Latest news with #Chiikawa
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Chiikawa toy craze grips Hong Kong as thousands queue for McDonald's promo meals
Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong have queued for Chiikawa toys that come with McDonald's Happy Meals as part of a promotional tie-up between the fast food chain and an exhibition featuring the famous Japanese manga. Some 20,000 customers were in line on the McDonald's reservation website at certain points on Monday after sales opened at 11am, and hundreds showed up at different outlets to queue for the special meal sets hours before they were made available. The promotion was related to a three-week event called 'Chiikawa Days Exhibition', organised by Hong Kong studio AllRightReserved, which will begin in the city on August 1 at K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui. Chiikawa, which means 'something small and cute', is the name of the titular hamster protagonist created by Japanese artist Nagano. As part of the promotion, eight different Chiikawa toys will be given away with Happy Meal purchases on Mondays and Fridays between July 28 and August 22 at 40 McDonald's outlets in the city. At a McDonald's branch in Causeway Bay, Heiman Chan, 40, dressed in a Chiikawa T-shirt and carrying a Chiikawa plush doll on his shoulder, waited in line with his prepared QR code to collect the toy with his meal set. 'I found out online that McDonald's was selling Chiikawa Happy Meals, so I came especially to buy one today,' he said.
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
McDonald's Hong Kong releases Chiikawa Happy Meal toys
Hot on the heels of McDonald's time-limited Chiikawa Days-themed menu items comes more collaboration products between the fast-food giant and these cute Japanese critters. McDonald's Hong Kong is now releasing a range of Happy Meal toys on Chiikawa and friends, to be changed up each week. From now until the end of August, purchase a McDonald's Happy Meal to receive a Chiikawa toy. There are eight versions altogether, with each type being offered on specific dates throughout the promotion period, so make sure you keep an eye on the dates to get your favourite. The Hachiware calendar will be released on July 28, followed by the Rakko measuring device on August 1, the Chiikawa pen holder on August 4, the Usagi hotcake box on August 8, the Momonga pen cap on August 11, the Hachiware photo frame on August 15, the Chiikawa notepad on August 18, and finally the Usagi sticker dispenser on August 22. Customers who want to get their hands on their collectable toys must purchase a Cheese Egg Bun Happy Meal set or a four-piece McNuggets Happy Meal via the McDonald's app to receive specific Chiikawa Days designs, released each Monday and Friday at 11am. After receiving a confirmation of purchase with a QR code, you can then pick up your meal with the toy at selected McDonald's restaurants. Make sure you go collect them within the specific dates and times, otherwise it will be considered forfeit! Alternatively, you can also visit 40 specific McDonald's branches in person to purchase your Chiikawa Happy Meal. Be sure you're ordering from the list of approved branches, or ordering via the designated webpage via the McDonald's app and not just the normal purchase interface, or you'll end up with a random book from the 'Little People, Big Dreams' series instead (not bad, but that's not what you're here for). Which Chiikawa Days toy do you most want to get?
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Hong Kong is getting two special-edition Chiikawa Days Octopus cards
Whenever Hongkongers like something, we go all out in the hyperfixation. In celebration of the upcoming Chiikawa Days exhibition in K11 Musea, Octopus is soon releasing two special-edition Octopus cards themed after the popular Chiikawa Days characters. Featuring Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi running around with their extermination sticks, these cards will have a day design with recognisable buildings from the Hong Kong cityscape in the background, and a dark blue night version with fireworks. The physical Octopus cards are priced at $128, and will be available for preorder on the Octopus app from August 1 to 31. For those who don't want to lug around another card in their wallets, the Chiikawa-themed cards are also available for digital purchase on the Octopus app for $18. After the theme is purchased and applied, the Chiikawa characters will grace the app's home screen, the Octopus activation screen, as well as the digital card image.
SoraNews24
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Chiikawa Bakery launches a limited-time menu of sunburned characters and refreshing drinks
These summer-exclusive character breads are almost too cute to eat. Almost. The rays of the summer sun have started to beat down on Japan, leading many of its residents to cover up in long-sleeved clothes or copious amounts of sunscreen. On the other hand, there are many cartoon characters who are revelling in the sunlight and catching some rays, such as the latest McDonald's range of Hello Kitty toys. Next up for the bronzing treatment arw Chiikawa and its friends, who star in a web manga originally published on Twitter that has been turned into an anime. For a limited time this summer at the Chiikawa Bakery near Harajuku in Omotesando, Tokyo, a new seasonal line-up of delicious, sunburned treats joins the regular collection to create unforgettable memories of overwhelming cuteness. The three varieties of bread, each in the form of one of the characters, each cost 580 yen (US$3.95) and all sport beautiful suntanned looks, created through the clever use of coffee spray. ▼ Chiikawa Bread (Sunburned Version), filled with custard cream ▼ Hachiware Bread (Sunburned Version), filled with chocolate cream ▼ Usagi Bread (Sunburned Version), filled with caramel cream Naturally, being summer, you'll also want plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated, so the bakery is also supplying takeout drinks in their own original cups, limited to two per customer. ▼ Iced Tea (590 yen) ▼ Iced Coffee (590 yen) ▼ Iced Cafe Latte (690 yen) ▼ Iced Matcha Latte (720 yen) ▼ Apple Soda Tea (790 yen) ▼ Orange Soda Tea (790 yen) Customers who order one of the above drinks will receive an extra bonus in the form of an original coaster at the checkout, randomly selected from twelve designs. Due to the popularity of the Chiikawa Bakery, daily admission is limited, and so online ticket reservations (which can be made here) are highly recommended. Customers reserving advance tickets for dates starting August 1 will receive a limited edition trading card. There are nine unique designs up for grabs, and will be released in two waves, finishing on January 31, 2026. Do note that walk-in customers are not eligible for the cards, nor can you choose the design. If you do brave the scorching sun outdoors to sample these summer snacks, be sure to lather up in sunscreen, if you're not keen to end up looking like one of the breads yourself. Or if you'd rather explore the cuteness of Chiikawa on a larger scale, be sure to check out Chiikawa Park when it opens on July 28. Store information Chiikawa Bakery / ちいかわベーカリー Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 4-chome 30-3, Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Omokado 3F 東京都渋谷区神宮前4丁目30-3 東急プラザ表参道「オモカド」3階 Open 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Closed on irregular days (refer to the official website) Website Source and images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Japanese hotel offers mini beds and pyjamas for stuffed toys, all for just $3
In a heartwarming effort to cater to a growing trend, a Japanese hotel chain is now offering mini beds and pyjamas for stuffed toys, winning over young travellers who rarely hit the road without their plush companions, reported the South China Morning Post. For an additional 300 yen, guests receive a miniature bed and toy-sized pyjamas.(Pexel/Representational image) On June 25, the Japanese hotel chain Toyoko INN introduced a service where, for an additional 300 yen (about US$3), guests receive a miniature bed and toy-sized pyjamas for their stuffed animals to use during their stay. A representative from Toyoko INN told J-Cast News that he often travels with stuffed animals himself and hopes the offering will strike a chord with Generation Z travellers. The response, he said, has exceeded expectations, with the chain now planning to expand the service to more locations. Many young people in Japan have embraced the idea of travelling with plush toys, dressing them up and including them in every aspect of their trip. Some tuck them into backpacks with transparent windows, while others carry them in their arms. Photos of plush toys in restaurants, on bullet trains, and tucked into hotel beds have gone viral on social media. Chiikawa One traveller brings Chiikawa, a shy and tearful white hamster from a Japanese manga series, on every trip across Asia. He takes it to restaurants, styles it in adorable outfits, and arranges it in different sleeping positions on hotel beds. Another social media user shared snapshots of two Japanese amberjack plush toys on a bullet train, writing, 'My little fish loves watching the scenery roll by. It was so happy it flipped onto its belly.' The emotional connection behind this trend runs deep. Wang Liufeng, a psychology consultant with the Chinese Association for Mental Health, explains the comfort plush toys offer: 'They do not talk, they do not judge, but they are always by your side. It is a form of unconditional emotional support,' said Wang. The movement has gained traction outside Japan as well. In China, travel-related posts featuring plush toys have racked up over 10 million views. In April, a user named 'do not Wanna Get Up' took two stuffed dog toys on a tour of Europe, photographing them at 18 different tourist attractions. 'Everywhere I went, strangers wanted to take pictures with my plushies. It made me even happier than being in the photos myself,' she said. Earlier in January, a woman in Shanghai brought a stuffed eggplant toy on a flight and placed it in the seat next to her. A flight attendant buckled it in, delighting passengers around her. As one online observer perfectly put it: 'One look at my plush toy, and all the memories from that trip come rushing back. That is their magic.' Toyoko INN's initiative has been widely praised online. 'Affordable and heartwarming, this is truly a hotel with love,' wrote one user. 'I feel like my five teddy bears will fight over who gets to sleep in the special bed,' joked another. (Also Read: Japanese princess flies economy class, praised for her humility as viral photo wins hearts)
