyama T SITE TSUTAYA 16-15 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo https://store.tsite.jp/daikanyama/

     

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    Ivy Place

    東京都渋谷区猿楽町16-15

    https://www.tysons.jp/ivyplace/

     

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    GING NANG BOYZ Kimi to Boku no Dai 3ji Taisen-teki Renai Kakumei CD Jacket (2005)

    A LONG VACATION - Eiichi Ohtaki 40th Tribute Illustration (2021) ©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

     

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    [Comment from Vocalist Hattori] “Macaroni Empitsu’s exhibition is making a triumphant return to Tokyo! New content has been added this time around, so be sure to come fall into the macaroni hole!”