The Hot Toys flagship store, TOY SAPIENS Tokyo, will begin hosting a free Back to the Future event titled RETRO SAPIENS starting September 18, and running until October 31, 2021. 

 

Along with the opening of this exciting event, the TOY SAPIENS Tokyo store is also unveiling its new location. The much larger shop is now an easy walk from Shibuya Station and Harajuku Station!

 

After the event at the Tokyo location concludes, the event will travel to three more TOY SAPIENS stores nationwide, to allow more fans to see these legendary props in person. RETRO SAPIENS will open in Osaka in November 2021, and in Nagoya in February 2022. 

 

One-of-a-kind props, clothing items, and set pieces from the Back to the Future film will be on display for the first time ever in Japan during this event. If you’re a fan, be sure to come and enjoy–admission is free! A number of Back to the Future related merchandise will also be on sale, including figures, apparel, and items only available at the RETRO SAPIENS event. These limited-edition products will also be available online at the TOY SAPIENS Official Online Store starting September 21. 

 

A special Cosbaby Keychain will also be handed out to guests who clear certain conditions while enjoying the event. Those who purchase Back to the Future merchandise will receive a RETRO SAPIENS-themed shopping bag on a first-come, first-served basis. 

 

Opening in March 2021, Japan’s first luxury lifestyle Hotel W Osaka works with PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS to produce the ‘MIXup’ Art & Pastry Bar, which has unveiled a new Halloween themed dessert course and  à la carte cake, available from September 15.

 

Pumpkin & Choux Cream / Ghost Montblanc / Frankenstein Cheesecake

Rock’n’Roll

 

Osaka is said to be the birthplace of Japanese cuisine, and in a similar vein,  this unique  ‘MIXup’ dessert course serves ‘CHEEKY’ sweets which are finished one-by-one in front of the customer. The counter-style serving has proven popular since it began in May of this year, known for the playful presentation and customer participation.

 

This Autumn, the menu has been transformed into the ‘TRICKY CHEEKY HALLOWEEN’ course, with eight playful new desserts available to try. The desserts feature well-known Halloween monsters, and incorporate the taste of Autumn with pumpkin, chestnut, and pear, among other seasonal flavors.

 

The take-out Halloween sweets lineup includes a matcha and red bean Frankenstein Cheesecake, a spooky Ghost Montblanc, jack-o-lantern shaped Pumpkin Choux Creams, and more. A limited Halloween variation of the bar’s iconic rose and raspberry Rock’n’Roll cake is also available! The recipe and baking techniques are based on the methods of PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS, with arrangements by The W Osaka.

 

Try out some scarily tasty sweets this Halloween with The W Osaka and PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS!

 

The Nihonbashi ART AQUARIUM will be closed on September 26 2021 to make way for new exhibits and works. The museum is scheduled to be relocated in the first half of 2022.

 

The ART AQUARIUM Museum opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo on August 28 202 with the concept of “a museum where life dwells.” This will be the largest renewal in the history of the museum Museum, opened by writer and general producer Hidetomo Kimura, with the addition of more exhibits and new and improved interactive areas.

 

The Nihonbashi Art AQUARIUM Museum opened alongside the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic, with the expectations that visitors would come from both within Japan and overseas, thanks to the exhibitions which easily explain and represent Japan’s proud traditional culture and performing arts, but due to Covid restrictions, foreign tourists are still unable to enter the country. Despite this, the Museum saw many customers and with the closing of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the museum will be closed in preparation to relocate to the new ART AQUARIUM. If you want to see the Nihonbashi location for yourself then this is your last chance!

 

In addition, the “ART AQUARIUM” digital tour is being held from September 12, allowing you to appreciate the Museum in a digital format until the reopening.

Make sure to check out the Nihonbashi ART AQUARIUM while you have the chance!

 

All-day restaurant FIVE – Grill & Lounge, located within the Hyatt Centric Kanazawa hotel, will begin serving up a selection of Halloween-inspired treats beginning October 1, including cake sets, parfaits, muffins, and various lunch and dinner items.

 

Guests will also be able to enjoy some mischievous cocktails and mocktails inspired by witches and ghosts!

 

Halloween Cake Set 

 

Black Sesame Pudding

Mummy Macaron

Ghostly Mousse

Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwich

Coffin Tart

Monster Cream Puff

Halloween Parfait Set

Halloween Dinner/Lunch Course

 

Halloween Muffin Box

 

Halloween Cocktails 

Spooky Night

Hallo-Wine Sangria

I sWitch (Mocktail)

 

The Halloween Cake Set is filled with ghoulish treats, each one displaying incredible attention to detail. In the Halloween Parfait Set, guests can enjoy a tower of different sweets, including black currant and chocolate. Themed with creepy eyeball decorations throughout, it offers a variety of overlapping textures and tastes guests will want to savor until the last bite.

 

When thinking of Halloween, the colors orange and purple instantly come to mind. For the Halloween Dinner/Lunch Course, the menu’s creators went with a more dark theme, envisioning a ghost appearing at any moment. The entire restaurant will be decorated in black and gray, creating a truly haunting dining experience.

 

Don’t miss out on the Halloween Muffin Box, a set of mini-muffins made with fresh autumn ingredients, and offering a much cuter feel. Quantities are limited!

 

The gin-based Spooky Night cocktail is refreshing, with a bold blue color and red-rim on the glass, sure to turn your mouth bright crimson. Hallo-Wine Sangria, house-made with autumn fruits, has a unique design, with a skeleton rising from the glass! For those wanting a mocktail, the I sWitch asks guests to pour the accompanying red syrup over the cotton candy, changing both the appearance and flavor of the drink as if by witchcraft!

 

Which of these treats would you be after?

Last year’s Shibuya PARCO Art Week was met with incredible fanfare, and the 2021 event is now set to begin on September 17! This year, acclaimed French artist Jean Jullien is in charge of the main visual for the showing.

 

The exhibition will be held at NANZUKA 2G, located on the 2nd floor of Shibuya PARCO, as well as within the PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO on the 4th floor.

 

 

Shibuya PARCO Art Week 2021 Features

 

Martin Margiela: In His Own Words

© 2019 Reiner Holzemer Film – RTBF – Aminata Productions

 

 

#HotelKawashima

 

 

Kensaku Kakimoto Exhibition ‘Devoting Time’ Collaboration with Luke Bubb, Piotr Stopniak

 

mono100 x Natsuki Kurachi POP UP

 

 

Nori Okawa Solo Exhibition ‘Good Boy, More Drunk’

 

 

Hikaru Ichijo Exhibition ‘CHIDORI ASHI,’ with a motif of ‘people who are carried away by alcohol’

 

 

Mariko Enomoto Solo Exhibition ‘Moments,’ depicting the fluctuations of daily life

 

 

Emi Ozaku Solo Exhibition ‘Good something for you’

 

 

Exhibition of Tetsuji Aoyama’s works, ‘21XX A Future Odyssey ~Someday in a Hundred Years~

 

 

Exclusive collaboration products by VOILLD x FACE on sale

 

 

Shun Komiyama Photo Exhibition ‘The Wind Responds,’ by MIDORI.so Gallery

 

 

A group exhibition ‘’ DONOKO? ‘’ Portrait series Curated by TOKYO URBAN ART

 

 

“Welcome back to your “Home Position” – Selecting art for the interior based on ‘likes’

At ‘WHITE CINE QUINTO’ on the 8th floor of Shibuya PARCO, visitors can see a powerful documentary film about Martin Margiela, Martin Margiela: In His Own Words. Also on the 8th floor, a hands-on exhibition titled #HotelKawashima will feature Akira Kawashima of the comedy duo Kirin becoming the manager of a hotel. The comedian’s voice will also be used for the in-house announcements throughout Shibuya PARCO.

 

An ART PASSPORT, distributed by the gallery and other stores throughout the complex, contains plenty of information about the events throughout the museum, as well as exclusive special offers. Be sure not to miss the interview with Jean Jullien!

 

 

 

 

Jean Jullien Exhibition「PAPER PEOPLE」/「POCKET PARENTS」

©Jean Jullien Courtesy of NANZUKA

©Jean Jullien Photo by Shigeru Tanaka Courtesy of NANZUKA

©Jean Jullien Photo by Shigeru Tanaka Courtesy of NANZUKA

 

 

Jean Jullien’s solo exhibition “PAPER PEOPLE,” curated by NANZUKA, will be held at the PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO on the 4th floor, and will depict the creative process of the artist through the medium of paper. Jullien, who has a deep knowledge and love of Japanese manga culture, is sure to bring some charm and comedy to the showing, as is typical of his style. The artist, from Brittany in France, has always been inspired by Japan, and also by the natural beauty of his homeland. Each of the nearly 50 works in the exhibition were created during the Coronavirus pandemic, and 25 special screen prints will be on sale via lottery, both at the event and online.

 

In the “POCKET PARENTS” exhibition at NANZUKA 2G on the 2nd floor of the complex, Jullien’s upbringing and experiences as a parent are expressed in a hilarious story about aging and responsibility. Compared to “PAPER PEOPLE,” this offers a different perspective from the artist, which visitors can learn more about in his interview.

The RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka has announced a spectacularly limited Halloween accommodation plan, titled ‘A Terrifying Banquet in the Mysterious Lord’s Castle.’ Only one lucky person per day can book the decorated room, which features in-room meals and more treats to discover. Reservations are open through October 28, and the room will be available from September 10 until October 31.

 

‘A Terrifying Banquet’ Dining Table

Living Room

Skeletons in hotel uniform, ready to greet guests in the front room

 

 

This spooky setup will be held in the Fontainebleau suite, themed as a French palace. Guests will enjoy a western dinner course in the comfort (or discomfort) of the room. Decorated with black cats, ever-watchful owls and skeletons, guests can also look forward to taking plenty of photos at a designated photo spot on the sofa.

 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep people in their homes, the hotel created this room as a way to experience a new kind of cozy Halloween getaway. Visitors will enjoy plenty of other perks, including free parking, soft drink coupons, and breakfast the following morning.

 

Would you be able to sleep in this room filled with skeletons and specters?

 

On September 1, Baumkuchen specialty shop Katanukia opened its second location on the second floor of Tokyo Solamachi, beneath Tokyo Skytree. These traditionally German cakes are extremely popular in Japan, and using a cookie cutter can transform them into works of art! To commemorate the new shop, the Tokyo Solamachi location will sell a limited-edition Panda Baumkuchen that is almost too cute to eat.

Panda Baumkuchen

Starry Sky Panda Baumkuchen: ¥594 (Tax Included)

 

Starry Sky Panda Baumkuchen & Drawstring Bag Set: ¥1,815 (Tax Included)

 

The special Starry Sky Panda Baumkuchen is made from soft, moist cake, and depicts an adorable panda character ready to gaze at the night sky from Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world. Children and adults alike will enjoy its gentle milk flavoring.

 

The Starry Sky Panda Baumkuchen & Drawstring Bag Set includes the signature Baumkuchen, the Starry Sky Panda Baumkuchen, Panda shortbread, and an adorable bag. There will only be 100 of these sets available, so grab one before they’re gone!

 

Is Baumkuchen popular in your country? How would you like to try these cute sweets in Tokyo?

 

Three delicious desserts are coming to The Westin Tokyo for a limited time! Beginning October 1, visitors to the hotel can enjoy a collection of premium parfaits filled with seasonal ingredients and western liquors unique to the executive bar, simply named The Bar. These will be available until November 28, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday nights only.

 

Chocolate Parfait with Figs and Red Berries

Chestnut and Apple Parfait

Chestnut and Hazelnut Mont Blanc Parfait

 

The chocolate parfait includes whole figs and bright red berries, and is finished with rich port. Calvados was added to the Chestnut and Apple Parfait, allowing guests to enjoy a refreshing combination of nuts, fruits, and mascarpone. The Mont Blanc Parfait includes a fragrant rum from Martinique, and has a richer dessert flavor.

 

The executive pastry chef carefully layers each parfait by hand, and these unique treats combining flavors of both east and west can only be found at The Westin Tokyo!

Zoomers are used to life with their smartphones and computers. While life certainly is more convenient being able to connect instantly with your friends, have you ever felt a certain emptiness despite this? According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, young people in their 20s spend approximately four to five hours looking at screens per day. However, sometimes, it can be nice to put down your phone and enjoy a cup of tea with your friends in front of you. With those thoughts, the HANARIDA Harajuku cafe open on August 8 2021. The hidden cafe is filled with flowers and greenery, aimed at adults. Here you can enjoy a quiet time away from the bustle of the city, relaxing with a cup of dry fruit-infused herbal tea.

 

 

Every sunday is a digital detox day, meaning that smartphones and laptops are banned in the cafe. You can leave your phone with the staff to receive a free drink. With the comfy interior and a selection of board games, conversations will flow naturally to create a home-like space, even without technology

 

The flowers and trees in the cafe, which was decorated by a professional flower artist, are all real. The atmosphere changed based on the time of day – the sunshine lights up the cafe while the warm lights make for a relaxing evening. You won’t get tired of this cozy space! 

Experience relaxation away from the busy city while watching the flowers bloom throughout the day, as you puff on a dried fruit Hanakemuri hookah. The hookah used by HANADIRA is both nicotine and tar free, meaning they can be enjoyed by non-smokers. 

 

Their drink selection for Valentine’s day 2021 was a huge hit on social media, particularly the Sakicha dry fruit tea. The tea is now available on the menu, so make sure to try it for yourself!

 

Halloween is arriving early at Omotesando’s popular Q-pot CAFE. A collection of sweet, scary, grotesquely-adorable sweets are now available for a limited time. Each cake set and macaron set are made to order.

Q-pot CAFE. Three Cake Set: ¥2,030 (Tax Included)

 

This collection of three unique cakes includes the stomach-turning brain cake, and the much more palatable eye-patch ghost cake. Guests can also enjoy the popular cookie tiramisu.

Halloween Limited Edition ~Eye-Patch Ghost Cake~

 

As you dig into this fluffy dessert, enjoy the flavor of chopped almonds and feuillantine, wrapped in gyuhi, a type of Japanese traditional confectionery. The pistachio and berry sauce blends into the vanilla mousse, and is sure to appeal to any fan of sweets.

Halloween Limited Edition ~Brain Cake~

 

This frightening dessert is made with strawberry and other red berry jellies, milk mousse, Genoise, and savory almonds. Dissecting it won’t be easy, but the taste is well worth it.

~Cookie Tiramisu~

 

Mascarpone mousse with chocolate sponge dipped in espresso, topped with bittersweet coffee-flavored ganache cream with caramelized hazelnuts…what more could you want?

Q-pot CAFE. Halloween Macaron Set (3 pumpkin/3 apple cinnamon): ¥2,430 (Tax Included) *Also available at the cafe individually for ¥360 (Tax Included)

 

 

Jack-o-Lantern macaroons and spooky eyeball macaroons are available for takeout for a limited time only! Order at the cafe, the online shop, or through Uber Eats.

~Jack-o-Lantern Macaroon~

 

Full of the rich, sweet taste of pumpkin, these will put you in the mood for the Halloween season.

~Eyeball Macaron~

 

These scary snacks are filled with apple jelly, cinnamon, and spicy ganache cream.

 

 

Do these sweets put you in the Halloween spirit?

Hotel Conrad and Sebastian Masuda, known worldwide for his ‘kawaii’ works, are collaborating for the second year for a scrumptious Halloween event. Titled OWNER OF A COLORFUL HEART Halloween Sweets Buffet, the tasty treats will be available starting September 2. The buffet was held in Tokyo last year, but is moving to Osaka for 2021.

 

Guests can enjoy a variety of colorful Halloween sweets, created by Executive Pastry Chef Jimmy Boulet and supervised by Sebastian Masuda!

 

 

「OWNER OF A COLORFUL HEART」Halloween Sweets Buffet

Sweet Potato Mille-feuille

Orange Cupcake with Cassis Chantilly Cream

Spider Mousse Cake

Caramel and Persimmon Bellini

Crash the Halloween

Colorful Palette

Galaxy

Daisy Celebration

Halloween Caterpillar

Playful Macaroon

Blueberry Mousse and Fig Compote with Sesame Pralines

Black Cardamom Chocolate and Pear

Colorful Curries & Stews

 

 

The buffet tables are decorated with dark purple tones and welcome guests with Bouley’s playful collection of sweets. His iconic mille-feuille uses ample amounts of cream and purple yams, with a chocolate spider web on top. The spider mousse cake, with its gentle shortcake-like texture and unusual combination of coffee and mango, is sure to surprise. Each treat uses autumn ingredients, and will surely have guests enjoying Halloween to the fullest.

 

Though the sweets buffet is sure to be filling enough, Conrad Osaka also serves a variety of savory items. For this event, five different colorful curries and stews from India, Thailand, and Hungary will be available. Along with naan bread, diners can sample Udon, French baguettes, rice crackers, waffles, and countless other goodies.

 

Anyone who comes to the event dressed in Halloween attire can post a photo with the hashtag #ownerofacolorfullheart on Instagram to receive a free glass of sparkling wine. A photo booth will also be on site, and guests can take pictures with some of Sebastian Masuda’s most popular works.

 

Which goodies would you be picking up from the buffet?

 

BANDAI NAMCO AMUSEMENT has announced Namco de Halloween 2021 -Skulls Festival!- coming September 10. The campaign will take place at over 200 Namco amusement centers nationwide, and at the online crane game site Torumo. Those participating can snag some spooky and super adorable Sanrio goodies!

 

Namco Limited Edition Prizes

 

Sanrio Characters Big Plushies

Cinnamoroll / My Melody / Kuromi (In stock second week of September)

Sanrio Characters Skull Festival! Plushies

Pom Pom Pudding / Cinnamoroll / Pochacco / My Melody / Kuromi (In stock second week of September)

Sanrio Characters Skull Festival! Cushions

All characters (Back side: Blue) / My Melody & Kuromi (Back side: Pink) / Cinnamoroll, Pom Pom Pudding & Pochacco (Back side: Orange) (In stock second week of September)

Sanrio Characters Jiangshi Night Plushies 2021

Pom Pom Pudding / Cinnamoroll / Pochacco / My Melody / Kuromi (In stock second week of September)

Sanrio Characters Spooky Night 2021 Plushies

Pom Pom Pudding / Cinnamoroll / Pochacco / Hello Kitty / My Melody / Kuromi (In stock third week of September)

Sanrio Characters Dreamy Dark Halloween 2021 Plushies

Pom Pom Pudding / Cinnamoroll / My Melody / Kuromi (In stock fourth week of September)

Sanrio Characters Exciting Halloween 2021 Plushies

Pom Pom Pudding / Cinnamoroll / Hello Kitty / My Melody / Kuromi (In stock first week of October) 

Use the Namco Point App to get one limited-edition shopping bag each day. 

Exclusive Presents

Clear cards

Colorful bag

 

During the Torumo gift campaign, 100 winners will be randomly selected to win a special Halloween blanket. 

 

The prizes available during the campaign were designed for the event. Also, limited-edition plushies to appear in the past have returned in brand new colors! Those who use the Namco Point App and place ¥500 into one of the crane machines will receive one of five clear cards and a colorful bag. (Not available using Torumo.)

 

 

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