There are plenty of events going on in Tokyo to celebrate the holiday season, but this one might be the most peculiar. Elemis, a skincare brand from England, has teamed up with bus operator Upstar for Japan’s first bus tour featuring afternoon tea! This extremely limited event will drive guests around the city to see some of the most impressive Christmas lights in Shibuya, Roppongi, Omotesando, and other spots. Only 60 seats are available each day and the bus will run from December 1 until December 25, 2022.

5 Unique Features of the Elemis Special Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

① Enjoy a Special Christmas Afternoon Tea Menu by Elemis

A special Christmas menu will be available on board, including a Santa Claus shortcake and a party popper-inspired sandwich. 

② Travel on a Bus Filled with Elemis Christmas Decorations

Inside the bus, guests can enjoy fir trees and original decorations inspired by the Elemis holiday collection!

③ Best-Selling Elemis Goods will be Gifted to Guests!

Guests will receive a trial size of Elemis’ best-selling Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm as a Christmas present!

④ A Special Gift Campaign will run from November 15 until December 25

Prior to the start of the bus tour, a campaign will be held on Instagram and Twitter. Winners will snag tickets for the bus tour and an Elemis makeup set worth over $12,000!

⑤ Travel on a Special Route to Enjoy Tokyo’s Christmas Lights!

The bus tour will take visitors to some of Tokyo’s best Christmas locales, from Shibuya and Omotesando to Keyakizaka and Roppongi. The 90-minute journey starts and ends in Omotesando.

How would you like to enjoy Tokyo’s Christmas lights on a British bus enjoying some of the best beauty products on Earth? Get into the holiday spirit with this unusual and unique tour!

Hoshinoya Tokyo, a Japanese-style inn in Otemachi, Tokyo, will offer a strawberry-filled afternoon tea set from January 7 until May 31, 2023.

Fragrant Strawberry Afternoon Tea

The Fragrant Strawberry Afternoon Tea is a modern-day expression of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. A major part of Edo culture, guests can enjoy small dishes, sweets, and more. All 10 dishes are made with seasonal strawberries and fermented foods. Visitors can enjoy a plethora of unique textures and flavors, from a French cake with four layers of strawberry sauce to a strawberry confiture in dough kneaded with amazake.

Enjoy Unique Pairings

Dim sum, sweets, and dried goods will each be served with a proper pairing. The oshizushi is paired with a sparkling sake that perfectly matches the seasonal ingredients, and accompanying the main sweets is original coffee brewed in a French press. This coffee was developed exclusively for the afternoon tea set by the specialty coffee shop Sarutahiko Coffee. 

Original Box

Since ancient times, the fuchidaka has been used as a sweets dish to accompany stronger tea. This afternoon tea will be served in an eye-catching original decorated stacked box decorated with jewel beetles. Come enjoy this elegant treat with a loved one to celebrate the new year!

The limited-time Christmas event ‘SNOOPY Merry Colorful Christmas’ will be held at the Grandberry Park shopping mall from November 12 until December 25, 2022. The complex is directly connected to Manami-Machida Grandberry Park Station on the Den-en-toshi Line. 

This year’s event is the most colorful one yet, focusing on diversity and individuality. Fans of Snoopy and friends are in for a treat, as the area around Grandberry Park will be illuminated in beautiful colors and decorated with unique Christmas decorations that will excite the whole family. 

Colorful Sculpture

Colorful Illuminations

Snoopy Ice Rink

Snoopy Happiness Float 2022

During the event period, a giant 8-meter-tall Christmas tree decorated with Peanuts-inspired ornaments will be set up for guests to enjoy. A huge and very colorful sculpture measuring 6 meters across and over 2 meters tall will also welcome visitors to this Christmas wonderland. In addition, colorful lights will be scattered around the entirety of Grandberry Park, and a special Christmas menu filled with cakes and hors d’oeuvres is sure to delight.

On December 10, the Snoopy Ice Rink will open at Oasis Plaza, and the Snoopy Happiness Float 2022, a giant Snoopy that has traveled across Japan, will return for another year of fun.

Come have a fun time this holiday season with Snoopy and friends! A series of events will be held over the next year to market the Colors of Peanuts marketing campaign throughout the country, so keep an eye out for more news!

*Sample images only.

Tokyo Prince Hotel has announced a collaboration with Aderia Retro, known for its classic glassware. A collection of tasty treats will be available at the hotel’s Pikake Tea Salon from October 16, 2022 until March 31, 2023. 

The Aderia Retro brand has created a splash with its nostalgic yet new style, offering glassware with a classic Showa-era feel. This marks the second collaboration with the brand, and guests can enjoy the event at the Pikake Tea Salon, in business since 1964. Visitors can enjoy a traditional sundae, each served with an original coaster designed by Aderia Retro. 13 unique cushions were also designed for the collaboration, meant to make guests feel extra cozy.

Menu

Cream Soda

Showa Retro Pudding

Spaghetti Napolitan

Omurice

 The Tokyo Prince Retro Sundae is served in Aderia Retro glassware and decorated with chocolate. You won’t want to miss snapping a pic for the socials.

The chocolate-coated flakes are topped with chocolate ice cream and a generous dollop of fresh cream. Finished with bananas and Napoleon cherries, this decadent dessert is sure to make any day wonderful. 

Come enjoy some old-fashioned fun in this cozy hotel lounge that’s been a guest favorite since the Showa era. 

The #KuromifyTheWorld campaign is already one year old! Created to share the adorable Sanrio character Kuromi with the world, fans will be invited to celebrate this milestone from October 20 until October 31 with special events in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. 

Kuromi’s Drink Stand will be open for a limited time in Tokyo and Osaka. Customers will be invited to choose the color of their drink according to their mood, and will also be able to customize it with tags, acrylic stands, and stickers! An original photo spot will also be set up beside each drink stand, and those wanting to attend can enter the lottery to win tickets now. 

Sanrio’s first and largest Kuromi ad truck will also be driving through the streets of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka during the event week. 

Kuromi will also be teaming up with (G)I-DLE, a popular five-member global idol group from South Korea. Campaigns are planned to appear in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Taiwan, Korea, North America, and Europe.

Kuromi ranked in the top three in this year’s Sanrio Character Awards, and her popularity is steadily growing with Gen-Z. Keep an eye out for more Kuromi-inspired events in the future!

Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel in Shibuya has begun accepting reservations for collaboration rooms inspired by the British fashion designer Mary Quant. Along with these unique rooms, visitors can also enjoy a Mary Quant exhibition, afternoon tea, and a special non-alcoholic cocktail. 

The Mary Quant Exhibition, the first retrospective exhibition to be held in Japan, will open at Bunkamura The Museum in Shibuya starting November 26, 2022. The exhibition has toured the world, attracting 400,000 visitors in the U.K. Visitors will be treated to the story of Quant, a pioneer of fashion from London in the 1960s. About 100 garments will also be on display.

To commemorate the opening of the exhibition, the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, a staple of Shibuya, will offer a number of Quant-inspired rooms and goodies.

Visitors can choose from two styles of rooms that express Mary Quant’s worldview.

The corner room is decorated with the iconic black and white Big Daisy, while the deluxe room is filled with pink and white flowers. Each room includes a special gift for visitors to take home, such as a cosmetics set and a round bag. The brand is known to represent freedom and originality, and guests are invited to relax and enjoy themselves to the fullest.

The Tour de Ensemble with Mary Quant three-tiered afternoon tea set features scones and other desserts accented with the brand’s signature daisy. Guests can also enjoy a collection of 30 teas. This special set will be available starting on December 1 at the Garden Lounge ZABOU overlooking the Japanese garden on the hotel’s lobby level.

The non-alcoholic Daisy Blooms cocktail is an eye-catching pink drink. Fresh strawberry and raspberry juices, chamomile syrup, and apple juice are blended to create this sparkling drink. Not too sweet and with a refreshing aftertaste, it’s perfect to enjoy with lunch! This beverage will be available at the Garden Kitchen Caramelo on the hotel’s lobby floor. 

From November 11 until December 25, 2022, Roppongi Hills Christmas will cover Tokyo in glittering lights once again. The Keyakizaka Lights, one of Tokyo’s most popular winter attractions, will also take place in 2022, with the 400-meter-long Keyakizaka street covered in over 800,000 blue and white LED lights.

For the first time in three years, the Mohri Garden will be covered in lights as well. The annual Christmas market will invite guests to experience an authentic German Christmas, and Christmas cakes and gourmet food unique to Roppongi Hills will be for sale. 

The Roppongi Hills Christmas event utilizes LED lights and has done so since the first event was held in 2003. Clean power will be used again this year, and the lights will be switched on from 5 PM until 11 PM each night. 

During the month of October, Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo will be offering a special Autumn Afternoon Tea. Inspired by Halloween–and particularly black cats–Lounge Momiji on the first floor will invite guests to devour some tasty treats. 

This year’s Halloween theme is ‘black cats,’ which are said to be the messengers of witches. Guests will be able to enjoy Halloween-specific sweets and afternoon tea to fully enjoy the flavors of autumn.

In addition to sweet and sour macaroons filled with blackcurrant with a black cat motif, visitors can enjoy a bat-themed purple sweet potato Mont Blanc and cream puffs made with pumpkin. The black cat cookies are also perfect for posting to Instagram, so come enjoy lots of sweet and savory goods made with autumn fruits and vegetables such as grapes, persimmons, and figs.

Come enjoy afternoon tea and get into the Halloween spirit this October!

Kiranah Resort Toyosu, an outdoor dining and leisure facility, will open in Koto-ku, Tokyo on August 26, 2022.

Kiranah Resort Toyosu is a complex perfect for families, couples, and children alike, and was inspired by Ibiza in Spain. The attractive location offers a view of Tokyo Bay and a panoramic view of the Rainbow Bridge. The site is the size of a soccer field and includes barbecue facilities with approximately 1,000 seats in three unique areas, as well as a restaurant and bar offering both a la carte and full-course meals. Visitors will also find a DJ booth, dog area, bonfire lounge, event stage, lawn, and much more.

The barbecue area spans three areas, each with a distinct atmosphere. The number of guests, the menu, and the price can be changed according to the guest’s needs.

The cabin area offers an outdoor kitchen with a grill and sofas beneath an air-conditioned pergola perfect for every kind of weather.

At the pool area, guests will find impressive DJ booths and will feel as though they have been transported to a luxury beach resort. At night, the area is lit up to give a more adult atmosphere.

The Pallet area includes activities for children and adults alike, and sports a massive lawn, bonfire area, and food trucks. A huge dog park will also welcome furry friends!

The main dining room is scheduled to open in September and will feature a bar area on the first floor and a restaurant on the second floor. The restaurant will have dishes and drinks to suit every situation, including lunch, a la carte, catering menus, and full-course gastronomic meals in an extraordinary space. Seats on the second floor overlook the Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower, and Sky Tree, so be sure to visit on your next trip to Tokyo!

Art Grace Wedding Hills, a wedding venue in Kyoto, will be offering a ghostly Halloween Afternoon Tea experience in September and October!

Mischievous Ghost Halloween Parfait *Sample Image

Sweets *Sample Image

Savory Dishes *Sample Image

Adorable ghosts and Halloween-inspired sweets made with autumn flavors such as pears, apples, chestnuts, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes will be on the menu. The Mischievous Ghost Halloween Parfait has a refreshing finish with blackcurrant mousse and blood orange jelly. The marshmallows, made to look like ghosts wearing witch hats, are perfect for posting on social media.

How would you like to spend a sweet time in Kyoto this Halloween season?

From September 1 until October 31, the District Brasserie, Bar, and Lounge at the Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo will be offering a spooky Halloween-themed afternoon tea set. The tasty treats won’t be the only scary thing on the plate–the event will incorporate AR technology! By holding up your phone, you’ll be able to see monsters moving around on your plate.

The goodies will also be available for take-out, making them perfect for souvenirs or at-home Halloween parties! Nine types of Halloween sweets, six small dishes, and two tea sachets will be included. Why not spend Halloween in a more elegant way in 2022?

From September 17 until September 19, the TOKYO LIGHTS 2022 International Projection Mapping Competition will be held at Meiji Jingu! This will be the second such event and will bring together some of the most impressive and technologically advanced light displays from around the world to wow audiences.

The main event will be the 1-minute Projection Mapping Competition, in which competitors from around the world will project their art onto the historic Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery. In the Festival of Light area, a barrage of unique light shows will take visitors on a journey through a wonderful world of light and sound.

Image from Last Year’s Event

The 19 Finalists

Light Shows at TOKYO LIGHTS 2021

The competition portion will feature a collection of short, one-minute projection mapping presentations. The theme chosen for 2022 is LIFE: Existence, living, and humanity.

19 finalists were chosen from 241 entries and 55 countries. Those unable to attend will be able to watch the event streamed on YouTube. The finalists for 2022 include Iran, Croatia, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Ukraine, two entries from Bulgaria and Thailand, five entries from China, and three entries from Japan. Don’t miss the awards ceremony on the final day!