Many people find themselves agonizing over what to bring as gifts for seasonal greetings and homecomings. For those occasions like these, check out our "Tokyo Souvenirs" recommendations, endorsed by fashion and beauty industry insiders. We've rounded up some appealing Western-style confections that exude a Tokyo vibe.
■Palace Hotel Tokyo's Chiyochoco: Chocolate with Traditional Japanese Patterns that Reflect the Four Seasons
Tomomi Sakaguchi, PR specialist at HiRAO INC, an agency and PR firm, recommends Chiyochoco from Sweets & Deli, a pastry shop in the Palace Hotel Tokyo. "It's a beautiful piece of art that's sure to put a smile on anyone's face the moment they open the box," Sakaguchi says. Chiyochoco is a delicate chocolate bar that resembles traditional Japanese patterns found on Edo chiyogami paper, kimonos, and yukatas, printed on a thin, delicate piece.
■The long-loved "ORIGAMI" at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu: The Most Popular Banana Bread
Yukiko Kamiya, PR Manager at A.KA Tokyo, which handles press and consulting for international brands, highly recommends the banana bread from "ORIGAMI," the pastry boutique at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu, saying, "I've been a fan of its honest flavor for a long time." Since the store opened in 1963, it has been loved by many people as a souvenir or gift for a variety of occasions, and is a traditional masterpiece that the hotel is proud of, and it still reigns as the store's most popular item.
■Feve's colorful bean sweets that feel like a supplement?
Feve is a bean sweets brand recommended by Masae Sato, assistant AD and PR manager at Bluebell Japan, which acts as attaché de press for overseas cosmetics and fashion brands. Feve, which has its main store in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo, is a brand created by pastry chef Hironobu Tsujiguchi. The variety of flavors, such as "cashew x raspberry" and "soy milk rice crackers x camembert black pepper," allow you to choose the flavor depending on who you're giving them to, and each one is reasonably priced and has a pop look that makes them appealing.
■Summer limited edition chocolates from "JOHN KANAYA" to accompany cocktail time on a midsummer night
Ishikawa Aya of brand agent Steady Study recommends the summer limited edition chocolates from "JOHN KANAYA." The satisfying "Feel cool Summer "Passion"," hazelnuts wrapped in passion fruit chocolate, and the chocolate frais "Cool meets Fresh "Mojito," a two-layered chocolate frais made of rum and lime chocolate "Cool" and mint chocolate "Fresh," will both be on sale until around September, and will end when sold out during this period, so be quick.
