Photo - Iichiko Merry Christmas from the Alamo

Iichiko is "Japan's Best Selling Genuine Shochu" and has a special website called Iichiko Design with gorgeous photos from around the world. I saw this poster in Tokyo proclaiming "Merry Christmas from the Alamo", including a bottle of their Iichiko Standard to the lower left. Not a great photo due to the glare, sorry.

Photo - Christmas Cakes in Tokyo Station

Eating Christmas cake on Christmas Eve is a tradition in Japan. Japanese women used to be called Christmas cake when they became 25, disparigingly comparing them to unwanted left over Christmas cake. I remember hearing that, but not in recent years because just as in other developed nations, Japanese are getting married at older ages than in the past.

Photo - Lotte Train Trading Cards

This is a pack of train trading cards I bought in a shinkansen train line station. The pack cost 100 yen and contained one card and ramune flavored candy. The train pictured on this card is the Kodama train on the Sanyo Shinkansen line between Shin-Osaka and Hakata.

Photo - Shinkansen KitKat Set

Sort of pricey at 800 yen, but this KitKat Shinkansen set of 4 boxes makes for a nice gift. I bought this along the Tokaido Shinkansen line and it features four of the most well-known stops: Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka.

Photo - Aomori Famous Foods

This is a poster which is currently being displayed in Tokyo Station which features famous foods from Aomori Prefecture. There are lots of interesting items here I should follow up on.

Photo - McDonald's Magnet Size

The magnets McDonald's is giving away with large sets are pretty big. Here one is next to a Big Cheese Rich Cheese sandwich.

Photo - Vinegar Flavor Soft Serve Ice Cream

I saw this in Tokyo Station. Not sure what fruit is used for the vinegary sauce, but the ice cream has a yogurty cheese taste (according to the poster).

Photo - Starbucks Nutty Praline Latte

Starbucks Nutty Praline Latte and Frappuccino

Photo - McDonald's Big Chicken Rich Cheese

Very good, actually.

Photo - Caffe Veloce Caramel au lait

Not bad, but I usually regret ordering caramel because it is always too sweet.