“Monablanc” Arrives at THE LIVELY OSAKA HONMACHI — A Wagashi-Meets-Mont-Blanc Autumn Sweet
Starting Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the lifestyle hotel THE LIVELY OSAKA HONMACHI will introduce “Monablanc,” a limited-edition autumn sweet, available through its accommodation plans as well as at the restaurant and bar.
A French Chef’s Autumn-Only Wagashi-Western Hybrid Sweet
THE LIVELY OSAKA HONMACHI is built around the concept of “É-mode” — a blend of “emotional” and “mode” — offering sweets experiences full of surprise and discovery. The hotel’s in-house chef combines the delicate technique and refined eye honed over years of experience with a free-spirited creativity that refuses to be boxed in, crafting hybrid sweets each season that bring together the essence of Japanese and Western confectionery. Created by a French chef with two decades in the field, these sweets stay ahead of the trends while holding onto classic elements, resulting in an inventive, polished creation that moves guests in a way they won’t forget. Beyond their photo-worthy beauty, each dessert carries an authentic French depth of flavor, turning every bite into a memory worth savoring.
This autumn, meet “Monablanc.”
This East-meets-West sweet brings together Mont Blanc, the beloved French pastry that has become a symbol of the Japanese autumn, and monaka, a classic wagashi confection. Layered with the season’s signature flavors — chestnut and apple — along with the rich aroma of hojicha and sansho pepper, it’s a treat you’ll only find this fall.
At its heart, a rich chestnut mousse is layered with a fragrant hojicha cream made from white bean paste and rum, plus a bittersweet fresh caramel sauce, each flavor building on the last for a dessert with real depth. A swirl of vanilla cream on top rounds everything out with a smooth, mellow finish. The base is a tart-shaped monaka filled with sautéed apple spiced with sansho pepper, where the apple’s light sweetness meets the bright kick of the pepper for a refreshing contrast. Between the mousse and the base sits a layer of gyuhi, adding the chewy texture and delicate flavor that only wagashi can bring.
And tucked into the round dome on top is a sauce made from wasanbon sugar and yogurt. Break it open with a spoon, and the white sauce spills out — a nod to the “white mountain” that gives Mont Blanc its name. A hint of tartness gives it a light, refreshing finish.
Enjoy it however you like — try sandwiching a bite between the accompanying monaka wafers for a treat that keeps things interesting from the first bite to the last. Come savor this limited-time sweet, layered with the flavors and aromas of autumn, found only at THE LIVELY OSAKA HONMACHI.
Product Overview
Availability: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – Monday, November 30, 2026
Price: ¥1,400 (tax included)
Where & When to Enjoy It:
THE LIVELY BAR OSAKA HONMACHI: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
THE LIVELY KITCHEN OSAKA HONMACHI: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (3:00 PM – 9:00 PM on weekends and holidays)
Accommodation Plan Overview
Availability: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – Monday, November 30, 2026
Plan Name: Autumn-Limited Wagashi-Western Hybrid Sweet “Monablanc” Stay Plan with Choice of Tea Set (Room Only)
Price: From ¥16,300 (tax included) for 2 guests, 1 room
Please select your preferred check-in date on or after September 1 to check availability.
The sweet can be enjoyed in your room, at THE LIVELY BAR OSAKA HONMACHI, or at THE LIVELY KITCHEN OSAKA HONMACHI, between 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Chef Kohei Nishiura
Chef Nishiura trained in kitchens across Kobe, Osaka, and France before serving as head chef at several French restaurants throughout Osaka, including the modern French restaurant La Chic in Yodoyabashi. In December 2019, he became head chef at THE LIVELY KITCHEN OSAKA HONMACHI. His appetizers draw on French delicatessen traditions, and while his cooking is rooted firmly in French technique, he strikes a careful balance between classic and modern, drawing out the vitality of ingredients shaped by Japan’s four seasons to create dishes full of life and joy. Bringing together the sensibility and knowledge built over his career, he continues to share the appeal of the “casual French” cuisine that’s uniquely THE LIVELY OSAKA HONMACHI, making French food feel more approachable than ever.
THE LIVELY OSAKA HONMACHI is a lifestyle hotel known for its refined design, featuring a restaurant, bar, and workspace suited to every kind of stay.
＜Property Overview＞
THE LIVELY OSAKA HONMACHI 1-5-11 Minami-Honmachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0054 1-minute walk from Sakaisuji-Honmachi Station (Chuo Line / Sakaisuji Line) 10-minute walk from Honmachi Station (Chuo Line / Midosuji Line / Yotsubashi Line)
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