Benny's Japan Tips Vol. 5 | Nara Craft Festival, Kuramae Edible Coffee, JR Ticket Booking and Rice Ball Stickers
Traveling to Japan in October 2026? This issue covers what to make, what to eat, and a new feature for booking JR tickets! "Benny's Japan Insight" Vol. 5 takes you through free artisan demonstrations at the Nara Craft Festival, the new MOKABLE edible coffee shop in Kuramae (Tokyo), the integration of ANA Travel CUBE with JR-West bookings, and the "Chikyu no Arukikata" × JR-PLUS rice ball sticker campaign. When planning your itinerary, the most important thing isn't just noting the dates, but also distinguishing between the requirements for registration, ticket collection, and promotional gifts.
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NIID NEO EDC Pouch
Keep your phone, passport, and cards organized with 8 storage compartments while traveling or festival-hopping.
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Ricocafe Titanium Tumbler 600ml
A lightweight 246g tumbler to keep your coffee or tea hot while walking or riding the train.
View & Purchase →These items are selected for their travel relevance and are not official event merchandise. The titanium tumbler is designed by a Taiwanese team and manufactured in China; please do not put it in the dishwasher or microwave. The actual capacity of the pouch depends on the size of your items.
Current issue date: October 9, 2026. Information is compiled from the provided text and four infographics, accurate as of 11:30 AM Hong Kong Time on that day. The following event and opening hours are in Japan Standard Time; please double-check the latest official arrangements regarding prices, quotas, route support, and availability before departure.
① Nara Craft Festival: Free artisan demonstrations, advance registration required for hands-on workshops
If you want to see how Japanese crafts are transformed from raw materials into works of art, check out the Nara Craft Festival held at the Nara Craft Museum (なら工藝館) on October 24–25, 2026. Admission is free, with live demonstrations by Akahada-yaki pottery and lacquerware artisans. To participate in hands-on workshops, separate registration and fees are required.
Dates, Times, and Transportation
- Event dates: October 24–25, 2026.
- Hours: 10:00–18:00 (last admission at 17:30).
- Venue: Nara Craft Museum (なら工藝館).
- Access: About a 10-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.
- Free content: Admission and artisan demonstrations, including Akahada-yaki and lacquerware.
Three Paid Workshops: Varying Fees and Quotas
- Noh mask (Kore mask) workshop: 3,000 yen, quota of 15.
- Uchiwa (round fan) workshop: 2,200 yen, quota of 20.
- Ittobori (wood carving) workshop: 2,500 yen, quota of 30.
According to the infographic, children from upper elementary school level can participate. Please check official event guidelines for specific age requirements and application methods. Applications must be received by October 14; a lottery system will be used if quotas are exceeded. "Received" does not mean "sent on that day," so allow sufficient time for processing if you wish to participate.
Benny's Tip: Free demonstrations and paid workshops are different things. Don't wait until you arrive on October 24 expecting to join a hands-on workshop.
② MOKABLE New Store in Kuramae, Tokyo: Coffee you can "eat"
MOKABLE's first physical store opened on October 5, 2026, in Kuramae, Tokyo. The brand turns whole coffee beans into edible coffee, and the glass kitchen in the shop showcases the production process. There are also dine-in exclusive items. For coffee lovers, the appeal isn't just drinking a cup, but observing how coffee beans are transformed into an edible format.
Address and Hours
- Address: 4-32-7 Kuramae, Tokyo.
- Hours: 11:00–19:00.
- Closed: Announced as Mondays; please confirm before visiting.
- In-store menu prices: Not published in this issue.
The 1,580 yen starting price (tax included) for Origin Coffee Bars listed in the infographic is an online reference price, not an in-store set menu price. Do not use this price to estimate the average per-person cost for dining in.
The provided images are official brand promotional photos; it is not stated whether they are actual photos or renderings, and they are not photos from a personal visit by Benny. Therefore, this article only organizes the provided shop information and does not provide a review.
Benny's Tip: You can plan a stop at this new shop while strolling through Kuramae; however, do not rely on online store prices to budget for a dine-in meal, and be sure to check the location, opening days, and menu before you go.
③ ANA Travel CUBE × JR-West: Carry over route search conditions to booking pages
Starting October 8, 2026, the English route search feature on ANA Travel CUBE allows users to carry over the searched date, time, and route to the JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION page. The convenience lies in saving time by not having to re-enter data; it does not mean the ticket purchase is finalized immediately after the search.
How to understand this new feature?
- Perform a route search in English on ANA Travel CUBE.
- Use the supported link to navigate to the JR-WEST booking page, where date, time, and route will be pre-filled.
- Confirm the train, seat, and fare on the booking page, and complete the payment.
- Check the collection location, required information, and usage method according to the ticket type purchased.
Some routes or trains are not supported, and there is no guarantee of the lowest price. The images are official operation diagrams, and the fares shown are not quotes for your actual itinerary.
Physical Ticket Collection: Bring your payment card and booking details
For physical tickets paid for by credit card, remember to bring the physical credit card used for payment and your reservation number; according to the infographic, ticket machines also require a 4-digit PIN. Actual requirements must be checked against your ticket type and booking confirmation.
Benny's Tip: This feature only carries your search conditions over to the booking page; it is not a guarantee of mobile-entry. Confirm what kind of ticket you are buying and how to collect it before planning your station arrival time.
④ "Chikyu no Arukikata" × JR-PLUS: Travel guide covers become rice balls, buy together to get stickers
Travel guidebooks are not just for route finding—this time they've become the theme for station gourmet food. In collaboration with JR-PLUS, "Chikyu no Arukikata" is launching a total of 57 food items at select stores along the line from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka from October 13 to November 9, 2026. This is the total number of items in the campaign; not every store will carry all 57.
Kyoto Chili Oil Minced Chicken Rice Ball: 245 yen (tax included)
The Kyoto Chili Oil Minced Chicken Rice Ball introduced in this issue is priced at 245 yen including tax and comes in travel guide-style packaging. The provided image is official JR-PLUS product material and not a personal review photo; therefore, no description of the actual taste or texture is provided.
How to get the stickers? Not every food purchase qualifies
According to the provided information, purchase one of the 6 designated rice balls together with a qualifying Kirin drink to receive 1 sticker of your choice. There are 6 sticker designs available, and they are available while supplies last. Participating stores, qualifying items, and on-site arrangements vary.
Benny's Tip: Look for the campaign signs in the store before buying, bring your desired sticker, qualifying rice ball, and drink to the counter, and confirm with the staff. Do not misunderstand the "57-item campaign" to mean every item comes with a gift.
Planning your Japan trip? First, check these dates
- October 14: Deadline for paid workshop applications for the Nara Craft Festival to be received (not just mailed).
- October 24–25: Nara Craft Festival held; free demonstrations and pre-booked workshops are separate.
- October 13 – November 9: "Chikyu no Arukikata" × JR-PLUS food campaign period; stickers available while supplies last.
- Before visiting MOKABLE: Confirm opening hours, menu, and transportation.
- Before paying for JR: Confirm route support, ticket type, and physical ticket collection requirements.
Benny's Japan Insight Vol. 5 FAQ
Is everything at the Nara Craft Festival free?
No. Admission and artisan demonstrations are free, but the Noh mask, Uchiwa, and Ittobori workshops require separate fees and advance application via a lottery system if overbooked.
Is mailing the workshop application on October 14 okay?
No. According to the information, it must be received by October 14, not just mailed on that day. Please check the official application method and allow for transit time.
Is the 1,580 yen at MOKABLE the in-store meal price?
No. The infographic lists the online store reference price for Origin Coffee Bars at 1,580 yen including tax; in-store menu prices were not released for this issue.
Does finding a route on ANA Travel CUBE mean the JR ticket is already bought?
No. The new feature only carries your search conditions over to the JR-WEST booking page; you still need to confirm the train, select seats, and complete payment. Some routes are also not supported.
Can JR-WEST physical tickets be used for mobile gate entry?
Do not assume so. The physical tickets paid for by credit card introduced here require collection according to their ticket type; usually, you must carry the physical credit card used for payment and your reservation details. Usage methods depend on the confirmation information provided.
Does buying a collaboration rice ball always come with a sticker?
Not necessarily. You must meet the condition of purchasing a designated rice ball together with a qualifying Kirin drink, and it depends on store participation and sticker stock; the 6 designs are available while supplies last.
Which item do you want to add to your itinerary the most? Save this issue of "Benny's Japan Insight" and double-check the requirements before registering, booking, or purchasing. The most useful parts of new travel news are often the small details that are easily overlooked.
Information accurate as of October 9, 2026, compiled from the provided text and four infographics without real-time external verification. Infographic sources include official Nara Craft Museum announcements and traffic pages, MOKABLE brand announcements and official website, ANA announcements and JR-WEST ticket collection guidelines, and JR-PLUS announcements and publisher introductions. Please rely on the latest information from organizers and shops regarding activities, product availability, prices, and ticket collection requirements.
