Q-pot. and Q-pot CAFE. introduced a special cherry parfait to its menu on June 27 to help support cherry farmers whose work has been affected by COVID-19.

Due to less people travelling and sightseeing around Japan as a result of the lockdown and self-isolation practices, orders for cherries are being cancelled, and many festivals across Japan too are being cancelled, all of which is having a huge affect on the country’s cherry industry.

The current season is the best time to enjoy Japan’s juicy cherries, and so Q-pot CAFE. has teamed up with a cherry farm in Yamagata, a prefecture famous for its cherries.

Cherry Cherry Parfait (w/Drink): ¥1,850 (Tax Included)

The “Cherry Cherry Parfait” is topped with snow-white whipped cream, crunchy meringue, and cherries for a gorgeous contrast of red and white.

The cherries used are considered a high-grade type called “satonishiki” which has been dubbed the “King of Cherries.” They sit gracefully atop their kingdom of sweet ingredients including salt milk ice cream, chocolate, cherry jam, sponge cake, and panna cotta.

The cherry farmers are taking all the necessary safety precautions against COVID-19 while they continue to delivery delicious cherries to the people of Japan.

For this year’s summer season only, Tokyo-based Italian restaurant Terrace Dining TANGO is serving three original shaved ice desserts from July 1 to August 31.

Terrace Dining TANGO is a restaurant located in The Place of Tokyo, a wedding venue that faces Tokyo Tower. Every summer, the restaurant serves special limited-time shaved ice. They use water with absolutely no impurities that is frozen slowly over a period of 48 hours. This is turned into fluffy shaved ice which the restaurant’s patissiers drizzle in specially-made sauces. This year includes their popular brown sugar syrup-drizzled brown bear shaved ice which is always well received for its cute appearance, as well as their regular strawberry milk flavour, and a new apricot kernel and mango sauce shaved ice.

Brown Bear w/Brown Sugar Syrup: ¥950 (Before Tax/Service Charge)

An original shaved ice conceived by Terrace Dining TANGO which never fails to put smiles of the faces of its customers every year. This year they are adding a Japanese taste to it with a houjicha tea syrup sauce. Inside the fluffy shaved ice is condensed milk and chewy tapioca. If you let the shaved ice melt it becomes like bubble tea with the tapioca pearls.

Strawberry Milk: ¥850 (Before Tax/Service Charge)

A classic serving of TANGO’s strawberry milk shaved ice, doused in a specially-made strawberry syrup and rich condensed milk. Hidden in the centre is a condensed milk cream, strawberry jelly, and fresh strawberries.

Apricot Kernel Milk w/Mango Sauce: ¥850 (Before Tax/Service Charge)

This shaved ice is topped with melt-in-the-mouth apricot kernel cream and lots of fruity mango sauce for a sweet and sour punch.

Terrace Dining TANGO is a great place to visit after going to Tokyo Tower, so if you’re in Tokyo this summer then cool yourself off with some refreshing shaved ice.

IMADA KITCHEN in SHIBUYA109 has teamed up with Hattendo Cafe to co-create the new “Torokeru Kuma-san Pancakes” (Melty Mr. Beat Pancakes) which will be served from July 1, 2020 to August 30, 2020.

IMADA KITCHEN is a food project that aims to create original food in Shibuya. Together with Hattendo, a Hiroshima brand known for its incredible cream pastries, they have created a super cute bear design pancake. Bear designs are popular with young girls in Japan.

Torokeru Kuma-san Pancake: ¥450 (Before Tax)

The fluffy pancakes are filled with melt-in-the-mouth, handmade custard cream, meaning a single bite lets you enjoy both the moist texture of the pancake and the melty drizzle of the custard cream. Your mouth is instantly filled with flavours of maple syrup and egg, which when combined with the accompanying berries makes for a sweet amalgamation of deliciousness.

Torokeru Koro Tama Kuma Sandwich: ¥450 (Before Tax)

Normally, you would have to go to Hiroshima to try Hattendo Cafe’s “Torokeru Koro Tama Kuma Sandwich,” but now it will be available to try at IMADA KITCHEN. Made with the cafe’s “cream bread,” this moist sandwich is filled with egg salad, korokke, and cabbage for a hearty meal.

Kyoto’s famous tea shop Itohkyuemon began serving four new Uji matcha and shaved ice mixed desserts on its menu yesterday (June 29). Itohkyuemon was founded in 1832 in the latter period of Edo. Ujitawara, the place in Kyoto where the shop is located, is famous for the tea served by Itohkyuemon which has been harvested by the Ito family for years.

Uji Matcha Parfait Ice: ¥1,490 (Tax Included) | Serving: Until Late September 2020 | Avaialble: Itohkyuemon JR Uji Station/Itohkyuemon Gionshijo

The Uji Matcha Parfait Ice uses a blend of matcha and milk-infused ice as its base. It’s then topped with sweet treats like rice flour dumplings, red bean paste, ice cream, matcha jelly, and more to turn it into a parfait.

Uji Matcha Daifuku Ice: ¥1,290 (Tax Included) | Serving: Until Late September 2020 | Avaialble: Itohkyuemon JR Uji Station/Itohkyuemon Gionshijo

This Uji Matcha Daifuku Ice is an upgrade of the one Itohkyuemon served last year. It has a creamy custard base with matcha daifuku hidden in the shaved ice.

Fluffy Uji Kindokei Vanilla Ice Cream: ¥990, Matcha Ice Cream ¥1,090 (Tax Included) | Serving: Until Late September 2020 | Avaialble: Itohkyuemon JR Uji Station/Itohkyuemon Gionshijo

Fluffy Uji Kindokei Rice Flour Dumpling: ¥850, Rice Flour Dumpling & Vanilla Ice Cream ¥970, Rice Flour Dumpling Matcha Ice Cream ¥1,090 Serving: Until Late September 2020 | Avaialble: Itohkyuemon Uji Main Branch

These two “Kindokei” (Gold Watch) servings use more ice. At the main branch of Itohkyuemon they’re more crunchy, while at the JR Uji Station and Gionshijo branches they’re more fluffy.

Q-pot CAFE. is celebrating Japan’s Tanabata festival with a limited-time menu which was introduced on June 27.

Romantic Star Plate w/Drink: ¥2,060 (Tax Included)

This starry delight is plated with a fromage blanc filled with ganache cream and peach jelly. There’s star-shaped meringue macarons filled with cream, creamy blueberry and blackcurrant panna cotta, star-shaped chocolate to represent the Tanabata deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, and a luxurious Q-pot CAFE. macaron.

さらに、レモンの皮を練り込み、サクッと焼き上げた星型クッキーには短冊のようにグラサージュショコラで願い事を込めて・・・クッキーを残さず口にすれば、願いもきっと叶うはず！

Romantic Peach & Elderflower Soda: ¥750 (Tax Included)

Refresh yourself with a summery glass of this peach and elderflower soda which is filled with blue, purple, and pink transparent jelly which twinkle like a kaleidoscope.

Bottled Drinks (Takeout Only): ¥1,296 Each (Tax Included) *Limited quantity available / *¥100 off if you take your own bottle

Enjoy a takeout bottle of “Aurora Lychee Tea Soda” with its romantic pink, purple, and blue gradation. This herb tea changes colour like magic, and contains marrow cheese plant, lychee puree, and Blue Curacao. The twinkling pearl powder makes it glow like an aurora.

There is also bottled Strawberry Tea Soda, Ginger Ice Milk Tea, and Honey Lemon Vinegar Soda.

If you’re in Tokyo this summer, head to Q-pot CAFE. to enjoy a round of pastel-coloured Tanabata confections and drinks.

Japanese cafe Komachi Chaya and bakery, cafe and restaurant Dear Bread Kamakura have collaborated to release 10 cool shaved ice flavours at i-ZA Kamakura, a shopping centre that’s just a 1-minute walk from Komachi Street in Kamakura.

10 Tasty Shaved Ice Recipes Combining Japanese & Western Flavours

Komachi Chaya, which is located on the 2nd floor of i-ZA Kamakura, has a diverse line-up including a hydrangea-inspired shaved ice. All of their options are made using in-house made syrup. Dear Bread Kamakura, which is located on the 1st floor of i-ZA Kamakura, is introducing a rich new shaved ice made using specially-made foam.

Hydrangea: ¥1,420 / With Rice Flour Dumpling Ice Cream ¥1,630 (Tax Included)

This vivid blue shaved ice is inspired by Kamakura’s famous hydrangea flowers. It comes with lemon syrup which changes the shaved ice into a beautiful purple. You can pick two syrups from six to combine and create new and tasty flavours.

Whole Strawberry Sagahonoka: ¥1,100 / With Rice Flour Dumpling Ice Cream ¥1,310 (Tax Included)

The Sagahonoka has a super sweet taste and is made with an unheated strawberry syrup. It’s topped with fat and juicy strawberries and served with condensed milk.

Komachi Chaya is serving a total of 7 flavours. As well as the ones above, there’s an Uji matcha flavour, a plum pick made from two types of plums, and more.

Strawberry Milk Foam: ¥1,200 (Before Tax)

Dear Bread Kamakura’s shaved ices are made using foam. The strawberry one is made using in-house strawberry syrup and is topped with milk foam, giving it a cute appearance like light snowfall. The combination of strawberry and cream also gives it a taste similar to shortcake.

Brown Sugar Syrup Matcha: ¥1,200 (Before Tax)

Doused in a rich and sweet brown sugar syrup and covered in a matcha flavoured foam made with Uji matcha from Kyoto, this fluffy shaved ice has a slight bitter bite from the matcha which is balanced against the sweet syrup and red bean paste.

Dear Bread Kamakura will also serve a mango flavour made with two different homemade syrups instead of foam.

i-ZA Kamakura is maintaining social distancing measures as a precaution against COVID-19. The shopping complex has expanded its wooden deck terrace seating area as well as its eating-in space so customers can feel at ease.

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU has announced MONSTER X, a new roster of characters who are like sisters to the cafe’s MONSTER GIRLS and are personifications of popular areas in the cafe: Mushroom Disco, Bar Experiment, and the Mel-Tea Room.

The theme and decor of KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU imagines customers inside the belly of a monster. But this is no ordinary digestion, as customers are pulled into a crazy and vivid world of colours. The cafe is split into various areas where you’ll find the new MONSTER X girls: the colourful mushroom forest Mushroom Disco welcomes MUSH, the bewitching jellyfish Bar Experiment says hello to JELLY, and the candy-filled Mel-Tea Room beckons MELTY. Let’s take a look at who these MONSTER X girls are.

MUSH

MUSH’s theme is “Cheer.” Her dress and hairstyle is fitted with lots of round mushrooms. She’s here to cheer everybody up with the power of her vivid, Harajuku-esque colours.

Area: Mushroom Disco

Mushroom Disco is a giant forest of colourful, poisonous mushrooms and plants from outer space.

JELLY

JELLY’s theme is “Deep.” Her dress and hairstyle personifies the bar which take son the image of a luminous deep sea jellyfish. Her glittery cool beauty will captivate all who see her.

Area: Bar Experiment

An enormously bright, glistening jellyfish has wrapped itself around this bar which also couples as a laboratory where people can experiment with different drinks.

MELTY

MELTY’s theme is “Sugary.” Her name speaks for her droopy dress and hairstyle which looks like it’s melting. She will heal all with her sweet and overwhelming aura.

Area: Mel-Tea Room

Follow the ants along the sugar trail and you’ll find the tea party room adorned with ice cream, chocolate, and macarons.

Fashion x Entertainment x Virus Precautions

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU will continue to entertain customers while taking all the necessary COVID-19 precautions. The staff will coordinate masks to their outfits fitting of the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE while still paying respect to the spirit of Harajuku’s fashion style which encourages people to enjoy fashion however they like. When you look back at the history of Harajuku’s street fashion, decorative masks and gas masks have always been around, so it will be business as usual at the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE.

Jokin Dance (Bacteria Elimination Dance)

Before your meal at the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE, the MONSTER GIRLS will pay a visit to your table and invite you to join in doing the Jokin Dance (Bacteria Elimination Dance). KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU is an entertainment restaurant, and so it can make even taking precautions against something like COVID-19 a fun time.

A new shaved ice shop by the name of Kakigoori Parlor Floche is now open on the 8th floor food arena “The PARK SHINJUKU” inside LUMINE EST Shinjuku for a limited time until August 31, 2020.

Kakigoori Parlor Floche is inspired by floche, a cake served at a Japanese cafe in the 70s and 80s which they have turned into shaved ice. Its luxurious taste is similar to a cake, with an appearance that’s sure to have you smiling when it arrives at the table. It’s topped generously with cream, creating a cake x shaved ice fusion.

“Floche” is a French word meaning fluffy, a fitting name for a shop specialising in serving sweet and fluffy shaved ice. They have prepared three different flavours: Tiramisu, Shortcake, and Japone.

Shortcake: ¥980 (Before Tax)

Tiramisu: ¥830 (Before Tax)

Japone: ¥880 (Before Tax)

If you’re in Tokyo this summer, don’t miss out on this delicious and refreshing line-up.

Gong cha’s limited-time “Houjicha Milk Tea” and “Genmaicha Milk Tea” beverages are popular each year, and they returned once again on June 17.

Japanese Tea

Gong cha’s menu item “Japanese Tea” was released in 2018 exclusively for Japan, and is enjoyed every year during its annual limited-time run. Made using tea leaves from Japan, its authentic taste and aroma has people begging for more when the year’s run is up.

2 Flavours This Year

Houjicha Milk Tea (Regular Size: ¥470) / Recommended Topping: Milk Foam (+¥70) | Serving: From June 17, 2020 for a limited time

The Houjicha Milk Tea is the iconic drink of Gong cha’s “Japanese Tea” series. It’s a blend the best high quality houjicha and kukicha tea leaves, both of which are grown in Shizuoka Prefecture. Roasting and using them together gives a sweet and deeply rich aroma. Add milk foam as a topping and you’ve got yourself a rich milk tea.

Genmaicha Milk Tea (Regular Size: ¥470) / Recommended Tapioca (+¥70) | Serving: From June 17, 2020 for a limited time

The Genmaicha Milk Tea is an original blend of Japanese genmai rice and tea leaves from Shizuoka Prefecture. This milk tea keeps the original delicious flavour of the tea and wafts a fragrant rice aroma.

On June 18, WITH HARAJUKU, a shopping complex located in front of Harajuku Station, opened its Shiseido beauty facility “Beauty Square” on the first floor. To strike a chord with beauty-loving millennials across the country, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has been appointed as the shop’s ambassador. With “beauty diversity” as its main theme, Shiseido’s top hair and makeup artist Tadashi Harada is also getting involved by launching a variety of beauty projects.

Harajuku Shiseido Beauty Square Ambassador Video:

Before the facility celebrated its grand opening, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu stepped through its doors, visiting the makeup counter and enjoying the fun interactive features such as the large LED screen located in the centre which displays endless videos.

The concept of Beauty Square is to become an interactive space to discover beauty, have fun, and share your experiences. Along with the sale of cosmetics, customers can enjoy digital interactive experiences to connect with the world of beauty or treat themselves to a makeover at the hair and makeup salon, which will glamour up your look in the bat of an eye.

From transforming your look to digital interaction, this is the perfect day out for fashion-lovers from all over the world.

Devoted to selling authentic coffee, McDonald’s Japan’s McCafé by Barista coffee service is all set for the hot summer days ahead with delicious Hokkaido melon drinks. The Hokkaido Melon and Milk Frappé is making a return to the menu along with the brand new Hokkaido Melon Choco Frappé. The drinks will appear on the menu from June 24, 2020 for a limited period.

Enjoy the luscious flavour and fragrance of Hokkaido melons in the form of a refreshing frappé. Although the Hokkaido Melon and Milk Frappé has returned to the McDonald’s menu year after year since 2018, this year marks the debut of the Hokkaido Melon Choco Frappé.

Hokkaido Melon and Milk Frappé M Size: ¥470, L Size: ¥540

Vibrant Hokkaido melon is pureéd into a fruit sauce (2% fruit content). This is mixed with milk to bring out its full-bodied fragrance. The juicy, melt-in-the-mouth sweetness will leave you wanting more. The whipped cream topping is drizzled with more melon sauce. Mix the drink to enjoy the delicious combination of juicy melon and sweet cream.

Hokkaido Melon and Choco Frappé M Size: ¥490, L Size: ¥560

Enjoy a sweet smoothie of rich and juicy melon punctuated with notes of Belgian couverture chocolate sauce (54% Belgian chocolate) and whipped cream. With 2% fruit content Hokkaido melon pureé as the base of the smoothie, milk is added to create a mellow flavour. Crunchy chocolate Oreo® pieces are sprinkled on top along with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, adding a hint of bitter chocolate flavour.

As the weather gets hotter, make sure to cool down with a refreshing cool drink. If you’ve never tried Hokkaido melon, now’s your chance!

Shiseido is set to open its new beauty salon Beauty Square inside WITH HARAJUKU on June 18, 2020. WITH HARAJUKU is a shopping centre located in front of Harajuku Station in Tokyo.

Beauty Square’s concept aims to have people discovering their beauty, having fun, sharing experiences, and learning the latest in the scene. Visitors will be able to purchase cosmetics and makeup products, participate in interactive digital content, experience the salon where hair and makeup artists will beauty up customers, and more. Focused on younger customers, Beauty Square is a place to find your inner beauty, and what better place to do it than in Harajuku—Tokyo’s hub for youth fashion, beauty, and culture?

Beauty Square is split into 4 separate zones: the Go-Live Zone, Brand Zone, Installation Zone, and Salon Zone. Let’s take a look at each in detail.

Go-Live Zone

In this area, the real world and digital world collide: enormous LED screens and signs fill the area where a variety of content will be broadcast, like hair and makeup tips from the Salon Zone artists. Influencers will visit the Go-Live Zone everyday and stream live.

Brand Zone

Brand Zone is the shopping area of Beauty Square featuring a lineup of numerous Shiseido group brands, like Laura Mercier, SHISEIDO, SHISEIDO PROFESSIONAL, Dolce & Gabbana Beauty, NARS, bareMinerals, IPSA, Cle de Peau Beaute, THE GINZA, and more. The Brand Zone also offers a one-on-one counselling service carried out by beauty consultants.

Installation Zone

This is the entertainment space filled with immersive artistic content like towering LED screens, kinetic lights that move up and down, moving lights, as well a tie-up with the 3D avatar social media app ZEPETO for customers to interact with, and more. Events and pop-up shops will also open in this area.

Salon Zone

Makeup artists who honed their skills and craft at the hair and makeup academy and studio SABFA will be customers’ one-on-on producers, carrying out personal hair and makeup styling. Talks will also be held.

The restaurant and lounge SHISEIDO PARLOUR THE HARAJUKU opened up on the 8th floor on June 16, 2020, where people from around the world can enjoy the traditional taste of SHISEIDO PARLOUR.

Japanese international superstar Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has also been appointed the ambassador f Beauty Square. She will be promoting beauty in various forms throughout the year with the theme “Beauty Diversity.”