Keifuku Electric Railroad is lending its strength to Rokuo-in Temple in Kyoto this autumn to light up the ancient site in the evenings from November 14 to December 6.

Shari-den (Photo taken in 2019)

Temple path (Photo taken in 2019)

This year marks the 5th run of the autumn evening light-ups. The temple, just a four minute walk from Rokuoin Station, is known for its beautiful maple trees which blossom breathtaking autumnal colours during the fall season.

Temple reception hall with fusuma images

Fusuma image example

The temple is selling new goshuin temple stamp books this year for the light-up event. Visitors will also be able to see 56 fusuma images drawn by contemporary Japanese artist Takaya Fuji.

Rokuo-in Temple will close early next year for approximately 2 years and 9 months for repairs. The temple is also currently limiting the number of people allowed at once, making this year the best time to see the autumn leaves.

The Pokémon Café in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, is adding an apple flavoured Eevee frappe to its ever-growing Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Café menu. The frappe will be available from October 2 to December 4.

Eevee Apple Pie Frappe

The sweet tang of the apple combines with the caramel to create a tasty dessert drink, topped with whipped cream, crunchy piece bits, and a cute Eevee tail cookie.

Buy the separate Eevee sleeve to put on your drink to make a fully complete and adorable Eevee frappe♡

© 2020 Pokémon.©1995-2020 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
Pokémon, ポケットモンスター and ポケモン are registered trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc. and GAME FREAK inc.

The Tokyo, Osaka, and Makuhari branches of Hotel New Otani are now serving seasonal autumn versions of their specially made pancakes at their coffee shop and all-dining restaurant SATSUKI until November 30, 2020

Fantastically fluffy pancakes

Hotel New Otani has been serving its special pancakes for the past 10 years which have become a favourite amongst guests.

The hotel’s pastry chefs have whisked up a variety of flavours in line with the changing seasons this past decade using strictly-selected ingredients including strawberry, melon, mango, chestnut, and more.

A marriage of rich chestnut and fluffy pancake

Hotel New Otani Specially Made Chestnut Pancakes 2020 | ¥2,800 (Before Tax/Service Charge)

Chestnuts are the flavourful theme for autumn 2020’s pancakes, made with strictly-selected chestnut astringent skin, sweet bean jelly, and topped with a chestnut macaron.
The pancakes are served with melt-in-the-mouth Italian ricotta. There are two different doughs, one made from coffee flour which has high nutritional value, and the hotel’s original “White Cereal” which is a combination of millets and amaranth.
The pancakes are cooked on a low heat for about 5 minutes on each side so they rise to a fluffy 5cm thickness and become startlingly smooth.

Strawberries for winter

For this year’s winter, the hotel will be serving strawberry pancakes.

Enjoy a selection of seasonal pancakes when staying at Hotel New Otani.

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.

Halloween in closing in, so for this recipe I’ll be using pumpkin to make delicious cookies—crunchy on the outside and moist in the middle. This recipe rolls the dough into a ball, so it’s a great alternative for people who aren’t good with shaping or cutting cookies.

Ingredients

50g pumpkin (mashed and skin removed)

20g-25g sugar (I used sanonto sugar to bring out the sweetness of the pumpkin, but white sugar is fine too)

30g unsalted butter

A pinch of salt

60g weak flour

1

Combine and mix the steamed pumpkin, room temperature butter, and sugar. Then incorporate the salt and flour and mix again.

2

Now to shape everything. For pumpkin decorations, roll the pumpkin together and create a little depression in the top. Use a toothpick or something similar to create five indents around the outside as pictured above.

To make Pooh Bear, simply roll round and add the ears.

3

Bake at 150℃ for 20-25 minutes. Leave to cool, then decorate Pooh’s facial features with a chocolate pen.

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!

Starbucks Coffee Japan has revealed the second beverage in its Artful Autumn @ Starbucks® series of drinks. The “Candied Sweet Potato Frappuccino®” will be released at Starbucks branches in Japan on September 23, 2020.

Candied Sweet Potato Frappuccino® | Tall Size Only – ¥590

Each drink is made using a whole chopped and blended Japanese daigaku imo candied sweet potato to serve those autumn flavours, with its marbled golden colour also reminiscent of the autumn leaves. It’s topped with whipped cream, black sesame seeds, and sweet potato syrup.

Truly the perfect dessert drink to sip on for the changing seasons.

Halloween arrived at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Japan on September 16 with the “monster HARVEST” collection of themed doughnuts. Available until November 1, the spooky lineup incorporates a selection of Japanese autumn flavours like pumpkin and purple sweet potato.

The doughnut collection is here to put us in the Halloween spirit nice and early. Krispy Kreme Japan’s popular jack-o’-lantern doughnuts are back this year, as are the new black cat doughnuts which first arrived last year. A completely new purple sweet potato flavour was also introduced to the menu on September 1.

Pumpkin Pudding Jack-o’-lantern | ¥240 (Before Tax)

The jack-o’-lantern doughnuts have been made even more delicious for Halloween 2020 by using pumpkins from Hokkaido and filling them with velvety pumpkin Japanese-style pudding. Add to that the chocolate facial features and you’ve got yourself a tantalising treat for the spooky season.

Black Cat Caramel | ¥250 (Before Tax)

A black cat made with big white chocolate eyes and a dark chocolate face topped with crunchy almond pieces and stuffed with caramel cream.

Muchimochi Purple Sweet Potato Mont Blanc | ¥240 (Before Tax)

The tasty, chewy, and hot purple sweet potato doughnut is made with sliced sweet potato and coated in powdered sugar. It’s served hot which makes the flavour even more intense.

Halloween Dozen (12 Doughnuts) | ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

Share a dozen with friends this Halloween which includes not only two of each of the ones already shown, but Krispy Kreme’s popular “Chocolate Sprinkle” and “Original Glazed®” too.

Halloween Mini Box (20 Doughnuts) | ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

There’s also a colourful box of 20 mini versions of the doughnuts too.

Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, is also called the birth place of Japanese culture, with a history spanning 1,200 years. Today, we’re going to take a look at a number of upcoming events and seasonal items on sale in Kyoto for autumn 2020.

Celebrating 300 years of Tango Chirimen

This year marks 300 years since Tango Chirimen was established, a company located in Tango in northern Kyoto that specialises in a Japanese textile of flat woven silk known as ‘chirimen.’ There are many local chirimen brands around Japan, but it is the chirimen from Tango that has stood above the rest these past 300 years. The brand is now looking to the start of a new era for itself during its triple century milestone.

LIFE WITH THE QUALITY

Tango Chirimen is currently displaying a collaborative art exhibit at NEWoMan Shinjuku in Tokyo. This includes the entry display made in collaboration with Japanese artist Saki Tanaka, wall art made from woven fabrics, and more.

Running: Until September 30, 2020

Location: NEWoMan Shinjuku

Lineup: Display in collaboration with Saki Tanaka, wall art, and more

United Arrows x Tango Chirimen

United Arrows is also collaborating with the brand and incorporating their logo mark “TANGO OPEN” on a new men’s t-shirt.

Product Name: BY Tango Broad Wide Form Tapered Shirt
Buy Here: https://store.united-arrows.co.jp/shop/by/goods.html?gid=52838245
Sold at: BEAUTY & YOUTH UNITED ARROWS stores and their official online store

Taste tea from Uji on Japanese Tea Day

It is generally considered that the first tea of the season in Japan is best enjoyed from the end of April and during May, but in fact Japanese tea is the perfect season to enjoy Japanese tea, specially since the country celebrates Japanese Tea Day (Nihoncha no Hi) on October 1 and 31.

Ujicha, or tea from Uji in Kyoto, boasts some of the most famous kinds of teas in Japan. This includes matcha, sencha, and gyokuro, all of which were first grown in southern Kyoto. Because of this, it is said that Ujicha marks the origins of Japanese tea. So when you visit Japan during autumn, why not celebrate Japanese Tea Day with some authentic tea from Uji?

Ujicha Tea Murie Online Course

The Ujicha Tea Murie Course has been held since 2015 in Kyoto, and this year, the course is heading online for the first time as a result of the pandemic. Learn how to make and serve Uji tea from a professional tea instructor as well as its history and more.

Running: Session 1: September 15, 2020 / Session 2: October 2, 2020 / Session 3: October 17, 2020

Book: Online
Requirements: Download and install Zoom
Official Website: https://www.pref.kyoto.jp/yamashiro/ocha/

Certified Ujicha tea cafes for an authentic experience

Tsujiri Rihei Ginza | Tsujiri Rihei Senju

Nakamura Tokichi Ginza

Tsujiri Rihei Ginza, Tsujiri Rihei Senju, and Nakamura Tokichi Ginza are all cafes in Tokyo that are officially recognised for serving authentic Ujicha tea which also includes proper preparation as well as teaching the history and culture behind the tea. These three cafes are also holding an Ujicha tea stamp rally as well as a Twitter hashtag campaign.

CAFETEL Kyoto Sanjo for Ladies, a hotel in Kyoto exclusive to female guests, is offering a new Halloween room plan between October 1 and November 1. There is just one room and it can only be booked for one day between that period. This plan was offered last year and was a resounding success amongst guests.

Last year’s Halloween room took on a more cute and bright theme, but they’re going for something darker this time. The theme this year is “The Secret Witches-Only Get-Together,” with all ideas and designs conceived and handmade by the hotel staff themselves.

Guests will find decorations all around the room, such as bats on doors and walls who will listen in on the witches’ gossip to creepy crawly spiders in the bed. Candles are provided in the room to set the Halloween mood, and there’s even witch and devil costumes and props for guests to dress up in.

Free goodies for the witch get-together

Guests can enjoy a gorgeous view of the Kamogawa River from their room. They are also presented with a free Halloween drink exclusive to those who stay in this room.

Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama is a new hotel which opened on July 1 this year. Easily spotted by its pink exterior, the hotel offers Grand Nikko’s brand concept of guests releasing all of their sense to enjoy a relaxing and sophisticated time while providing a refreshing resort-like experience.

This Halloween, the hotel’s all-dining restaurant Le Jardin will serve up its “Happy Halloween Sweets Buffet” from October 10 to 16.

There will be 20 different desserts to pick from all in pastel colours, offering a different kind of Halloween vibe. Desserts are decorated with cute Halloween motifs like Jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, and pumpkins. The chefs will also be certain desserts in front of guests like pumpkin mont blanc, praline mille-fuille, and pavlova.

There will also be a savoury menu too like roast beef in onion sauce, seafood acqua pazza, bread, salad, soups, and more, as well as soft drinks and non-alcoholic cocktails.

The restaurant will be restricting the number of people allowed in the dining area at once to protect diners during the pandemic.

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, a museum and hotel combination, is home to New American Grill “KANADE TERRACE,” the hotel’s restaurant popular for its food grilled in the open kitchen, its afternoon teas made with seasonal ingredients, and cocktail lineup.

This autumn, Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is serving up its new “Shine Muscat Parfait,” an richly-sweet and elegance-scented dessert made using Shine Muscat grapes.

Shine Muscat Parfait ¥2,800 | With Champagne ¥3,600 (Before Tax & Service Charge)

The parfait is layered with Kyoho grape and shampagne jelly, crémet d’Anjou which is made from fresh cheese, and maqui berry granola. It’s topped with blackcurrant sherbet and tuile.

Tokyu Land Corporation are set to open the new hotel “nol kyoto sanjo” in central Kyoto on November 1, 2020. The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station.

A place where you can be yourself

Hotels in Japan are more and more catering to a wide variety of guests’ needs as well as not only providing convenience and being affordable, but creating a space that really places importance on peoples’ stay experience. And nol kyoto sanjo follows suit, allowing people to both let their hair down where they can be themselves as well as enjoy the local area. This comes in response to peoples’ desire to have a stay experience that feels like it’s their own home.

Clad in Kyoto, living in Sanjo

The concept for the hotel’s design was conceived by Kyoto Vintage. Sanjo-dori is connected to Kyoto’s main street, making it a convenient location for reaching the city centre. It’s also home a variety of architectural examples from old, ancient buildings to more modern ones built during the Meiji Period. Surrounding the hotel is a whole selection of cafes famous for their breakfast menus, restaurants that use local ingredients, long-standing stationery shops, and more. The hotel sits in the perfect spot for coming in contact with the local people and city.

The hotel lounge built from an old townhouse

The hotel site is renovated from a townhouse that was built during the Edo Period. It was formerly used as a place for selling Kinshi Masamune sake. To ensure that old, quaint charm was preserved in the refurbishment, the hotel hired a Japanese designer and planner who is known for renovating these kinds of townhouses in Japan.

The entrance to the hotel greets guests with the lounge which gives people a chance to kick back and relax in this authentic building. Guests are even given some Kinshi Masamune sake as a welcome drink.

High grade guest rooms for medium to long stays

There are three kinds of guest rooms including 2-people rooms, 4-people rooms, and rooms with an additional Japanese-style room attached to it, for a total of 48, all of which face the hotel gardens. The rooms were designed by Yukio Hashimoto who has made sure to preserve both the townhouse and feel of the materials which have only ripened with age while adding a high grade feel to them. The scent of hinoki leaf invites you to relax in your room. All rooms are equipped with microwaves, washing machines, and mini kitchens too, making it perfect for guests looking to stay a while. Pick up some local ingredients from town and get cooking.

Old-time Kyoto served in a new style

Old townhouses used since ancient times are on the decrease in Kyoto. By renovating and reusing, new life can be breathed into them while promoting that ancient culture. If you’re planning a trip to Kyoto, be sure to check out nol kyoto sanjo, opening November 1, 2020.

Ginza Cozy Corner has revealed its new Disney princess cake based on the 2010 animated film Tangled which will be available to order at all branches in Japan from October 1, 2020.

Tangled Dress Cake | ¥3,500 (Before Tax)

The cake is centred on the golden-lock beauty Rapunzel, with her dress as the foundation for the cake. The cake is made with cream chess, strawberry jam, and blueberries, while Rapunzel’s iconic hair is lemon flavoured.

Decorate the cake yourself

The cake comes with the parts for you to decorate yourself. This adds a whole new level of fun to parties!

Exclusive Rapunzel design box

This cake was actually sold earlier this year during the Hinamatsuri festival in Japan, with all 1,000 cakes being sold out. It is now returning on October 1 and is made-to-order only.