Hitobito, the company behind Japan’s popular bakery cafe chain Bread, Espresso &, is set to open a new branch inside Makita General Hospital in Kamata on March 1. The cafe opened its doors for pre-openings earlier this month with shortened business hours.

Bread, Espresso & has 20 branches across Japan including the popular one located in Omotesando, Tokyo. Its frequented by people of all ages for its deliciously soft bread made from 100% Japanese wheat.

The cafe’s picture book-like interior design caters to children featuring bread-shaped tables and cute illustrations.

Customers are welcome to try out the free samples on display. Each sample has a little card detailing various information which customers can take to the register if they want to buy that item. Often in Japanese bakeries there are tongs and trays which customers are free to use, but this new style of service lessens contact with others for a safer trip during the pandemic.

The bakery serves Bread, Espresso & classics like French toast and their mu pastries, as well as alternatives like gluten-free breads, no-sugar treats, and more.

Spring is arriving early at Tokyo Solamachi where shops and restaurants will be serving up their own cherry blossom themed desserts and dishes from March 1.

The Line-Up: A Delectable Excerpt

Vibrant Cherry Blossom Desserts Welcome Spring

Hanami Soft | ¥800

Where: Gion Tsujiri (East Yard Floor 6F)

Serving: March 1, 2021 – April 30, 2021

Feel the warm breeze of Japanese hanami with a parfait serving of cherry blossom bavarian cream and jelly, Uji match soft serve ice cream, cherry blossom chocolate, white flour dango dumplings, high quality red bean paste, wafer, and other little assorted treats.

Sakura Mochi Flavoured Spring Pancakes | ¥935

Where: Coconoha (West Yard Floor 4F)

Serving: March 1, 2021 – April 11, 2021

Coconoha’s popular fluffy pancakes topped livingly with cherry blossom ice cream, chewy white flour dumplings, and sweet red bean paste.

Takeout Cherry Blossom Food

Sakura Sushi | Takeout ¥2,138, Eat-In ¥2,178

Where: Kirby Cafe Tokyo (East Yard 4F)

Serving: From March 19, 2021

A picnic serving of six springtime sushi rolls decorated with Kirby references which comes in a cute lunchbox.

Cherry Blossom Lassi | ¥520

Where: AMARI DELI (West Yard Floor 2F)

Serving: March 1, 2021 – April 11, 2021

A cherry blossom lassi in full bloom with fluffy whipped cream and finished with sprinkles of pink-coloured chocolate.

Cute Spring Cherry Blossom Snacks

Financier Sandwich Box – Sakura & Matcha | ¥1,500 (Contains 4)

Where: Afternoon Tea Room (East Yard Floor 3F)

Serving: February 25, 2021 – April 21, 2021

An assortment of two financier cakes: the Sakura Financier Sandwich which is cherry blossom flavoured and filled with white chocolate, roasted walnuts, and strawberry flakes, and the Matcha Financier Sandwich which is filled with milk chocolate, roasted walnuts, and pistachio. Available while supplies last.

Restaurant Menus Beckon Hanami

Spring Roast Beef Nigiri & Cherry Blossom Dashi Kishimen Noodles | ¥1,380

Where: Sugimoto (East Yard Floor 6F)

Serving: March 1, 2021 – April 11, 2021

Roast beef sushi rolls made with Nagoya Owari beef and served with slightly-salted flat kishimen noodles served in a cherry blossom flavoured broth. Limited to 10 servings per day.

This is just a sampled look at what’s to come at Tokyo Solamachi this spring – if you’re in Tokyo for the cherry blossom season, be sure to visit!

Starting this month, Laforet Harajuku is readying itself for Spring 2021 with the rollout of items by high-end brands and shops, all with an audience in mind who simply love culture regardless of their age or gender. This spring will see the opening of Lois CRAYON, a brand that emphasises individuality and will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, as well as “circle in circle,” a new spot that will serve as a gathering place for a variety of clothing brands like l’atelier du savon, CHILD WOMAN, and more.

Laforest will also welcome LOVE PIECE CLUB to Tokyo for the first time, a shop which opened as Japan’s first centring on Femtech. It offers a variety of items to help support women’s health through technology.

AIR will offer a diverse wardrobe of unisex items from popular street brands such as REVENGE STORM, STARWALK, THEATER8, and more. CHOA ONNI is exhibiting South Korean culture like wearing K-pop idol clothes to take photos, and ovgo B.A.K.E.R is serving up vegan food and gluten-free cookies.

Public toilets will display photos by photography unit Toki to Yamikaya and Alexander Julian.


March 6 | New Store Opening
《Floor 1F》Lois CRAYON

4.23| New Store Opening
《Floor 3.5F》circle in circle

March 26 | New Store Opening
《Floor B0.5F》LOVE PIECE CLUB

February 11 | New Store Opening

《Floor 3F》『　　　　』AIR

February 25 | New Store Opening
《Floor B0.5F》ME’VE the store
　

March 12 | New Store Opening
《Floor B0.5F》

February 25 | New Store Opening
《Floor 5F》SpRay/Libby&Rose

February 25 | New Store Opening
《Floor B1F》CHOA ONNI

March 6 – April 4 | New Store Opening
《Floor 2F》ovgo B.A.K.E.R

《Floor B1F》Women’s & Men’s Gallery Toilets

 Toki with Alexander Julian

Alexander Julian
Yamikaya / FLOWER PUSHER

■Laforet Harajuku 2021 SS Promo Visual

Laforet Harajuku’s Spring/Summer 2021 promo visual was created by Japanese art director Uenishi Yuri. Following the Autumn/Winter 2020 theme, Uenishi has conceived a new concept: ‘CHARGE.’ This theme focuses on the roots of plants that spread underground, with the yellow colour used in the visual reminiscent of electricity or lightning flashes.

Minnie’s Day is set to fall in Japan on March 2, so to celebrate, Walt Disney Japan is getting in on the festivities nice and early by announcing the release of a new Minnie Mouse merchandise collection, called the “Disney ARTIST COLLECTION by Kelly Park,” which will be officially released at Disney stores in Japan on February 23. Pre-sales will also roll out at select stores and Disney Japan’s online store shopDisney from February 19.

©Disney

©Disney

Plushie ¥3,300 / Makeup Brush Set ¥2,640 / Tote Bag ¥2,090 / Room Fragrance ¥4,180 / iPhone Case (iPhone 11) ¥3,520 / Mirror ¥2,420 / Ballpoint Pen & Notebook Set ¥1,980 – (Prices Include Tax)

©Disney

nuiMOs Plushie ¥2,750 (Tax Included)

Kelly Park is an artist that is enjoying immense popularity in South Korea right now. Their new “Disney ARTIST COLLECTION by Kelly Park” is an exclusive release in collaboration with Disney Store.

The line-up is a celebration of all things Minnie Mouse for her big day, aptly named “Minnie’s Day,” on March 2. Vibrant blue is the main colour for the collection which Kelly Park has created to support fellow dreamers out there – those who have big hopes and aspirations in their everyday lives. The designs are bright, beautiful, and full of positivity, making them a perfect pick for the coming spring season. Minnie fans can feel fresh this spring season with fahsion items, accessories, stationery, a variety of lifestyle goods, and more.

Disney’s popular nuiMOs plushie range will welcome an exclusive new Minnie Mouse plushie on February 26 which features the date “March 2, 2021” on it for Minnie’s Day. It also comes with a pin. These plushies are limited-edition and only 320 will be sold – a number that of course aligns with March 2.

Celebrate the day of the original Disney Princess with the new Disney ARTIST COLLECTION by Kelly Park.

It’s time to strip down and relax as Japanese company NAKED announces that its ‘NAKED NIGHT SAUNA’ event, which is being held as part of its ‘NAKED SAUNA & SPA’ project, will take place atop Tokyo Tower from March 12 to 14. Visitors will also receive a relaxation drink called ‘CHILL OUT’ in collaboration with Endian.

NAKED SAUNA & SPA is a sauna project launched by NAKED in November 2020 to promote equilibrium of the senses. The first event was held in the village of Achi in Nagano Prefecture which is known for being Japan’s best location for enjoying the starry night sky. The second event was themed around the concept ‘Art of Meditation.’ It was held in Ariake and had visitors becoming one with nature as they sat under the expanse of Tokyo’s night sky to enjoy every gleaming speck that twinkled above them. It was an opportunity for busy city workers to reset and recalibrate.

Now, the project is set to host its third event in collaboration with Tokyo Tower. Visitors can enjoy towering above the capital’s city streets as they enjoy a sauna experience inside exclusive tents. It will be a fusion of analogue and technology as people enjoy sitting by the fire, smoking shisha, and gazing at mist that will be pumped and illuminations that will be lit to create atmosphere. Of course, this entire event will be held in accordance with government guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing will be enforced which will include a drive-through system so you don’t come into contact with people, and all visitors will have their own tents (groups of 4 max), and all tent saunas will be separated with partitions.

The tent saunas that will be used are MORZH SKY, a type of tent with a transparent roof made by the Russian tent company MORZH. They are provided by Sauna Camp.Inc. The tents are fitted with a stove and chimney so visitors can adjust the temperature to their liking.

To attend the event, you must register to the Facebook online community NAKED SAUNA CLUB and fill out the form that will be made available there on March 1 and 2. A select number of visitors will be chosen at random on March 3 and winners will be contacted directly on March 4 with further instructions.

If you’re in Tokyo this March, then don’t miss out on a chance to kick back and unwind up Tokyo Tower with a sauna treat.

Shibuya PARCO has unveiled its key visual for its Spring 2021 fashion campaign “SHIBUYA PARCO S/S NEW LOOK” which features Japanese model Lala Takahashi.

SHIBUYA PARCO S/S NEW LOOK Key Visual

In the visual, Lala Takahashi is donning the ‘Pablo’ series by UNDERCOVER which is inspired by Picasso’s ‘Blue Period.’ It’s been transferred onto a print of an abstract oil painting by Jun Takahashi. The photo was taken by visual artist Takako Noel, while the conceptual headpiece, which is made from recycled plastic, was created by hair stylist Haruka Tazaki.

The campaign brings with it a wave of new fashion and cosmetic items from stores inside Shibuya PARCO. A special coupon that can be used on the PARCO online store from February 9 to 28 is also available. It comes in response to stay-at-home measures raised in Japan due to the pandemic.

Six branches of the hugely-popular PEANUTS Cafe in Japan are welcoming a collection of tasty new seasonal menu items this Saturday which are set to be served until March 14.

The Limited-Time Line-Up

Brownie Charles’s Brownie Chocolat | ¥950 (Before Tax)

Strawberry Whipped Hot Chocolate | Eat In ¥750 – Takeout ¥700 (Before Tax)

The collection includes a chocolate brownie inspired by the scene when Charlie Brown meets Peggy Jean for the first time. He is very nervous and mistakenly introduces himself as “Brownie Charlies.” There’s also a sweet strawberry hot chocolate topped with a squirt of whipped cream and drizzle of strawberry sauce.

(C) 2021 Peanuts Worldwide LLC

Japanese bakery and confectionery company Nenrinya is releasing a takeout baumkuchen dessert which can be warmed up at home. The baumkuchen was released at Nenrinya’s JR Shinagawa Station branch on Monday (February 1) and will be released at their Daimaru Tokyo and Sogo Yokohama branches on February 16.

Hot Baum Shikkarime | ¥432 (Tax Included)

To heat up, you simply microwave it for 30 seconds at 500W. This leaves the inside moist and adds a crunch to the outside, all while helping to emit the sumptuous smell of that butter. It goes perfect with a cup of coffee, tea, or milk. Customise by adding some whipped cream or pour some melted chocolate over.

Tokyo-based bakery Milk has released an adorable new milk pudding at two of its branches, both of which are served in cute milk bottles.

Smooth Pudding / Milk Pudding – ¥380 Each (Tax Included)

Box of 4

Box of 8

Pudding Soft

Carefully-selected and fresh milk of high quality is used to make these Japanese-style puddings, known as purin. Each and every one is handmade individually, and they can be bought separately or in boxes of 4 and 8. No preservatives, additives, of any nasty stuff is added to the dessert either.

Also on the menu is a milk-loaded soft serve ice cream. The cup it’s served in has a cute retro design to it.

NewType Shinjuku, a subculture cafe and bar in Tokyo, is collaborating with Modomu Akagawara’s manga series Love Me Pom Poko! from February 6 to 28. The cute and charming world of the series arrives not only on the food and drinks menu but in the form of merchandise and decorations too. As is the case with collaboration cafes in Japan, there’s some free novelties for customers to enjoy when they purchase something from the menu too.

The Menu

©Modomu Akagawara/Hakusensha

©Modomu Akagawara/Hakusensha

Merchandise Line-Up

©Modomu Akagawara/Hakusensha

Novelty Coasters

©Modomu Akagawara/Hakusensha

Love Me Pom Poko! is not that known in the West yet, but if you happen to be in Tokyo this month, be sure to stop on by to experience the art of the series yourself.

The hugely popular Taiwan Melon Pan bread, which sells 10,000 units a month in Osaka, Kichijoji, and Nishiogikita, is now being served at Harajuku Food Factory until February 20.

Taiwan Melon Pan | ¥380 (Before Tax)

Taiwan Cheese Melon Pan | ¥450 (Before Tax)

The Taiwan Melon Pan bread is a combination of sweetness, rich butter, and salt for an irresistible flavour experience.

Ofuro Cafe Hakuju no Yu is holding a special Valentine’s Day event for lovers which will run from February 6 to 14.

Though the bath house is split between male and female, couples can write messages of love to their special someone on a heart-shaped plaque made from Japanese cypress wood. The plaques were made in collaboration with the local business Kanezawa.

Choko Sweet Sake Shake | ¥630 (Before Tax)

For the Valentine’s event, the bath house is also serving up a special shake beverage made with chocolate and sweet sake. The polyphenol in chocolate is said to be good for health and beauty, making it a perfect choice for a day of luxury at Ofuro Cafe Hakuju no Yu.

Guys who visit the bath house on Valentine’s Day itself will also receive free Valentine’s chocolate.