What's Trending in Japan?! Weekly Digest (10/22 - 10/26, 2018)
Are you sick of getting late news on the newest hot topics in Japan? Here's a quick and easy weekly digest that'll give you the scoop on the top 3 trends making waves on Japan's social media platforms! This week is all about everyone's favorite topic - food! Keep reading to find out about a cheese-overload pizza sensation that's lighting up social media, the start of one of the best seasons for delicious drinks at Starbucks, and a steak restaurant serving beef so good it's called "legendary"!
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Have You Ever Seen So Much Cheese on One Pizza?
Cheese lovers, we think we just found your new favorite pizza.
Located in the popular area of Shibuya in Tokyo, Dining Bar UNTITLED has taken inspiration from Chicago-style thick-crust pizza to make their very own pizza creation that truly takes things to the next level when it comes to cheese.
For this pizza, simply called "Chicago Pizza," three types of cheese (mixed, mozzarella, and Grana Padano) are turned into a thick, gooey cheese sauce and then layered with pizza sauce and other toppings, all within the walls of a uniquely black crust that is colored with charcoal powder.
As for toppings, you can either go plain cheese, leave it up to the chef, or ask for your favorites. How you enjoy this pizza is truly up to you! And if you're worried about the amount of cheese dripping off the pizza and onto the plate...don't! There is a spoon provided to eat the rest of the cheese off the plate after you're done with the pizza, and some even say that's the best part!
Note: the Chicago Pizza is only available by reservations made at least one day in advance, so please call ahead if you want to enjoy this cheese explosion for yourself.
If you want to exercise a bit after devouring that pizza, why not walk around the popular entertainment district of Shibuya? Here's a list of 50 recommended things to do that you can use as a reference.
Christmas Starts Early at Starbucks on 11/1!
It may not even be Halloween yet, but Starbucks Coffee Japan is already getting ready for the Holiday Season, as the first round of it's Christmas-themed offerings is set to debut on Thursday, November 1st.
The first two Christmas-themed drinks out of many that will come to Japanese Starbucks locations this year are the Christmas Strawberry Cake Frappuccino and the Christmas Strawberry Milk. Each drink is full of natural strawberry flavor, and you will even be able to enjoy the texture of strawberry seeds as you drink them.
Those unfamiliar with Christmas in Japan may be surprised to see strawberry-themed drinks, but the truth is that strawberries are heavily associated with Christmas and winter-time in Japan. In fact, Christmas Cake, which is probably the food item most associated with Christmas in Japan, is a layered and frosted version of strawberry shortcake!
If strawberries aren't your thing, remember that this is just the first batch of limited-time Christmas drinks to hit Starbucks this year, so keep an eye out for the next tasty beverage that will surely take the country by storm.
If you love coffee but would rather go somewhere a little bit more homey than a chain store like Starbucks, you should definitely check out one of these 13 cafes and restaurants that are operated out of old Japanese houses. It's an amazing and cozy experience that can only be had here in Japan...and the coffee is good too!
If You're in Kyoto, You Have to Try this "Legendary" Steak
Steak Otsuya is a small restaurant in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto where you can eat Murasawa beef, known as the "legendary beef," for relatively reasonable prices!
This is a rare type of cattle that is raised in cozy conditions with the least amount of stress possible, which leads to succulent and tender meat. It is even said that only 80 Murasawa cattle are used for beef each year, so being able to dine on it yourself is certainly a rare treat.
Despite the rarity and unquestionable quality of the beef used for the steaks at Otsuya, they are available for the reasonable price of between 2,100 yen - 3,000 yen for a set meal. Truly a steal when compared to other restaurants serving similar quality meat!
Tourists will also be glad to know that this restaurant is very conveniently located in an area full of sightseeing spots such as Tenryu-ji Temple. Also, there is a full English menu available.
If this got you in the mood for steak, but you don't have the time or money to go all the way to Kyoto, why not try one of these yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurants in the Tokyo hub area of Shinjuku? Any one of these is sure to satisfy your craving for delicious, juicy meat.
Bonus: A How-to Guide to Making DIY Sushi Candy
DIY candy kits are a big hit these days among people of all ages in Japan and abroad. Not only are they fun to make, but the end product tastes delicious too! While there are English-language instructions available online and through the below-linked article, it can also be fun to try to make the candy without knowing Japanese and just looking at the pictures. Try it with a friend and see who can do a better job!
And that's that! The trends are always quickly changing, so there will always be something new from week to week. Check back in once a week and see if anything catches your eye!
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Check out the weekly trends from the past 5 weeks!
What's Trending in Japan?! Weekly Digest (10/15 - 10/19, 2018)
What's Trending in Japan?! Weekly Digest (10/8 - 10/12, 2018)
What's Trending in Japan?! Weekly Digest (10/1 - 10/5, 2018)
What's Trending in Japan?! Weekly Digest (9/24 - 9/28, 2018)
What's Trending in Japan?! Weekly Digest (9/17 - 9/21, 2018)
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The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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