TOKYO - Koala's March Cake only in Nakano, Tokyo

"The only place in the world that sells Koala's March cake!"

On my way to the famous Nakano Broadway, I passed by a Lotteria shop in the Nakano Sun Mall Arcade and saw this sign.

Koala's March is an all time favorite koala shaped biscuits with cocolate cream filling marketed by LOTTE.

Koala's March Yaki (cake) is inspired by this bite size snack...a koala shaped cake filled with rich chocolate cream.

Comes in three basic filling flavors:

GHANA chocolate cream (made from LOTTE's famous GHANA chocolate)
Custard
Azuki (sweet red bean paste)

It seems like they offer seasonal flavors, which this time was Choco Banana, or chocolate cream + banana flavored custard cream.

From September 12, 2017 to November 2017, they are offering autumn flavored filling: Hokkaido Kabocha (pumpkin).

I think I will have to go back and try it out!

TOKYO - Hydrangea Festival at the Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Museum

Many Japanese enjoy the four seasons admiring the flowers representing each season.

Just like the Sakura blossoms (cherry blossoms) are considered as the symbol of the arrival of spring, Hydrangeas lighten up the rainy season and reminds us that summer is just ahead.

From end of May to beginning of July, the Hydrangeas become the main attraction in many parks, just like in the Fuchu Kyodo no Mori open air museum.

We were able to make it to the "Ajisai Matsuri", or Hydrangea Festival on its last day at the Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Museum.

Ajisai Matsuri

May 27 - July 2, 2017

10,000 Hydrangea in full bloom throughout the park covering approx. 140,000 square meters!

Visit our YouTube channel "Ichigo Ichie in Japan" for our video at the Hydrangea Festival!

A little about Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Museum...

Location 

32- 6 Minamicho, Fuchu, Tokyo

Access

10 minute drive from the Kunitachi Fuchu Interchange on the CHUO Expressway

20 minute walk from the stations below:

  FUCHU HONMACHI station on the Musashino and Nanbu JR Lines

  BUBAIGAWARA station on the JR Musashino and Keio Lines

  KOREMASA station on the Seibu Tamagawa Line

Admission fee (museum)

Adult: 200 yen

Child: 100 yen

Child 3 years of age and under are admitted free

Parking

Free (400 cars)

Open hours

9:00 - 17:00 (entrance gates close at 16:00)

Points

This museum is actually a family friendly park!

An open air museum featuring replicated historical buildings from the Fuchu and Tama area of Tokyo representing the Meiji and Edo era

Full of flowers and plants collected from all over Japan

A large "man-made lake" which is a water area for kids to play in on hot summer days

And...a planetarium with many different shows for all ages (additional admission fee required)

FYI we are planning to upload a video focusing on the park itself soon!