Melon-Pan (5)

This is a melon pan from am/pm store.

Melon pan

Price is 105 yen.  (392 kcal)

The cookie dough is very crunchy, but the inside is soft and fluffy.

[Melon-pan list]

• Seven-Eleven
• LAWSON
• CircleK Sunks
• Kobeya

Melon-Pan (4)

This is a freshly baked melon-pan from KOBEYA (Fresh Bakery by KOBEYA).

KOBEYA is one of the biggest bread-making company after Yamazaki Baking Company, Shikijima Baking Company (known as "Pasco" brand), and Fuji Baking Company.

Melon pan

168 yen  (295 kcal)

This melon-pan is a bit smaller than one from convenience stores.  But, the taste and texture are much better.

Fresh Bakery KOBEYA will celebrate its 91 anniversary on this Friday, November 6.  The 100 yen voucher will be given when you purchase bread at a store.

Also, all breads will be 20% off on November 13.


[Melon-pan list]

• Seven-Eleven
• LAWSON
• CircleK Sunks

Sun Tsugaru Apple

Tsugaru (sun tsugaru) is one of the tasty early apples.  It is very juicy, not too sours, and texture is soft.

It is originally produced (hybrid Golden Delicious and Jonathan) at Aomori lab in 1930.  And Tsugaru was named in 1973.

Sun Tsugaru

average price is 100 yen

Season:  mid August to mid September
Best to eat: mid September

Tokyo Is Bakery Paradise!

Tokyo is a center of quality bakeries.  There are so many bakeries including internationally renowned stores, and its number is expanding each year.

Le Petit Mec is opened April 2009 as a part of remodeling of Marui Honkan in Shinjuku.

Le Petit Mec's home store is in Kyoto, and this Tokyo brunch is opened as the third store.  (Two are in Kyoto, and one is in Tokyo.)

Baguettes

262 yen each

The signatures are baguette, campagne and croissant.

They are baked with traditional french recipe.

Apple Tart Fin

315 yen

This apple tart is so good!

[Le Petit Mec TOKYO]

3-30-13 Shinjuku Marui Honkan 1F

Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo

Le Petit Mec is on the Shinjuku street.

Best Hit burger at McDonald's Japan

McDonald's Japan brought back its Japanese original burger, Chicken-Tatsuta from September 25 until October 15, 2009 as a part of "NIPPON ALL STARS" promotion.

However, this limited time offer hit so well and sold out earlier than it had planned. (The offer ended in October 10.)

Chicken Tatsuta

Price: 300 - 320 yen

Therefore, the company decided to resale Chicken Tatsuta between mid-December and early January 2010. It's a good news for those who missed it.

Dessert TOFU?

TOFU is a perfect food for health conscious people.

There are so many kinds of TOFU in Japan.
Recently I found very interesting TOFU.  It is soft-boiled Tofu, named KINARI.

KINARI by Minosuke TOFU

Price: 250 yen

(This is sold only at ISETAN-SHINJUKU store.)

The texture is very soft like a pudding.  It is made of aomame (blue color soy bean) and used small amount of bittern.  That's why it is called soft-boiled Tofu.

Price is a bit expensive, but all ingredients are domestic.
It was soooo good!!!  I will definitely buy this again.

Too bad, no Tokyo Olympic 2016

This is a photo of Tokyo Tower before the Olympic host city was chosen.

UNIQLO X Jil Sander

The UNIQLO's newest line, +J is the collaboration with Jil Sander.  It started to sell clothes from today.

Pricing is very reasonable.  For example, wool coat is only 12,900 yen.

Most shirts and skirts are at 3,990 yen.

These items are sold at selected stores.

Celebrating 100th anniversary after named Yamanote-sen

The most popular train in Tokyo, Yamanote-sen (or Yamanote-line) was named 100 years ago.

There are 29 stations within Yamanote-line.
And it covers most sightseeing spots in Tokyo such as Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Yurakucho(Ginza), and Akihabara.

Some special events are started from today.  (For detail, get this brochure at stations.)

The special limited train pass, Yamanote-sen pass is selling at 480 yen.  It is a free pass within the yamanote-line and only used on weekend and holidays in October.

Yamanote Train Watch

For train maniacs, this is next item for your wishing list!

LED WATCH is a digital list watch that is reproduced the electric display of yamanote line in Tokyo.  Yes, the electric display in the platform.  There are four types; Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Shinagawa versions.  (The name of four major train stations.)


The display shows time and calendar by switching the text message.
Time will be displayed when the text is appeared as  "Denshya ga mairimasu  (The train is coming)."  And, you can check calendar by switching the message to "Denshya ga tsukashimasu (The train is passing)."


This product is sold at Narita International airport (Termainal 1), TiCTAC shop.  The shop is located on 4th floor of central building.

The price is 25,200 yen.

Yakiimo (Baked sweet potato)

It's getting cooler everyday in Tokyo. Fall is a good season for those who love eating!

Around this time, stores start selling the new crop of sweet potatoes. Three major kinds of sweet potatoes which are good for Yakiimo are BENIAZUMA, NARUTOKINTOKI(or KINTOKI), and BENIOTOME.

Yakiimo is a popular snack for fall and winter. You might find a mini truck that sells this sweet snack. (the average price is 100 yen per 100g.)

Or you can bake your own Yakiimo at home!

It's easy. Just put a sweet potato into oven at 250℃ for 30 minutes.

Stylish Trains in Japan

I'm not a train geek, but I found interesting magazine articles.

The men's culture magazine, Pen featured Japanese trains on June 15th issue.

It's far from Tokyo, but there are many stylish trains in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) area!

TSUBAME, JR Kyushu Shinkansen (Bullet train), was introduced in 2004. Interior of TSUBAME is Japanese classic modern coordinated with black and dark red.

It runs between Shin-Yatsushiro and Kagoshima-Chuo. (For detail, visit the official site here.)

SONIC (883), a limited express that operated by JR Kagoshima-Honsen, is corrdinated with futuristic interior. Metallic car deck and leather seats are somehow matching well.

RELAY TSUBAME is a major stylish train in Kyushu that won many design awards.

It's like a classic hotel lounge. Green car is even more luxurious.

Wentworth Miller Loves Ramen

Prison Break star, Wentworth Miller ate this noodle when he visited in Japan.

(He added toppings of boiled egg and green onion. Price is 850 yen.)

Oishii Ramen (means yammy ramen) is 650 yen (after 21:00, 700 yen) and 100 yen for each toppings.

The name of noodle shop is DOTONBORI KAMUKURA at Shinjuku.

The ramen chains, originally based in Osaka.

Soy source based clear soup and Chinese cabbage are uniqueness of KAMUKURA's ramen.

DOTONBORI KAMUKURA (Shinjuku)

1-14-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku

Hours: 11:00 - 32:00 (8:00 AM)

*You have to buy a ticket from vending machine outside of the noodle shop.

Classic Hakata Noodle

If you want to eat a classic Hakata noodle, ICHIRAN is the best place!

Hakata noodle:

Signature noodle in Hakata, Fukuoka prefecture. Noodle is thin and straight.

Soup is pork based (Tonkotsu).

ICHIRAN offers only one kind of ramen at 650 yen. But you can customize your bowl by filling in a order sheet. For detail, check this.

And, the uniqueness of ICHIRAN is that all seats are divided like private room. So you can focus on eating your noodle.

ICHIRAN (Roppongi/Near station)

Roppongi GM Bldg 2F

4-11-11 Roppongi Minato-ku

Hours: 11:00AM - 6:00AM

ICHIRAN (Shibuya/Next to OIOI JAM)

Iwamoto Bldg B1F

1-22-7 Jinnan Shibuya-ku

Hours: 24 hours

The Most Satisfied Place In Tokyo

According to the research done by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, about 5,340,000 people visited Tokyo in 2008.

And, Shinjuku was selected as the most satisfied spot in Tokyo!

(Survey was collected from foreign travelers.)

The most satisfied place in Tokyo:

Shinjuku (16.7%)

Asakusa (10.1%)

Ginza (7.5%)

*Shibuya is also popular among Europeans, Americans, and Australians.

*Odaiba is also popular among Asians.

The purpose of trip:

Shopping (40.2%)

Explore (35.7%)

Night view (33.4%)

What did they eat?

Sushi (65.7%)

Ramen, Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ), Izakaya (Japanes style pub) are also good!

And, don't forget to try Japanese sweets! Or go to the basment of department stores, where food floor is located.

Tully's 12th Anniversary

Tully's Coffee Japan will celebrate its 12th anniversary on August 7, 2009.

The first Tully's store in Japan opened in Ginza in 1997.

Now, there are over 300 outlets in Japan.

To celebrate the anniversary, special beverages will be introduced in August 3.

Annin (almond jelly) Swirkle

Short: 390 yen (182 kcal)

Tall: 440 yen (212 kcal)

Grande: 490 yen (300 kcal)

Enrome: 550 yen (370 kcal)

Illy In A Can

　

Illy issimo; the new ready-to-drink beverage brand that was introduced as the result of a partnership between illy and The Coca-Cola Company, is now available in Japan.

Currently, two flavors are sold. Caffee (Espresso) and Latte Macchiato.

They were first introduced in Tokyo on June 22. The design of bottle is a bit different from International versions.

Price is 190 yen. (190g)

Peach Season

Now is the best season to eat peach! Enjoy the juicy fruit during July and August.

Peach Parfait at TAKANO Fruit Parlor.

1470 yen

Peach parfait is the seasonal menu from July 1 to August 31.

White peach produced in Okayama prefecture (origin of white peach) is the best ever.

Calbee: Special Chips

Calbee SPECIAL SALT

128 yen

(Only available in convenience stores.)

This special flavor uses french rock salt. Also, the seasoning of onion, kelp and japanese mushroom are added as secret ingredients.

This chips are for gourmet people who want to enjoy UMAMI flavor.

Vietnam Lunch

Vietnam Alice's lunch time is from 11:00 to 16:00.

Regular lunch comes with appetizers, main (the choice of noodle or rice dish menu), and vietnam coffee.

The appetizers are served in cute baskets.

Vietnam coffee is sweet but tasty.

[Vietnam Alice - Ginza]

Marronie Gate 11F,

2-2-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku Tokyo

[Vietnam Alice - Shinjuku]

Shinjuku LUMINE 1, 7F

1-1-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku

Tokyo

Bread: Cheddar Cheese

If you are hungry, cheddar cheese bread (soft french bread with cheddar cheese chunks) is perfect for your appetite.

ANDERSEN's cheddar cheese bread.

Price is 399 yen.

It is so good when the bread is fresh out of oven!

Cute Cafe at AO

Sweet french style theme interior in cafe table TERRACE.

Pasta lunch includes small salad with bread, a choice of pasta, and drink.

Price is 1,300 yen. (Add 300 yen for additional dessert.)

A serving glass is also cute.

[cafe table TERRACE]

AO building 3F

3-11-7 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku

Tokyo 107-0061

Hour: 11:00 - 23:00

(Lunch: 11:00 - 15:00)

Other dinning places in AO:

[TWO ROOMS GRILL/BAR]

Black Sesame Anpan

Black sesame Anpan (Kurogoma Anpan) is a different kind of Anpan (Japanese sweet bun with read bean paste filling).

This is from Italian famous deli "PECK" in Japan.

Price is 158 yen.

Ogura-Cream France

Ogura-cream france is a different variation of Milk france.

Ogura is sweetened red beans paste, and it is used a lot for Japanese sweets (wagashi).

The combination of ogura and butter cream goes well with soft french bread! Even it is better if warming up in a oven.

Creative Outdoor Ad (2)

Another station poster at Shinjuku is the announcement of 10th anniversary of Raffine (reflexology salon chains).

Raffine collaborated with Hello Kitty and made cute stickers that could be used as coupon.

The coupon offers a 525 yen discount.

Offer will end on August 31!

Creative Outdoor Ad

The station poster for COTTON USA is fun.

The poster is covered with the peel-off supplements. And it will be unveiled one by one after supplements are took off.

This type of ad was introduced some years ago, but still eye catchy method.

Close shot of the supplements. There are magnet stickers.

Beautiful Toilet

One of the most like about Japan is probably toilet.

It is clean, innovative, art and relaxing!

TOTO and INAX are two major toilet makers in Japan. Especially, TOTO has the biggest market share; 50 percent.

Melon-Pan (3)

CircleK Sunkus' melon-pan is a bit sweet.

Softness and crunchy texture are similar to LAWSON's.

CircleK Sunkus' original bakery brand had been introduced two years ago.

Price is 105 yen. (349 kcal)

[Melon-pan list]

• Seven-Eleven
• LAWSON

1 Night 1 Million Yen!!!

Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo finally unveiled the most gorgeous and expensive suite room.

The presidential suite is about 270 square meters, and five times bigger than a regular guestroom.

Very nice room!

But, the room rate is 1,000,000 yen per night.

Hydrangea

Ajisai (hydrangea) is the rainy season's flower.

The blooming season is from May to July.

It is said that flower (actually calyx) turns blue if acid soil. And it turns red if alkaline soil.

Meigetsuin temple, known as Ajisai temple, is famous Ajisai spot in Kamakura.

[Meigetuin temple]

189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura

Kanagawa

10 minutes from JR Kita-kamakura station.

Hours: 9:00 - 16:00 (8:30 - 17:00 in June)

Entrance fee: 500 yen in June (other months: 300 yen)