138 Tower Park Ichinomiya

138 Tower Park in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture is short trip down the road for us here in Gifu City. It is an amazing park, one of the best public parks in Japan with lots to do and see for the whole family.

The must see attractions include the spectacular 138 meter high observation tower with dual arches, which gives the park its name. A rose garden with around 4000 perpetual roses, and a beautiful garden that features seasonal flowers such as cosmos. It is also one of the best places in Aichi Prefecture to see the beautiful cherry blossoms in spring.

There is also a lot for families including Japan’s first plant made maze “Pisani’s Maze”, large grass field, large wooden playground, fuwa fuwa dome, rock climbing and lots more.

138 Tower Park Observation Tower

Observation Tower 

The Twin Arch 138 Observation Tower at 138 meters tall was built in honour of Ichinomiya City. In fact, 138 can be read in Japanese as ichi-(no)-mi-ya and hence the name. It is the tallest arch style tower in Asia and contains an observation deck 100 meters above the ground. The view from the observation deck is spectacular with an awesome view of the surrounding area including the Japan Alps, Nobi Plain and Nagoya.

Observation Tower during Autumn

Cosmos

There are various kinds of cosmos flowers at the park ranging in colour from pink, purple and white. The best time to see them is typically late September to mid-November.

A field of Cosmos

Cosmos at 138 Tower Park

Kochia

The park also has a small collection of kochia, also known as summer cypress. It is a type of large herb that grows in bushes about 90 centimeters tall. During Autumn they take on a brilliant red colour lending the name "Burning Bush".

Kochia at 138 Tower Park during September

Kochia at 138 Tower Park during October

Seasonal Events at 138 Tower Park 

Cherry Blossom Festival – Late March to early-April, come and enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms with a “hanami” under the flowering trees.

Spring Festa – mid-April to early-May and features colour flowers such as tulips, hyacinths and poppies.

Rose Festa – mid-May to early-June, 9 varieties of 4000 roses can be enjoyed at their peak during this time of the year.

Summer Festa – mid-July to late August, splash around in the “Pond of Comfort” and enjoy events such as Bon-Odori and an open-air movie theatre.

Autumn Festa – mid-September to early-November, experience the beautiful cosmos at their peak.

Winter Illuminations – mid-November to late-December, the park is decorated with around 500,000 light creating a spectacular winter illumination.

Details 

Address: 21-3 Urasaki, Komyoji, Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture 491-0135
Admission: FREE
Hours: Weekdays 9:30 am to 17:00 pm / Weekends 9:30 am to 21:00 pm
Closed: Every 2nd Monday of the month (following day if public holiday)
Parking: FREE

Burger King Black Ninja Burger

Burger King Japan is just about to release its latest killer burger called the Black Ninja Burger. The Kuro Ninja or Black Ninja Burger features a pitch black bun that is coloured with bamboo charcoal, very similar to the popular Premium Kuro Burger that came out last year. The Black Ninja Burger also features an extra-large slice of flame-grilled bacon (called King’s Bacon) that protrudes out from the sides and looks like your burger is sticking its tongue out at you. The burger also comes with a whopper patty, hash brown, onions, lettuce, mayonnaise and a dark brown Chaliapin sauce, which is a garlic-onion soy sauce named after a Russian opera singer.

Why is it called the Black Ninja? Well basically the burger is meant to resemble to black hood of a ninja with the extra-large slice of bacon, the ninja sticking out its tongue. This is Japan after all, the land of all things cute!

The cute Black Ninja Burger

Japan has a mascot for everything and the Black Ninja Burger is no exception. Here is the cute new mascot for the Black Ninja Burger. You can get some Black Ninja character stickers when you order either a medium or large set meal.

The Burger King Black Ninja Burger Mascot

The Black Ninja Burger will go on sale in Japan from October 25 for 680 yen (USD$6.80) for a limited time.

What do you think?

The Burger King Black Ninja Burger

Burger King Japan Website

Mister Donut Hello Kitty Halloween Donuts

October is the time for delicious autumn food and snacks and Mister Donut has joined the party with a new range of Hello Kitty Halloween Donuts. This is yet another collaboration between Mister Donut and Hello Kitty after they released a range of popular donuts back in April.

The special edition Hello Kitty Halloween Donuts come in either pumpkin or strawberry flavours. They include a Jack-o-lantern Hello Kitty Pumpkin, Jack-o-lantern Hello Kitty Strawberry, Strawberry Ghost Whipped Cream, Pumpkin Old Fashion, Pumpkin Whipped Cream French Cruller, and Pon de Pumpkin.

You can pick up a limited edition Hello Kitty special Halloween box set of seven donuts with a cute Hello Kitty stuffed toy in witches outfit for 1000 yen (USD$10) while stocks last.

Hello Kitty Special Halloween Box

The Hello Kitty Halloween Donuts went on sale on September 25 and will be available for a limited time in Japan.

Mister Donut Jack-o-lantern Hello Kitty Pumpkin 

The Mister Donut Jack-o-lantern Hello Kitty Pumpkin (¥126) features a cute Hello Kitty style Jack-o-lantern face with Hello Kitty’s trade mark pink bow. The pink bow is made from white chocolate and is very tasty.

Jack-o-lantern Hello Kitty Pumpkin Donut

Mister Donut Jack-o-lantern Hello Kitty Strawberry 

The Mister Donut Jack-o-lantern Hello Kitty Strawberry (¥126) features a cute Hello Kitty style Jack-o-lantern face with Hello Kitty’s trade mark pink bow. The donut is hard and crispy with a sweet strawberry topping.

Jack-o-lantern Hello Kitty Strawberry Donut

Mister Donut Ghost Whipped Cream 

The Mister Donut Ghost Whipped Cream (¥147) is a light fluffy donut filled with whipped cream and coated with strawberry flavoured chocolate. This was out favourite of all the Halloween Hello Kitty donuts.

Ghost Whipped Cream Donut

Pumpkin Old Fashion 

The Pumpkin Old Fashion (¥136) is an old fashioned style donut dipped in pumpkin chocolate and topped with sprinkles.

Pumpkin Old Fashion Donut

Pumpkin Whipped Cream French Cruller 

The Pumpkin Whipped Cream French Cruller (¥147) contains pumpkin whipped cream and is coated in pumpkin chocolate and topped with coloured sprinkles. This one was the strongest pumpkin tasting donut out of the lot.

Pumpkin Whipped Cream French Cruller Donut

Pon de Pumpkin 

The Pon de Pumpkin (¥136) is one of Mister Donut’s signature donuts with its chewy mochi like texture. It is coated with pumpkin chocolate and topped with coloured sprinkles.

Pon de Pumpkin Donut

Mister Donut Hello Kitty Halloween Donuts

Mister Donut Halloween Box

Check out my video below about the Hello Kitty Halloween Donuts on my YouTube Channel

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Gifu Nobunaga Festival

The Gifu Nobunaga Festival is held on the first Saturday and Sunday of October. The festival honours the memory and feats of Oda Nobunaga, a samurai warlord who used Gifu City as a base on his mission to unify Japan during the warring states period (Sengoku Period). It is a celebration of his contribution towards the development of Gifu as a city and the legacy that he has left behind. The must see events are the memorial ceremony at Sofuku-ji Temple (Nobunaga’s family temple) and the samurai warrior parade down the main street.

Kogane Park Flea Market and Street Vendors 

There is also a large flea market as well as various street vendors selling all kinds of festival food and snacks.

Street Vendors

Samurai Warrior Parade 

The samurai warrior parade starts with a marching band followed by ceremonial matchlock rifle firing and then various groups and historical figures including warriors, ladies and generals and even Lord Nobunaga on horseback himself. The parade starts at 12:30 pm from Gifu Station and ends at around 14:20 pm when the last group reaches Gifu City Hall.

Gifu Nobunaga Festival Mascot ~ Oda Nobunyaga

Marching Band

Samurai Warriors

Some of the cast of heroes and historical figures include:

Oda Nobunaga was a major daimyo during the Sengoku period and was the initiator of the unification of Japan in the late 16th century.

Lord Oda Nobunaga

Luis Frois, was a Portuguese missionary who befriended Nobunaga in 1569 and wrote about the history of Japan on his travels.

Luis Frois

Lady No or Nohime was the wife of Oda Nobunaga, and was renowned for her beauty and cleverness.

Lady No (Nohime) 

Saito Dosan was a Japanese samurai who became the father-in-law of Oda Nobunaga.

Saito Dosan

Shibata Katsuie was a Japanese military commander who served Oda Nobunaga.

Shibata Katsuie

Oichi was the younger sister of Oda Nobunaga, and was equally renowned for her beauty and resolve as Nohime.

Oichi

Lady Go was Oda Nobunaga’s niece. 

Lady Go

Yamauchi Kazutoyo served as a general under Oda Nobunaga.

Yamauchi Kazutoyo

Kinoshita Tokichiro was also a general who served under Oda Nobunaga. He later became Toyotomi Hideyoshi when he succeeded his former master.

Kinoshita Tokichiro also known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Takenaka Hanbei, also known as Takenaka Shigeharu was a Japanese samurai, who is remembered as being a clever strategist.

Takenaka Hanbei also known as Takenaka Shigeharu

The Schedule of Events 

Saturday 
• Memorial Ceremony at Sofuku-ji Temple
• Musical Band Parade
• Kogane Park Flea Market

Sunday 
• Samurai Warrior Parade
• Musical Band Parade
• Citizen’s Carnival
• Kogane Park Flea Market

The samurai warrior parade is held along Nagarabashi Dori from Gifu Station to Gifu City Hall. One of the best places to view it from is the intersection at Wakamiya-cho.


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Halloween Snacks in Japan

Autumn is one of the best times of year in Japan for seasonal food and drink. Some of the seasonal delicacies include kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) kuri (chestnuts) and satsumaimo (sweet potato). During the summer Japan Australia wrote about some of the summer snacks that were available in Japan. Now it’s Autumn and time for those Autumn Halloween snacks that have been making an appearance. Every Halloween in Japan special versions of popular snacks are produced with jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, witches and wizards just some of the cute Halloween designs that can be found.

Some of our favourite Halloween Snacks have been:

Pumpkin Pudding Kit Kat 

A special edition of Kit Kat just for Halloween. This one taste just like a sweet pudding with a hint of Japanese pumpkin.

Pumpkin Pudding Kit Kat

Pumpkin Pudding Kit Kat Close up

Angel Pie 

Angel Pie is a popular Japanese snack that consists of two small round cakes with marshmallow filling all covered in chocolate. They remind me of the wagon wheels we have back in Australia.

Halloween Angel Pie

Koala no March Chocolate 

A special Halloween version of Koala no March featuring our favourite Koala in cute Halloween costumes. These bite size koala shaped cookies have a sweet chocolate filling inside and are just so cute!

Halloween Koala no March

Kinoko no Yama and Takenoko no Sato 

Two of our all-time favourite Japanese snacks taste just the same, but come in special Halloween packaging. Konoko no Yama literally means "mushroom mountain" and these snacks are mushroom shaped biscuits with a chocolate top. Takenoko no Sato literally means "bamboo shoot village" and these snacks look just like little bamboo shoots topped with chocolate.

Halloween Kinoko no Yama & Takenoko no Sato

Halloween Konoko no Yama

They look just like little mushrooms

Halloween Takenoko no Sato

Takenoko no Sato Chocolate

Toppo 

Toppo is like a reverse Pocky! A biscuit stick with the topping on the inside. This is a special Halloween version of Toppo.

Halloween Toppo

Krispy Kreme Japan 

Krispy Kreme released some Halloween donuts called Krispy Skremes! They include the Caramel Halloween Jack, Orange Chocolate Spider and Purple Potato Mont Blanc.

Krispy Skremes!

Caramel Halloween Jack

Orange Chocolate Spider

Purple Potato Mont Blanc

Which of these would you like to try? Please leave your answer in the comments below.