During late spring and early summer, Japan enters the rainy season. From mid-June until early July, Tokyo City View, the indoor observatory at Roppongi Hills, will be giving people a way to enjoy this dreary time. From photo spots to afternoon tea and cute menu items at the on-site restaurant and cafe, this is one of the best places to spend time in Tokyo. 

Photo Spot Transforms Rainy Weather into Sunny Weather

Starting June 13, three photo spots featuring colorful umbrellas will appear around Tokyo City View. Even if it’s pouring rain outside, it’s always sunny under these pop-art umbrellas! Take some shots 250 meters above the streets of the city and post them on social media!

Normally, Tokyo City View ticket holders can enter the Sky Deck rooftop deck for an additional ¥500. For a limited time, a special set ticket including Sky Deck will be available at the on-site ticket counter! On rare sunny days during the rainy season, guests can enjoy the open-air Sky Deck, a perfect place to refresh and unwind.

Running: June 13 – July 4, 2022

Admission: ¥2,000 (General Admission, Weekdays) 

Details: https://tcv.roppongihills.com/jp/news/2022/06/5723/

*Certain areas of the indoor observatory will be closed during this period. 

Spend a Rainy Day at THE SUN & THE MOON Cafe & Restaurant

NY Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce: ¥1,280 (Tax Included)

Banana Split: ¥1,150 (Tax Included)

THE SUN & THE MOON Cafe and Restaurant is attached to Tokyo City View. At the cafe section, guests will be able to order some cute new items from the dessert menu to sweep away the rainy day blues. 

The restaurant section offers a spectacular city view and is filled with greenery, intending to make guests feel like they’re in a forest in the sky. On a rainy day, you may feel like you’re in the rainforest! Come enjoy a cup of tea and gaze out at the city.

The Roppongi Hills Observation Deck regularly hosts the Roppongi Astronomy Club. On July 7, the Tanabata Special Viewing Event will invite guests to enjoy a sparkling night view of Tokyo and the stars above. On July 15, a special Moonrise Viewing will be held, where visitors can watch the moon rise from the direction of Tokyo Skytree.

How would you like to spend a rainy day in this spectacular Tokyo landmark? 

The National Museum of Western Art, located in Ueno Park, reopened in April 2022 after being closed for renovations for 18 months. The first special exhibition post-reopening will feature Van Gogh’s works in Japan for the first time, along with paintings depicting modern nature from both the National Museum of Western Art and the Museum Folkwang in Essen, Germany.

To commemorate the post-renovation reopening of the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, this exhibition traces the development of modern art born out of the dialogue between nature and humankind.

The event was realized in collaboration with the Museum Folkwang, and both institutions were founded on private collections: that of Karl Ernst Osthaus (1874–1921) in Germany and Matsukata Kojiro (1866–1950) in Japan.

The exhibition will feature over 100 paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs from both museums, spanning from German Romanticism to the art of the twentieth century, ranging from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism. 

Guests can enjoy all aspects of the infinite expanse of nature as shown in both collections, from the smallest roadside flowers to the vast universe and all humanity contained within. Would you like to come and experience this unique exhibition?

Men’s roomwear brand GELATO PIQUE HOMME will open a limited-time concept store at Hankyu Men’s Tokyo from June 15 until June 21, 2022. 

The store will offer a wide variety of items, including light and comfortable loungewear perfect for summer and unisex items perfect for partners. In addition, GELATO PIQUE x BE@RBRICK collaboration items will also be available for purchase. 

Popular around the world, Medicom’s BE@RBRICK figure can now be purchased in full Gelato Pique loungewear, with customers able to choose between 400% and 1,000% sizes. Shoes are also available for each figure.

The summer collection includes soft and lightweight items perfect for the heat, including sweatshirts, long pants, and ultra-thin shirts.

Hand soap and face wash will also be available. Gelato Pique Homme’s original citrus mint blend is made with bergamot and patchouli essential oils sourced from France.

Come pick up some of these items, perfect for Father’s Day!

TOOTH TOOTH TOKYO, a French bistro located in Ebisu, will offer three unique parfaits perfect for adult palates starting June 1, 2022 for a limited time.

These three sweet treats are perfect for an after-meal snack or a reward for a hard day’s work. As delicious as they may be, they’re also delightful to look at, each made with care and filled with seasonal fruits. An evening at TOOTH TOOTH TOKYO will be a luxurious and colorful experience this summer.

White Peach Fromage Parfait with Honey Tuile: ¥2,000 (Tax Included)
The melt-in-your-mouth parfait includes sweet peach covered with Earl Grey tea leaves, homemade apricot pound cake, lemon mousse, and a crispy honey tuile for a touch of luxury.

Parfait Exotica ~Mango Quenelle and Coconut Blancmange & Pistachio: ¥1,900 (Tax Included)
This mango treat with a dollop of coconut blancmange is made extra delicious with a pairing of pistachio ice cream. Dried pineapple and lotus flowers garnish this mature summer dessert. Enjoy the rum-soaked dried fruits!

Caramelized Figs & Red Wine Spiced Chocolat: ¥1,600 (Tax Included)
Juicy caramelized figs doused with spiced sangria make up the heart of this dish. The Belgian chocolate ice cream is served with a light cheese tuile, an accent with just the right amount of texture and saltiness.

Specialty cafe chain ‘Bread, Espresso &’ will begin selling special items as a part of its chocolate fair at the Harajuku location, ‘Junkissa Bread, Espresso &’ starting June 1!

Many of the existing items on the shop’s menu will be available in chocolate versions. The Chocolate Mint French Toast is chilled and perfect for summer, drizzled with chocolate cream and mint sauce. Additional mint can be added to your heart’s content!

The mint cocoa (pictured top right) features blended mint cream on top with cocoa on the bottom. The two halves blend effortlessly as the top warms and the bottom cools.

Come enjoy these chocolate treats during the warm summer months!

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu made waves with music lovers around the world last month when she performed at Coachella, one of the largest and most famous music festivals on Earth. On May 28, Kyary will perform in Ehime, and the artist has released details about another collaboration as part of the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project, launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities.

In Ehime Prefecture, Kyary is teaming up with Poeme, a famous sweets shop in Setouchi close to the Seto Inland Sea. The shop itself opened in 1950 with a different name and quickly became popular for its Butter Manju. The buns, baked in a buttery biscuit dough with red bean paste, were an extravagant confectionary at the time. In the late 1950s, a friend of the founder Okada Kazutarou tasted the Butter Manju and said “This is a poem,” hence the current name of the location. After 76 years, the name of the shop still reflects Poeme’s mission that has been present since the company’s founding just after WWII. 

The collaboration logo for the project was inspired by Kyary’s 2018 album Japamyu, which was released after four successful overseas tours. The album cemented the artist as one of Japan’s top talents, and the logo combines Poeme with Japamyu to make Poemyu.

A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. The shirt is only available until June 8 on the official LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website.

The Vino Buono Restaurant, located just across the street from the Aoyama St. Grace Cathedral, will offer a special blue-themed afternoon tea set from June 1 until July 31, 2022. The blue theme is meant to bring happiness, and guests will be able to enjoy treats inspired by the deep blue sea.

The summer lineup includes a grapefruit-flavored ocean jelly topped with meringue coral, lemon-flavored macaroons in the shape of pearl oysters, coconut mousse, a galette resembling a mussel, and other ocean blue and crashing wave white-colored sweets with coral and shell motifs. Seafood-infused savory treats such as smoked salmon sandwiches on croissants and seaweed salt french fries will also be served. Guests can also enjoy two types of scones as well as unlimited black and herbal tea.

An old European legend claims that women getting married in June will always be happy. During this wonderful wedding season, why not come enjoy a romantic afternoon tea experience?

Starting July 1, guests visiting the five-star Conrad Tokyo hotel can enjoy a new peach-filled afternoon tea menu for a limited time. Designed in collaboration with the British luxury brand Wedgwood, the lineup includes both savory and sweet items perfect for summer. The afternoon tea will be available on the 28th floor at the aptly named Twenty Eight Bar and Lounge.

In collaboration with Wedgwood, a 260-year-old porcelain and fine china brand used by the British royal family, this special service will feature an afternoon tea plate with a tempting array of sweets. The plate itself is from Wedgwood’s world-renowned Gio collection and features a honeycomb pattern embossed on fine bone china. The contrast between the modern setting, the classic and refined shape of the white tableware, and the beautiful pink treats will come together to create the most memorable summer moment imaginable.

Coconut & Earl Grey Panna Cotta / Rose Jelly / Peach Compote

Wine and Peach Gelatin / Vanilla Mousse

White Peach Mousse / Raspberry Gelatin

White Peach and Soy Milk Sandwich

Apricot Tart / Peach Cream

Peach Soup / Lobster Consomme Jelly

White Peach and Chicken Mousse Tart

Pork Rillettes and Peach Slider

Highlights from the sweets menu include coconut & Earl Grey Panna cotta served with rose jelly and peach compote, peach gelatin infused with red wine and vanilla mousse, and a delectable white peach and soy milk sandwich. For those with less of a sweet tooth, the afternoon tea service also offers delectable dishes like a white peach and chicken mousse tart, a pork rillettes and peach slider, and more. Guests can also enjoy a selection of scones in either plain or coconut, each served with clotted cream and either peach or guava jam. Over 20 beverages will be on offer, including Wedgwood teas.

Otabe, one of the most popular sweets souvenir shops in Kyoto, Otabe, is known for its delicious matcha and mini-desserts. Starting May 12, the company has released nine uniquely packaged sweets inspired by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The limited-edition packaging will feature popular characters from the series. Previously, the company released matcha cakes for the crossover–this time, fans can enjoy choco-an flavor!

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Choco-an

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Matcha

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Otabe (with Original Sticker)

Original Sticker: 15 varieties, 1 given at random

Focusing on the hashira from the series, fans will want to be on the lookout for their favorite character. These sweets can be bought at select stations in the Kyoto and Osaka area, major Kyoto tourist attractions, and online. In addition, matcha flavored treats will also be on sale featuring Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Hashibira Inosuke, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and Muzan Kibutsuji.

©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable

Popular on LINE and other texting apps and illustrated by Jyuuno, mofusand is a curious collection of cute and slightly surreal cats. As with most things that go viral in Japan, these adorable characters will be featured in a themed cafe for a limited time! The Tokyo location will open on May 19 and the Osaka location will welcome visitors starting May 26, 2022.

Cafe Visitor Bonus: Sticker (6 varieties)

Drink Order Bonus: Coaster (6 varieties)

Menu

Fried Shrimp Sandwich Plate

Grilled Vegetable Curry

Nyanko Burger

Salmon Mentaiko Cream Pasta

Taiyaki

Nyanko Parfait

Black Cat Pancake

Nyan Lime Nata de Coco

Green Nyanko Float / Yello Nyanko Float / Blue Nyanko Float

Nyanko Cafe Latte / Nyanko Milk Tea

Merchandise

Sticker

Clear Folder

All menu items draw inspiration from the many mofusand characters and are perfect for posting on social media! Special bonuses will be given to those visiting the cafe and making select purchases, and a merchandise corner will be selling limited-edition goods featuring new artwork!

©mofusand

Those passing through Gotanda Station in Tokyo might want to keep an eye out for some tasty treats on sale for a limited time. Patisserie Giraud has opened a limited-time pop-up location inside the aptly-named shop Have You Eaten This Before? The pop-up will be open until May 31, 2022.

Have You Eaten This Before? features a rotating selection of products perfect as gifts, souvenirs, or as a treat for yourself. Along with six cakes made to look just like fruits, a selection of other baked goods will also be available.

Lineup

Strawberry

Orange

Lemon

Red Apple

Green Apple

Melon

While it might be difficult to eat these beautiful cakes, you’ll never forget the way the juice-filled mousse and crispy pastry fill your mouth. Which one would you like to bring home?

Folk Kitchen, a restaurant on the second floor of Hilton Osaka, will hold the Sanrio Characters Sweets Buffet ~Joyful Summer Festival~ from May 20 until September 11, 2022. The event is being held to celebrate Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, and Pochakko coming in first, second, and third in the Sanrio Character Awards. A lineup of 25 different sweets will be available, including those filled with summer fruits like mango, peach, and watermelon! In addition, a “Zero Leftovers Campaign” will be implemented–so be sure to clear your plate!

Happy Festival Heart Mousse

Joyful Pink Cake / Lime & Raspberry

Fluffy and Crunchy Mango Pavlova

Decorated with chocolate and adorable character designs, the Happy Festival Heart Mousse is a scrumptious dish blending the flavor of banana, caramel, and rum. The Joyful Pink Cake will be a smash-hit with Sanrio lovers, featuring the soft taste of white mousse and raspberry compote with a fresh lime flavor. Tons of other original sweets will be available, including everything from gingerbread to orange tarts.

Visitors can also find plenty of vegan sweets. Summer Blue Sky Jello features contrasting colors of pineapple pulp and soymilk cream that look like clouds floating against a summer sky. Be sure to try the Almond & Watermelon Jello and Grapefruit and Lychee Jello too!