Sanrio’s beloved character pair Kiki & Lala, also known as the Little Twin Stars, are hosting a special winter event titled “TWINKLE COLOR CHRISTMAS” at Shinjuku Southern Terrace from December 1 to 25, illuminating the area with beautiful Christmas lights, as part of their 45th anniversary.

Kiki & Lala’s twinkling Christmas tree magical in the daytime and night time

The towering 4-meter tall Christmas Tree is decorated in countless mirror balls which reflect beautifully both during the day from the sun and at night with Kiki & Lala’s illuminations. A special light show is also taking place from 16:30 each day with Christmas songs.

Decorated around the tree are Kiki & Lala neon signs and pastel-coloured adornments.

Those unable to visit Shinjuku this Christmas can access the “TWINKLE COLOR CHRISTMAS AR TREE” digitally This will have Kiki & Lala’s Christmas tree appear on your phone when taking photos. You can access it here.

Kiki & Lala treats at the Sanrio Cafe Wagon

Limited time menu

45th Anniversary Items

On weekends, as well as from December 19 up to Christmas Day, a food wagon will make an appearance at the event serving Kiki & Lala food and drink like the pink and fruity Ruby Chocolate Latte and fruit-filled Twinkle Crepe.

©’76,’20 SANRIO 著作(株)サンリオ

Moomin Cafe branches around Japan, which are themed on the Swedish fairy-tale Moomin books, released their Christmas menu on November 20.

Moomin Cafe Winter Season Menu | ¥4,800 (Before Tax) *Photo is a portion for 2

The seasonal menu is a very special set containing a burger, chicken, salmon milk soup, raspberry juice (which is adored by the Moomin family), and more, so you can eat heartily like the Moomins this winter.

Souvenir Cup (2 Designs)

Visitors can also order a dessert and choose from two different mugs. Takeout is available at each of the cafes so you enjoy a Moomin Christmas at home.

Table reservations are available via the Moomin Cafe website so customers can ensure they can get booked in during the busy holiday season.

If you’re in Japan for Christmas then don’t miss out on a visit to the Moomin cafe.

©Moomin Characters TM

Taiwanese cheese tea shop machi machi is releasing a new drink in Japan this holiday season on December 1: the ‘Flurry Strawberry Milk With Crème Brûlée.’

machi machi is an extremely popular cheese tea chain in Taiwan that has been called the ‘king of cheese tea’ by Taiwanese news outlets. Each and every cup poured is made fresh with tea from Taiwan to which rich cream cheese is added for a salty kick, creating a new kind of dessert drink.

Flurry Strawberry Milk With Crème Brûlée | ¥750 (Before Tax)

The new Christmas beverage being served in Japan uses fresh strawberries which adds a delightful sweetness to the milk. It’s topped with crushed Oreos and combined with crème brûlée for a variety of layered flavours. The Oreos add crunch to the dessert drink so that it’s a delicious experience down to the last sip.

If you’ve never had Taiwanese cheese tea, and are in Japan this Christmas, don’t miss out on this seasonal drink, available for the whole month of December.

Sanrio’s popular characters Kiki & Lala, also known as the Little Twin Stars, are getting their own themed cafe which will open for a limited time at the Fruits Parlor & Bakery Season & Co. in LINKS UMEDA in Osaka From December 3, 2020 to January 24, 2021.

The cafe will serve up a variety of menu items inspired by the Little Twin Stars as well as sell related merchandise. There will also be a photo spot for taking cute pictures, and a special dessert assortment made in collaboration with the popular artist Dream Ami which includes a parfait made up of their favourite sweet treats.

Cafe Menu (Prices Listed Before Tax)

Menu ①: December 3, 2020 – December 25, 2020

Little Twin Stars Shortcake (X’mas Ver.) | ¥1,900

Kiki’s Shooting Star Sweets Parfait | ¥1,600

Menu ②: December 26, 2020 – January 24, 2021

Little Twin Stars Tart | ¥1,700

Lala’s Shooting Stat Sweets Parfait | ¥1,700

Drinks Menu (Excerpt) (Available Throughout Collaboration)

Little Twin Stars Strawberry Tea Latte | ¥1,000

Dream Ami’s Special Collaborative Menu (Available Throughout Collaboration)

Dream Ami×Little Twin Stars Star Sweets 2020 2,100円

Customers who spend more than ¥1,000 (before tax) on merchandise at the cafe will also receive a free A4 folder. These are available while supplies last.

Dream Ami’s collaborative dessert looks both cute and delicious and definitely worthy of being on a Little Twin Stars menu!

Shiraito Highland Way has announced that this year’s Karuizawa Shiraito Falls Midwinter Light Up will run from December 19, 2020 to February 14, 2021.

The illumination event will take place at Karuizawa Shiraito Falls, a 3-meter tall waterfall that spans 70-meters in length. The lights will add a warmth to the cool evening and glow under a starry night sky.

The event creates a different atmosphere from the summer light-up, allowing visitors to enjoy the enveloping nature in a way that they normally can’t and see beauty they may not have noticed in the area before. The waterfall is located in Jōshin’etsu-kōgen National Park, a protected area which means the lights will be set up in a way that’s considerate to the park.

If you’re in Japan this winter then don’t miss out on this year’s Karuizawa Shiraito Falls Midwinter Light Up which will be split into three sessions: the Christmas Session, New Year Session, and St. Valentine Session. More details below.

Having only held annual summertime events up to now, Art Aquarium Museum in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, is celebrating Christmas for the first time this year with a series of holiday season festivities.

The Aquarium’s first Christmas tree

Art Aquarium Museum will display its very first Christmas tree for the event indoors near the entrance. The tree artwork was created by Hidemoto Kimura using 550 colourful crystals that have been made to look like goldfish. Made from venetian glass, he had them shipped himself from Italy. They are strung in 10 different colours which glow and glisten to create a romantic atmosphere.

Artwork Name: Natale di Pesce D’oro
Running: December 1, 2020 – December 27, 2020
Location: Art Aquarium Museum entrance

Pair tickets for Christmas with alcohol

Pair Ticket (2 People) + 2 Drinks | ¥4,600 (Tax Included)

Those arriving in twos can buy Pair Tickets which come with two alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages so you can plunge into the magical underwater world of the aquarium while enjoying a drink.

Buy Tickets: https://ticket.artaquarium.jp/en/
Running: November 24, 2020 – December 27, 2020
Validity Period: December 1, 2020 – December 27, 2020
Drinks Menu:

[Alcohol] COEDO Beer / Marihana / Louis Raison Rouge Délice

[Non-Alcoholic] Sanpellegrino Pompelmo / Grapefruit

Christmas menu served up in the lounge and cafe

2-Person Hors d’oeuvre With 2 Drinks | Online Booking ¥4,200, Same-Day ¥5,000 (Tax Included) | Serving: December 18, 2020 – December 25, 2020

The aquarium’s lounge restaurant is serving an hors d’oeuvre for pairs of Japanese and western food together with two drinks.

2-Person Christmas Sweets Plate With 2 Drinks | Online Booking ¥3,300, Same-Day ¥3,850 (Tax Included) | Serving: December 1, 2020 – December 27, 2020

The cafe is serving up plate of assorted desserts, perfect for a post-aquarium date.

Christmas Special Cocktail | ¥2,200 (Tax Included) | Serving: December 1, 2020 – December 27, 2020

Both the restaurant and cafe are also serving a seasonal cocktail of chocolate, strawberries, cranberries, and champagne jelly for a sweet and refreshing mix.

Swarovski Japan is launching a Christmas campaign this year in collaboration with Jin Akanishi and Ryo Nishikido’s YouTube channel “NO GOOD TV” and fashion magazine ELLE Japon.

Swarovski is an Austrian glass producer founded in 1895 that’s celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The company’s Swarovski Crystal Business is known for its craftsmanship and innovation, providing crystal glass, jewellery, and accessories to the people of the world since its inception.

As part of Swarovski Japan’s Christmas campaign, it is teaming up with Japanese musicians Jin Akanishi and Ryo Nishikido. This is the first time the company has used male celebrities in its promotions in Japan. Together with the global women’s fashion magazine ELLE Japon, the campaign will promote Swarovski products in the run up to Christmas. A six-page feature will be included in January 2021 issue of ELLE Japon of the two musicians promoting Swarovski’s jewellery, watches, and more.

Jin Akanishi and Ryo Nishikido posted a 14-minute video on their YouTube channel (“NO GOOD TV – Vol. 21”) with behind-the-scenes footage of their ELLE Japon photo shoot as well as other news related to the collaboration with Swarovski.

Exclusive photos of Akanishi and Nishikido which weren’t feature in either the magazine or on YouTube were also officially released on Swarovski’s official LINE account.

Christmas has sleighed into Roppongi Hills again this year, beginning with the Keyakizaka-dori Illuminations on November 13. The Christmas Market is also set to return to Oyane Plaza on November 28.

2020 marks the 14th run of the Roppongi Hills Christmas market which is inspired by the the famous Stuttgart Christmas Market in Germany. Visitors can sift through around 1,500 miscellaneous Christmas goods, enjoy German mulled wine and sausages, and more.

At the West Walk, visitors will also find an enormous 6.5m tall Christmas tree to complement the warm, cosy, festive atmosphere of the holiday season event.

gelato pique cafe in Japan is celebrating the holiday season with a series of ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’ themed crepes and soft serve ice creams until December 27.

The cafe is a branch of the loungewear brand gelato pique. It aims to create desserts for adults. This Christmas, it is serving up some holiday special crepes and ice creams.

Strawberry Shortcake Crepe | ¥880 (Before Tax)

A fat crepe stuffed with strawberries and adorned in a way that’s just like a shortcake. It contains not only strawberries, but raspberries, and cream. The whole wheat biscuit adds texture to the crepe so it’s delicious to the last bite.

Pique Bear Crepe | ¥1,180 (Before Tax) *Limited quantity served each day

A snowy, all-white crepe made with sweet strawberries, milk gelato, and whole wheat biscuit. It’s topped with a cute white chocolate bear.

Holiday Special Soft Creams – From Left: Strawberry Custard, Rich Milk, Mix | ¥450 Each (Before Tax)

The strawberry custard ice cream is made with smooth, sweet, and rich custard cream and strawberry for a melt-in-the-mouth combination. The rich milk ice cream is a mix of refreshing milk and rich vanilla. The mix option combines both of these flavours which results in a real mouth-watering treat.

If you’re in Japan this holiday season, don’t miss out on these delightful desserts.

Sanrio Puroland has announced the release of a new Sanrio character face mask and case collection on December 18, 2020.

Original Masks & Cases – Regular Sizes (6 Designs) | ¥1,650 Each (Tax Included)

The face masks and face mask cases feature cute designs of Sanrio characters including Dear Daniel, Badtz-Maru, Kuromi, My Sweet Piano, and Mocha.

Original Masks & Cases – Kids Sizes (3 Designs) | ¥1,320 Each (Tax Included)

There are also kids sizes with My Melody, Kuromi, and a character mix designs so parents and children can look cute together.

Mask Attachments (6 Designs) | ¥1,650 Each (Before Tax)

Sanrio also has a line-up of Hello Kitty, Dear Daniel, My Melody, Kuromi, Pompompurin, and Cinnamoroll attachments for the face masks.

©1976, 2009 SANRIO CO., LTD. ©1976, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2020 SANRIO CO., LTD.

Sanrio’s beloved character pair Kiki & Lala, also known as the Little Twin Stars, will feature as part of a special winter event titled “TWINKLE COLOR CHRISTMAS” in collaboration with Odakyu Electric Railway. It will take place at Shinjuku Southern Terrace from December 1 to 25, illuminating the area with beautiful Christmas lights.

Kiki & Lala’s Twinkling Christmas Tree

Shinjuku Southern Terrace will dazzle visitors with its pink and blue illuminations as will its towering 4-meter tall Christmas Tree which was made in collaboration with the installation art group MIRRORBOWLER. It will be decorated in countless mirror balls which will reflect beautifully both during the day from the sun and at night with Kiki & Lala’s illuminations. The tree will also be adorned with numerous Christmas decorations like clouds, moons, and stars—all very reminiscent of Sanrio’s pastel-coloured pair.

Kiki & Lala Food & Drink

Kiki & Lala Ruby Chocolate Latte ¥400 (Tax Included) | Kiki & lala Twinkle Crepe ¥600 (Tax Included)

On weekends, as well as from December 19 up to Christmas Day, a food wagon will make an appearance at the event serving Kiki & Lala food and drink like the pink and fruity Ruby Chocolate Latte and fruit-filled Twinkle Crepe.

Limited-Edition Design Clip

Customers who spend over ¥2,000 (tax included) at the wagon will get themselves a free limited-edition design clip.

Cafe Wagon Schedule
Running: December 5th-6th, 12th-13th, 19th-25th, 2020
Opening Hours: 10:00-19:00

AR Kiki & Lala Tree

Those unable to visit Shinjuku this Christmas can access the “TWINKLE COLOR CHRISTMAS AR TREE” digitally This will have Kiki & Lala’s Christmas tree appear on your phone when taking photos. You can access it here.

©‘76,’20 SANRIO　 著作(株)サンリオ

Japanese confectionery company Ginza Cozy Corner is teaming up with Disney once again to release a new Christmas collection of cupcakes on December 1.

Colourful Disney treats for the holiday season

This sweet seasonal collection is inspired by Mickey & Friends and contains nine unique cupcakes which depict the characters getting ready for their Christmas party.

Disney Christmas Collection (Contains 9) | ¥2,500 (Before Tax)

Cupcakes include a Santa-hat wearing, chocolate ganache-filled Mickey cream cheese cake, a strawberry jam-filled Minnie mousse cake, a lemon and mint cream-packed, Christmas decoration-adorned Donald tart, a banana and mint cream Pluto tart, an orange cream Goofy chocolate cake, and more.

The cakes are packed in a special Disney Christmas box which is sure to catch the attention of sweet tooths this holiday season, perfect for stay-at-home Christmas parties.