Golden Burger Week in Japan

The end of April through around May 6th is called “Golden Week” in Japan and is based around a period of Japanese national holidays. To celebrate this period, McDonald’s Japan has released a special series of burgers called “Golden Burger Week”.

The burgers are the BBQ Beef Burger and the BBQ Chicken Burger. They are only available for a limited time (April 26 – May 6), so hurry in if you want to give them a try.

BBQ Beef Burger

The BBQ Beef Burger contains fried onions, spicy barbeque sauce, egg, bacon, cheese and a beef patty.

BBQ Chicken Burger

The BBQ Chicken burger contains fried onions, yellow mustard mayonnaise sauce, spicy barbeque sauce, lettuce and a crispy chicken fillet.

Both burgers come in Golden Brown buns coated with sesame seeds.

We tried the BBQ Beef Burger and it was pretty good. Reminded me of the recent Texas Burger but on a smaller scale.

The BBQ Beef Burgers costs 340 yen (USD$3.50) for just the burger, or 640 yen (USD$6.50) for a Medium Set.

The BBQ Chicken Burger costs 330 yen (USD$3.40) for just the burger, or 630 yen (USD$6.40) for a Medium Set.

Note: Prices may vary depending on the region in Japan

McDonald’s Japan also has a special campaign going, where if you purchase a Large value set you can get a FREE French Fries Holder. It is made to fit any cup holder, so you can use it in your car or on your bike.

McDonald’s Japan Website

Check out some of the other McDonald's Burger that have been available in Japan recently.

• TeriTama Burger
• Texas Burger

Hello Kitty Donuts at Mister Donut

Mister Donut is a popular donut chain in Japan that is famous for their Pon de ring donut line. Mister Donut is often called Misudo (ミスド) for short in Japanese, and is popular from young to old.

This month (April) they released some Hello Kitty donuts, which are just so cute and pretty tasty to boot. The packaging is typical Japan and is very simple and effective. The donuts fit inside a package with Hello Kitty eyes, whiskers and outline. You can see the donut inside and the pink white chocolate ribbon.

The donuts I tried where the French Style Orange Cream, the Green Apple Old Fashioned, the Pon-De Strawberry, Green Apple Whipped Cream Center and the Strawberry Cupcake Pop. All the donuts come with the cute pink chocolate bow (trade mark of Hello Kitty).

French Style Orange Cream (157 yen about USD$1.60) 

The French Style donut has long been a favourite of mine for its light and fluffy texture. This one has a white chocolate coating and is filled with orange cream. The orange cream filling is very strong and I couldn’t eat too many of these. The pink ribbon white chocolate is very nice and super sweet.

Green Apple Old Fashioned (157 yen about USD$1.60)

Not as strong as the orange cream above and really does taste and smell of green apples. This one is topped with a green apple chocolate coating, An unusual flavour for Mister Donut, but very nice at the same time.

Pon De Strawberry (157 yen about USD$1.60) 

The Pon De is one of the most popular donuts at Mister Donut and this one has a nice chewy texture that reminds me of Japanese mochi. It has a strawberry chocolate coating with pieces of dried strawberry, and strawberry cream filling. The strawberry cream filling is nice and is not too over-powering.

Green Apple Whipped Cream Center (157 yen about USD$1.60) 

A simple one that is very tasty with a white chocolate coating and filled with green apple whipped cream. It has the same taste and smell of the Green Apple Old Fashioned above.

Strawberry Cupcake Pop (136 yen about USD$1.38) 

This is an unusual one for Mister Donuts and their first foray into the Cupcake Pop market. It is also very good and just like a cupcake only on a stick. We tried the strawberry chocolate coating one and it also comes in orange and green apple flavours.

The series is only available for April, so will soon finish. Hurry up while you still have the chance!

Mister Donut Japan Website

Cherry Blossoms at Sunomata Castle

Sunomata Castle, also known as Ichiya-jo is a Japanese castle located in Ogaki in Gifu Prefecture. The castle is a replica of the famous original, which according to legend is said to have been built in one night. “Ichiya” literally means “one night” and hence the name “One Night Castle”. The original was constructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the generals of the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga during the build-up to the siege of Gifu Castle in 1566.

Main Bridge to Sunomata Castle

The successful construction of the castle lead to Nobunaga defeating the garrisons within Gifu and becoming the lord of the Mino Domain.

The present construction of Sunomata Castle is nothing like the original built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, which consisted of a wooden walled fortress with lookout towers. The current castle tower is a reconstruction and serves as a local history museum, highlighting the history of the castle, and conflict between Nobunaga and the Saito Clan.

Sunomata Castle

Sunomata Castle is situated on the banks of the Sai River and Nagara River, and is one of the best spots in Gifu for hanami or cherry blossom viewing. The area has around 1000 cherry trees with the area around the castle illuminated at night making it very spectacular. The cherry blossoms are best from late March to early April.

Sunomata Sakura Matsuri

Sunomata Sakura

Sunomata Cherry Blossom Road

The Beautiful Cherry Blossoms

Food Vendors Under the Cherry Blossoms

Sakura and Festival Food

Information

Tulip Festival Kiso Sansen Park

Kiso Sansen Park also called Kiso Sansen Koen is an urban city park located in Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The park first opened in 1987 and is the largest urban park in Japan. Kiso Sansen (木曽三川) refers to the three great rivers that all pass by the park. The three rivers are the Nagara River, the Kiso River and the Ibi River.

The park can be enjoyed all year round with its beautiful seasonal flowers and large grassed area. There is a large children’s playground with lots of facilities and the park is an ideal place for relaxation, recreation and time together with the family.

Entrance to Kiso Sansen Park

Kiso Sansen Park comes alive with colour every spring with the famous Tulip Festival. There are around 260,000 tulips and muscari bulbs with about 125 different types and lots of amazing colours. The tulips are arranged and designed in the theme of a “flowing river” and the flowers represent the three rivers and famous waters well.

The Tulips are Arranged in a Flowing River Style

There are many different types of tulips in the park including the popular single flowering type, double, lily-flowered, parrot and fringe tulips. The flowering season is between April and May with early, middle and late flowering tulips.

Flowing Waves of Tulips

A close up of the Tulips

The Observation Tower offers spectacular views of the surrounding area and the three rivers (Nagara, Kiso and Ibi). You can see 360 degree panoramic views from the top of the 65 meter tower. There is an exhibition center as well that presents the history, climate and nature of the area and is very interactive with lots of information, attractions and games that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Entry to the Observation Tower is 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for school children.

The Observation Tower

Kiso Sansen Park from the Observation Tower

Map of Kiso Sansen Park

Events at Kiso Sansen Park 

• Tulip Festival – Early to late April 
• Spring Flower Stories – End of April to mid May 
• Summer Water Stories – Early to late August 
• Autumn Flower Stories – Early September to early November 
• Winter Illuminations – Early to late December 

Information

Kiso Sansen Park Website

Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival 2013

JAFA's Kodomo no hi Japan Festival is the biggest Japan festival in Adelaide with a 18-year history. Last year the event was attended by up to 5000 people. The day is filled with Japan-related performances, exhibitions, activities, stalls and plenty of Japanese food.

Come along for a fun day for the whole family at this unique community event.

Event Information

View Larger Map

More information available at the Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival website

Pictures from Last year’s event

Japanese Taiko Drumming

Mochi Tsuki

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Japanese Bonsai

Kendo

Japanese Food Stalls including Ika-yaki

Japanese Origami

TeriTama Burger

The TeriTama Burger is back at McDonald’s Japan. TeriTama is short for Teriyaki Tamago. The burger contains a Teriyaki pork patty with Tamago (egg in Japanese), lettuce, and sweet lemon sauce. There is also a TeriTama Cheese Burger, which features the addition of cheese. The burger has been available since March 22nd and costs 310 yen (USD$3.30) for the regular TeriTama or 340 yen (USD$3.60) for the TeriTama Cheese. A Medium set will cost you 620 yen (USD$6.60) for the regular TeriTama and 650 yen (USD$6.90) for a TeriTama Cheese set. Prices vary depending on the region in Japan.

TeriTama Burger

TeriTama with Cheese

How does it taste? Pretty good! The Teriyaki sauce is really sweet and sticky and goes well with the pork, egg and cheese in the burger. I would recommend you give this one a try if you are in Japan around this time of the year. The TeriTama will remain on the menu until the end of April.

A Poster Advertising the TeriTama Burger

The TeriTama Cheese all wrapped up

A Close up of the TeriTama with Cheese Burger

This Friday (April 5th), they also released the Chicken TeriTama, which features a piece of Teriyaki Chicken. They have used the same chicken as the Juicy Chicken Fillet Burger and covered it with sweet Teriyaki sauce. I just tried it and it is definitely my favourite. The chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle. The Chicken TeriTama is 330 yen (USD$3.40) for just the burger itself, or 640 yen (USD$6.60) for a Medium set.

Chicken TeriTama

The Chicken TeriTama has a better quality wrapper

A close up of the Chicken TeriTama

McDonald’s Japan Website

Best Spots for Cherry Blossoms in Gifu / Aichi

We are lucky here in the Gifu and Aichi area of Japan to have many great spots for viewing the beautiful cherry blossoms. This year they are expected to start blooming earlier than usual and the estimated start date of the bloom is around March 21 in both Gifu and Nagoya. The peak is estimated for around March 29-30.

Below are some of my favourite spots for cherry blossom viewing in the area.

Nagoya-jo Castle – featuring 10 different types and 1600 cherry trees around the park and along the moat of the castle. This is one of the best places for cherry blossom viewing in Japan. Best from late March to early April.

Tsuruma Koen – located in Tsurumai, Nagoya, it features 1000 cherry trees. It is a popular hanami spot with many food stands and plenty of space for hanami parties under the trees. Best from late March to early April.

Inuyama-jo Castle – located in Inuyama City, just outside of Nagoya, it features 400 cherry trees set around the grounds of the famous castle. Best from late March to early April.

Sunomata-jo Castle – located just outside of Ogaki City, Gifu on the banks of the Sai and Nagara Rivers, it features 1000 cherry trees. The castle is a replica of the famous original, which is said to have been built in one night. The area around the castle is illuminated at night and is very spectacular. Best from late March to early April.

Gifu Koen – featuring 480 cherry trees in the area around Gifu park from the foot of Mount Kinka to the Japan-China Friendship Garden, it is one of the best spots for cherry blossom viewing in Gifu. This spot can be enjoyed during both the daytime and the evening/night. Best from late March to early April.

Shinsakai River - located in Kagamigahara City near the Shimin Koen Park this is one of the best spots in Gifu and features in Japan's top 100 best sakura locations. The banks of the river have around 1200 cherry trees and there are many food vendors making this a fantastic hanami location. Best from late March to early April.

Usuzumi Sakura – located in Motosu City, Gifu, it is one of the oldest cherry trees in Japan and considered one of Japan's Three Great Sakura. This unique cherry blossom initially sprouts pale pink flowers, which become white in full bloom. Usuzumi Park features around 50 cherry trees. Best from early April to late April.

Take a look at the Cherry Blossom Forecast 2013 from Japan Travel Advice

Where are you planning to see the Cherry Blossoms this year?