Strawberry: seasonal specialties
Strawaberry Mania lands in Japan
Flick/ Iana Peralta
From January to early April is the time for Strawberry Mania!
Although strawberries can also be found during summer in Japan, the strawberry season traditionally extends from January to April. On this occasion, shops, and restaurants showcase the delicious strawberries!
Konbini sweets
Very practical when it comes to doing last-minute shopping, the konbini is also a favorite place when it comes to taking stock of current taste trends. And from February to March, it's the strawberry that occupies a good part of its shelves!
Pancakes, ice cream, beers, and even sandwiches, there is absolutely something for everyone! Not to mention candies from major confectionery brands such as Pocky or Morinaga, which offer special editions of their flagship products... with strawberries, of course!
- Read also: Sweet break at Konbini
The strawberry sandwich
Time Out
Special menus from major restaurant chains
Whether it's Starbucks or McDonald's, these two big fast-food chains have one thing in common: they know how to match their menu according to the seasons.
It is therefore not surprising to see a whole bunch of strawberry-based products appearing on their menus from mid-February!
- Starbucks (mid-February to end of March)
Why settle for strawberries when you can have strawberries AND cherries?
The sakura season closely follows that of strawberries, Starbucks has imagined this year the Sakuraful Milk Latte and the Sakuraful Frappuccino, two drinks based on cherries and strawberries which will flatter the palate of lovers of red fruits until the end of March.
Starbucks Strawberry Sweets
matcha.jp.com
- McDonald's (February 20 to early April)
This year McDonald's has gone big to celebrate strawberry season.
Indeed, the largest burger chain in the world offers us not one, but three dairy desserts made from red fruits: a strawberry smoothie, a strawberry, and white chocolate latte, and a cold version of its chocolate -strawberry latte.
McDonald's Strawberry Milk Drinks 2019
McDonald.jp
Family restaurant menus
In Japan, family restaurants are an institution. Their prices are a delight for students and families on small budgets, and their very well-stocked menu is that of bon vivant.
As the specialties on offer also go with the seasons, a special ''strawberry'' menu appears every year from February on the tables of these restaurants. A menu that generally mixes ice cream, cakes, and cold drinks, and whose prices rarely exceed 900 yen (around $10/9€).
Some examples are Jonathan's, Gusuto, Saizeriya, Denny's, and Pronto.
Jonathan's special ''strawberries'' menu for March
Ph.L
The dessert buffets of the big hotels
Having to follow trends closely, the big hotels generally combine their dessert buffets with seasonal fruits and flowers. That's why many establishments adorn their tables with red when the strawberry season approaches in Japan.
- ANA Intercontinental Tokyo
Located in the heart of the Akasaka district, ANA Intercontinental Tokyo is popular with travelers for its comfortable rooms as well as its dessert buffet. A buffet that offers many strawberry-based cakes until March 31.
Address :1-12-33Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Directions : a few minutes walk from Tameike-Sannostation (Ginza, Nanboku lines)
- Hotel New Otani Tokyo
This year, the Hotel New Otani revisits traditional desserts by giving them a fruity touch. Strawberry tarts, strawberry, pancakes, parfait, and other European desserts, it is with strawberries that the great pastry specialties are tasted.
Address: 4-1Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Directions : A few minutes walk from Akasaka-MitsukeStation (Ginza, Marunouchi lines).
Example of a dessert buffet offered by the Grand Hyatt Tokyo hotel. Here during strawberry season
Grand Hyatt Tokyo
