Tokyo Disney Resort has announced this year’s Disney Christmas which will take place at Tokyo Disneyland® and Tokyo DisneySea® from November 8 to December 25. This is the Tokyo DisneySea® event line-up. For the Tokyo Disneyland® schedule, click here.

‘Tis the season to be jolly this year at Tokyo DisneySea, where the Christmas spirit is set to fall and settle like December snow across the park with a fantastic line-up of festive entertainment programs, magical decorations and more. Guests are invited to join the Disney cast in welcoming a very merry Christmas at this year for Disney Christmas 2019.

It’s Christmas Time!

The “It’s Christmas Time!” show returns again this year to Mediterranean Harbor to wrap guests in the Christmas spirit, featuring Mickey Mouse and friends along with singers and dancers who will perform to classic Christmas tunes.

Colour Of Christmas

This magical performance takes place at nighttime on the water at Mediterranean Harbor, featuring a huge 15-meter tall shimmering Christmas tree. Held annually, this will mark the show’s eighth and final run. Disney characters including Mickey will also be present for the performance.

The whole of Mediterranean Harbor will be wrapped in the Christmas spirit, with the huge tree in the centre and little trees all around, and onlookers all with their own wishes for the holiday season. Snow will also fall during the performance to create a romantic atmosphere.

Special Christmas Merchandise

Pouch – ¥2,000 (Tax Included)

Around 65 very special pieces of merchandise will be available for guests to pick up, many themed on the It’s Christmas Time! show. The pouch features the cute scene of Mickey and Minnie line dancing which you will see in the show. The available plush toys also have a Christmas-y gold bell on them. All of these items will be available from November 1.

There will also be adorable Duffy and Friends merchandise to pick up. Some of these items are themed on Cape Cod Village in winter, an area in the park which serves as a greeting spot for Duffy and his friends. These Christmas items will be available from November 6.

Christmas Food & Drink

A festive feast of 15 drinks and dishes will be served for Disney Christmas, from seafood pasta to roast beef sandwiches and more. There will also be a reindeer-inspired dessert as well as alcoholic cocktails and much, much more.

Enjoy a very merry Christmas this year at Tokyo DisneySea.♡

Tokyo Disney Resort has announced this year’s Disney Christmas which will take place at Tokyo Disneyland® and Tokyo DisneySea® from November 8 to December 25. This is the Tokyo Disneyland® event line-up. For the Tokyo DisneySea® schedule, click here.

Disney Christmas Stories

Disney Christmas Stories celebrates the holiday season with a magical parade which will bring together the Disney cast members with their loved ones. The characters will dress in festive outfits and deliver to guests their own Christmas stories. Seven joyous Christmas stories will unfold before guests’ eyes, from a merry family outing with Donald Duck, his beloved Daisy Duck and his three nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, to the star couple Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

The parade will seemingly stop all of a sudden which will be followed by ringing bells, signalling the start of a Christmas party. Snow will fall along the parade route, and the cast members will invite guests to join them in celebrating a heart-warming Christmas.

Christmas Decorations

An enormous 15-meter tall Christmas tree will tower over World Bazaar and illuminate the streets with its brilliant lights together with dazzling projections, combining with the festive music to create a romantic atmosphere.

The plaza in front of Cinderella’s Castle will glimmer with Christmas adornments as well as Christmas presents, Winnie the Pooh decorations, and more. Each themed land across the park will also be embellished in Christmas colours, bringing a merry little Christmas to the park.

Special Christmas Merchandise

Glass Set – ¥2,200 (Tax Included)

Around 65 special Disney Christmas themed items are set to go on sale from November 1, from glasses to cushions and more, all of which can be used for Christmastime at home. Featuring designs of the Disney characters, each item is sure to bring an air of that nostalgia we all feel at Christmas.

Christmas Food & Drink

Also available from November 1 is a very special Christmas menu made up of 15 dishes and drinks. There’s the seafood cream bread packed with melted cheese, a hot dog dressed in the colours of Christmas with its eye-catching red bun and white cheese, and more. There’s also a dish inspired by the Disney film Beauty and the Beast who are set to appear in the parade.

Enjoy a very merry Christmas this year at Tokyo Disneyland.

When travelling abroad, I find myself buying and taking back lots of different souvenirs for myself and my family. I look for those items that are made with each region’s particular materials and ingredients. By handing them out to people, I’m also sharing a little bit of that place with the people around me too.

Today I introduce to you the “Ise LuLuLun” face mask, a souvenir from the Japanese city of Ise that’s perfect for that one person we all know who’s into beauty and cosmetics.

The Ise LuLuLun is part of the popular “Tabi Suru LuLuLun” face mask series which sees limited edition face masks sold in different regions. The masks are made from an assortment of ingredients and plants. They are sold not just in Japan but around the world. Some of the variants to hit Japan have included Okinawa Shequasar and Shōdoshima Olive.

Ise Lululun is the first product in Japan to include extract of sakaki leaf which moisturises the skin. Sakaki is a flowering evergreen tree native to several Asian countries including Japan and is used as a symbol of longevity and vitality. The extract was made in cooperation with Ise City’s manufacturing and tourism department, making this a very special product indeed. The sakaki is used in various Shinto activities such as offering them to altars and household shrines. Ise itself is home to many sasaki trees from which the extract in the Ise Lululun is made. Its moisturising effect ensures the skin stays nice and moist.

Let’s get onto talking about what it’s like to use this product. I’ve used Lululun packs in the past, but the feature of the Ise Lululun is absolutely the fragrance it gives off. The instant you bring the mask to your face your nose is filled with a smell akin to a forest of trees. If you close your eyes it’s like you’re enveloped in nature. It gives you a feeling of peace and tranquillity. And the way it relaxes you is nothing short of incredible… It’s truly a gift and souvenir from Ise, bound with the air and scent of the city.

My face felt so smooth the day. I think I’ll definitely be using this again for special occasions.

The Ise Lululun is a fusion of the Ise spirit of “being thankful for and treasuring every day” and Lululun’s own spirit of being in high spirits and sound health. At the end of the day it made me hold my head high and say “thank you” to today. I was also warmed by the message written on the packaging (which you can see above).

If you plan a trip to Ise be sure to check out this exclusive beautifying item and maybe pick one up as a souvenir.

Writer: Sayuri Mizuno (ASOBISYSTEM)

Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s easy recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

Today, I will show you how to make wreath-shaped bread that is perfect for Christmas♡

1. Ingredients

250g bread flour

2 tsp yeast

2 tbsp icing sugar

1/2 tsp salt

50g unsalted butter

1/2 tsp matcha powder

1 egg (approx. 52g)

100ml lukewarm water

2.

Add the bread flour into the centre of a bowl. Add the sugar, yeast and matcha powder onto one side of the bowl as shown in the picture below. Crack and egg and add the salt onto the other side. Pour the lukewarm water  over the yeast and mix everything with a wooden spoon. When everything is combined add the unsalted butter and knead with your hands. Roll into a ball and leave to ferment.

☆It will take take about 30 minutes at 40℃

☆If you own an electric mixer or home bakery it’s perfectly fine to do everything up to now in a machine.

3.

Once the mix has risen, divide into three equal parts and leave again for about 15 minutes. Cover with cling film or a tea towel to ensure the mix doesn’t become dry. Afterwards, gently roll into a spherical shape as shown in the photo.

4.

Roll the mix into a long shape that spans about 50-60cm. Line all three up on their sides and begin to braid. Once this is complete, tie them up into a wreath shape and leave to ferment again.

☆It will take take 20-25 minutes at 40℃

Once the second fermentation is complete, cook at 180℃ for 7 minutes, then lower the temperature to 150℃ and cook for a further 7 minutes. The timings may differ depending on your oven so be sure to make any necessary adjustments.

5.

Leave to fully cool and tie a ribbon around it.

Sprinkle with icing sugar, add some Christmas decorations like the mistletoe picks below and you’re done. The Hello Kitty decorations are modelling chocolates.

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

The hugely popular sugar animal series is getting a Christmas version this year on Village Vanguard.

This is the Christmas Sugar Set thats include Santa Claus, a reindeer, snowman and Christmas tree. All of them are made to fit on the side of a teacup, making home parties even more fun and entertaining!

This is the snowman set which come with cute round eyes. Pop them onto the side of your cup along with the stars.

They make for a great Instagram post, so get your hands on a set while stocks last!

Starbucks Japan will release its third set of drinks in an ongoing series of Christmas themed beverages at the coffee chain. The new Pistachio Christmas Tree Frappuccino® cold beverage and Pistachio Christmas Tree hot beverage will be released on December 5.

Christmastime is fasting approaching in Japan―the lights sparkle and illuminate the streets and the holiday season vibe is growing. Seeing Christmas trees decorating people’s living rooms and dotted around outside is sure to elicit a mutual excitement with many people.

Pistachio Christmas Tree Frappuccino®: Tall ¥590 (Pre-Tax) *Tall size only

Pistachio Christmas Tree: Short ¥450 / Tall ¥490 / Grande ¥530 / Venti® ¥570 (Pre-Tax)

Starbucks have tried to capture that same feeling with their upcoming new Christmas tree-inspired drinks made with roasted pistachios and a rich, fragrant pistachio sauce. Topping both drinks is a red ribbon raspberry sauce. At the bottom of the frappuccino is a white and snowy whipped cream along with roasted academia nuts for added texture. The whipped cream too is mixed with the pistachio sauce. Its appearance truly reminds one of a Christmas tree.

The hot milk in the Pistachio Christmas Tree intensifies the flavour of the pistachios while warming both your heart and body. The Frappuccino® version is perfect with all kinds of customisation just like the hot beverages. It’s best enjoyed by creating your own when ordering – it’s like decorating a Christmas tree with ornaments.

The recommended customisation with the hot pistachio drink is an espresso shot. It creates an irresistible harmony with the roasted texture of the macadamia nuts and the texture of the pistachios. For the frappe, try the almond toffee syrup. It draws out the flavours of both types of nuts and creates a dessert-like taste. You should also try soy milk with either of these new drinks as it results in a richer flavour and highlights the pistachios even more.

Christmas is almost upon us so why not celebrate with one of Starbucks’ special seasonal selections?

TENOHA Christmas Fes 2018 at TENOHA DAIKANYAMA in Daikanyama, Tokyo began on November 22. There are lots of events to look forward to.

MIRRORBOWLER Presents TENOHA Christmas Fes 2018 HOLY LIGHTS ILLUMINATION
Running: November 22, 2018 – January 10, 2019 (Illumination Time: 16:00-23:00)
Japanese art group MIRRORBOWLER is in charge of TENOHA DAIKANYAMA’s illuminations this year, putting on a display that combines light and shadow. The myriad reflections and sparkly lights will speak to people’s hearts.

TENOHA Christmas Fes 2018 OPENING RECEPTION (*FINISHED)
Running: November 21, 2018 at 18:00-22:00 (Illumination Time: From 19:00)
The pre-festival opening day on November 21 saw a magical Christmas atmosphere created through lights and music. Food by popular chefs was prepared and there was live music and DJ performances. Special guests were also invited to the illumination ceremony.

＊Christmas Marche＊
Running: November 22, 2018 – November 25, 2018
The holiday season will be brightened by up the Christmas market in the courtyard which will sell ornaments, gifts, food and drink.

＆STYLE RESTAURANT – “Il Menu di S.T Natale da TENOHA X’mas” Christmas Course
Available: December 23, 2018 – December 25, 2018
Enjoy a Christmas dinner in the fancy &STYLE RESTAURANT where you can feast on international seasonal vegetables and a line-up of gorgeous food specially prepared by the chefs.

bondolfi boncaffē – Colourful Winter Mousse / 5 Colours (¥600 each)
Available: December 1, 2018 – December 25, 2018
bondolfi’s original colourful mousses will brighten up the winter. Available for the month of December, each mousse combines two flavours.

＆STYLE STORE
＊DECORATE＊
Running: November 21, 2018 – December 25, 2018
Over at the &STYLE STORE they will sell a whole range of Xmas ornaments. Find your favourite!

＊GIFT＊
Running: December 1, 2018 – December 25, 2018
Christmas Wrapping: December 22, 2018 – December 25, 2018
The &STYLE STORE will also stock a whole range of gifts for men, women and children. Each item has its own story and can’t be found anywhere else.

＆STYLE STORE – Christmas Window Installations
For 2018, the TENOHA &STYLE STORE will have Christmas window installations with a holy tinge to them, recreating the world of a girl in her dreams is both gorgeous and cute. When you knock on the window door you can enjoy a captivating light performance.

There are many other events happening at this year’s TENOHA Christmas Fes too, so head to Daikanyama for a Christmas to remember full of beautiful illuminations, fun and exciting experiences and delicious food.

Japan Post have released a range of new Doraemon themed Christmas and New Year merchandise on their official website.

The items are part of a popular line of merchandise called Premium Doraemon based on the lovable robot cat himself. The line-up features a whole new variation of merchandise that can be used during Christmastime or for the New Year’s holidays.

This includes everyday-use mugs, zaisu chairs, themed plates for the holiday season, and much more. Designs even include a cute Doraemon dressed as Santa Claus.

Santa Doraemon Figure: ¥1,800 (Tax Included) *1,500 available

Here we see Doraemon donning an adorable Santa Claus outfit. He even has a little white beard!

Christmas Wreath: ¥3,000 (Tax Included) *300 available

A cute Christmas-y wreath featuring Santa Doraemon surrounded by his secret gadgets.

Christmas Plate Set: ¥2,400 (Tax Included) *500 available

Furnish your Christmas dinner table with these decorative plates featuring Doraemon and his secret gadgets.

Doraemon Zaisu Chair: ¥10,000 (Tax Included) *1,000 available

Sit on the floor with this cute zaisu style chair or fold it down and lay flat to sleep together with Doraemon!

Kagami Mochi Doraemon Figure

Here we have Doraemon as a white kagami mochi figure with an orange atop his noggin!

There are plenty of other fun and useful Doraemon-inspired items to get your hands on too for Christmas and the New Year, so be sure to check out JP Post’s official website!

With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s easy recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

In this character recipe you will learn how to make a “Pompompurin Steamed  Cheese Bread” (labeled CHEESE STEAM UP BREAD).

Did you know that recently decorating a “steamed cheese bread” is the in thing to be doing right now? So, in this recipe I will explain about how to decorate a steamed cheese bread in a Christmas fashion.

1：Ingredients

1 steamed cheese bread

1 sheet of nori (dried seaweed)

Chocolate plastic

Red coloring powder

2：

Trace an illustration of your favorite character onto a baking sheet. I chose Pompompurin. Next, I thought it would be cute to indent the face and highlight the ears so I cut out these parts from the baking sheet.

3：

Next, place the face cutout onto the surface of the cheese bread and cut the bread in line with the cutout. Remove this part and set it aside. This part will be used to make the ears and hands. The surface below the removed part might be a bit uneven so using the back end of a chopstick make this area flat.

4：

Turn over the removed part and flatten this surface using the back end of a chopstick. Place the ear cutout onto the surface and cut the ears out. Using the remaining part cut out some round hands.

5：Color the plastic chocolate red and form the hat and boots. Using the white plastic chocolate, add the white parts. Using a puncher, cut out the eyes, nose and mouth from the laver seaweed.

Place all of these parts on the surface of the cheese bread, and voila, your “Pompompurin Steamed Cheese Bread” is complete.

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series!

Please check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

The second round of Starbucks Japan’s Christmas drinks will arrive in the form of the new White Chocolate Snow Frappuccino® and White Chocolate Snow.

These two wintertime beverages are inspired by snow falling on Christmas Day to warm the hearts of people this holiday season. A line-up of limited edition sparkly merchandise as well as desserts and food will also be sold.

White Chocolate Snow: Short ¥440/Tall ¥480/Grande ¥520/Venti® ¥560 (Pre-Tax)

White Chocolate Snow Frappuccino®: Tall ¥580 (Tall Size Only / Pre-Tax)

At the core of many people’s heart during this time is the image of a White Christmas. Starbucks’ two new snowy beverages aims to light that seasonal vibe in people and evoke those Christmas memories.

The drinks are topped with white chocolate sauce, marshmallows and whipped cream to create piled-up snow, and the silver dragees are coated with shiny silver leaf to look like sparkly snowflakes. Both beverages are like White Christmas in a cup, combining white chocolate and milk to create a rich, comforting flavour.

Strawberry Gradation Cake: ¥460 (Pre-Tax)

In the run up to Christmas, the temperature gets gradually colder, one step at a time. The Strawberry Gradation Cake is the perfect coffee time accompaniment, layered with different sections of strawberry to warm your heart.

Chicken & Tomato Soy Cream Bread Gratin: ¥460 (Pre-Tax)

There’s also the crunchy bread gratin cooked in a stove furnace and filled with a soy milk tomato cream, roast chicken, pumpkin, broccoli, red paprika and cheese.

Feel that comforting vibe that only Christmas can give you season with Starbucks’ special new menu line-up.

BACON are a company known for holding the Sleeping Cat Exhibition earlier this year, a popular photography exhibition that saw 500,000 people in attendance. Now they are set to hold a miniature Christmas exhibition from November 30 to December 25 at TODAYS GALLERY STUDIO in Tokyo.

The exhibition will see Koruha, who has over 70,000 followers on Instagram, as well as tole painter Enchanter appear for the first time, amongst others. Returning this year will be Rikko who boasts more than 50,000 followers on Instagram and 1/87 no Teihen Salary Man in addition to a range of other creators also popular online.

This year will see a range of winter inspired pieces in addition to a line-up of miniature 3D designs. Most pieces on display will also be available to purchase. Popular creator Hikarinohana who is known for creating miniature food is also set to sell a range of limited edition Christmas items.

The first 3,000 people to turn up to the event will also receive an original Christmas card.

Each and every piece on display is painstakingly handcrafted down to the finest of details to look like the original thing. Originally it was going to be an exhibition of just miniature items, but photos will also be displayed at the exhibition.

The exhibition promises to feel like you are really lost in a miniature world. Photos are permitted at the entire event too.

There will also be a special corner decked out with miniature fruits, taiyaki and more created by Sweet Palette nana. A video will be shown for the very first time showcasing how the food is made.

K.C. Factory have created a range of new pieces too all fitted with illuminations including a Christmas tree.

Enter the world of a miniature Christmas this year at TODAYS GALLERY STUDIO!

The luxury hotel Grand Hyatt Tokyo that towers over the bustling city has announced a new hot drink for this year’s cold weather as well as bright red cocktails to capture the colours of the holiday season.

The Oak Door is Grand Hyatt’s steak house where they serve fresh ingredients prepared in a dynamic way. For this year’s festive period, it has created hot chocolates made with espresso and topped with expressive marshmallow men. They go perfectly with The Oak Door’s homemade almond cinnamon rolls.

The Oak Door

Item: Winter Hot Chocolate – ¥1,600 (Tax Included, Service Charge Separate)

Serving Period: November 23, 2018 –  January 31, 2019
Serving Hours: Lunch 11:30-14:30 (until 15:00 on weekends & holidays) / Afternoon 15:00-17:00 / Dinner 18:00-22:00

The Oak Door is also a place where people can enjoy a wide range of wines and cocktails. There’s a new Christmas cocktail this year, a sweet and sour combination of a blackberry and raspberry based liqueur and champagne. You can feel that Christmas vibe even just looking at it.

The Oak Door

Item: Berry Amor – ¥1,800 (Tax Included, Service Charge Separate)

Serving: December 16, 2018 – December 25, 2018
Serving hours: 11:30-00:30
TEL: 03-4333-8784

Maduro, the hotel’s jazz lounge, has also prepared a range of cocktails made with fruit grown in Japan. These include cocktails made with “Sky berry” brand strawberries from Tochigi Prefecture, cocktails mixed with champagne, sangria and more. Enjoy a Christmas red cocktail while listening to some live music.

Maduro
・Sky Berry Sangria – ¥2,300

・Sky Berry Mohito – ¥2,300

・Leonardo – ¥2,500

(Tax Included, Service Charge Separate)

Serving Time: December 1, 2018 – January 31, 2019

Serving Hours: 19:00-01:00 (until 02:00 on Fridays & Saturdays)
TEL: 03-4333-8783
*A separate fee for the music bar will be charged at ¥2,000 (pre-tax) from 20:00

Treat yourself and indulge in Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s special Christmas menu this holiday season.