Matcha has exploded in popularity worldwide, and Kyoto needs no introduction. But whether you have newly come to like Matcha or are an old fan from before the boom, Uji is the place to go, and well worth braving the Kyoto crowds. Uji has been a center of green tea production for centuries, and my dusty 1935 book on the history of tea affords it pride of place, describing it in detail, indicating it was known to America as a famous matcha center even in the first half of the 20th century. 2026 isn't 1935, and there's considerably more ice cream than there used to be, to say nothing of foreign visitors. But there is a core of authentic continuity there that continues to serve locally made tea, and its hard to beat the flavor. As a plus, the area is quite beautiful, with notable historical sites like the Byodoin temple, and a peaceful atmosphere. I always feel happier after having visited, so it has become a repeat destination for me.

Taken on July 26, 26. This is the salt caramel banana basque cheesecake, ice cream, and original chai from LEC COFFEE.

Taken on July 26, 2026. This is ice cream from LEC COFFEE. 🍨

Taken on July 26, 2026. This is Enmusubi Red and White Soft Drink and Enmusubi Wind Chime Cider.

Today, I explored Kawagoe for the Kawagoe Hyakuman-tō Natsu Matsuri. Due to the intense heat, I took a break right away. This is the red and white soft serve ice cream for matchmaking.

Wagashi, the world of traditional Japanese confections, has a great variety of individual treats, each with their devoted fans. Broadly generalizing, it may be said that they feature anko(red bean paste) as often as not, and invariably go well with green tea. Monaka sandwiches anko between two crispy rice crackers, while Taiyaki is a similarly crispy batter made into a distinctive fish shape, again with anko inside. These are perhaps two of the most famous Wagashi. Monaka has inspired a variety of monaka-style ice cream sandwiches you can find in any convenience store, and Taiyaki is unforgettable as the snack that looks like a fish. A similar snack with even longer roots is more of a no-nonsense round cake, fluffier than Taiyaki, chewier and thicker. Its delicious and filling, but perhaps the most noteworthy thing about it is what it is or isn't named. The pictured round delicious treat has not been able to settle on a single name across the country. In Kanto, where most visitors may gravitate, it is known as Imagawayaki. Outside the capital region, you may be more likely to hear Obanyaki, a name evidently spreading out from Shikoku. In Osaka and Kyushu, it may be called Kaiten-yaki, Taiko-yaki, or Taiko-manju. In Hyogo the -yaki convention is entirely discarded, and it is widely known as Gozasoro, the term almost universally used in Himeji. Incredibly, these don't count for half the known names for this snack. This makes for a fun game when you see at at festival stalls or in market streets travelling across Japan. What name will it have when you find it?

Introducing Our Sponsors: The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest have been announced, and we presented prizes to each winner. This Teshikaga Photo Contest is held with the support of businesses located in Teshikaga. On the official Teshikaga Navi Instagram, we will gradually introduce the sponsoring companies who have supported us. (In no particular order) Today, we are pleased to introduce Deshigakashiinko Co., Ltd., the operator of Lake Mashu Kamuy Terrace and Iozan MOKMOK Base! For more detailed facility information, please check Teshikaga Navi. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Deshigakashiinko Co., Ltd. for their cooperation with this event. We hope you will continue to support the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga Navi. https://www.masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/masyuresthouse/...

Photographed on January 26, 2014. A cafe latte from cafe andon, an apple pie, and soft-serve ice cream from forest ranch.

Photographed on January 26, 2014. This is an apple pie from cafe andon and soft-serve ice cream from forest ranch.

Photographed on December 15, 2025. cafe andon’s café latte and a Tangy Red Apple (Kogyoku) apple pie.

Photographed on December 15, 2025. This is “Kogyoku Apple Pie with Shinrin no Bokujo Farm Soft Serve” from CAFE ANDON. It also contains my favorite cinnamon. 😊

🍁Autumn Flavors Model Course🍁 ◽️– Moat Area, Southern Section –◽️ The season for hearty appetites has finally arrived! ୨୧😊୨୧ Sakai’s Moat Area is home not only to sightseeing spots but also to many shops offering autumn sweets made with fluffy chestnuts, sweet potatoes and pumpkin, as well as mushroom dishes featuring matsutake. 🌰🍱💛 Here is a short model course for enjoying autumn cuisine and attractions in the Moat Area’s southern section. ⋆⸜ ⚘ ⸝⋆ 📍"A Route Tracing Rikyu’s Connections and Autumn Flavors (Southern Section)" ① Sakai Rishō no Mori (@rishonomori) ↓ ② 868 Building (@hachirokuhachi) ↓ ③ Savor Seasonal Autumn Flavors🌰✨ ・Mimiu Sakai (shrimp and mushroom tempura soba) ・BLUE KETTLE (baked sweets: sweet potato, chestnut, pumpkin) ・Ume no Hana Sakai Rishō no Mori branch (special autumn kaiseki) ↓ ④ Nanshu-ji Temple 🔍For details, search "Spotlight on Seasonal Autumn Flavors"! 🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/96... https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/96...

🍂Autumn Flavors Model Course🍂 🔸— Moat Area, North —🔸 The season for hearty appetites has finally arrived! ❊😊❊ Sakai’s Moat Area is full of shops offering not only tourist attractions but also sweets made with freshly roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin, plus autumn gourmet dishes featuring matsutake and other mushrooms. 🌰🤎 Here is a short model course (Moat Area, North) to enjoy autumn flavors and sightseeing⋆⸜ ⚘ ⸝⋆ 📍"Ironworking History and Autumn Flavors Course" 1. Sakai Denshokan ( @sakaidensan ) ↓ 2. SAKAINOMA PLAZA Yanagi ( @sakainoma ) ↓ 3. Savor the Season’s Autumn Flavors🌰✨ ・Tsuboichi Tea Main Shop ( @saryo.tsuboichi — chestnut parfait ) ・Rosier Yanagi ( @rosier_fruits — autumn selected mixed parfait ) ・Zelkova Shokudo ( @zelkova_shokudo — healthy lunch ) ・Asahido Confectionery ( best in Senshu ) ・Sorori ( @__sorori__ — Naruto Kintoki sweet potato ) ↓ 4. Teppou Blacksmith Residence ( @sakaimachiyamuseums ) 🔍Search for "Savor the Season’s Autumn Flavors Special" for details! 🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/96... https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/96...

Moncher × Gokase Grapes 🍇 I visited the Gokase grape collaboration now on sale at Moncher Seasons in Hakata Hankyu.✨ The cakes displayed in the showcase looked as delicious as they sounded… 🍰 A kind staff member showed me the cakes made with Gokase grapes. 👀 They said the collaboration has been widely promoted, and some customers come specifically for the cakes featuring Gokase grapes. 😆 I tried the soft-serve made with Campbell Early grapes. 🍦 The soft-serve wasn’t overly sweet, and the aroma of Campbell Early gently spread through it, making it perfect for this still-warm season. 😍 The cakes using Gokase grapes are scheduled to be sold through the end of September. 💡 Be sure to visit Moncher Seasons on the B1 level of Hakata Hankyu. 😊

Photographed on September 1, 25. This is CAFE ANDON's coffee jelly sundae. The bittersweetness of the coffee jelly enhances the sweetness of the ice cream.

Isshito Garden Cafe Let me introduce a pâtisserie with a café near Satsunai Station🍰 Their soft-serve is incredibly rich! The photo shows the standard type, but their “Crunchy Nut Cream Puff Soft-Serve” is also popular here✨ Customers praise the contrast between the toasty nut crunch and the creamy soft-serve! The ongoing “Soft-Serve Rally” is now in its final stretch. There’s still time to join🍦 If you visit the Satsunai area, be sure to drop by!

It’s been hot lately 😵 On days like this, I recommend the “Hasu Soft Serve”❗️ The soft serve, faintly green from lotus powder, isn’t overly sweet and becomes something you suddenly crave during this hot season☆ You can enjoy the Hasu Soft Serve at Hoyattei inside Roadside Station Minami-Echizen Sankairi! Location: 919-0203 39-2-2 Makidani, Minami-Echizen Town, Nanjo District, Fukui Prefecture https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/feature/80061/...

sakaitourism_official 🍨Sakai’s Cool Summer Sweets Feature🍨 ~Moat Area~ 🇯🇵JP 🇬🇧EN Below⬇️ #Chilled Sweets 🍉Chilled treats you crave in summer♪🍦 The Moat Area in Sakai is home not only to tourist spots but also to many shops selling chilled sweets🩷 Enjoy sightseeing around the Moat Area while savoring refreshing, delicious sweets to get you through the summer♪🌻 On the feature page, we introduce Moat Area sweet shops and a short model course that visits sweets shops and tourist spots.✨ ・Kanbukuro ・Saryo Tsuboichi Seicha Honpo ・Rosier ・SAKAINOMA Cafe Kuma ・D..labo ・Baked Goods & Gelato BLUE KETTLE ・Cafe Lapin ・Tenjin Mochi ・Sorori ・Maruichi Confectionery ・Asahido Confectionery

〈Enjoying Teshikaga〉Local Specialties Edition Teshikaga offers many fine and delicious local specialties. When you travel to Teshikaga, be sure to check them out. This time, we introduce spots where you can pick up those specialties. https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/?cats=651%2C662...

[Reservation Required] Summer 2025: Town Tour Bus Operated with the “Teshikaga Eco Passport”! We are announcing the Summer 2025 operation schedule for the Mashu–Kuttari (Mashu–Kushiro) sightseeing loop bus that visits the main scenic spots in Teshikaga. The loop bus ticket, the Teshikaga Eco Passport, will again be available this year in two types: a 2-day pass and a 3-day pass. Please reserve in advance and make full use of it. It’s recommended for anyone who feels uneasy about driving or who wants an easy way to enjoy sightseeing in Teshikaga. [Operation Period] Saturday, July 26, 2025 – Sunday, August 31, 2025 [Fares] Adult Child 2-day pass (2 days) 2,000 yen 1,000 yen 3-day pass (3 days) 3,000 yen 1,000 yen [Inquiries] Mashu-ko Tourism Association 015-482-2200 (Weekdays 9:00–17:00) [Open Only During the Period] Eco Pass Stations JR Mashu Station 9:30–16:30 JR Kawayu Onsen Station 8:30–16:30 070-8995-2599 (Eco Pass dedicated line) https://masyuko.or.jp/news/2025summermoekopassaruyo/...

The Soft-Serve Rally 2025 has started again this year! This is the caramel soft-serve from Roadside Station Garden Spa Kikage no Cafe.🍦 The rich caramel sauce and the soft-serve paired perfectly and were absolutely delicious.❤️ There are other Tokachi-inspired soft-serves too, like Bean! Bean! Bean! soft-serve and Camembert cheese soft-serve.✨ Please give them a try.😊

[That's why it's 🍦🍎 open] The ice cream shop "Yote Kassaiya" at the Roadside Station Kita Shinshu Yamauchi, which used to have a good night in winter, has been open 🍨 since April 26 The sundae topped with a sauce made with plenty of Locally Produced fruit and the Monkey Sundae topped with Soba cookies made with Local Soba flour are popular 🐵🍦 Seasonal soft serve ice cream has a different 🍦 flavor depending on the time of year It is said that 🍓🍑 peaches are next to strawberries It's going to be hot from now on, so come on! !️ !️ !️ * Therefore, what is Kashai ... In the dialect of the Hokushin region of Nagano Prefecture, stop by! It means

[Special Collaboration Soft-Serve Ice Cream for the Detective Conan Movie “The One-Eyed Shrapnel” Now on Sale!] A limited-time special soft-serve ice cream collaborating with the now-screening Detective Conan movie “The One-Eyed Shrapnel” is being sold at eateries throughout Minamimaki Village 🍦🐄 With the new Minamimaki Village Dining Map produced by the Minamimaki Village Chamber of Commerce in hand, please enjoy the local cuisine 🥗🍲🍜🍴 ■ Shops Offering the Special Soft-Serve Ice Cream 1 Takizawa Farm Co., Ltd. 2 Restaurant Saikochiten Co., Ltd. 3 Restaurant Straw Hat 4 Minamimaki Village Rural Culture and Information Exchange Center Co., Ltd. (Vegitable With) 5 Hanafubuki 6 Restaurant 141 8 Kominka Meals and Sweets Furusato 9 Canadian Rocky 16 White Rabbit Those are nine shops in total (the numbers correspond to the shop numbers on the dining map) *Depending on the shop, sales begin on Saturday, May 17 or Sunday, May 18. ▼ View the Minamimaki Village Dining Map here https://www.kanko-nobeyama.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/mmmfoodmap.pdf...

Kawayu Ganban Terrace, the origin of Kawayu Onsen. This sightseeing spot features hot water gushing out where it flows down from Mt. Iou. It is also an area that symbolizes Kawayu Onsen and underwent renovations in October 2024, drawing even more attention as a tourist spot. Here we introduce the charming Kawayu Ganban Terrace. For more details, please see Teshikaga Navi. 〈Kawayu Ganban Terrace〉 Location: Kawayu Onsen area, Teshikaga, Kawakami District, Hokkaido Phone: 015-482-2200 (Mashu Lake Tourism Association) Fee: Free Season: Open year-round Hours: 24 hours https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/18129/...

The roadside station "Mashu Onsen" is hosting an exhibition of the winning entries from the 14th Teshikaga Photo Contest! 📍Mashu Onsen Roadside Station, 2nd-floor exhibition hall Exhibition period: April 1 – April 31 All 20 works are on display🐾 A lovely selection of award-winning photos awaits—please come and see them📸🌱 ✴︎ Grand Prize ✴︎ “Enchanting Lake Surface” by Kunishi Murakumo (first image) 〈Teshikaga Navi — Introduction to the winning works〉 https://masyuko.or.jp/news/photocon_r07/...

[Mori no Hall Final Event "Thank You. And Please Continue to Support Us."] Mori no Hall, a hugely popular cafe that draws devoted fans not only from the town but from across Japan, will close its doors on March 30, 2025. To celebrate the finale, shops and artists who have been involved over the years will come together for a two-day event!! ✴︎✴︎ Orchard Grass Venue ✴︎✴︎ On certain days (cafe): Masao Takahata (general goods), Chihiro Nishi (general goods), Ai Kawai (workshop “Draw Forest Animals in Chalk Art!” and general goods) The workshop costs 1,500 yen per session (about 30 minutes). Participants can sign up on site at any time. ✴︎✴︎ Mori no Hall Venue ✴︎✴︎ Mori no Hall (cafe and cakes), gusco (baked sweets), Tegamisha Zakkaten (handmade goods), Mawarimichi (bread and baked sweets), Yoroushi Yamamotobokujo (milk and baked sweets), TEGAMISHA CAFE & BREWERY (desserts and craft beer) Please come and enjoy the event with us! We sincerely look forward to your visit 🧸🍰🍬 Mori no Hall Final Event "Thank You. And Please Continue to Support Us." Saturday, March 22, 2025, 10:00–17:00 and Sunday, March 23, 2025, 10:00–16:00 Venues: Mori no Hall and Orchard Grass (Kawayu Onsen, Hokkaido), area around JR Kawayu-Onsen Station Address: 2-1-2 Kawayu Ekimae, Teshikaga, Kawakami District, Hokkaido Phone: 015-483-2906 (Mori no Hall) Note: Closed days in March are the 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 24th, 25th, and 26th. Please be aware these dates differ from the usual schedule. Illustrated by Masao Takahata

Extreme Cold Resort ICE LAFORET in KAWAYU Welcome to a stunning extreme cold resort... Heart‑pounding excitement awaits in winter Kawayu...! This winter marks the first time this event is held at Kawayu Onsen. Experience the special moments of ice monuments, an ice bar, and more that only a cold winter can offer. Extreme Cold Resort ICE LAFORET in KAWAYU Event Details Date: Sunday, January 19, 2025 – Sunday, February 2, 2025 *The Kawayu Shrine venue runs until Saturday, February 1 Time: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Venue: On the grounds of Kawayu Shrine and the surrounding area Admission fee: Adults 2,000 yen; Children 1,500 yen (ages 6–11); Toddlers 500 yen (ages 3–5) *Additional paid activities and gourmet options will be available. Organizer: Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association

Photographed on January 13, 25. CAFE ANDON's café latte and apple pie. The apple pie comes with soft serve ice cream from Morino Ranch. It goes very well with warmed apple pie. The latte art is also very beautiful.

From Sakai City's Specialties to Souvenirs! "Tojinbo Shotaro" Overlooking the Sea of Sea of Japan from the Precipitous cliff, the national scenic and natural monument "Tojinbo" There are "Tojinbo Shotaro" on 🤗 a busy shopping street lined with restaurants and souvenir shops At the dining corner, seafood dishes such as authentic sushi, Echizen grated daikon soba, You can 🍽️ enjoy a variety of dishes such as sweets including "cliff edge cream puffs" (take-out is also available) inspired by the Precipitous cliffs of Tojinbo Among such attractive menus, this time we will introduce the newly released "Montblanc soft serve ice cream"! 🍦 A product that boldly sprinkles plenty of rich golden sweet potato cream on top of soft serve ice cream Not only does it look beautiful, but it also tastes good! The sweetness of the sweet potato that spreads as soon as you put it in your mouth and the cool soft serve ice cream combine to relieve the summer heat. In addition, the Souvenir Corner has a wide range 🛍 of Local and regional Specialty Products, such as "Tojinbo Pudding," which is inspired by the view from Tojinbo, and "Sweet Shrimp and Octopus Karaage Rice Crackers," which are packed with the taste of the ingredients as they are When you come to Tojinbo, please 🙌 stop by Shotaro 📍 Tojinbo Shotaro Address: 福井県 Sakai City Mikuni Town安島64-1-55 Business hours:9:00 ~ 17:00 Regular holiday: Wednesday (restaurant only) TEL：0776-82-1199 ࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶ In the middle 💘 of the charm of Fukui Prefecture Click here for ▶ past post@dmo.sakai (Instagram)

Mario Ice Season 🍨 ∩ '∀' ∩ Waai