No country does cute food better than Japan, and the latest trend in adorable edibles is fall hot pots stuffed with cute characters that look way too good to eat!
These designer dishes are referred to as deco-nabe in Japanese, a portmanteau of ‘decoration’ and ‘nabemono‘. Nabe is a Japanese hotpot popular in cold weather and great for sharing with friends. And if your friends are coming round then you probably want to impress them a little bit, so why not turn your meal into a work of art? Basing it on the season is always a great place to start if you’re looking for inspiration.
▼ Halloween deco-nabe
▼ Christmas deco-nabe
Japanese users have been posting their incredible creations to Twitter, and many of them feature some familiar faces. Since there’s been a backlash against chara-bento, maybe now’s the time for deco-nabe and chara-nabe to shine. Everything in these dishes is completely edible, and most of the main characters are made from grated daikon radish which sticks together and can be molded into any desired shape. If I could turn out something half as good as these, I think I’d resent my friends for digging in and ruining it all!
▼ Totoro
おはようございます！
— ZIP! 【公式】 (@ZIP_TV) October 20, 2014
この後のハテナビは、寒くなってくると恋しい鍋料理！今年の鍋のトレンドは何と「デコ鍋」！子供がよろこぶ「デコ鍋」の作り方とは？ pic.twitter.com/aaexIY5P3Z
▼ LINE characters
大根おろしアートまたつくってみた！ブラウン＆コニー(*´∇｀*) pic.twitter.com/YqRdZenCh4
— Cocomame_76 (@h63a8c) January 30, 2014
▼ Funasshi
https://twitter.com/mrmatsunosuke/status/426590303441539073
▼ Disney Sea mascot Duffy
噂の大根おろしアート。ダッフィー鍋作ってみた。 pic.twitter.com/Ly8bBTsyem
— おはへー (@OHAHEY) January 26, 2014
▼ Doraemon
きみまろっくさんのマネ。大根おろしでドラえもん鍋できたーヽ(=´▽`=)ノ♪ pic.twitter.com/NQLZy6NiRs
— ヨネえもん (@yoneemon) January 23, 2014
▼ Incredibly realistic froggy
https://twitter.com/yoshigarden/status/424894806754488320
▼ BIGBANG logo plus bears
今夜は巷で流行りの大根おろしアートでミルフィーユ鍋だねーー♡ pic.twitter.com/UifyN1CxC5
— choime (@puritycoco) January 19, 2014
Which of the above deco-nabe is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
Purple Witch Hot Pot is the newest Japanese Twitter craze and it looks deliciously poisonous
When first-try character bentos go wrong 【Photos】
Kyaraben roundup! We take a look back at 2014’s best packed lunches 【Pics】
Japanese artist shows amazing way to color illustrations: Let the fall leaves do it for you【Pics】
Heavy snowfall comes early to Japan, creates beautiful images of snow-covered autumn leaves【Pics】
A real-world Pokémon Poké Ball hotel is opening in Japan at a still-secret location [Video]
Tamagotchi evolves into a ring for its 30th anniversary, preorders now open
Family Mart releases Famima convenience store products nationwide, but which ones are worth buying?
Japan’s most popular curry rice restaurant chain, Coco Ichibanya, might be for sale
Finally! Japan’s big three convenience store chains announce rice ball price reductions
One Piece Day 2026 brings new art, music, and new cast announcements
Japan Railways announces unlimited-ride train pass for fall travel
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Onsen Egg Bukkake Udon Ice Cream makes us rethink everything we thought we knew about sweets
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
Farewell Final Ceremony announced for Tokyo’s life-size Gundam statue, will stream live
Family Mart releases new Human Made Cup Noodle in Japan, with freebies for Nigo fans
Hikaru Utada sings new song in Shinkansen commercial for Japan’s Supreme Class cabins
Nike x One Piece collection brings Devil Fruits to sneakers and streetwear in Japan
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The 10 most beautiful places to see the autumn leaves in Japan, as chosen by travelers
Crafty and creative Twitter user shares how-to videos for dazzling autumn leaf origami
Eraser stamp of Tokyo Disneyland is almost as amazing as the theme park
Capybara characters ride on each other’s heads and walk home through Japanese shopping mall
Google’s Go-playing AI has been turned into a beautiful, moe-ified anime character
Kyoto temple bans photography at famous autumn foliage viewing spots
Awesome lunch boxes full of Disney’s Tsum Tsum characters are almost too cute to eat!【Photos】
Magical train ride through Japan’s autumn leaves is like travelling to a different world【Video】
Adorable Japanese kids’ homemade Splatoon costumes are ink-redible【Pics】
Australian mother reflects on “lunchbox shame” she felt from her son’s Tokyo preschool teacher
Epic food fail sees adorable Rilakkuma character bread turn into a terrifying monstrosity
Fail News: Popular Japanese mascot falls during ice-skating routine, can’t get up【Video】
Understated costumes celebrated at “Jimi Halloween” event in Tokyo 【Photos】
Japan is doing what people do best with fallen leaves: playing with them【Photos】
Shibuya Halloween: 9 people arrested for theft, assault, and groping【Pics & Videos】