About food in Japan

Our new service, Dining Experience Planner, launched!

Food Tourism Japan Consulting who organizes English blog "about food in Japan" (http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp) just launched new innovative service called "Dining Experience Planner".  

Dining Experience Planner is newly developed service for non-Japanese people who wish to enjoy having nice meal at nice restaurant(s) in Japan, even if they do not understand Japanese language and if they have no local friend who can give tips to him/her. 

 Especially in Tokyo, there are 98000 restaurants including 240 Michelin star-awarded, with various menu just for "Japanese cuisine" from Sushi or Kaiseki at upscale restaurants to Okonomiyaki, casual Japanese pancake etc etc. 

 Even with guide books and travel related websites, it is not easy to identify an ideal restaurant for your request and requirement.

 

Would it be great if you could get restaurant recommendation personally from a local person who is a professional on the field?

 

Dining Experience Planner will search restaurants as per your requests, on behalf of you book the most suitable one for your situation, and propose it with useful information.

In exchange for small amount of financial cost, Dining Experience Planner by Food Tourism Japan Consulting will help you in following ways.

To make your dining experience in Japan be fantastic and comfortable.

To release you from anxious that you might feel because of language barrier.

To save your time for restaurant searching and booking.

 

For more detail about Dining Experience Planner service, please visit Food Tourism Japan Consulting website.

http://www.food-tourism-japan.com/dining-experience-planner---restaurant-proposal-service.html 

 

We are looking forward to serving you for making your dream come true, fantastic dining experience in Japan

 

Food Tourism Japan Consulting

http://www.food-tourism-japan.com 

Enishi (縁) Art meet modern Japanese tea ceremony exhibition

Modern Japanese tea ceremony exhibition called Enishi will be taken place at Seibu department in Shibuya during 4th to 24th October 2011.

The word, Enishi (縁) represents tie, link or encounter among people or between human and things. The younger generation tea ceremony master, Mr. Matsumura, introduces the world of modern Japanese tea ceremony, collaborating with modern art creators. Followings are what you will find at the exhibition "Enishi, Art meet modern Japanese tea ceremony", taken place at 3 different exhibitions corners all on either the 5th or 8th floor B-wing Seibu department Shibuya.

*Tea ceremony room brought to the department store.

 On weekend afternoons, in the room, tea ceremony will be taken place several times. For the ceremony, modern tea making tools created by young 20 potters will be used and Japanese traditional sweets also made by new generations of Japanese sweets (和菓子) masters, "wagashi asobi" will be served to the ceremony guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Introduction of tea ceremony in modern lifestyle

Combining with materials in life; clothes, sweets, tea making tools and housing, new ways to enjoy tea ceremony in daily life will be introduced.

 

*Tea bowls, tea making tools and decoration objects for tea rooms will be presented under the theme "Neo-Japonisme and Avant-garde" in a gallery.

 

Related links

Enishi (縁) Art meet modern Japanese tea ceremony information on Avant-Garde Cha Kai site(Japanese)

http://www.ava-cha.com/2011/09/21/3479

 

Shuhally (Japanese) - Tea ceremony school by the master, Mr. Matsumura who plays the main role of the exhibition producer.

http://www.shuhally.jp

 

Wagashi Asobi - Young Japanese sweets maker who provides tea ceremony sweets for the exhibition.

http://wagashiasobi.wordpress.com

 

 

Exhibition: Enishi (縁) Art meet modern Japanese tea ceremony

Date: 4th October to 24th October 2011

At: 5th and 8th floor B-wing, Seibu department store Shibuya

Address: 21-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

大きな地図で見る

Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival 2nd is coming on October

It is a great news for Food Lovers who stay and visit Tokyo

The second Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival will be taken place between 8th to 23rd October 2011, following the first attempt last year.

The event has been upgraded with 17 films (much increased!! from 8 in 2010) "tasty" both new and old, domestic and international as well as several exclusive opportunities to watch movie at a restaurant while having dinner arranged specially for the movie. 

The main venue is at Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Yebisu Garden Place.

 

Followings are some of works on screen at the film festival.

"eatrip" - The film festival's concept movie, which cannnot be missted for the event every year.

Documentary film to tell about Japanese food culture.

With English subtitles. About the movie, check our previous post from here. 

 

<Japanese films, Japanese version only, unfortunately....>

Samma no aji (秋刀魚の味, "An Autumn Afternoon", 1962 by Yasujiro Ozu)

Kamome Shokudo (かもめ食堂, 2006, a commedy story of a Japanese lady who opened a Japanese restaurant in Helsinki, Finland.)

Nankyoku Ryorinin (南極料理人, Antarctic Chef, 2009, returned from the last year event because it was so popular. a story of chef who serves for Japanese Antarctic camp)

<English version with Japanese subtitles>

Bagdad Cafe (2008, remaken from the original 1987 version)

My Blueberry Nights (2007) 

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

 

<Other language version with Japanese subtitles>

Cooking Up Dreams ("De Ollas y Suenos" Spanish version, 2009, Peruvien food documentary)

Soul Kitchen (German version, 2009)

 

<Screen with dinner>

The event organizer offers special opportunities to have dinner and movie at a restaurant. The dinner menu will be something got inspired from the movie on screen.

Advanced reservation required. For more information please check its official site.

*Film "eatrip"(Japanese version, English subtitle) / Date: 3rd Oct, 11th Oct

*FIlm "Cooking Up Dreams"(Spanish version, Japanese subtitle) at Peruvian restaurant / Date: 4th Oct, 17thOct

*FIlm "Dinner Rush" (English version, Japanese subtitle) with Italian menu / Date: 11th Oct

*Film "The Hangover"(English version, Japanese subtitle) / Date: 11th Oct - it also includes "free flow of some alcohol drinks" to make you "hangover"!!

 

We recommend the film "eatrip" the most if you are a food lover but do not understand Japanese. Please check screen time from  the site Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival's English site. 

 

In addition, for cinema lovers, Tokyo Interenational Film Festival will follow the Food Lover Film Festival from 22 October 2011. Many Japanese and international movies will be on screen in Roppongi during the festival.

 

Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival official site:http://tokyogohan.com/filmfestival/

 

Our previous post related:  Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival at Ebisu Garden Cinema

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/10/tokyo-food-lovers-film-festival-at-ebisu-garden-cinema.html

Newly developed Japan's foods!

Last friday Gourmet & Dining Style Show 2011 Autumn was taken place in Tokyo. It is a trade show for professional food & drink buyers to seek for new products. 

At the site, under the project titled "Re-discover Japan's good products" (ニッポンのいいもの再発見！), newly developped local food products made with traditional ingredients are introduced by local small size producers across Japan. Today we picked up two products which we liked the most among these from "Re-discover Japan's good products".

 

Jo-con (醲献), Japanese sake

It is condensed Japanese sake made from rice in Ueda-city, Nagano prefecture. It contains 38% alcohol, unusually high rate, more than double companred with normal sake. The richness must attract alcohol lovers, as whisky or brandy do. It is good to have it on the rocks. 

Another point to note is..., unlike normal fresh sake, it can be kept over a year. It will be aged day by day like vintage wine and you can enjoy different taste at each stage.  

For international travelers, the small bottle of 100ml at a reasonable price Yen1500 per bottle must be a good souvenir item to bring back to your country. 

Go to Jo-con facebook site (Japanese)

Official site: http://www.jo-con.jp

 

Awajishima Rusk (淡路島ラスク)

Rusk is originally Wester style product but different versions of it are available in some places in Japan. This is one of them from Awajishima, Hyogo prefecture.

Awajishima rusk offers 3 different kinds of flavor; onion, local citrus Naruto orange and honey, all are ingredient harvested on the island. Onion rusk is salty and maybe good as snack with beer, while other two have tender sweet flavor. Each of them surely has each different vivid character but they are never too strong. It must be a good souvenir of Awaji island. 

Official site (Japanese): http://www.m-awaji.jp/onion/rask.html

 

Although we are not able to find them easily so far, we are looking forward to seeing these nice products attacting many of both Japanese and interenational clients soon

Ocean view internet cafe on the 48th floor, Makuhari (幕張)

Some of you maybe have a plan to visit Makuhari Messe, one of the biggest international convention center in greater Tokyo. Here we introduce an internet (and comic) cafe in the area.

Comic & Internet cafe aprecio Tokyo Bay Makuhari branch is not just a normal unit of that type of facility. It is a quite unique internet cafe in term of the view and location. If your journey plan includes visiting Makuhari, Chiba area for trade fairs or alternative stay out from Tokyo, don't miss the chance to enjoy an advantage of the cafe. 

Aprecio is located on the 48th floor in a hotel, APA Hotel & Resort Tokyo Bay Makuhari. It is just a few minutes walk from the international convention center Makuhari Messe and the building is one of the closest to the cost line among hig-rise buildings in the area. 

In addition, as most space of the cafe is facing sea side, the blue coast of Tokyo Bay is visible from your PC desk on 170-meter height level.

Blue sky and blue ocean, very relaxing view

Chiba Marine Stadium is on the right side.

 

If you are lucky, you could find Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Sky Tree tower, depending on weather condition. 

As it opens for 24hours a day, if you would, enjoy sun-set, sun-rise or some night illumination as well. 

 

Like other aprecio internet cafe, soft drinks and some sweets are provided without additional charge.

You might find this is more fun place than some hotel's' executive lounge

 

No better place in Makuhari to take a break at reasonable cost but without bothering.

 

Cafe name: Comic & Internet Cafe aprecio Tokyo Bay Makuhari

Address: 48th floor APA Hotel & Resort Tokyo Bay Makuhari, 2-3 Hibino, Mihama-ku, Chiba-city, Japan

Website: http://www.aprecio.co.jp/makuhari/

 

大きな地図で見る

 

Hotels close to the location

アパホテル＆リゾート＜東京ベイ幕張＞

ホテル　ザ・マンハッタン

ホテルニューオータニ幕張