To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Epoch’s toy franchise Sylvanian Families, Konoka Bakery, which is located inside Tokyo’s ‘sweets theme park’ Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest, will serve a series of special cakes from July 16 to September 30.

Sylvanian Families is a toy franchise that started in 1985 and is now available in over 70 countries worldwide. It’s centred around family life and the beauty of the natural world seen through the eyes adorable animals who live like humans.

Konoka Bakery has created a selection of cakes to not only commemorate the franchise’s 35th anniversary, but to let its customers enjoy the cafe experience from the comfort of their own home in response to the number of people now being indoors and working remotely much more.

11cm Cake: ¥4,500 (Serves 2-3) / 14cm Cake: ¥5,500 (Serves 4-6)　*Tax included, Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest exclusive

There are three cute cakes to choose from, each featuring illustrations of familiar faces from the Sylvanian Families series, including Mitsugo-chan who is new to the Chocolate Rabbit Family—the most popular of all the Sylvanian Families. The three flavours include strawberry, raspberry, and gateaux chocolate. Let’s take a closer look.

Premium Raspberry

Seven layers of moist sponge and a sweet and sour raspberry butter cream pile upon one another for this cake.

Premium Strawberry Shortcake

This cake has five thick layers of moist sponge, strawberry syrup, and cream, inside which is stuffed fresh strawberries.

Premium Chocolate Cake

The premium chocolate cake is made from a combinations of Belgian chocolate cream and moist chocolate sponge.

The first 100 buyers of these cakes will receive a limited-edition Sylvanian Families gift too, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

©EPOCH

Japanese confectionery company KANRO has joined pika-paws with Pikachu for the second time to feature the beloved Pokémon on the cola flavour their Puré gummies. They will be released in Japan from July 21, 2020 in limited quantities.

The collaboration brings together delicious Puré gummies, which are always by people’s sides in Japan to support them, and Pikachu, your cute Pokémon partner. It is their second collaboration, following the one back in June.

The flavour in question is the “Electric Tropica,” a mix of pineapple, mango and banana juice together with some Pikachu electricity which comes from the cola flavour. The combination of gelatin and pectin gives the gummies their satisfyingly chewy flavour. The candies themselves are Pikachu-shaped, while the packaging comes in four different Pikachu designs which scream summertime.

Additionally, the packaging of the regular lemon, grape, and muscat flavours of Puré will also feature Pikachu paw prints on them for a limited time.

©2020 Pokémon. ©1995-2020 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.

Just when you thought McDonald’s couldn’t get more yellow, the world-famous fast food restaurant is now teaming up with Illumination Entertainment’s lovable yellow minions, creating a new line of tasty treats,  fun toys and more. The new line includes the Banana McShake®, Waffle Cone Chocolate Banana Ice Cream, a Minions Happy Meal® and much more. The minions will be taking over the menu from July 17, 2020 for a limited time only.
*Unavailable at certain branches

The minions are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. From the packaging of the food to McShakes and toys, there’s just so much going on this summer.

Banana McShake® Small: ¥120円/ Medium: ¥200
*Image for illustration purposes only

Enjoy the mild flavour of banana embraced in sweet cream. As the flavours melt on your tongue, you will feel refreshed. The small-size cups are decorated with original illustrations of the main minions Bob, Kevin and Stuart and are in limited supply. Enjoy the sight of mischievous minions joke around on your drink as you get refreshed.

Waffle Cone Chocolate Banana Ice Cream: ¥250 (Price may vary)

*Image for illustration purposes only

A crispy waffle cone filled with milky, rich soft serve ice cream and drizzled with a rich chocolate sauce and sweet banana sauce – a minion’s favourite flavour. Your ice cream will be served wrapped in collaboration-limited packaging. During the collaboration period, all waffle ice cream cones (plain, strawberry, chocolate and almond) will be served in special minion-themed wrapping.

Minions Happy Meal®

Selling: July 17, 2020 ( approximately four weeks)
Bonus Toys: A total of 30 minions toys and 30 golden versions.
*All minion toys are in limited supply
*You cannot choose which toy you will get with your meal

The Minions Happy Meal® comes with a toy. There are a total of 30 different minion toys and each one is pulling a hilarious and mischievous pose. Which one will you receive? From dancers and sporty minions to firefighters, the toy collection represents the large variety of minions that we’ve seen over the ten years. There’s even a Bob holding a teddy bear and a King Bob. There are also gold versions of the toys too, however, these are very rare to come across. Each toy will be sealed in an exciting minion capsule, adding to the excitement.

If you purchase the set on July 18 or July 19, 2020, you will be given a holographic minion stickers so you can enjoy the mischievous minions even more. There is also a campaign on twitter where 32 winners will be rewarded with the complete minions set!

Campaign Running: July 13 (13:00) ー July 15, 2020 (23:59)
How To Apply:
1. Follow the official McDonald’s Japan account （＠McDonaldsJapan）
2. Reply to the post with the tweet that contains the hashtag #わたしのミニオン愛はミリオン級 by copy and pasting the hashtag and writing a message to declare that you are a minions fan.
Prizes: 32 winners will be chosen to receive a Complete Minions Happy Meal®

From July 10, 2020, McDonald’s will be sharing eight different minion-themed backgrounds on their website. These collaboration-limited backgrounds are perfect for spicing up your online video calls and web meetings.

McDonald’s Minions Virtual Background Download: https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/minions/cmp01/
Accessible From: July 10, 2020 (Available for approximately 5 weeks)

*8 different backgrounds available

Join in the minions fun at McDonald’s this summer!

*Food and item names have been translated from Japanese
© Universal City Studios LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

Oedo Onsen Monogatari Hotels & Resorts reopened “Oedo Onsen Monogatari Shiomiso” on July 10, 2020 after the hot spring hotel underwent some revamps.

To commemorate the reopening, the hotel is now holding a dinner buffet and all-you-can-drink plan until August 31, 2020.

Take a dip in the famous Senami Onsen

Oedo Onsen Monogatari Shiomiso is home to Senami Onsen, a hot spring which first opened back in 1904 after the area was excavated for oil and the hot water shot out from the ground. Also known by the name “Netsu no Yu” (Hot Water), the hot spring has continued to offer rich quantities of water for over 100 years. Japanese poet and pioneering feminist Yosano Akiko wrote a poem about the place in 1937.

The water is thick and transparent, and also has chloride in it, which helps prevent sweat from evaporating, leading to moisturised skin. You also don’t feel cold after leaving the water, and the water has sterilising properties. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing experience while gazing out across the Japanese sea at the evening  setting sun.

Choose the right room for your trip

There are a number of different rooms to pick from that cater to all kinds of travels, such as the ocean view Japanese-style rooms which accommodate 2-5 people, rooms with a terrace, Japanese-style rooms with open-air baths, and more.

All-you-can-drink summer drinks and a gourmet buffet

The new restaurant serves up a menu by legendary Japanese chef Takaharu Takashina, with seasonal ingredients sourced in Niigata Prefecture. The restaurant serves a Japanese and Western fusion buffet, a diverse breakfast assortment, and more. There’s sushi, fried foods, fish from the Japan sea, exquisite rice, and much more to enjoy.

Affordable summer all-you-can-drink

The all-you-can-drink plan comes with evening buffet as a set and is running until August 31, priced at just ¥1,500. Cool down from the summer heat with a refreshing beer, highball, or other beverage to enjoy with your meal.

All-You-Can-Drink Plan

Running: Until August 31, 2020

Time: 60-minutes max in the evenings

Menu: Beer, Shochu, Highball, Sours, and more.

“BEB” is a brand of hotel established by Hoshino Resorts which aims to support young people travelling by being cost-effective as well as make travelling more fun for the younger generation. This year, BEB5 Karuizawa is promoting a spending a fun and stylish summertime.

Enjoy the outdoors in a wide, open space

The indoor “Yagura Room” is fitted with spacious sofas and bed spaces where people can chat together, read a book, and enjoy their free time. There’s also “TAMARIBA,” a 24-hour public space with a garden, lounge, cafe, and library. A cool breeze sweeps through the tall windows, letting in cool air on a hot summer’s day. Guests can kick back and enjoy some relaxation. The cafe even sells wine so guests can treat themselves to an evening drink or have a little drinking get-together with friends.

Summer resort rental items

Guests can experience the true thrill of summertime in Karuizawa with a selection of rental items including straw hats, a bug catching net, portable speakers, electric fans, and more. These can be rented from July 13, 2020 to August 31, 2020.

The lush green outdoors surrounds the hotel

BEB5 Karuizawa is located in one corner of the Karuizawa Hoshino Area which is home to a bright green forest. Located laong the bath is Harunire Terrace which is home to 16 unique shops, and there’s even a hot spring which flows directly from the water source.

Hoshino Onsen Tonbo no Yu

There are plenty of things for guests to do outside, including participating in a nature tour hosted by wild flora and fauna specialists Picchio, having a picnic at the benches by the flowing water, and more.

Karuizawa is one of Japan’s best places for a summer retreat. Just a one hour bullet train ride from Tokyo, it’s an easy place to access from the country’s capital.

With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s Easy Recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

Today, I’ll be showing you a dreamy recipe on how to make the healthy Taiwanese snack douhua topped with Yukimi Daifuku mochi ice cream.

Ingredients

400ml soy milk
2-g Lakanto (Zero-calorie natural sweetener)
Pinch of salt
8g gelatin (dissolved in 1 tbsp water)

Pre-preparations

Stick bear-shaped sliced chocolate around the side of a glass and leave to set in the refrigerator.

1.

Warm soy milk and Lakanto in a saucepan until the Lakanto is completely dissolved.

2.

Add the gelatin and mix until fully dissolved.

3.

Leave the mix to cool. Once cooled, remove the glass from the refrigerator and pour the mix into the glass. Place back into the fridge until it sets.

4.

Add sliced almonds and use a chocolate pen on Yukimi Daifuku to create Korilakkuma’s face, or a face of your choice.

5.

Remove the glass from the fridge and add the Yukimi Daifuku. Choose your choice of toppings, like soy flour and brown sugar syrup, then enjoy!

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto opened its limited-time “Champagne Garden” on July 3 at its first floor outdoor terrace restaurant Brasserie. Running until September 6, customers can enjoy free-flow French Bollinger champagne and cocktails.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto opened back in October 2016 as a luxury hotel, home to the famous Sekisuien Gardens which have a history spanning back 800 years and are mentioned in the The Tale of the Heike epic. The hotel’s first floor restaurant Brasserie has towering 9-meter tall windows that look out onto these gardens, while inside customers can enjoy dining in a stylish environment.

The champagne served in the Champagne Garden is produced by the French Champagne house Bolligner, a company that started by Jacques Bollinger in 1829. Fermented in oak barrels, the champagne has sophisticated and complex flavours. In 1884, Bolligner received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria.

At the Champagne Garden, guests can enjoy four different types of canapé made by the restaurant’s head chef Koga together with a glass of Bolligner. They can also order rosé wine, cocktails, or soft drinks too, all of which are free-flow. And since the restaurant faces the garden, guests can enjoy the view of the greenery throughout all four seasons, in central Kyoto.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto reopened on July 1 after closing temporarily due to COVID-19. The hotel has launched its “Lead With Care” program which ensures guests and staff are at the top of the priority list for safety against the coronavirus.

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.

Travel + Leisure published their “World’s Best Awards 2020 Top Hotels in Tokyo” list on July 8, 2020 on which Hoshinoya Tokyo, managed by Hoshino Resorts, placed No. 1.

“World’s Best Awards” is a list of the top hotels as ranked by travel magazine Travel + Leisure’s user ratings. The hotel category takes into account the facilities, location, service, food, and more offered at each hotel.

Established in Otemachi, Tokyo in July 2016, Hoshinoya Tokyo is a ryokan-style hotel which has two basement floors and 17 upper floors. It has a traditional Japanese ryokan vibe to it with its tatami mats, sliding doors, bamboo materials, and more, plus guests must take their shoes off at the entrance. And while it has traditional elements, it caters to the modern lifestyle, combining the best of both worlds. It offers guests a chance to easily experience Japanese culture and what it’s like to stay in a ryokan.

Fresh fruits and vegetable company yoloz is selling an exquisite cheesecake produced by chef Masato Yamazaki. The cheesecake is made using exotic mangoes sourced from Hentonanoen – an exotic orchard located in Okinawa. Preorders are now being accepted.

The new cheesecake takes the name “tabi suru cheesecake” which literally means “travelling cheesecake” – a fitting name for a cheesecake made with ingredients sourced from across Japan. The name also reflects chef Masato Yamazaki’s experience of travel. Each month, chef Yamazaki creates a new limited edition flavour with the goal of “delivering the passion of fresh food producers to their consumers”. This month, Yamazaki and yoloz are teaming up to deliver a delicious cheesecake made with fruits fresh from Japan’s sunny paradise island of Miyako.

Whole: ¥4,980 (After Tax)

Half: ¥2,780 (After Tax)

This is the sixth collaboration by chef Yamazaki. The sun-soaked mangoes are sourced from Hentonanoen – an exotic orchard located on Miyako Island, Okinawa. The cheesecake enjoys a subtle splash of white wine for a refreshing aftertaste. Eggs with white yolks are also used to complete its refreshing image. Enjoy the contrast of the tangy yoghurt and ripe, sweet mangoes – the perfect summer treat. The sweet aroma of farm-fresh mangoes will instantly fill you with those cheerful summer vibes. 

Tadashi Hentona (From Hentonanoen)

Hentonanoen is located on Miyako Island of Okinawa. For more than 20 years, we have been working our hardest to harvest the most delicious mangoes using our own unique farming methods. One step in our procedure is caring for the soil. We periodically analyse the soil of our mango trees, enriching it with the very best nutrients it needs. Our procedure includes taking natural salts from the ocean to further enhance the quality of the soil. We always give it our best when caring for our produce. We hope you enjoy the delicious flavour of Miyako Island mangoes.

Just one bite of this cheesecake will take you on an unforgettable journey to sunny Okinawa. You just have to try it!

Hirakata Park has announced the horror-themed event “Yamibiraki no Yoru” which will be held at the Osaka amusement park during the night from August 26 to September 13.

Two Japanese horror entertainment companies are coming together to set up spooky spots around the park for the event. For the event, visitors will need to clear a mission to reach the goal which will involve the use of a smartphone or tablet.

Yamibiraki no Yoru – Synopsis

“There is a rumour that once a year, Hirakata Park opens up during the middle of the night. And though it’s open in the middle of the night, the only staff that can be spotted around are those with vacant looks in their eyes. What’s more is that there aren’t any visitors around. At some point, this rumour came to be called Yamibiraki no Yoru, ‘Open in Darkness.’ And this summer, an event is being held, on the same day that rumour was named, and with the same name…”

Scary School Stories VR x Real Scary Experience

Hirakata Park is also holding a haunted house event during the daytime from July 17, 2020. Themed on Kokkuri-san, a Japanese supernatural game, the event will combine the use of VR technology and real interactive scares.

Hibiya-Kandan is set to open a new glamping guest house by the name of “RELAX FUJINO” on August 21, 2020.

Just an hour and a half’s journey from the city, RELAX FUJINO is opening in Kanagawa Prefecture’s town of Fujino, a place known for its abundant nature and traditional arts. It aims to be a place where both “the heart and body can be happy.”

The guest house promises to serve guests the ultimate relaxation experience, have them feeling positive about themselves, and opening their eyes to new discoveries. They will be able to enjoy the region’s culture and nature while indulging in the kind of luxurious experience that Hibiya-Kandan is known for offering.

The glamping site is home to two separate sites: the Japanese-style “RURI” and the Western-style “ECRU,” both of which have decks offering a panoramic view of the mountain range. Each site also has its own dome-shaped tent which span 28 square meters in length. There are counter tables which offer a panoramic view of the sights, garden tables, and even BBQ spaces. This mix of indoors and outdoors makes guests feel like part of Fujino’s gorgeous natural environment. There are communal showers and toilets inside too, as well as a nearby hot spring facility.

The food served is made with plenty of organic vegetables grown in Fujino. A stay at the site means you get a free dinner and breakfast too.

There are plenty of both indoor and outdoors activities to get involved in, like yoga, coffee roasting, crafts, blueberry picking, and more.

Bookings open on August 1, 2020. If you’re in Japan this summer, then why not get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy a relaxing time out in nature?