Ichihara Elephant Kingdom is the home to the largest number of elephants in Japan. The zoo has announced major renovations set for completion next spring which will allow for the elephants to live an even more enjoyable life.

Ichihara Elephant Kingdom is located in central Chiba and is home to 12 elephants. It’s also home to around 80 other species of animals like red pandas, beavers, capybaras, hippos, and more. The zoo also has a variety of attractions, like the Elephant Ride which sits behinds where the elephants live, and the Elephant Lift where you can ride up and down an elephant trunk. The Head of  Ichihara Elephant Kingdom, Sayuri Sakamoto, served as the writer for the 2005 Japanese drama film Shining Boy & Little Randy. One of the zoo’s Asian elephants, Randy, was also a model for the film.

The renovations will introduce a new home for the elephants as the current one is seeing wear over time, as well as a new large-scale pond for the elephants to play in, a playground, and more. The zoo has always ensured a safe distance between visitors and the elephants so people can enjoy watching them will making sure the elephants stay happy. It is now creating new spaces to continue that service.

The water pond the zoo is building for the elephants is called Elephant Splash, and they are launching a crowdfunder on October 27, 2020 to ask for people’s help with funding the project. It will allow a new space for the elephants to play which visitors are sure to enjoy too, like seeing the 1- and 2-year-old Ramu and Momoka splashing around.

The crowdfunding project has nine different tiers including tickets to an evening cherry blossom party at the park, a chance to ride the elephants, and more. The campaign will end on January 15, 2021, the same date as Ramu’s birthday.

HOSHINOYA Okinawa has announced its new “Hoshizora Hot Pool” experience where guests will be able to stay warm in the hotel’s warmed-up swimming pool while gazing up at the winter night sky. It will run from December 1, 2020 to February 28, 2020.

Okinawa enjoys a mild winter each year; it’s uncommon for the temperature to dip below 15℃. Winter is a time where all of us enjoy being in the warmth of indoors, but in Okinawa you can enjoy being outside even during the cold season. And that’s where Hoshizora Hot Pool comes in as the end of the year approaches, a time when there are many events and celebrations to be had.

The outdoor pool at HOSHINOYA Okinawa can be heated and so is perfect during the winter season. Guests are invited to soak in the infinity pool, where you can hear the sounds of the waves, and where it looks like the sea and sky become one. Almost all 88 of the constellations can be seen in Okinawa, and since the sky is clear during the winter nights, it’s the opportune time to be turning your gaze skyward.

Glowing lanterns make for a romantic atmosphere

When the sun sets, lanterns are lit by the poolside and breathe a warmth light to the cool evenings. The lights sway back and forth, reflecting off the water to create a magical atmosphere.

Hot cocktails by the pool

Guests will also be able to order from the bar once the lanterns are lit from the evening with a selection of refreshing drinks made with fresh fruits to hot cocktails to warm the body.

Float beneath the starry sky to the sounds of the waves

Guests can enjoy floating in the pool as an endless tapestry of stars unravels itself overhead. The Hoshino Resorts Banta Cafe will be open for business in the evening too. Guests can order some fruity desserts, rent lanterns, and more.

Tokyo Disneyland® is set to open its all-new Beauty and the Beast area of the park tomorrow on September 28, 2020. It’s opening in line with the new Big Hero 6 attraction, Minnie Mouse area where guests can meet Minnie, and the park’s new popcorn shop.

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON was granted early access to the news areas, so here’s our review!

Check out our review of the new Beauty and the Beast area too here: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/362152

The Happy Ride with Baymax: The world’s first Big Hero 6 attraction

The Happy Ride with Baymax ride has guests joining one of the personal healthcare companion robots on an exciting cart ride.

The park is limiting the number of people allowed on the attraction at once due to the pandemic. To board the attraction, guests need to download the app after entering the park.

Big Pop: Tokyo Disneyland’s first popcorn shop

Tokyo Disneyland’s first permanent popcorn shop opens in Tomorrowland.

This space-themed shop serves up a whole range of flavours like cookie cream, caramel and cheese, and strawberry milk. There’s also four different popcorn baskets to choose form, including Big Hero 6 and Beauty and the Beast designs.

Minnie’s Style Studio: Meet Minnie Mouse

This studio imagines Minnie Mouse as an international fashion designer who designs outfits, shoots photos, and more. Guests can meet Minnie Mouse at her studio if they book in advance.

©Disney

Tokyo Disneyland® is set to open its all-new Beauty and the Beast area of the park tomorrow on September 28, 2020. It’s opening in line with the new Big Hero 6 attraction, Minnie Mouse area where guests can meet Minnie, and the park’s new popcorn shop.

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON was granted early access to the Beauty and the Beast area – here’s our review!

Check out our review of the new Big Hero 6 attraction and Minnie’s Style Studio too here: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/362221

The world of Beauty and the Beast brought to life

The area connects Belle’s village to Beast’s castle by way of the forest. At the entrance to the village, guests will immediately spot the cottage of Maurine, Belle’s father and the vilage inventor. Beyond that is Gaston’s water fountain as well as a restaurant inspired by Gaston’s bar. There are also other shops that Belle visits in the film, such as the bookshop. It’s like stepping into the magical world itself.

When you leave the village and head through the forest, you are met by the spectacle that is Beast’s castle, coloured in a cute pink. There’s a large-scale attraction inside called “Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast.”

The Tokyo Disneyland-original attraction “Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast”

The attraction, located inside the towering 30m-tall castle, features magical cups that guests board. The cups dance in rhythm to music from the film as they take guests through iconic moments seen in the Disney classic.

There are many surprises and discoveries to be found inside the castle.

The park is limiting the number of people allowed on the attraction at once due to the pandemic. To board the attraction, guests need to download the app after entering the park.

Village shops based on the movie

The Village Shops area features a line of shops inspired by those seen in Belle’s town, each of which sells various items from clothing to accessories and souvenirs.

There are around 100 pieces of merchandise for fans to sift through.

The shops are also carrying out measures against COVID-19, showcasing the items in a display only so they cannot be touched when entering the store. Guests must use the sign-up system on the app beforehand if they want to enter the shop.

La Taverne de Gaston

All the little details have been captured to recreate Gaston’s bar, making it like a snippet right out of the film.

Big Bite Croissant

Very Cheers

Sweet Gaston

The menu features a line-up dishes, drinks, and desserts, like sausage croissants with, French toasted cheese sandwiches, soft drinks made to look like beer, and more. The bar also requires booking on the app prior to visiting.

Le Fou’s Churros (Apple Caramel)

Le Fou’s is located next to La Taverne de Gaston where you can get your fingers on snacks like apple caramel churros.

And don’t miss up on visiting the new popcorn wagon either which serves popcorn in a Beauty and the Beast bucket.

The new Beauty and the Beast area is a must-visit for any fan of the film, or for people who want to feel like a Disney princess.

©Disney

JR Kyushu has signed a promotional license agreement with Walt Disney Japan to launch the “GO! WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE with PIXAR” project, which will see the shinkansen bullet trains decorated in characters from the Pixar animated filmography starting on September 12, 2020.

The project comes at a time when Pixar celebrates the 25th anniversary of the original Toy Story film, which released back in 1995 as the first entirely computer-animated feature film.

New details have been released for the upcoming project, including the unveiling of the key visual, the content of the collaboration, campaigns that will be held, and limited-edition merchandise which will be sold.

Key Visual

The key visual is a colourful Pixar creation which is shaped to look like the seven prefectures that make up Kyushu—Japan’s south-westernmost island where the JR Kyushu WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE Shinkanen bullet train will run.

Character Visuals

Poster Design

All major stations along the JR Kyushu Line display the key visual along with the above-pictured poster featuring various Pixar characters. Each of Kyushu’s seven major prefectural train stations listed below will also have additional posters for different Pixar films.

Hakata Station: Toy Story
Saga Station: Up
Nagasaki Station: Finding Nemo
Oita Station: The Incredibles
Kumamoto Station: Cars
Kagoshima-Chūō Station: Monsters, Inc.
Miyazaki Station: Wall-E

Tabloid Distribution

For illustrative purposes only. Distribution from September 12, 2020.

At all major stations running the JR Kyushu Line, commuters can get their hands on a free tabloid inspired by the “My Adventure Book” from the Pixar film Up. The content of the tabloid features information related to the collaboration and where you can find Pixar characters at stations throughout Kyushu, so you too can have your own adventure.

Photo Spots

Cars photo spot

The seven JR Kyushu prefectural stations will also have their own photo spots where you can snap a picture. You’ll also spot Woody and Buzz dolls and Hakata Station and Sully and Mike ones at Kagoshima-Chūō Station.

Participating Stations: Hakata Station, Saga Station, Nagasaki Station, Oita Station, Kumamoto Station, Kagoshima-Chūō Station, Miyazaki Station

Special Site & Official Instagram

A special site opened which features the departure schedule for the JR Kyushu WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE Shinkansen, details on campaigns, the latest details on the collaboration, and more. Waku Waku ADVENTURE now also has its own Instagram page which includes reports on event, pictures of merchandise, and other details.

Special Movie

A special collaborative movie will be released in September centred on the themes of Pixar’s movies such as bonds between people, family, friends, and adventure. It will be shown at JR Kyushu stations and the special site.

Campaign: Find the Pixar Ball

Original sticker designs

If you spot a station staff member at any of the JR Kyushu prefectural stations wearing a Pixar ball badge, call out to them and they’ll give you one of seven possible Pixar stickers as pictured above. All seven can be put into your “My Adventure Book,” so try collecting them all!

Participating Stations: Hakata Station, Saga Station, Nagasaki Station, Oita Station, Kumamoto Station, Kagoshima-Chūō Station, Miyazaki Station

*Depending on the time, platform staff may not be wearing the badges

*Stickers are available while supplies last

GO! WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE Digital Stamp Rally

A digital stamp rally will be held on the official JR Kyushu app. Board the JR Kyushu WAKU WAKU ADVENTURE Shinkansen, visit JR Kyushu Stations, and get some original stamps.

1st Stamp Rally: September 12, 2020 – January 31, 2021

Limited Edition Merchandise

Merchandise lineup

A special collection of merchandise has been created featuring designs of Kyushu and the Pixar characters. The items will be sold at shops around JR Kyushu stations and online in Japan.

Release Date: September 12, 20202
Merchandise List: https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/train/wakuwaku-adventure/goods/

Those who ride the very first departing train will receive an original Pixar design train ticket. The Tsubame 363 train bound for Kagoshima-Chūō Station will depart from Hakata Station at 12:19 on September 12, 2020.

©Disney/Pixar

Southern Beach Hotel & Resort Okinawa has opened a new plan that includes an evening meal, BBQ, and accommodation at the beach hotel and resort.

Southern Beach Hotel & Resort Okinawa is in a favourable location—just a 20-minute drive from Naha Airport in the city of Itoman. It’s a 3-minute drive from Roadside Station Itoman, the largest farmers and fish market in Okinawa, and within 10-minutes drive of the new ‘iias’ shopping complex that opened in June this year, DMM Kariyushi Aquarium, and Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa.

The hotel’s impressive garden pool is 70 meters wide and is shaped in a unique way with five different levels of water spanning the entire length. Families flock to the pool in the summertime as the sun shines down and sparkles on the water.

The new plan includes access to the pool in the evenings right up to 9:00pm, allowing guests to cool down in the pool without having to worry about getting sunburned, as well as a delicious dinner to be enjoyed after fun in the pool.

The open air garden BBQ includes 90 minutes of all-you-can-eat meat, fish, and other delights to tuck into as the sea breeze caresses you.

Guests can also choose a buffet option instead which makes use of local Okinawan ingredients.

If you’re in Japan this summer, and are looking for the beach resort experience, then hit up Southern Beach Hotel & Resort Okinawa.

Two Creamy Mami themed pop-up shops are set to open in Ikebukuro Marui on September 5 and in Shizuoka Marui on September 19. Fans can expect to get their hands on a range of exclusive and new merchandise themed on the popular anime series Creamy Mami, the Magical Angel, from pin badges and a parker hoodie to tote bags and more.

Pre-Sale Merchandise (Excerpt)

Trading Ani-Art Pin Badge (9 Designs) | Single: ¥430, Box: ¥3,870 (Before Tax)

Trading Ani-Art Acrylic Stands (9 Designs) | Single: ¥800, Box: ¥7,200 (Before Tax)

Back Print Zipper Parker (1 Design) | ¥5,980 (Before Tax)

Clear Pouch (1 Design) | ¥1,980 (Before Tax)

Fans who spend over ¥3,000 (tax included) on related merchandise and display their Epos cards will have the chance to enter a lottery to win a prize.

The pop-up shop is also currently holding a Twitter campaign in Japan until October 5, 2020. One lucky fan can receive a complete set of bromide photos by following AMNIBUS on Twitter and retweeting this tweet.

The pop-up shop is a chance for fans and newcomers to jump into the magical world of Creamy Mami.

©Pierrot

Greenport Agency, a group managed by Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA), opened a new online service titled “Narita Airport Kengaku Tour” on August 5 which offers a range of digital content to users, including a detailed tour of the airport with commentary by members of the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences, and more.

Limited spaces are available for the online tour. To apply, users need to apply through Ouchi Soku Tabi, an online travel service operated by Orange Inc. The service was made in tandem with NAA, the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences, and areas surrounding the airport. It was launched to give people a chance to feel like they’re on holiday abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic in a time when remote work and working from home is the new norm.

The first trailer for the upcoming TV anime series Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is here. The anime, which will air from October 3, serves as a spin-off series of the anime adaptation of Inuyasha which originally ran from 2000-2004 and wrapped up with Inuyasha: The Final Act in 2010.

Confirmed cast members for Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon include Sara Matsumoto as Towa Higurashi, Mikako Komatsu as Setsuna, and Azusa Tadokoro as Moroha.

To promote the series, a series of exhibitions celebrating the history of Inuyasha will take place across Japan including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Niigata—the latter of which is the hometown of Inuyasha author Rumiko Takahashi. Merchandise will also be available for fans to buy.

The main visual for the exhibition

Details on tickets, merchandise, and the full content of the exhibition will be announced in the near future, so stay tuned.

ⒸRumiko Takahashi / Shogakukan・Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation・Sunrise 2009

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.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) reopened on June 19, 2020 after temporary closure as a result of COVID-19. The park is now running with strict measures in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, including practicing the 2m social distancing rule, making it mandatory to wear face masks, and so on. The park has posted a full video demonstration of the rules on their official website.

That means summertime is set to shine on USJ once again this year. The new ‘Universal Summer Parade: We are One’ event will begin on July 23 as the first parade held by the park since its reopening. Guests will be able to enjoy a fun and exciting summer at USJ with all the necessary precautions in place to ensure their safety.

Many familiar faces will gather at USJ to celebrate summer with guests, including the Minions, Elmo, Snoopy, Hello Kitty, and more. Each of them will board colourful floats for the parade during the parade, which will open with the fittingly-titled “Opening Float” followed by a flurry of unique floats like the flashy “Latin Float,” cute European-inspired “Europe Float,” the mysterious “Indian Float,” and the finale “America Float,” amongst many others. There will be music to entertain guests for laughs, smiles, and fun energy while characters and entertainers ride the floats and serve summertime vibes.

The peak moment of the parade will be when confetti rains down on guests in huge quantities. Flags can also be bought for the parade for the first time in this year. Performers and the park characters will be able to entertain guests at a distance while still connecting with them through the fun performances. A special “social distance” performance created in cooperation with the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education will also be part of the parade. This year’s parade plans to have guests dancing and smiling even more than previous years to lift some of that stress away and give them the fight and energy to continue into tomorrow.

Universal Summer Parade: We Are One

Put your hands into the air as the sun beats down and the floats arrive to a lively rhythm. ‘We are One’ is the catchphrase, so get your boogie on and explode with excitement together with the entertainers and park characters for a heated summer parade!

Running: July 23, 2020 – August 27, 2020

Location: Parade Route

Time: One per day from 11:00am (approx 40 mins) 

Buy yourself a parade flag for ¥500 and wave it around to the beat of the festival!

Cool yourself off with some summer merch

Get your hands on some merch for cooling off, including the must-have summer “Handy Fan,” a “UV Poncho” which keeps you cool in the heat of the sun, a classic “Sensu” folding fan, and more.

Feel the Japanese festivities with the Universal Market

The Universal Market will give that Japanese ‘matsuri’ festival vibe. Enjoy some cool desserts, spicy food, and more.

Left: Super Hot! Turkey Leg ¥1,000 / Centre: Peach Jelly Soda: ¥650 / Right: Frappe Sundae ~Strawberry & Blue Hawaii~ ¥750

Since guest safety is the number one priority this summer, the park will not be holding its famous splash performance where guests are soaked with water by water shooters.

Additionally, the parade will also not stop in any of the usual designated places and will instead keep on moving, meaning the parade can be enjoyed from anywhere along the parade route. Guests will be able to keep plenty of distance from others as they watch the parade.

The park also released a statement on its ‘enhanced sanitation in park operations’ on its official website so you can find out more about what USJ is doing to tackle the COVID-19 spread.

If you’re in Osaka this year, you can still enjoy summer at Universal Studios Japan with all the necessary precautions in place.

KADOKAWA is set to open a Hello Kitty themed cafe on the Narita Anime Deck—which is located on the Main Building second floor of Narita International Airport Terminal 2—for a limited time from July 3, 2020 to October 2, 2020.

The Narita Anime Deck

The Narita Anime Deck opened inside Narita International Airport Terminal 2 in November 2019. It’s an entertainment facility where travellers from around the world can experience and enjoy Japanese anime culture in various forms such as with character merchandise, food, events, and a variety of photo spots.

Hello Kitty Cafe

The facility has collaborated with numerous anime series to open up limited-time cafes since it opened. This time around it is joining paws with Hello Kitty, a face known to all across the globe. As well as themed food, drinks and merchandise, customers can take a Hello Kitty quiz, learn the history behind Hello Kitty, and more.

An Original Food Menu

Hello Kitty’s Lovely♡ Pink Curry: ¥1,500

Hello Kitty’s Gurakoro Burger: ¥1,500

Hello Kitty’s Strawberry Pancake: ¥1,400

Hello Kitty’s Strawberry Parfait: ¥1,200

An Original Drinks Menu

The incredible drinks menu is diverse, including lattes where you can get 46 different latte art designs of Hello Kitty from 1974-2019. It could be fun to pick your birth year, or a year where you have fond memories.

Hello Kitty’s Colourful Tapioca Drinks (Matcha Milk/Strawberry Milk/Milk Tea): ¥720 Each

 
Hello Kitty’s Marshmallow Coffee: ¥800

Hello Kitty’s Latte (46 Designs): ¥720 Each

Novelties

For every item you order from the collaboration menu, you can also receive one of 46 possible original coasters once again featuring a different design of Hello Kitty between the years 1974-2019.

1st Line-Up: July 3, 2020 – August 2, 2020

2nd Line-Up: August 3, 2020 – September 2, 2020

3rd Line-Up: September 3, 2020 – October 2, 2020

If you’re travelling through Narita Airport anytime this year up to October, then be sure to head on up to the Narita Anime Deck to dine at the Hello Kitty Cafe.

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