The international popularity of bonsai, the art of producing miniature trees through cultivation techniques, seems to be growing in recent years. The bonsai boom reached a new high last year with the excitement around the World Bonsai Convention which was held in Japan for the first time since 1989. As a result, a growing range of bonsai-inspired products have hit the market. For example, we've seen paper bonsai kits, floating bonsai home decorations and even a "smart" bonsai that follows you around and can hold a conversation.

Now, a restaurant in Urahara (or "underside of Harajuku"), an area known for its mix of Japanese street fashion and bohemian culture, has created a new dessert called a Bonsai Parfait which pays homage to bonsai.

This innovative dessert comes in three varieties (Matcha edition is shown above, decorated with a taiyaki and azuki ice cream bar) and is available at Tsurukamero, a unique Japanese restaurant which stands out among the fashion shops of Urahara with its vertical lattice facade decorated with a tsuru (crane) and kame (turtle), two animals considered auspicious for their longevity.

The other two varieties of Bonsai Parfait are Berry-Banana and Chocolate

The already photogenic dessert will stand out even more against the backdrop of Tsurukamero's beautifully decorated interior with its crane and turtle motif.

The Bonsai Parfait will set you back a reasonable 800 JPY when you visit Tsurukamero.

Restaurant Details

• Name: Tsurukamero 鶴亀楼
• Weekdays: 12:00-16:00 (L.O. 15:30), 17:30-23:00 (L.O. 22:00)
• Weekend and holidays: 12:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 22:00)
• Address: 4-27-2 Jingumae Shibuya-ku Tokyo 東京都渋谷区神宮前4-27-2
• Tel: 03-5413-3947
• Access: 5 mins. on foot from Meijijingu-Mae Station (Metro, Chiyoda Line), 7 mins. from Harajuku Station (JR)
• Wesbite: LINK