Tokyo is infamous for its intensely hot and humid Summers. If you’re visiting during June, be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and clothes you don’t mind sweating right through! It is also rainy season so an umbrella and rain gear are surely helpful. It’s true it can be uncomfortable, especially on the jam-packed trains during rush hour, but relief can be found through the medium of deliciously refreshing Japanese cuisine at Special FOOD AND DRINK events in June!
Oedo Waen Soba and Sake Festival
Date and time: 12th-16th June, 11am-8pm
Entry: Free!
Location: Yoyogi Park, Shibuya
Soba noodles is a dish adored throughout Japan. Soba is a type of noodle made from buckwheat flour and it can be served both hot or cold. As one can imagine, in the subtropical summers of Tokyo, soba is a dish best served cold. When served cold, the noodles are simply seasoned with thin strips of nori (dried seaweed) and accompanied with a soy sauce based dipping sauce on the side. Word of warning – do not pour the sauce over the noodles! The correct way to enjoy soba is by dipping the noodles directly into the sauce using chopsticks.
From 12th – 16th June, Yoyogi park is holding a festival dedicated to soba and sake. Take your taste buds on a journey through Japan as you try different regions local varieties of noodle – as you stroll through the park, sake in hand. What better way to beat the Tokyo heat?
Detective Pikachu Exclusive Menu at The Pokémon Cafe
Date and time: By reservation
Location: Pokémon Cafe, Nihombashi Takashimaya S.C. East Building, Nihonbashi
When we think about Japanese pop culture, one of the things that comes to everyone’s mind is Pokémon – the anime loved by kids and adults alike around the world. When visiting Tokyo, you’re more than likely to see Pikachu’s face at least ten times a day – and that’s just unintentionally! If you and your children are fond of the anime, you most definitely should check out the Pokémon Cafe in Nihonbashi! The cafe is open all year round, but be sure to reserve a spot, as it’s so very popular.
To celebrate the new Detective Pikachu movie that hit cinemas last month, the Pokémon Cafe is offering exclusive and themed menu items! At the cafe, you can satisfy your love for cute cartoons while also enjoying a delicious meal with the likes of curry and carbonara pasta! This June, the cafe’s exclusive Detective Pikachu menu offers perhaps the world’s most adorable macaroni cheese – complete with Pikachu’s face on top!
Various Alcohol Festivals
If you enjoy a tipple, you’re in luck. In Tokyo this June, there’s three major events celebrating different types of alcohol!
The first is the Sake Tasting Event at the Travel Hub Mix in Chiyoda. Sake, often considered Japan’s national drink, is a rice wine. The entrance is ¥6,000 but this entitles you to free flowing sake, professionally prepared Otsumami (‘drinking snacks’) as well as the experience of a sake tasting seminar that finishes with you taking home a certification from the Caplan Wine Academy!
The second is the Gin Festival, taking place on 8th-9th June at Tennozu Isle, a venue in Shinagawa. With 200 different types of gin from Japan as well as abroad, you’ll be spoiled for choice. If you’re a gin aficionado, you’ll be pleased to know that Craftgin.jp, the organising company of the event, will make sure that there are special and rare gins for you to discover. And if you have any questions, the connoisseur staff will definitely be able to help you. Plus the fact, entry with 5 tastings is only ¥500!
The final event is taking place at Mt. Takao, a mountain in the Hachioji area of Tokyo. The Mt. Takao Beer Mount will be open every weekend from 15th June – 15th October, from 3:00pm – 9:00pm. Entrance is 3,500¥ for adults, prices range from 500-1,500¥ for kids (depending on age). After only a 2 hour journey from central Tokyo, you’ll find yourself among breathtaking scenery in the natural beauty of the Japanese countryside. What’s great about this spot, is that during the day, you can check out the mountain range then reward yourself with a much deserved beer – as well as a plentiful buffet that includes Japanese, Chinese and Western cuisine. This has got to be one of the most picturesque areas to enjoy a cool beer on a Summer’s evening. Nature, beer and a buffet. What else could you possibly need?
Be sure to join our Nightlife tours in Japan for a refreshing summer!
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