IKEA Japan is set to open its first central Tokyo branch in Harajuku this week. Located inside WITH HARAJUKU, and just a 1-minute walk from Harajuku Station, the store will officially open its doors on June 8, 2020.

IKEA Harajuku’s features

Sales floors stocked with all your living needs

The sales floors are split into four different themes to cater to customers’ living needs: “Sleep” and “Organise” are on the first floor, while “Relax” and “Cook” can be found up on the second floor. IKEA Harajuku also caters to single person households and their lifestyles too, so takes into consideration limited spacing with its items.

Swedish Convenience Store

To support life in the busy city and create a convenient shopping experience, IKEA Harajuku will be home to the world’s first “Swedish Conbini,” or Swedish convenience store. Eco-friendly items can be bought speedily, including eco bags, ISTAD freezer bags made from plants, plant ramen, and so on—all at an affordable price.

IKEA Harajuku Exclusive Tunnbröd

The convenience store stand will also serve takeout food like cinnamon rolls, plant-based soft serve ice cream, sundaes, and more. There’s even the “Sweden Cafe” up on the second floor where they’ll sell Tunnbröd, a traditional Swedish-style flatbread topped with various ingredients. This will be exclusive to IKEA Harajuku. The cafe brings together Harajuku’s culture of crepes and foods to eat while walking with Swedish culture.

Due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and to limit people in the shop, a ticket system will be place. Employees will also be using masks, and staff will use face shields when serving customers. The shop will also be practicing social distancing and asking people to wear masks.

A new series of Rilakkuma hanko stamps was released by Hankos on April 21 featuring an adorable collection of stamp pattern designs of Rilakkuma and his friends.

Hanko stamps are often used in Japan in place of signatures where you have your name printed onto the stamp itself. These Rilakkuma hanko are made to order and you can have Japanese characters written onto them.

There are 20 different illustrations featuring the cute faces of Rilakkuma, Kiiroitori, Korilakkuma, and Chairoikoguma.

There are also three fonts to choose from the orthodox, easy to read style to a cuter style. You can use them in Japan for sending deliveries, at home, and more. There’s the classic type where you can dip into ink and stamp as well as two wooden types.

©2020 San-X Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas has revealed that its next batch of sweet treats will see Rilakkuma and Kiiroitori arrive at Lawson convenience stores in Japan (excluding Lawson Store 100 branches) on April 28, 2020.

Tabemas Rilakkuma 2020 Strawberry Rilakkuma/Strawberry Kiiroitori – ¥285 Each (Tax Included)

The adorable confections feature Rilakkuma donning a sweet strawberry hat while Kiiroitori has gone the full fruity mile by dressing snug in a strawberry onesie. As you’d imagine, both of these sweet treats are strawberry flavoured.

‘Tabemas’ is an abbreviation of the Japanese words taberareru masukotto, meaning ‘mascots that you can eat.’ It is a Japanese confectionery series that combines well-known characters and Japanese sweets made from ingredients like red bean paste, sugar and rice flour. The sweets are also made with a dough called “nerikiri” which is used in making traditional Japanese wagashi sweets.

What better way to spend your time indoors right now than with a cute Rilakkuma or Kiiroitori sweet?

© 2020 San-X Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Papico, a long-selling brand of ice creams in Japan known for their smooth texture, is teaming up with Rilakkuma to give 1,000 people a chance to win limited-edition Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma hand puppets. The campaign is set to run from April 20, 2020.

Papico is a popular brand of ice cream in Japan that comes in many flavours, such as Chocolate Coffee, which blends chocolate with cafe latte, and the sweet, sour and refreshing White Sour. They also sell numerous limited-edition flavours.

The collaboration designs include Rilakkuma for Coffee Chocolate and Korilakkuma for White Sour. They also come as hand puppets.

The campaign offers 1,000 random people a chance to win both puppets. It will run from April 20, 2020 to July 19, 2020. To sign up, purchase one of the ice creams and apply via the application page included on your receipt.

Tiffany & Co. released a new collection of small leather products at its Harajuku concept store Tiffany @ Cat Street on Wednesday.

What is Tiffany @ Cat Street?

 Tiffany @ Cat Street is a concept store that opened in April 2019 which is set to remain open for just 3 years. It is the company’s first concept store to open in Japan. The shop showcases the wit, creativity, and timeless charm that Tiffany & Co. is known for, as well as a shopping experience in an interactive environment. It stocks everything from Tiffany’s iconic collection from jewellery to home goods, accessories, and more. The line-up and designs also change themes on occasion. Tiffany @ Cat Street also has a cafe on the top floor.

Continental Flap Wallet – ¥72,000 (Before Tax)

Coin Pouch – ¥36,500 (Before Tax)

The small leather product line-up is made from high-quality Italian leather coloured in that eye-catching Tiffany blue. Each item is also stamped with the store’s signature cat motif.

Card Case – ¥24,500 (Before Tax)

Compact Wallet – ¥55,000 (Before Tax)

The four variations are the perfect gift to yourself or someone you hold dear to you.

Be sure to stop by Tiffany @ Cat Street the next time you’re in Harajuku.

“HARAJUKU AR BOX -table projection mapping cafe-,” a cafe in Harajuku whose name speaks for itself, has announced its second collaboration with Rilakkuma to bring the new Rilakkuma Fruits Cafe which will open for a limited time from April 3, 2020 to June 28, 2020.

The cafe’s first collaboration with Rilakkuma was in December last year. It was called “Korilakkuma Cafe: another me in the mirror” and earned itself many fans for its cute food and decor, but especially for its interactive tables which used projection mapping technology to have Rilakkuma and friends running around people’s tables.

Harajuku’s Korilakkuma Cafe: another me in the mirror | Food Review: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/284456

Fruit is the theme of the new Rilakkuma Fruits Cafe, which follows that Chairoikoguma and the other characters have gathered lots of nutritious fruit to fill up the belly of hungry Rilakkuma.

Food

Rilakkuma’s Fruit Salad – ¥1,590

Get your fill of refreshing fruit from this fruit salad plate which has Rilakkuma poking his cute face out from behind it all. When you order this dish, you’ll need to touch the fruits that appear on the table to give them to Rilakkuma.

Korilakkuma’s Apple Cheese Gratin – ¥1,690

A combination of hot apple and melted cheese, you’ll find yourself addicted to the sweet and sour mix of flavours. Pick lots of apples with Rilakkuma and company with the projection mapping game. (*Serving April 3, 2020 – May 17, 2020 only)

Chairoikoguma’s Orange Burger – ¥1,690

The bun of this hearty burger is branded with Chairokoguma’s cute bear face. But what happens when you squeeze Rilakkuma’s orange? (*Serving May 20, 2020 – June 28, 2020 only)

Desserts

Rilakkuma’s Maku Maku Fruit Tree Parfait – ¥1,590

Korilakkuma’s Maku Maku Strawberry Tree Parfait – ¥1,590 (Serving April 3, 2020 – May 17, 2020 only)

Kiiroitori’s Maku Maku Peach Tree Parfait – ¥1,590 (Serving May 20, 2020 – June 28, 2020 only)

For dessert, you have a selection of fruit-topped parfaits to choose from featuring Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori.

Drinks

Rilakkuma & Friends Maku Maku Drinks – ¥790 / With Glass – ¥1,990

Warm & Fluffy With Everyone Cafe Latte – ¥890

Pick between one of the cold beverages, or if it’s a cold day, warm up with a hot drink. Feel warm and fluffy like Rilakkuma and his friends with a warm beverage after your parfait.

Exclusive Merchandise & Bonus Items

Pin Badges (9 Designs/Chosen Randomly) – ¥400

Acrylic Key Rings (8 Designs/Chosen Randomly) – ¥500

Get your hands on a selection of original merchandise too, including pin badges, acrylic key rings, and more.

Stickers (4 Designs/Chosen Randomly)

Coasters (4 Designs/Chosen Randomly)

Book a table online in advance and receive one of four possible stickers. Order a drink at the cafe and get one of the four coasters!

You’re sure to get your five-a-day when you dine at the Rilakkuma Fruits Cafe, opening for spring on April 3, 2020 in Harajuku.

©2020San-X Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Sanrio’s popular character Pompompurin is celebrating his 24th anniversary at three branches of the Pompompurin Cafe in Harajuku, Yokohama, and Umeda with a special birthday menu that will be served for the whole month of April.

A special celebratory menu for the floppy-eared golden retriever

The official date for Pompompurin’s birthday is April 16. The birthday menu line-up includes two food items, a drink made in collaboration with popular Japanese picture book author Yukako Ohde, and some novelty gifts.

Birthday Menu

Happy Birthday Flower Bouquet Bisque – ¥1,590 (Before Tax)

This cute bisque soup has Pompompurin and Muffin holding a colourful boquet made from broccoli and mashed potatoes made to look like roses. It has a rich but mild flavour, and is both adorable and filling.

Happy Birthday Strawberry Mousse – ¥790 (Before Tax)

The strawberry mousse has a fluffy texture and refreshing, sweet taste. It can be eaten as it is or drizzled with the accompanying raspberry sauce.

Yukako Ohde x Pompompurin Lemonade – ¥550 (Before Tax)

Take a sip from this delicious lemonade from a straw adorned with a cute, warm illustration of Pompompurin by Yukako Ohde.

Exclusive Anniversary Novelty Gifts

Lunch Mat Design

Customers who dine at any of the three cafes during the anniversary celebration will receive a free lunch mat.

Coaster Designs

And those who order the lemonade will receive a coaster with designs illustrated by Yukako Ohde. The designs are different at each branch of the Pompompurin Cafe. You can also receive another special coaster if you spend over ¥1,000 each (tax included) at Pompompurin Cafe Umeda and KIDDY LAND Osaka Umeda. Simply show your receipts at the cafe.

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MUUN SEOUL is a cafe located along Tonchan-dori Street in Harajuku that serves Instagram-worthy South Korean food.

Photo by Nagisa Kobayashi @popo_318

Photo by Nagisa Kobayashi @popo_318

The cafe sells “fatcarons,” a South Korean-style macaron which have proven very popular with young women in Japan.

Photo by Taeco @taecostagram

Fatcarons are larger than the standard macaron. They are topped with things like strawberries, given marble textures, and more to give them a cute appearance. MOON SEOUL serves many different varieties, all of which are standout compared to normal macarons.

Photo by Sara @__sar310

But the fatcaron experience at MOON SEOUL isn’t complete without ordering the drink above. It’s strawberry milk flavoured, but the milk is whipped until it’s fluffy, giving it a taste like no other strawberry milk you’ve tried. It also has sliced strawberries inside and on top, so if you love strawberries, you’ll love this.

Photo by Yuina @popochan726

You can order your fatcarons for takeout too in a clear takeaway box so you can go have a dessert picnic with your friends, and get a great photo of them all together too.

If you’ve never heard of the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE in Tokyo, then you’re going to want to visit by the time you see what they’re cooking up for spring.

This year, the cafeーwhich is based on the idea of customers being inside the stomach of a giant monster that’s eaten Harajuku wholeーis holding a spring fair entitled “KAWAII×Sakura×Easter 2020” which is running from March 13 to April 26. The menu line-up incorporates elements of Japanese spring with a colourful Harajuku twist, from Easter to cherry blossoms.

*Menu item names have been translated from Japanese

Colourful Pop Burger Cock-A-Doodle-Doo Monster – ¥1,680

This new chicken monster burger is stuffed full of delicious goodness, including sukiyaki.

Cherry Blossom Bloom Rice – ¥1,300

The year is 2020, and spring has arrived in Japan. This Earth-inspired blue rice has cherry blossom coloured cheese fondue dolloped on top of it which is sat on a bed of black curry. The spicy curry has delicious burnt caramel inside it.

Tropical Bibimbap – ¥1,200

Bibimbap, the soul food of South Korea. This colourful version is topped with edible flowers and cherry blossom wheat-gluten bread, giving it that springtime feeling. The specially-made monster furikake gives the dish a real spicy kick.

UFO Doughnut Pancakes – ¥1,200

These chewy in-house made doughnuts are filled fat with strawberries, mikan, lemon mousse, and strawberry ice cream. Doughnut pancakes are the latest gourmet indulgence in Harajuku.

Sakura Mousse Piyo Piyo Cake – ¥980

Aka-chan is the name of this newborn monster chick, whose cute face is made from cherry blossom mousse.

Pastel Easter Sakura Rabbit Parfait – ¥2,400

Wearing a cute pointy hat and a colourful dress, this sakura Easter bunny is caked in strawberry, orange, and melon flavoured cream, strawberry ice cream, panna cotta, Japanese pudding, fresh strawberries, and raspberry sauce.

A trip to Harajuku this spring isn’t complete without a visit to the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE, so don’t miss out on their spring fair.

Shiseido Parlour, a pioneer of Japanese-style Western cuisine, has announced that it is opening its new restaurant and lounge Shiseido Parlour The Harajuku on the 8th floor of WITH HARAJUKU, a shopping centre located in front of Harajuku Station in Tokyo, on April 25, 2020.

Goshu no Sosai With Seasonal Ingredients

Main Dish

Shiseido Parlour The Harajuku breathes new life into the Japanese-style Western cuisine that has been cultivated in Ginza for 100 years, serving up a new prix fixe-style fixed price menu that elevates the taste, smell, and appearance of the seasonal ingredients used, from a Japanese way of thinking. This food can be enjoyed with a glass of one of the main wines selected by the restaurant’s sommeliers, high-quality tea, and more.

Meals are enjoyed even more by the view offered at the restaurant, where you can see shrine groves of Meiji Jingu Shrine.

Main Dining

Forest Dinner (Chef’s Recommendation) – ¥12,000 (Tax Included)

The design concept for the restaurant interior is forests. The restaurant promises a relaxing atmosphere like that of being wrapped amongst the mighty trees of the woods, the cool air blowing, and the rays of the sun spilling through the trees.

The interior design was created by Kazuya Ura, a Japanese architect who was involved with the building plan for the Kyoto State Guest House. The restaurant lounge features glass art on the wall which captures the image of sunlight filtering through the trees. This was created by Japanese glass designer Ikko Itabashi.

Lounge

The chic red lounge offers a view of the garden terrace and faces the direction of Akasaka. Tuck into appetisers and desserts and enjoy sipping on a drink. This is a great place to sit after your meal or for meeting up with someone.

If you’re visiting Harajuku during your trip to Japan, why not pop into the new Shiseido Parlour The Harajuku?

MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS is located in the heart of Harajuku’s tourism welcomes travellers from all over the world to immerse in Japanese culture in a way they’ve never experienced before. The cherry blossom-themed accommodation SAKURA is a blooming success throughout the year and ORIGAMI’s mesmerizing and clever designs never fail to make tourists crease their necks in amusement. 

The third Japanese culture accommodation has stomped into MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS as a fusion of sumō wrestling and sentō bathhouse culture called ‘DOSUKOI’. The word dosukoi is phrase that sumo wrestlers shout out to get hyped up – perfectly summing up your excitement as you explore this spectacular fusion world from corner to corner. From a giant sumō hand to a historical sentō bathtub with a magnificent mural artwork scenery, the entrance, living room and sentō-style bathing area is overflowing with originality.

Living Room

The entrance to the living room is themed around a sentō bath. The tiled roof and traditional entranceway noren fabric dividers will be the first thing to welcome tired travellers. 

A giant sumō hand overshadows the light on the ceiling, representing the tsuppari striking technique used by sumō wrestlers. The furniture, including the soft sofa, rug and chairs, is white and beige to represent the colour of the sumō ring. 

The relaxing room is punctuated with powerful illustrations of sumō wrestlers that cover the wallpaper. 

Bathroom

The round bathtub is made from Japanese cypress wood and is large enough to fit 3-4 people – perfect to soak off your tiredness with friends and family. A large wall painting (mural)  of a grand ocean view dominated by Mount. Fuji stretches across the wall. A purple curtain is suspended above the circular bath, representing the mizuhikimaku curtain which hangs above a sumō ring. 

The dressing area is equipped with a fridge and chair like a traditional bathhouse. DOSUKOI guests will also find complimentary bath salts which are a gift.

The grand mural is an original piece by Kiyoto Maruyama – one of Japan’s three remaining sentō mural artists. This graceful painting was created using a large and smaller brush. As you admire the bold colours and fine details of this rare art, which is fading away as society progresses, you will be sent on a journey back through time. 

Bedroom

The spacious sleeping area consists of two levels, each of which has enough room for two people to sleep. The room also has another bed in storage, meaning that up to five guests can stay. 

Sink and Toilet

The separate sink area is equipped with a hair dryer. There is also a Japanese Washlet toilet with multiple functions. 

Amenities and Extras

The kitchen is fully equipped with cooking utensils, a microwave, refrigerator and all the daily essentials. 

After a long, relaxing hot soak, put on a light yokozuna yukata robe and you’ll feel just like a sumō champion. There are also many amenities and items that fit with the DOSUKOI theme. 

MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS isn’t just a hotel but is also the perfect party space for you and your friends to get together. As the cold days are still with us, how about warming up in a toasty sentō-style bathtub with your friends?

A cafe themed on Eric Carle’s internationally beloved children’s picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cafe is set to open at Sunday Branch in Kichijoji PARCO in Tokyo on April 1, 2020 where it’s set to run for an entire year, ending on March 31, 2021. Today, we finally get a look at the cafe’s menu line-up.

The picture book has seen its fair share of themed cafes, with the first having taken place in Ginza back in 2018, which was so popular that customers had to book a month in advance to dine there. The cafe was always fully booked.

The franchise also collaborated with multiple branches of J.S. Pancakes from October 2018 to January 2019, and again at Cafe Cucina in Shibuya from March to April last year.

The concept for the new cafe opening in Tokyo’s Kichijouji district is “Fruit Parlour.” Look forward to munching your way through an assortment of fruit-filled sandwiches, pudding
à la mode, and moreーall of which are packed full of The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s favourite fruits.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Fruit Curry (*Price TBA)

Very Hungry Plate (*Price TBA)

Meals on the menu are inspired by the fruits the caterpillar ate each dayーwhich have been recreated using rice! The fruit curry is made with lots of apple, mango, and tomato. It’s a pork curry that has a fruity flavour and a subtle sweetness. If you don’t like spicy curries, then this dish is the one for you.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Kid’s Plate (w/Drink) (*Price TBA)

The menu is also packed with food for kids, like this kid’s plate which comes with a chicken and broccoli tomato pasta, mini pancakes, and a side of fruit. There’s also baby food, like a thin rice porridge made with soft rice and vegetables.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Fruit Sandwich (*Price TBA)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Cheesecake (*Price TBA)

Of course, this tasty menu wouldn’t be complete without a long list of drinks and desserts. There’s the adorable fruit sandwich which recreates the caterpillar’s body, and a New York-style cheesecake topped with artistic cookies made with vegetables and spicesーand all with natural colourings.

This is just a small teaser of what’s to come at The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cafe in Kichijouji; they have promised there will be even more. Their website will go live on March 18, but you can follow them at their social media with the links below.