Starbucks Japan 'Sakura' series

SAKURA White Chocolate

 Sakura series will be back to STARBUCKS JAPAN again!

   

I can't help loving those adorable pink goodies!


and, I'm interesting in SAKURA Chiffon Cake very very much!

Crazy for TOFU.

As you know, Japanese people love Tofu.
and, We have unique culture...

Check out Gundam Tofu.

and OTOKOMAE（means handsome guy） TOFU is my favorite.

Haha! I adore those lovely package design!

KYARABEN /DECOBEN- Decorated BENTO

Hi How are you doing?
In Japan, Autumn has begun! I felt the chill of early morning in the air.
I love this season. Yay! Just  because Japanese summer is too humid for me. so, I feel relieved right now.

Anyway, It's good season to make BENTO.
Decorated Bento 'KYARABEN/DECOBEN' would be fun to make.
also, It could be a good way to interest picky kids to healthy food.

Let's take a look!

PANDA!

Hello Kitty!

via HAPPY DAYS

super mario brothers.

via 短時間でかわいいキャラ弁当

CHANEL

Halloween

via キャラ弁倶楽部

and on youtube.

OMG! They are too cute to eat. I can't eat them!!!
but it's fun to see! Don't you think?


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Yes! We Love SAKURA!

Nothing can ever take the place SAKURA from Japanese people.

Yes, We Love SAKURA.

Still It's way too early to see SAKURA (cherry blossoms) in Japan though, I found this one when I was working around in the grocery store.

Sakura flavored milk tea!

「紅茶花伝(KOCHA KADEN)」is a popular bland of Royal milk tea by Japan Coca-Cola.

and This SAKURA flavored royal milk tea sold only in the Spring!

What does this drink taste like? ahh, I feel like to say it is like a fresh cherry.  It's not too sweet, not too strong. It gives a delicate aroma. Tasty~♪

Anyway, Spring is coming!!!

Las Vegas Burger from Japanese Mcdonald's

Do you remember I posted about Grand Canyon Burger?

I show you Las Vegas Burger this time!

I don't know what exactly Las Vegas is and how that Burger supposed to be.. but, it was yummy! also it's fun!

It's interesting that Japanese people are so into America.
Yes, of corse, I am too!
Next is Broadway Burger.  I will have to check out!!!

Funny Crazy Japan!

Hoping that 2012 will treat you, your loved ones and the world super well♡

I cannot believe that it is already 2012! Time really flies... I totally do not know how I got here!!!

On New Year's day, my friends and I went to Hatsumode (初詣・はつもうで - the first shrine visit of the year) in Kyoto and we found a very funny drink vending machine on a train platform...!!! You see vending machines everywhere in Japan and, additionally, they have hot drinks during winter! So nice, huh?? Even though it is easy to find vending machines here, this one was very unique!

What do you think?? ... kinda gross!? haha

You can buy a can of しるこ (sweet red bean soup), みそ汁 (Miso soup) and コーンポタージュ (corn potage soup) for 120 yen, 1.5 USD each! Though, I did not buy any of them... I was too timid and had no courage to try them... yes, this is not a daily thing even for me! None of my friends tried them either!

Please let me know how delicious they are if you ever try them!!! :)

Mcdonald's Japan 'Grand Canyon Burger'

Mcdonald's Japan 'Big American Burger' series are back!

However, I usually don't eat Junk food very much since I do cook a lot at home, I was waiting for this limited burger!

Yes, I'm lovin' it.

I have visited Grand Canyon once, it was beautiful, huge, scary, magnificent and wordless!　As you know, Camera is no good taking nature photo.

@ Grand Canyon

Anyway, I ate Grand Canyon Burger at Mcdonalds today.

It's almost the same size as a Big Mac Burger.

I'm not sure how Grand Canyon supposed to taste like, well I think Grand Canyon Burger was fun and I'm pretty full with Big sized burger!

I think it's kind of expensive though...

Grand Canyon Burger : 420 yen

Grand Canyon Burger set : 740 yen　（It's about $10!!! ）

End of this month, Las vegas Burger is coming up. In February, Broadway Burger, and in March, Biverly Hills Burger will be release. 

I'm curious to taste those burgers...

Doragon Quest Slime NIKUMAN(Steamed pork bun)

Have you ever played Dragon Quest RPG game? Did you like it? If 'Yes' You know about this.

Heeeey!! Slime!!!!

It's shaped Dragon Quest's Slime, NIKUMAN (pork steamed bun).

Isn't it Cute??? 

I bought this at Family Mart convenience store.

Slime NIKUMAN is 170yen. it's kind of expensive since normal NIKUMAN is 110yen at Family Mart. Well, It's fine.  

Let's eat!

'I eat you up!'

ahhhh.

Honestly, It is adorable, but not so tasty..

I think blue color made me lost my appetite... Hmmmmm..

Well, That's OK. I enjoyed!

Omiyage

Konnichiwa! Hello! Hola! Bonjour!

Since childhood, I almost always buy some Omiyage (gift/souvenir) whenever I travel somewhere. What do you usually buy for Omiyage and for whom? I think Japan has a pretty unique Omiyage style. Omiyage here often will be edible something to share with families, friends, classmates, coworkers or/and (!!!) neighbors. Yes, people sometimes buy a lot to share with a large group of people!

The edible Omiyage is usually local specialty products with a particular region. And plus, it is preferred to be in a nice box, and make it more perfect if they were wrapped individually then it makes much easier to share with a bunch of people. Now you see CHA NO KA which I mentioned before is perfect for Omiyage! What do you think about our Omiyage culture in Japan so far?

When my friends and I took a trip to California, my friends were having a very tough time to find the edible Omiyage there even though we went to Disney Land! I think you know what I mean if you know Disney Land in Japan. The gift shops in Japan's Disney Land are always super crowded and of course, they have nice and perfect Omiyage in kawaii (cute) boxes. The Omiyage business in Japan is very big! My friends were very busy looking for Japanese style Omiyage in the US till the last. They were saying like, "One more thing to buy. Just need some edible Omiyage in a nice box!" Luckily, they found a nice box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts... the box said "USA". Yes, it was so funny but my friends were happy that finally they were able to buy boxed Omiyage!

I am not that a big Omiyage shopper compared to others, but I like to buy some for my family, friends and myself. I often swap Omiyage with my friends too. It is fun to imagine the place where you have not been yet! And it is yummy to taste, of course!

Enjoy some Omiyage that I got from my friends now :)

Candy from 鳥取 (Tottori) where a Japanese famous manga (Japanese comics) artist, Shigeru Mizuki is from. So the candy has his character faces on each! How cute!

Specially blended Coffee from 滋賀 (Shiga) where has a famous mascot called ひこにゃん (Hikonyan)!

Kewpie doll from 愛媛 (Ehime) where is famous for 松山城 (Matsuyama castle)!

You can enjoy more Kewpie dolls with tubuko DX :)

Kyoto + Green Tea = ...♡

Konnichiwa! Hello! Hola! Bonjour!

When you think about Japan, I believe many people think of Kyoto and green tea. Am I right?! Of course, I love both of them and a friend of mine taught me about a great thing that is heavily involved with them. Plus, it is so delicious!

Yes, cookies!!!

(langue de chat, white chocolate sandwiched between two of them)

They are called 茶の菓 (CHA NO KA) in Japanese.

茶 (CHA) is a Chinese character for tea, and 菓 (KA) means sweets or pastries. の is a Hiragana (Japanese character) and means "of" in this situation.

They say they use special お濃茶 (OKOICHA) which means strong green tea for the cookies.

My friends say these cookies are very popular and famous but I have never had them until the friend suggested me to try some. Thank you my friend!

Though, I know some people can not take green tea... if you are the one of them, I am sorry... I have heard some people were saying that eating green tea something is like eating grass and make them feel like being horses... I totally understand. It is not easy to understand other cultures but I think that is why it is fun!

In addition, the package of the cookies is so gorgeous!

This is perfect for Omiyage (gift/souvenir) to someone special too.

Actually, I brought a box of 茶の菓 for my French friend the other day and she was so amazed by the package and everything!

Their web site says their cookies are very popular in Paris too. So if you are from around there, you might heard of them before!?

They have an online shopping website, but they do not ship to outside of Japan unfortunately...

So, if you are in Japan or planning to visit, please try some or buy some for an Omiyage! But be careful... since it is really good, it is very difficult to eat a little... that happened to me! I could not help popping them into my mouth!

茶の菓