Latest news with #MasanukiSunakoma
SoraNews24
14-07-2025
- SoraNews24
What happens when you seek refuge from the summer heat at Ikea in Shinjuku
Surprising finds happen when you least expect them. Part of being a working Tokyoite is knowing how and where to escape the summer heat while commuting to and from the office during the hottest days of the year. For our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma, his summer haven is Ikea Shinjuku, as it's right between Shinjuku Station and our office, so when temperatures soared above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) recently, he sought refuge in the store to give his sweat-drenched body a rest before work, and when he did he made some surprising discoveries. The first find came as soon as he stepped through the doors, as the store had strategically placed its Swedish Bite bistro right near the entrance. Stepping over to the ticket vending machines to see what they had to offer, he discovered something that immediately had him reaching for his coins. ▼ The Secret Soft ice cream (150 yen [US$1.03]) The mysterious black colour of the Secret soft serve looked like just the thing to reset his tired body, and his interest piqued even further when he saw that the ticket from the machine had 'シークレット' ('secret') on it in bold black-and-white print. It took seconds for him to receive his soft serve, and the whole process of entering the store and ordering and receiving the ice cream took about a minute, which is good to know when you're looking for a quick place to recover from the heat. If you've ever felt like you're about to shrivel up from the heat, a cold, refreshing soft serve is unbeatable. That's how Masanuki feels anyway, and when he put his lips around the icy treat, he closed his eyes in delight as he found the secret flavour tasted fruity, with a sweetly tart and refreshing finish that made him think it might be pear. After finishing his soft serve, Masanuki's energy was restored and he decided to enjoy the air conditioning for a little while longer by heading up to the next floor. That's where he discovered that this branch of Ikea was celebrating its fourth anniversary with a limited-edition tote bag for 999 yen. Next to the bags was a selection of seasonal goods, where he saw what looked to be rolled-up towels. Upon closer inspection, he found these were actually T-shirts, and there was a good discount on them for customers who are registered as Ikea Family members. Seeing as Masanuki often shops at Ikea, he's been a member for a while, so when he saw he'd only have to pay 999 yen instead of 2,499 yen, he immediately picked up a black in the L/XL size. With his clothes already sweaty before work, Masanuki thought it'd be nice to wear the shirt when he got to the office, so he could feel super refreshed and ready to start the day. ▼ When he unrolled it in the office, it didn't look half bad. ▼ And when he put it on, he felt like a new man. The one drawback to the shirt was the super long tag inside it, but that was an easy fix as he got out his scissors and simply snipped it off. Masanuki couldn't quite believe how good the fabric felt against his skin, especially after his hot morning commute, and now that he knows how easy it is to get a soft serve on the way to work, he might just be popping in more frequently over the next couple of months. So next time you're walking around Tokyo looking for a respite from the heat, you might want to to duck in to a store like Ikea. You never know what you might find, and chances are, you'll look and feel better for the short break too! Images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
02-07-2025
- SoraNews24
This Japanese train station has its very own hot spring bathhouse, right on the platform【Photos】
We hop on the train to Mizunuma, then hop into the bath. The amount of amenities you can find at train stations in Japan varies pretty widely by how big the surrounding city is. At the primary rail hubs in major metropolises, you can expect full-sized shopping centers, restaurant rows, and hotels to be attached to the station building, but if you get far enough into the countryside, the station might not be anything more than an unstaffed platform with a bench and a box into which passengers drop your ticket with the honor system as the only safeguard that they paid the proper fare. So with Mizunuma Station being on the outskirts of the relatively low-key town of Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, most people probably wouldn't expect the facility to have anything that noteworthy. They'd be wrong, though, because Mizunuma Station has its very own natural onsen/hot spring, called Mizunum no Yu, with the entrance right there on the platform! It's common for web sites for hot springs and other travel attractions to mention how far they are from the nearest train station, and Mizunuma no Yu proudly, and accurately, boasts that it's a 'zero-minute walk' from Mizunuma Station. Though the area has been known for hot springs for some time, the station onsen just opened up a few months ago, and our intrepid Japanese-language reporter Masanuki Sunakoma made the trip to check it out for himself. ▼ Mizunuma Station is located on the Watarase Keikoku Line, which connects Kiryu with Nikko. General adult admission to Mizunuma no Yu is 1,350 yen (US$9.30) on weekdays and 1,550 on weekends and holidays, and those prices include a complementary drink in the lounge area. Towels aren't provided for free, so Masanuki had to rent one for 300 yen (which he could have avoided or reduced by bringing a towel from home or picking one up from a 100 yen shop before leaving the big city). ▼ Base admission does include locker use, though. ▼ Entrance to the men's bath The facility is actually divided into two sections, one for general admission and another with more premium amenities for an extra charge (600 yen on weekdays, 800 yen on weekends/holidays). It doesn't feel like Mizunuma no Yu is cheaping out on you in the basic zone at all, though, since it has both outdoor and indoor baths, as well as a sauna, lounge, and restaurant. ▼ Photography in the baths is prohibited, but these photos from the Mizunuma no Yu website show the general-admission baths. If you're visiting during the day, you can take in the beautiful vie of the surrounding forests from the bath, and even if it's after sundown, the mountain breeze feels invigorating on your freshly washed skin in the outdoor area. As an added bonus, even though Masanuki was at Mizunuma no Yu on the weekend, it wasn't particularly crowded. Maybe that's because the place has only been open since April, but it was nice to have room to stretch out in the bath and quietly zone out while enjoying both the warm water and tranquil atmosphere. After his soak and sauna session, Masanuki was feeling mighty relaxed, but also powerfully thirsty, so he headed to the lounge for his free drink. There's actually a pretty nice lineup of complimentary beverages, including fruit juices, teas, and Pepsi. What Masanuki was really impressed by, though, was that the free drink list includes Iyoshi Cola. ▼ Billed as a 'craft cola,' Iyoshi has a unique, refreshing taste, and also a sweet backstory about how the company's founder was inspired by his grandfather. If you're of the mindset that a nice cold beer is the perfect after-onsen beverage, you can also upgrade to a glass of Suntory Premium Malt's for an additional 200 yen, or a cocktail if you prefer. Surprisingly, the lounge also serves Coldstone ice cream (something that's getting harder to find in Japan these days) and savory snacks such as edamame and takoyaki. If you're feeling even hungrier, there's also an attached restaurant with tempting dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, including wagyu sukiyaki, kamameshi (rice and various meats and vegetables cooked together in the same pot), and udon noodles. ▼ Restaurant entrance Though convenience is obviously a big part of the appeal of a station-attached hot spring, Mizunuma no Yu is nice enough that Masanuki could easily see himself spending half a day here, hopping back and forth between the baths, sauna, lounge, and restaurant. For his next visit, he might even splurge for access to the premium area and its extra-large open-air bath and special napping room. He's totally satisfied with the general-admission areas too, though, and if you're looking for a hot spring that's off the beaten path but still extremely easy to access, it's hard to beat Mizunuma no Yu. Hot spring information Mizunuma no Yu / 水沼の湯 Address: Gunma-ken, Kiryu-shi, Kurohone-cho, Mizunuma 群馬県桐生市黒保根町水沼 Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Website Top image: SoraNews24 Insert images: SoraNews24, PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
29-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- SoraNews24
What's inside a Family Mart Grand Opening Lucky Bag?
We join the party at a new convenience store opening in Japan. You never know what you might find at a convenience store in Japan, and that fact was never as clear as it was when our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma stumbled upon a Family Mart that had opened in his neighbourhood. Stepping through the sliding doors, complete with their distinctive melodic chime, he was greeted by a bunch of colourful Family Mart balloons to mark the grand occasion, but that wasn't the only unusual thing about the place. There on the table, he found the 'Grand Opening Lucky Bag', which was priced at a very reasonable 500 yen (US$3.47), so he immediately grabbed one to see what it contained. The word '福袋' ('fukubukuro' or 'lucky bag') is usually reserved for blind-buy bags sold at New Year, but a store opening is also a good time to bring them out for a celebration. Feeling a flurry of excitement, Masanuki opened the lucky bag and peered inside… What he found was a collection of goods worthy of a party. Lightly Salted Potato Chips (150 yen) Chocolate Filled Cream Puffs (138 yen) Bakauke Rice Crackers with Dried Green Laver Flakes (118 yen) Light and Airy Castella (128 yen) Aquarius sports drink (151 yen) Family Mart Pocket Tissues (not available for sale) The value of the bag turned out to be 685 yen, which wasn't a bad return for the 500 yen he spent on it. Every item was a welcome addition to the snack cupboard, but out of everything, his favourite had to be the Chocolate Filled Cream Puffs, which he demolished in no time. So if you ever spot a new convenience store pop up in your neighbourhood, it's always worth going in to take a look. You may find discounts, lucky bags, or even steamed manju buns that you won't ever see at that store again. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
09-06-2025
- General
- SoraNews24
Trying to keep our cool with Amazon Japan's lowest-rated fan and lucky amulet set
The lucky amulet will ensure luck in online shopping, starting after this purchase. Summer is just around the corner and keeping cool isn't just a good idea, it's a matter of staying healthy in these ever-increasing temperatures, so our writer Masanuki Sunakoma set out to invest in a new fan. This was also another chance to test the waters of the items sold on Amazon Japan with the lowest ratings around. This is usually destined for failure, but when you think about it, fan technology has never been better. Fans sold at the 100-yen store or as toys have significant air output, so even the lowliest of fans sold online should do a decent job of providing a cool breeze for Masanuki. As a general rule, low-rated items on Amazon have names that run up to 20 words for shameless search engine optimization, and this fan — called the 'Tabletop Mist Fan: Functional Fan with 3 Functions: Humidification, Ventilation, and Cooling. Comes with an Original Amulet Card to Ensure You Don't Fail when Shopping Online (Black)' — was no exception. That all sounded good, and the addition of a Japanese lucky amulet known as an 'omamori' really helped to set it apart from other fans. On the other hand, it had a unanimous one-star rating, the lowest possible, along with comments complaining about weak wind, not turning on, and possibly being made on a 3-D printer. Even the lucky amulet couldn't escape the scathing reviews, with one calling it 'pointless.' Reviews have been wrong in the past though, so Masanuki went ahead and placed an order for this fan and lucky amulet, which was priced at 1,980 yen (US$14). It arrived a few days later and included the fan, charging cable, instruction manual, and lucky amulet card. Normally omamori are made of fabric, but this was just a small postcard that read 'Omamori so You Don't Fail at Online Shopping.' Also unlike other omamori, this had a set of rules on the back as follows: 1) The benefits only work for the next three purchases after receiving this card. 2) Write your name in black ink in the space below. 3) Wear this while shopping online. 4) After your third purchase, be sure to dispose of this as 'burnable trash.' 5) This only works with online shopping and not shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. 6) This is merely an 'omamori' and there is no guarantee of its effectiveness. Masanuki wasn't sure how he should 'wear' his paper card and there was a bit of grim foreshadowing in the fact that the lucky amulet to prevent failing at online shopping doesn't claim to work on this purchase. Considering his past shopping record, he was looking forward to really putting this amulet to the test for his next three questionable purchases, but today's challenge was the fan. Looking at the main unit, as some of the reviews said, it did look rather shoddily made for its price. But a fan was only as good as its wind, so it was time to take it for a spin. He decided on a dry run first, without putting any mist-generating water in the tank. The fan has three settings which he visualized with the help of a tissue. ▼ Setting 1: Sleep-Friendly Gentle Wind ▼ Setting 2: Comfortably Natural Wind ▼ Setting 3: Powerful Wind We assure you those animated gifs are not a mistake and all three power settings had the same effect on the tissue, which is to say almost none. Despite the evocative names for each of the settings, none of them could make the tissue move more than a few millimeters. It was almost impressive how the fan blades seemed to defy physics by moving faster without generating any additional wind. On the bright side, the misting function did work and generated a cool fog at three different strengths properly. It also had some lights built-in to make the water tank glow different colors, which was nice. Unfortunately, it was too bright out to show the full effect of the lights. Those aspects made Masanuki rate this fan two stars out of five. That being said, few online shoppers have seen the horrors he has, so he tends to be more forgiving to pieces of junk. At the end of the day, a fan that doesn't blow simply blows and no one should buy this item unless for the lucky amulet card. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
What's the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Japan's Mos Burger?【Japan Super Budget Dining】
Japan's favorite domestic hamburger chain is known for higher quality than other fast food burger joints, but higher prices too, so our team searches for the optimum 1,000-yen Mos Burger meal. Welcome back to another episode of Japan Super Budget Dining, where each of our reporters has 1,000 yen (US$6.90) and a dream, a dream of a delicious meal they can put together at one of Japan's favorite restaurant chains within that budget. When last we saw them, our team had just finished up their visit to Matsuya, one of Japan's big-three gyudon/beef bowl chains. Beef is back on the menu today, as they get set to hit up Mos Burger, Japan's favorite domestic hamburger chain, but as we'll see, Mos has plenty of other great meaty meals and sweet treats to tempt us with. ▼ Masanuki Sunakoma's Luxurious Morning Set (980 yen) ● Morning Vegetable Cheeseburger (drink combo) (580 yen) ● Onion rings and French fries (330 yen) ● Barbecue sauce (40 yen) ● Mustard sauce (40 yen) 1,000 yen is a surprisingly tough budget for Mos Burger, but I could still put together a satisfying meal by utilizing their morning menu. Just like the name says, the Morning Vegetable Cheeseburger is stuffed with vegetables, and it's really filling too. Since I still had some extra room in the budget I added two different kinds of dipping sauce, to help draw out the maximum potential of the fries and onion rings. ▼ Yuichiro Wasai's Trio of Talent (990 yen) ● Chicken Burger (390 yen) ● Cheeseburger (280 yen) ● Mos Chicken fried chicken (320 yen) Some of Mos Burger's deluxe sandwiches cost close to 1,000 yen these days, but I don't think they really have the impact of a genuine gourmet burger. But on the other hand, the quality you get for the cost of their less expensive burgers is really outstanding. I still catch myself thinking 'Whoa, they're this good, even at those prices?' So if you ask me, the best way to use 1,000 yen is to load up on tasty lower-priced items like these. ▼ Takashi Harada's Fully Charged with Deliciousness from First Thing in the Morning Set (1,000 yen) ● Morning Vegetable Burger (drink combo) (540 yen) ● Teriyaki Burger (460 yen) If you're looking to get the biggest return on investment at Mos, you've gotta go for the morning sets. The Teriyaki Burger is a great choice at any hour of the day, though, so I can't leave that out either. Putting my two choices together works out to exactly 1,000 yen, and gets you the full charge of refreshing veggies and rich teriyaki first thing in the morning! ▼ Seiji Nakazawa's Macho Tower Burger Set (980 yen) ● 2 Double Cheeseburgers (880 yen) ● Jalapeno cup side order (100 yen) Right now Mos Burger has a special dinnertime-only hamburger with three patties, but I've created something beyond even that. Dock one double cheeseburger inside another, and you've got four layers of beef! Stuff in the jalapenos, then bite into a meaty mouthful with a spicy kick. With Mos using a milder cheese than other burger chains do, the heat of the jalapenos really comes through. ▼ Takamichi Furusawa's Family Set (990 yen) ● Mos Burger (470 yen) ● Mos Chicken (320 yen) ● Pepsi (small size) (200 yen) When I was growing up, my family would often swing by the Mos drive-through on the way home from a day out, and this is the meal I've been eating ever since I was a kid. My parents, my sister, and I would order this almost every time, and I've got a lot of happy memories of giving into temptation and chowing down right there in the car instead of waiting until we got home. There's just something special about the standard Mos Burger and Mos Chicken, so even now, this is my go-to order, and it always makes me remember those family moments. ▼ Mr. Sato's All You Need is Chicken and a Shake Set (1,000 yen) ● 2 pieces of Mos Chicken (640 yen) ● Vanilla Mos Shake (medium size) (360 yen) The place might be called 'Mos Burger,' but make no mistake, it's a legitimate chicken chain too. And when it comes to choosing a drink, the best choice is a shake. The idea of ordering anything else instead is, frankly, ludicrous. Chicken and a shake are all you need…Okay, actually I would like a burger too, but that's not in the budget. ▼ Mariko Ohanabatake's Mos Burger's Shakes and Onion Rings are Unbeatable Set (980 yen) ● Chicken Burger (390 yen) ● Onion Ring and French Fry Drink Set with Amaou strawberry shake upgrade (540 yen) Out of all the hamburger chains, Mos has the best shakes. Drawing from my fierce desire not just to eat a burger, onion rings, and French fries, but to drink a shake too, I assembled this set. Aside from their standard flavors, Mos has special seasonal shakes, with a vanilla base that has a touch of iciness to it and a generous amount of fruit sauce on top that you stir as you drink. I recommend only giving the Amaou strawberry one a quick stir or two, so that you get surprising tart bursts from the sauce and strawberry bits. And even if the chicken burger is the cheapest burger on the Mos menu, the breading is crisp, the shredded cabbage sweetly fresh, and the tartar sauce just about perfect. The onion rings and fries are delicious too, but you could already guess that, right? ▼ Yoshio's Addiction Set (1,000 yen) ● Waiwai Mos Cheeseburger Set (with toy) (590 yen) ● Mos Natsumi Chicken (410 yen) The Waiwai Set is aimed at kids, but adults can order it too. You get to choose from a selection of toys they have at the register, and this time I chose a pen. I also added a Mos Natsumi Chicken, which is like a chicken cutlet burger, but with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun, and stuffed it in between the buns of the cheeseburger that comes with the Waiwai Set! This gives you a giant burger with both beef and chicken inside! It's so meaty, and all the lettuce means you get a great crunch too. It's the absolute best, and even if some people might not think it's an elegant, mature choice, I'm addicted to it. ▼ Ahiruneko's Thank You, P.K. Sanjun Set (960 yen) ● Three pieces of Mos Chicken (960 yen) I never knew Mos Chicken was so good until a few years ago when my coworker P.K. was working on an article about it and he handed me a piece, saying 'Dude, it's good so just try it.' When I bit into that crispiness, it was like my eyes had been opened. Since then, I buy it all the time, and my daughter loves it too. So thank you, P.K., for being a fatherly guiding figure to me on the Mos Chicken path. ▼ Go Hatori's Mos Beginner Set (960 yen) ● Mos Cheeseburger Set (960 yen) Actually, I've only been to Mos Burger like two times in my entire life, and those were both so long ago that I can't remember anything about them. So I really don't know what to order, but since I love cheeseburgers, I went with the Mos Cheeseburger Set, which comes with a medium order of fries and a medium soft drink. Biting into the burger with no prior notion of how it was going to taste, I was really happy with the flavor! Ah, so this is what Mos Burger is like! The thick tomato slice and meat sauce combine for a really interesting tomato-y effect. ▼ P.K. Sanjun's Can't Help It, It's Just so Good Set (830 yen) ● Mos Cheeseburger (510 yen) ● Mos Chicken (320 yen) Some people say that Mos Burger's chicken is even better than their burgers, but I think they could call the place 'Mos Cheeseburger.' That's how good their cheeseburgers are, so obviously I was gonna start my meal with a cheeseburger and a piece of Mos Chicken, and then…ah, wait, that's pretty much used up my budget. Maybe I could have added an extra 40-yen order of dipping sauce, but I'm pretty much tapped out for actual food items. I suppose I could have carved out a little extra space and gotten a third item by going with a less expensive sandwich like a teriyaki chicken burger, but you know what? I just can't say no to Mos' cheeseburger or Mos Chicken, and while I feel a little frustrated at leaving 170 yen of my budget unused, I've got no regrets about how my choices taste. That wraps up our recommendation for this time, but it's only a matter of time until our panel gets hungry and embarks on its next 1,000-yen-or-less culinary quest, unless they make another Daiso detour first. Photos © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
