
Enjoy the sight of cherry blossoms, then get a taste of outer space.
If you can’t wait for sakura season to begin in Tokyo (because apparently many businesses and restaurants in Japan can’t, either), swing on by a planetarium. Konica Minolta Planetaria Tokyo (located in Tokyo’s Yurakuco neighborhood) plus the Konica Minolta Planetarium branches in Ikebukuro Sunshine City and Tokyo Sky Tree Town are giving you a chance to immerse yourself in digital cherry blossoms before the actual blooms even start to open.
If you visit any of the three locations between certain times in March through May to see one of the planetarium’s featured shows, you’ll be treated to a 360-view of giant, up-close preview video of cherry blossoms. And since it’s before the main feature at the planetarium, you’re allowed to take all the pictures, video, and selfies that you want.
You can see the spectacle at the Konica Minolta Planetarium in Sunshine City anytime between now and May 16 with the sakura appearing before the start of the Starry Globe, Aurora Night, and Hoshi no Kazu Hodo programs. At Sky Tree Town, the sakura only last until April 11, and can be seen before the Gift of Light, Songs for the Planetarium Vol. 1, and Toki wo Kizamu Kono Hoshizora shows. Finally, if you visit Konica Minolta Planetaria Tokyo before May 12, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms before the Starry Tales, Hoshi no Tabi, Starry Island, Starry Globe, and Songs for the Planetarium Vol. 1 programs.
In addition to looking at the sakura, at the Planetaria Tokyo you can sip on a limited-time Sakura Berry Latte in the facility’s cafe. It costs 770 yen (US$7.09), and it’s packed with sakura, berry, cheesecake, and raspberry flavor that makes it all worth it.
Planetaria Tokyo is also releasing a limited-time series of drinks and goods starting March 18 with the tantalizing title “Outer Space Smells Like Raspberries“. If you’re lost, we’ll fill you in: ethyl formate, the substance that gives raspberries their pleasant smell (though it smells like rum to some), is also found in abundance in outer space, hence the event’s theme!
▼ The exclusive menu boasts a bubbly cocktail, an Instagram-worthy Milky Way Fruit Sandwich, and a raspberry-rich red mocktail.
The cocktail and mocktail are named Eta Carina and Omega, respectively. The event also features the planetarium’s popular glowing tea drinks called Starry Bottles; these ones are brimming with the smell of raspberries as well.
▼ Come for the sakura, stay for the raspberries.
So if you simply can’t wait until cherry blossom season begins in Tokyo or you just really like raspberries, make a stop by any of those three Konica Minolta locations after eating up your cherry blossom curry.
Related: Konica Minolta Planetaria Tokyo, Konica Minolta Planetarium Ikebukuro Sunshine City, Konica Minolta Planetarium Tokyo Sky Tree Town
Source, images: @Press
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]




Tokyo’s indoor Tenbou-Park Sakura Festival is perfect for those with pollen allergies
Want to enjoy sakura season but have allergies? Tokyo indoor park offers the perfect solution
Sakura shine at beautiful art installation at Tokyo Sky Tree’s Solamachi complex
Cherry blossom forecast 2021 released! Sakura set to bloom early in Tokyo again this year
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain goes upscale with Matsuya Premium, but is it worth the higher price?
7-Eleven Japan joins the craze for Korean Gamja Cheese Balls
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Date handsome cockroaches in a new dating sim from one of Japan’s leading pest control companies
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
Bears appear at one of Kyoto Prefecture’s most popular tourist spots[Video]
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events