Youka Nagase

Japan is home to some of the most amazing monuments that bring iconic characters like Gundam and Godzilla to life. But in Tokyo, there’s no need to visit an amusement park to see something so OTT. The city is crawling with giant, monstrous figures in parks, shopping malls and out on the streets. There’s a larger-than-life gorilla statue hanging off the side of a building, a terrifying nine metre-tall spider, three gigantic puppies on a balcony and more. The movies are right – Tokyo really is a city of monsters. RECOMMENDED: Best outdoor art sculptures in Tokyo

Japan’s legendarily efficient train network is a thing of beauty. We love being able to zip around the country on a shinkansen for a weekend getaway, but that convenience often comes with a hefty price tag. A trip from Tokyo to Osaka can cost around ¥15,000 one-way. Thankfully, Japan’s railway companies offer package deals for trips on a budget. Deals can include shinkansen tickets to and from your destination, unlimited public transport once you’re there, and even discounts on local attractions.  Whether you want to spend a day exploring Tokyo, take a day trip to Nikko, or travel to Osaka for the weekend, be sure to check out these deals before you book your next trip.  RECOMMENDED: 8 JR rail passes that are available to foreign residents in Japan

Japan’s cherry blossoms are expected to bloom slightly later than usual this year. Although spring is the most popular time to see these flowers, you can still catch beautiful sakura during winter from mid-February 2023 onwards in several parks, gardens and shrines around Tokyo. You’ll most commonly come across kawazu-zakura, a pastel pink cherry blossom native to Shizuoka prefecture that usually peaks between February and March depending on the location. Unlike the spring cherry blossoms, which only last about a week, these have a longer lifespan of around a month. The other winter sakura are the kanhi-zakura, which are more of a vivid pink colour, growing on bigger trees that are roughly ten metres tall.  Here are the best locations around the city where you can enjoy cherry blossoms early, before the bustling hanami season arrives.  RECOMMENDED: Not in Tokyo? These are the best sightseeing spots for winter cherry blossoms across Japan

Bustling Ebisu is considered one of the most desirable places to live among locals, thanks to its fancy bars, good eats and shopping. Yebisu Garden Place, in particular, attracts visitors year-round with its boutique shops and stylish restaurants. Ebisu is also connected to other cool neighbourhoods like Daikanyama, Hiroo and Nakameguro, as well as being just a three-minute train ride from Shibuya. There are countless places to explore in Ebisu, but to save you some time, we’ve compiled this list of the 20 things best things to do. RECOMMEND: Check out the 5 coolest neighbourhoods in Tokyo

Nowhere does theme parks quite like Japan. It’s not the birthplace of Disney, but Tokyo Disneyland and its Japan-only sibling DisneySea are just as immersive and enchanting as the original park in California. Then there’s Osaka’s Universal Studios Japan, home to the incredible Super Nintendo World. But those big name theme parks are just the beginning – Japan is home to plenty of record-breaking roller coasters, historical amusement parks and uniquely themed spots. Here are the best theme parks you should visit in Japan.  RECOMMENDED: These stunning spots in Japan don't look like Japan at all

Thanks to its abundance of natural hot springs, bathing is an important part of Japanese culture. In fact, there are over 3,000 hot spring resorts across the country. While it’s easy to find an onsen in Tokyo, almost all of them are indoors, and instead of gorgeous scenery, the view you get is a mural of Mt Fuji. However, take a trip away from the city and you’ll find spectacular outdoor onsen with views so stunning you won’t want to get out of the bath. Moreover, in recent years, outdoor baths have evolved to become infinity onsen facing the ocean or surrounding greenery. For a rejuvenating stay with views that will make your jaw drop, here are some of the best resorts with infinity onsen in Japan. Consider your next holiday sorted.

We know Tokyo has some of the most spectacular illuminations, from the ever-popular Midtown Christmas to the award-winning projection mapping and light show put on by Tokyo Lights at Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery. But the rest of Japan is full of similarly bright ideas worth catching the bullet train for. Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi displays five million lights shaped like all kinds of flowers, while Mie prefecture boasts one of the largest illuminations in Japan. Read on for a list of the best illuminations in Japan. RECOMMENDED: Prefer to stay in the city? Explore these illuminations and light displays in Tokyo

Tokyo's culinary cachet owes much to the city's many heritage restaurants. These old-school eateries have remained largely unchanged, sometimes for more than a century, making them like godparents to Tokyo's modern food scene. Many heritage restaurants specialise in one dish, honing it to perfection over the years. That signature dish, more often than not, is what has earned these restaurants a place in Tokyo's culinary hall of fame, keeping the loyal regulars coming back for years and years. If you like your sushi, soba, and rice bowls to come with a big serving of backstory, these are the restaurants for you.   RECOMMENDED: Try the best budget sushi in Tokyo

With everything you could ever want and more, it’s no wonder Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s busiest neighbourhoods. From trendy fashion boutiques and shopping malls to restaurants, cafés and bars, there’s something for everyone here in one of the city’s most visited tourist destinations. However, many of us often end up at the world-famous Shibuya Crossing with no particular place in mind when it comes to eating out.  Granted, the food and drink selection in Shibuya is overwhelming, with options covering a wide range of cuisines and even price points. Feeling lost? Don’t worry; we’ve done the legwork to find you the best cafés and restaurants in Shibuya, all within a 15-minute walk from Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Whether you’re craving burger, curry, ramen, sushi or teishoku meal, we’ve got you covered.

While travelling isn’t on the cards for most of us right now, we’re still dreaming of all the beautiful places we’ll go to when the pandemic is over. Japan is filled with gorgeous nature, spectacular national parks and World Heritage sites, so there’s no shortage of stunning destinations to add to your travel list.  But it’s easy to find yourself missing the excitement of exploring a new part of the world, especially right now. Luckily, Japan isn’t all Shinto shrines and Zen gardens. You can visit places that look like famous attractions from Cambodia, Egypt, Greece, Mexico and more – all without ever leaving Japan.  RECOMMENDED: Prefer to stay close to Tokyo? See iconic Japanese scenery that’s all within the capital

If you're staying in Tokyo this Christmas and find yourself craving a traditional Christmas dinner, you're in luck. Christmas in Tokyo isn't all about KFC buckets – you can treat yourself to a special sit-down meal at some of Tokyo's most luxurious hotels and restaurants. With menus featuring premium steak, lobster, caviar and more, these sumptuous meals are a perfect Christmas present from you to you. Here are some of the places in Tokyo where you can enjoy an indulgent Christmas dinner. RECOMMENDED: Amazing Christmas cakes to try in Tokyo this season

Japanese trains are known for their efficiency and immaculate cleanliness, but there are other reasons people enjoy riding the rails here. From Tokyo all the way down to southern Kyushu, you'll find special themed trains designed to look like Hello Kitty or Pikachu, along with plenty of old-school steam trains and luxury locomotives running at certain times of year.  Best of all, these novelty trains take you to some of Japan's most scenic locations – so don't forget to look out the window. Here are some of our favourite Japanese trains to brighten up your next big railway adventure. RECOMMENDED: See the country on four wheels with these Japanese road trips

東京をはじめ、サンフランシスコでもミシュランの星を獲得したラーメン店を展開するラーメンマスター、庄野智治が渋谷パルコのカオスキッチンにオープンしたのがジカセイ メンショウ。 一番人気はたっぷりの牛すじと半熟卵が特徴のしょうゆラーメンだが、おすすめは坦々麺。クリーミーなごまだしと山椒のアクセントがきいた、しびれるような辛さがたまらない逸品だ。 また、同店にはオリジナルと比べても遜色のないハイクオリティーなビーガンバージョンも提供。麺はスーパーフードのキヌアから作られ、グルテン摂取量を抑えつつも、独特のモチモチした食感が味わえる。 メニューは全て、片手の収まる程度のカップで提供され、最後の一滴までワンハンドで飲み干すことができる。

With a total of ten ramen restaurants in Tokyo and a Michelin-starred outpost in San Francisco, ramen master Tomoharu Shono opened his newest location in the basement of Shibuya Parco. This modern ramen eatery doesn’t have a paper menu or ticket vending machine; instead, orders are placed through a tablet found at each seat.  The most popular dish may be the shoyu ramen, sporting a generous slab of beef and a perfect soft-boiled egg, but we can’t go past the dandan noodles. The creamy sesame broth is mixed with sansho pepper, giving the dish a numbing, spicy kick. Jikasei Mensho also offers a vegan version which is almost impossible to tell from the original. The noodles are made from quinoa, making them lower in carbohydrates and gluten while maintaining the signature chewy consistency.   All dishes are served in gigantic translucent cups which were made specially for serving Jisakei Mensho’s ramen. Roughly the size of a tall drinking glass, they fit perfectly in one hand, so you can easily finish every last drop of broth.

Valentine’s Day is often a time for couples to go on romantic dinners, or a reminder that it’s time to seek out some anti-Valentine’s Day activities. It’s also a time when all kinds of special chocolate treats and desserts appear. This year, a few restaurants in Tokyo have also joined the Valentine’s Day extravaganza by combining their signature savoury dishes with chocolate — and, yes, that includes ramen, udon, fried chicken and even dim sum. Here are some unique chocolate dishes you can only get your hands on during this romantic season. Photo: Ishihara Soba Chocolate curry soba Setagaya soba restaurant Ishihara is known for its stone-milled buckwheat noodles that are typically enjoyed with a mentsuyu dipping sauce. For Valentine’s Day, though, it’s offering a chocolate-based curry soba (¥1,420). This special soba is topped with a heart-shaped white chocolate drizzle and an edible pink flower. Don’t worry if you’re imagining an overly sweet curry soba because the chocolate is there to balance out the saltiness of the broth, so in truth it’s more of a savoury dish than a dessert. Make sure to get here early as the chocolate curry soba is only offered to five people per day from February 7 to 28. Photo: Chicken Street Chocolate chicken Korean fried chicken store Chicken Street in Shibuya is ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day with an unusual combination. Its fried chicken usually comes in flavours like yangnyeom (Korean sweet, sour and spicy sauce), cheese and garlic soy

It’s been a while since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which were held without any spectators, passed the baton over to Paris, the host of the 2024 Games. But visitors are now finally able to enter the Japan National Stadium. With this tour, you can see the insides of the Olympic stadium at Meiji Jingu Gaien, designed by leading Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. You’ll be able to step foot into the colossal 200,000sqm sporting arena and see where the athletes spent their time during, before and after their events, and witness some of Tokyo Olympics’ legacies up close. What we love about this tour is that you get to roam around freely at your own pace and leisure. The signages are in Japanese and English, and of course, attendants are around should you have any enquiries. Photo: Kisa Toyoshima The stadium tour is not just show and tell – there are activities for you to experience the space hands-on and feel what it’s like to be an athlete in the stadium. After entering the facility from the bleachers, you’ll take a stroll along the tracks before striking a pose with the Paralympic podium and filming yourself jumping over a hurdle. Photo: Kisa Toyoshima You can even record yourself signing the lens of a video camera, just as an Olympian would do when they achieve victory. Photo: Kisa Toyoshima Located on the ground floor next to the field is the Flash Interview Zone. As its name suggests, this space was used for media interviews with athletes before and after their events. Here yo

California’s famed egg sandwich shop Eggslut has made a name for itself in Tokyo with its exclusive seasonal offerings in the past, such as a decadent wagyu truffle sandwich and an OTT slab of salmon katsu in a brioche bun. Its latest special creations this winter are a pair of Chinese-style spicy chilli shrimp sandwiches, which are only sold at Eggslut Shinjuku Southern Terrace until March 21.  The chilli shrimp egg sandwich (¥1,408) is inspired by the Japanese-Chinese dish ebi chili. Eggslut's version offers a generous amount of boiled shrimp coated in the restaurant's house-made spicy chilli sauce. It’s combined with deep-fried cellophane noodles, a slice of cheddar cheese, coriander and, of course, Eggslut’s signature buttery scrambled eggs, all encased in a brioche bun. Its other offering is the shrimp and tobiko (flying fish roe) yuzu ankake (thick sauce) egg sandwich (¥1,408), which features shrimp with yuzu citrus ankake and is topped with tobiko, deep-fried wood ear mushrooms and scrambled eggs. Photo: Baycrew's Co., Ltd.Eggslut Shinjuku Southern Terrace Visit the Eggslut website for more information. More from Time Out Tokyo 5 new Japanese films and series coming to Netflix in February 2023 Save your eggs: there’s now an egg shortage in Japan Overseas tourists can get this exclusive Sanrio Pasmo transport card How to visit a temple or shrine like a Tokyoite Chocolate dishes are trending in Tokyo for Valentine's Day 2023 Want to be the first to know what’s cool in

Godiva has given us many collaborative sweet treats over the years including luxurious chocolate milkshakes and desserts at convenience stores and chain restaurants. Now the chocolate maker has its very first shokupan (Japanese milk bread), just in time for Valentine’s Day. Photo: Nogami Holdings To bring us this decadent treat, Godiva has teamed up with shokupan speciality store Nogami, which makes freshly-baked loaves of bread daily. Nogami says the secret to its fluffy bread is the mixture of a unique flour blend, which is then baked at a fixed temperature and cooled to give the shokupan its signature crisp outer crust. Photo: Nogami Holdings While Nogami's shokupan usually only comes in one flavour, you can now get this indulgent Godiva chocolate version from February 1 to 14. A generous amount of Belgian couverture chocolate is kneaded into the dough, so you’ll get an aromatic cacao flavour in every bite. A half-size block of the Godiva x Nogami loaf goes for ¥1,620 and will be available at Nogami stores nationwide. Visit the Nogami website for more information. More from Time Out Tokyo Kyoto and Sapporo ranked among the top 25 destinations in the world for 2023 You could win two seats at Noma Kyoto if you can identify a mystery ingredient Bear-shaped KitKat is now available in Japan for Valentine's Day There’s now a Yayoi Kusama robot in Tokyo You can now get a bacon milkshake at Domino’s Japan Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsle

Tokyo-based digital art collective Naked Inc has wowed us with its projection mapping projects over the years, with everything from magical dining experiences and digital fireworks to lighting up famous landmarks. It’s even scheduled to open its first permanent digital art exhibit in Tokyo this year. But before that, Naked Inc is lighting up Chichibu in Saitama prefecture with a matsuri festival-themed installation this winter.  Chichibu is around 80 minutes by train from Ikeburuo Station and famous for its traditional festivals. The Naked Yoru Sanpo night walk will celebrate this with iridescent lights, projection mapping and immersive displays around the city on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from January 27 to February 19 between 5.30pm and 8.30pm. Photo: Naked, Inc. The main part of the event is the Chichibu Winter Festival projection mapping at the Chichibu Festival Hall, a museum that celebrates the city's famous festivals. Naked is creating an immersive matsuri experience with realistic images and sounds that are inspired by the Chichibu night festival, which takes place in early December. You can buy your ticket for ¥500 at the Chichibu Jibasan Shoten local produce shop next to Chichibu Station. This is also the place to pick up a Naked Hanamikuji (¥500) – an omikuji fortune slip in the form of a flower. Photo: Naked, Inc. Another thing to look out for in the Chichibu Festival Hall is the Tsukubai installation, which is inspired by the ritual of cleansing your han

Parts of Japan are bracing for the coldest week this season, with officials urging those who live near the Sea of Japan coast to prepare for heavy snow. And while it’s rare for Tokyo to get snow, the forecast says otherwise. We might just get our first official snowfall of 2023 on January 24. Some areas within Tokyo have already experienced some very light snow with rain on the morning of January 23, including areas like Suginami ward. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency hasn't announced the city’s official first snowfall yet. According to NHK, temperatures in Tokyo will plunge in the morning on January 24, with snow a possibility. But don’t expect too much — it most likely won’t stay on the ground for too long. More from Time Out Tokyo Guide to Kyotographie 2023: featured photographers, exhibition venues and more See Ueno Zoo's famous panda before she returns to China in February Travel from Fukushima to Niigata on the spectacular Tadami Line train Bear-shaped KitKat is now available in Japan for Valentine's Day This onsen in Morioka is ranked best in northern Japan for fourth year in a row Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.

It’s no question that KitKats are one of the most popular snacks you can pick up in Japan, with quirky flavours you won’t find anywhere else. While we all know and love that classic KitKat bar shape, Nestlé loves to change it up with fun character-shaped chocolates for seasonal holidays. Photo: Plaza Style Nestlé introduced its first bear-shaped KitKats for Valentine's Day last year, and it was so popular that the limited edition chocolates sold out within a week. Thankfully, the KitKat Heartful Bear has made a return this year. This Japan-exclusive chocolate features a teddy bear holding a heart-shaped balloon that's been stamped with one of three different Valentine's messages: ‘I ♡ U’, ‘For U’ or ‘Thx!’. Photo: Nestlé Japan You can pick up a pack of six chocolate bears for ¥540 at Family Mart, Lawson, Plaza and Loft stores nationwide. Photo: Nestlé Japan There’s also a heart-shaped can with seven pieces for ¥1,512 at Family Mart, Plaza and Loft stores across Japan.  Photo: Nestlé Japan An even bigger pack with 12 pieces is ¥1,080 from the Seibu Ikebukuro KitKat Chocolatory store, the KitKat gift shop at Rinku Premium Outlet in Osaka and KitKat pop-up shops, which you can find here. All three packs are also available online from Nestlé, Amazon and Rakuten (but only for delivery in Japan). The KitKat Heartful Bear packs are on sale now (from January 30 at Lawson), so be quick if you want to pick some up in time for Valentine's Day because they're sure to sell out fas

Last month Louis Vuitton covered Tokyo with pumpkin installations and AR experiences to promote its second collaboration with Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. Popular landmarks like Shibuya Scramble Crossing and Tokyo Tower were decked out with her signature dotted artwork, but now you’ll get to see actual products from the collaboration at Louis Vuitton’s new pop-up shop in Harajuku until January 22 2023. Photo: Kaila Imada All decked out in yellow polka dots, the exterior of the Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama pop-up looks super photogenic, almost like an art museum. Similarly, the interior looks like a Yayoi Kusama exhibition, filled with the artist's iconic motifs and imagery such as reflective chrome balls (some assembled into an installation of the luxury brand's logo), an abundance of yellow polka dots, and more impressively, a massive statue of Yayoi Kusama herself that stretches across the two-storey space. Photo: Kaila Imada The collaboration lineup, which you'll be able to check out and purchase at the pop-up, includes ready-to-wear garments, shoes, leather goods, accessories and fragrances. You’ll find the Louis Vuitton’s classic NéoNoé BB bucket bag in a bright red colour with white dots all over it, as well as the Capucines BB handbag crafted with Taurillon leather with the same dot motif on the handle and logo.  Photo: Kaila Imada The pop-up store is located just outside Harajuku and Meiji-Jingumae stations (6-35-6 Jingumae, Shibuya). It's open fro

浅草といえば美しい寺や伝統的な商店が有名だが、最近ではナイトライフのスポットとしても注目されている。新しくオープンした「浅草横町」で定期的にパフォーマンスを開催し、夜の魅力を高めている。 Photo: Asakusa Rokku Area Management Association 祭りをイメージした横丁では、焼き鳥、寿司、焼き豚、韓国料理など7種類のレストランが入居。着物のレンタルショップもあり、ドレスアップして楽しむこともできる。ネオンやちょうちんなどカラフルな装飾が雰囲気を盛り上げ、定期的にライブも開催。よさこいや盆踊り、阿波おどりなど、夏祭りを満喫できるショーが1年中実施されている。 Photo: Asakusa Rokku Area Management Association 毎週金曜日の夜に「ゴールデンサンバ」が開催され、派手な衣装を身にまとったパフォーマーが登場する。浅草は毎年開催される「浅草サンバカーニバル」でも有名である。 公演のスケジュールは、公式ウェブサイトやフードホールのInstagramで確認しよう。 関連記事 『「ヒグチユウコ展 CIRCUS FINAL END」が最新作など500点を追加し六本木で開催』 『世田谷ボロ市が3年ぶり開催、世田谷線臨時ダイヤで増線に』 『「景色」という概念を空間に落とし込んだ複合施設が日本橋兜町にオープン』 『上質な音と食事、ブルーノートのダイニングが恵比寿ガーデンプレイスに登場』 『坂本龍一が音響監修した映画館が「東急歌舞伎町タワー」内に開業』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら

Niseko in Hokkaido is one of the most popular ski and snowboarding destinations in Japan, attracting visitors from all over the world every year for its powdery snow. If you plan to visit during the weekends this December, make sure to head over to Hanazono Niseko Resort to catch the stunning fireworks. Photo: Hanazono Niseko Resort This winter, Hanazono Niseko Resort is launching fireworks every Saturday evening from December 17 to February 25 2023. The fireworks will start at 7pm (5pm on December 17) and last about seven minutes. If you visit on December 31 New Year's Eve, you're in luck as there will be fireworks at 7pm and again at 12midnight to welcome the new year. Not to worry if your trip doesn’t fall on a Saturday because you can still enjoy the 12-metre-tall Christmas tree decked out in 10,000 colourful LED lights. What’s more, if you visit on December 17 at 5pm, you can get a free hot apple cider during the light-up ceremony. There's also a chance for kids to meet Santa Claus on December 24 at 3.30pm near the Christmas tree. The first 200 kids will even receive a free gift. Photo: Hanazono Niseko Resort The ski resort’s gondolas will also be lit up in seven different colour combinations for Christmas, New Year and other holidays like Valentine’s Day and Easter. If you’re not planning to hitch a ride on a gondola, you can sit at the Hanazono Edge restaurant to still get a good view of the colourful lifts.  Visit the Hanazono Niseko Resort website for more inform

Asakusa may be most famous for the beautiful Sensoji Temple and traditional shops, but it's quickly becoming a decent destination for nightlife, too. Now, one of Asakusa’s newest yokocho food halls is adding to the neighbourhood's nighttime appeal by hosting regular dance performances. Photo: Asakusa Rokku Area Management Association The matsuri festival-inspired Asakusa Yokocho houses seven kinds of restaurants serving the likes of yakitori, sushi, grilled pork and Korean food. There's also a traditional izakaya bar, and even a rental kimono shop should you wish to dress up. The yokocho has colourful decor with neon lights and lanterns that add to the ambience, and you can also expect regular live performances. Get ready to enjoy yosakoi, bon odori and awa odori dance shows year-round for the full summer festival experience. Photo: Asakusa Rokku Area Management Association The latest addition to all of this fun is the ‘Golden Samba’ dance show every Friday night, featuring performers dressed up in flashy outfits. Asakusa is also famous for the annual Asakusa Samba Carnival, making this neighbourhood a hotspot for samba events. To check the schedule for the samba performances at Asakusa Yokocho, check the website or the food hall's Instagram account. More from Time Out Tokyo Survey ranks the 10 best shotengai shopping streets in Tokyo Ghibli Park to begin international ticket sales with a special English site Survey: tell us what you think of Akita prefecture as a travel

Kabutocho in Nihonbashi is known as Tokyo’s business district, but the area has undergone a transformation in recent years to become a cool neighbourhood with hip new cafés, restaurants, bars and shops. Now there’s a new lifestyle complex here produced by renowned pastry chef Keisuke Oyama, the man who’s also behind Kayabacho’s Patisserie Ease. Photo: Kisa Toyoshima外観 The new complex is called Bank Kabutocho and is housed in a former bank building. The interior is rather simple with concrete walls and ceilings, but the addition of wooden tables, chairs, counters and flooring gives it a homely feel. Photo: Kisa Toyoshimaベーカリー バンク「クロワッサン」 On the first floor, you’ll find Bakery Bank serving unforgettable buttery croissants, which are the same as the ones offered at Patisserie Ease. Photo: Kisa Toyoshimaビストロ イェン：メニュー例 The sourdough with raisins and cranberries is also a popular choice. Bakery Bank also plans to add more baked goods in the future, including a red wine flavoured bread and another inspired by nikujaga (meat and potato stew). 画像提供：株式会社イートクリエータービストロ イェン If you’re looking for a proper sit down meal, Bistro Yen has you covered with its mixture of Spanish, French and Italian cuisine. Take a seat at the counter and you can watch the chefs prepare your food in the open kitchen. Photo: Kisa Toyoshimaビストロ イェン：メニュー例 The butternut soup at Bistro Yen is definitely one to try; it's made with sauteed bananas, topped with coconut flavoured foam and roasted almonds. We al