The Kirby Cafe has announced a warm and tasty new winter menu! New items will be available from November 17, 2022 until February 28, 2023, and are sure to warm up fans of the beloved video game series.

Menu

Winter Kirby Burger & Pasta with Powdered Snow Cheese (30th Anniversary Version)

Winter Waddle Dee Burger & Pasta with Powdered Snow Cheese

Waddle Dee’s Dreamy White Stew

Chef Kawasaki’s Winter Hors d’oeuvres with Roast Beef

Transform! Carby Cake

Kirby’s Dream Ricotta Pancake

Whispy Woods Blessed Tart

Elfilin’s Twinkle☆Frozen Drink

The Winter 2022 menu offers a variety of adorable and tasty menu items featuring Kirby and his friends all dressed up for the colder months. From a burger and pasta set to piping hot stew and fluffy ricotta pancakes, there’s sure to be something for every taste. 

The Carby cake, inspired by Kirby’s special transformation in the recent game Kirby and the Forgotten Land, has been reimagined in a winter version. Fans won’t want to miss out!

This winter, come enjoy plenty of Kirby-inspired treats while you can!

©Nintendo / HAL Laboratory, Inc.

Yokohama Coffee Festival is coming back for the first time in three years! The event will bring together the best coffee from around Japan, showing off the personality and individuality of each shop. The festival was created to build bridges between shops and customers and to spread coffee culture in Yokohama. Coffee fans should head to Yokohama Park on October 23, 2022. 

Coffee tickets–four cups for ¥1,000–will be available to purchase on the day of the event, allowing visitors to compare different shops. From those who are just starting to enjoy coffee to those who are coffee fanatics, this event will allow everyone to enjoy coffee to the max! Be sure to chat with the charming baristas as you explore the festival!

Starbucks will open the first Starbucks Tea & Cafe location in Kyushu at AMU Plaza Hakata on April 27, 2022. This spin-off shop specializes in colorful, aromatic tea-based beverages, and has locations in Tokyo, Toyama, and Osaka. 

Starbucks Coffee AMU Plaza Hakata, the first Starbucks Tea & Cafe to open in the Kyushu area, is a new store on the second floor of Amu Plaza Hakata directly connected to JR Hakata Station.

Yuzu & Citrus Lavender Sage Tea / Japanese Chai Tea Latte / Strawberry & Passion Tea Frappucino®

Starbucks Tea & Cafe will offer a lineup of 13 types of tea-based beverages, including tea lattes and tea frappuccinos made with seasonal ingredients. The Japanese Chai Tea Latte is new this season and includes hojicha with spices like yuzu peel, ginger, Japanese pepper, and cinnamon. 

Come enjoy this cozy space and enjoy a warm cup of tea at this unique Starbucks where tea is the main attraction!

Sony Park Mini, a tiny experimental art space in Ginza, is going to hold fans over until Ginza Sony Park opens in 2024. 

Sony Park Mini is located in a small 3.5 square meter space on B1F of the Nishiginza parking lot adjacent to Ginza Sony Park, which is currently under construction. The concept of the space is to “hold events that highlight local artists.”

More than 30 experimental programs will be held throughout the year highlighting unique creators and artists from all backgrounds including music, film, art, food, fashion, and shopping. Depending on which programs are popular, the project may extend to other cities. 

The first event, ‘Ayatake Exaki presents None Session,’ will run from March 23 until April 5, 2022, and will feature the musician and his piano.

Program Schedule
1: March 23 – April 5, 2022 / Ayatake Ezaki (Musical Artist)
2: April 6 – April 19, 2022 / Takuro Tamayama (Contemporary Artist)
3: April 20 – May 2, 2022 / Chiaki Kadota (Painter)
4: May 3 – May 16, 2022 / Neo Sora (Film Director), Aiko Masubuchi (Film Curator)
*The period of these events is subject to change. Any changes will be announced on Sony Park Mini social media accounts.

The Nishiginza Parking Lot Coffee shop, located inside Sony Park Mini, will offer a lineup of drinks made from carefully selected coffee beans. Vegan donuts and cookies made with natural ingredients will also be available.

Hoshino Resort Tomamu, one of the largest stay-and-go snow resorts in Hokkaido, will open a hotel made entirely of ice from January 20 until February 28, 2022. The ceiling, walls, and furniture will all be made of ice, and guests can also enjoy an outdoor ice bath! In addition, a new Ice Dinner will be on offer, where visitors can enjoy a beautiful table surrounded by ice overlooking a forest of white birches while staring up at the starry winter sky.

The seamless dome-shaped ice structure is about 8.5 meters in diameter and 3.5 meters high. Sleeping bags will be provided to guests to keep them warm and comfortable until morning.

Visitors can enjoy a hot spring in the open winter air in Shimukappu Village’s Scan Portopia Yunosawa Onsen. 

The aforementioned Ice Dinner features three ice-themed dishes and welcomes guests to sit at a table made entirely of ice surrounded by majestic nature.

The appetizer includes iced vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, and cauliflower. Each is dipped in a warm garlic sauce, balancing the sweetness of the veggies, which become more sugary when cold. 

The main course, Iceberg Bouillabaisse, is covered with ice. This begins to melt as the soup pot is slowly heated in front of the guests, revealing gorgeous seafood like cod and shrimp. It’s a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds!

The frozen fruit dessert mixes strawberries and kiwis with hot wine and a touch of cinnamon. Sweet and sour flavors come together to end the night on a high note.

Starting December 26, 2021, participating Starbucks locations in Japan began selling the ‘Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Frappuccino,’ the ‘Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Tea Latte,’ and the ‘Oolong meets Citrus Tea Latte.’ Each beverage is available in hot or cold versions. 

The Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Frappuccino combines roasted green tea (hojicha) with a sweet caramel sauce.

Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Frappuccino / Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Tea Latte

The Frappupccino contains a base made with hojicha and black tea, mixed with a hojicha-infused caramel sauce that contains roasted hojicha powder. The flavor is deep and rich, without too much sweetness. 

The Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Tea Latte mixes in fresh cream and white mocha syrup to bring out the flavor of the tea. Perfect for a dreary winter day, the drink is topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce. 

Oolong meets Citrus Tea Latte ／ Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Tea Latte ／Caramel Apple Redbush Tea

The Oolong meets Citrus Tea Latte combines TEAVANA Zen Clouds Oolong tea, with its refreshing scent and flavor, with steamed milk. Topped with a freeze-dried blend of Satsuma mandarin and yuzu peels, it tastes just like the winter season. Oolong tea pairs well with slightly tart fruits, with the milk and whipped cream cutting the acidity of the citrus. The Caramel Apple Redbush Tea combines classic South African Redbush tea with apple cinnamon pulp, topped with fresh whipped cream and caramel sauce.

These limited-edition drinks will be on the menu until January 18, 2022. 

Starbucks Coffee Japan has launched the second product in its “double the love” collection, the first collaboration with fashion brand Ron Herman, at Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo.

Castanets (white and navy) ￥2,200 each / Guiro ￥3,960/ Bell ￥4,400

The theme of “double the love” expresses the moment when you and your loved one can feel the love by choosing and giving a gift while thinking of the joy on the face of the recipient. For the second edition, under the theme of “sharing together,” a variety of musical instruments made of wood, such as castanets, guiro, and bells, as well as wooden ornaments are available to make your time with family and loved ones more enjoyable.

Ornament heart/star (red, navy, white) ￥1,320 each

Wooden ornaments in the shapes of stars and hearts can be hung on the tree or used as decorations to accentuate your room, adding to the Christmas spirit! As you reflect on this year, spend a happy time with your family and loved ones, thinking of each other and overflowing with love.

With the desire to deliver a heartwarming moment of sharing and caring for each other, the greeting card workshop “Make your gift double of your love” is scheduled to be held online from 10am on December 18 and at RHC Ron Herman Kawasaki on December 19. While drinking coffee, think of the face of the person you are sending a gift to, and spend a moment making a greeting card to express your feelings.

From December 20 until December 26, 2021, TRUNK, a boutique hotel in Jingumae, Shibuya, will hold the TRUNK Winter Market 2021. The theme of the event will be ‘outdoor comfort,’ and carrying on last year’s tradition, the hotel will deliver content aiming to warm the body and soul during the cold winter season. The public terrace will be decorated with fire pits and lanterns, creating a space where visitors can fully enjoy the cozy atmosphere. The limited-time event will offer workshops, food, and drinks to be enjoyed with family and friends.

The food menu includes ‘Chicken and Mushroom Pan Stew,’ served in a bread bowl and made with fresh ingredients. Guests can also enjoy a ‘Cheddar Cheese Crepe with Homemade Roast Ham,’ along with plenty of scrumptious desserts. Perfect for the Christmas season, warm eggnog and mulled wine will be served, and kids will love the organic hot chocolate!

Four different workshops will be set up at tents in the public terrace. Kids Gabbeh Painting will teach kids how to design their own Gabbeh, a traditional small fabric woven by nomads in southwestern Iran. After drawing their design, artisans will weave the Gabbeh, and will send it to your home. The ‘Socializing Flower Swag’ workshop allows visitors to make swag using dried flowers that were upcycled from fresh flowers that would otherwise be thrown away. These will be silk-screened and wrapped for a great souvenir. Outdoor Candle is a workshop where visitors can create original leather candle holders. 

At Campfire Roast Coffee, guests can roast coffee over an open fire pit. Imagine how good it smells! Afterwards, you can take home your spoils.

There will also be a TRUNK Vintage Store on-site, where hotel staff will sell decorations and furniture no longer needed in the hotel, as well as clothes and other goods. 

McDonald’s Japan locations with McCafe by Barista installations will begin selling the Cookies & Cream Frappe for a limited time starting December 8, 2021. The McCafe by Barista corner employs full-time baristas serving ‘authentic cafe coffee.’ 

McCafe by Barista invites guests to enjoy high-quality frappuccinos and smoothies and these locations are offering three unique Frappes this winter. Following the Strawberry Creme Brulee Frappe and normal Creme Brulee Frappe released in late November, the Cookies & Cream Frappe will release soon, filled with rich vanilla sweetness!

Cookies & Cream Frappe Medium: ¥470 / Large: ¥540 (Tax Included) 

The drink is a rich blend of creamy vanilla made from Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans, blended with crunchy Oreo cookie bits and topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. What’s not to love?

Starting in 2005 to add more color to Yokohama’s winter season, the ArtRink event held at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse combines artworks and ice skating for a bright and colorful way to spend a cold day. The 17th annual event will be held from December 4, 2021, until February 20, 2022, and will feature two artists: Moeno Ootsu and unpis, both taking part for the first time. The theme for this year’s art is ‘Stepping Out in Slippers.’ 

Moeno Ootsu

unpis

Message from the Artists

Hello. 

For this event, we’ve created an everyday space, ‘home,’ in a very not-everyday space: ArtRink in Yokohama.

Guests should come on an adventure that begins at the front door, then dance on ice through the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and more!

You might discover something new among the familiar furnishings and snippets of daily life.

We hope that once you leave ArtRink and return home, you’ll try to keep dancing from time to time.

Just have fun. Dance with us!

Whether you’re wearing skates, sneakers, or slippers…

Just take a step and have the best possible time this winter.

Fashion brand LOWRYS FARM has released a new Winter visual and promotional video featuring popular actresses Nagasawa Masami and Kaho as models.

Promotional Video

Yuni Yoshida served as art director on the new campaign. The winter collection is filled with items to appeal to the widest range of women in the hopes of attracting newcomers to the brand. 

The main visual features Masami Nagasawa and Kaho wearing LOWRYS FARM’s most popular knitwear along with memorable contrasting orange lines. Which of these new pieces would you like to add to your winter rotation?

A part of Hoshino Resorts, KAI Alps is an incredible hot spring inn located in Omachi, Nagano prefecture, at the foot of the Northern Japanese Alps. In February 2022, the hotel will allow guests to book the Shinshu Snow Hut Experience, where visitors can enjoy the winter in a traditional snow-packed hut surrounded by bamboo lights. This area is one of the snowiest places in the region, and the locals have plenty of knowledge when it comes to getting through the cold.

Nagano prefecture is often called the ‘Space prefecture’ for its beautiful starry skies. Inside the snow hut, guests will be surrounded by lights, and bamboo lanterns will light the way. These gentle lights are perfect for the white of winter, despite the cold. 

Exclusively for this package, a kotatsu (heated table) will be placed inside the huts, and guests can wear traditional local clothing perfect for the weather. Sweet sake made at the Hokuan Sake Distillery in Omachi City and local rice cakes with Nozawa pickled greens, a Shinshu specialty, will also be served up. 

How would you like to partake in this traditional experience?