About food in Japan

Where to watch FIFA World Cup games in Tokyo

It’s less than 2 weeks to the start of FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. 

Breaking into the current series of blog post about Hokkaido, today we introduces recommendable sports bars to watch FIFA World Cup games in Tokyo.

Some of them will provide live broadcasting even for games not by Japan’s national team.

 

ONCE

It’s 5minutes walk from subway Nakameguro station on Hibiya line or is short distance by taxi from Ebisu or Shibuya. The area of Nakameguro may be unfamiliar for international tourists but for locals it’s a place where we can find nice and interesting restaurants and bars. Like ONCE, some restaurants and bar in Nakameguro remain open until late night even after midnight so those working hard and until late time can enjoy after-work time in the town.

What we love ONCE as a sports bar is that it provides “Mexican” food while many others are likely to be a British pub offering fish & chips etc.

 

Our favourite Chilli Cheese Fries

 

Another favourite menu

Enchilada (tortilla covered with cheese)

 

Of course it provides wide selection of Mexican alcohol

from Tecate beer to Tequila selections.

 

Add: 1-28-7 Aoba-dai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Official website: http://www.once11.net

 

The ALDGATE 

Contrary to the first pick ONCE, a Mexican bar, ALDGATE in Shibuya is an authentic British bar that British living in Tokyo appreciate. Even apart from football games broadcasting, it is a cozy bar with British-like atmosphere and nice music from the country. Their broadcasting schedule for World Cup is already published on the website. It offers video play on evening in Tokyo rather than live in early morning or late evening. So we can enjoy exciting games while having dinner or drinking after work.

Address: 3rd floor, 30-4 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.the-aldgate.com

 

 Tokyo Sports Cafe

In the largest night entertainment spot of Tokyo with international atmosphere, Roppongi, it is located just out of the two main streets of town. As long as you can find and enter into this bar, no worry even you do not understand Japanese. Here you will be able to have fun and to be relaxed. Rather Japanese who don't speak English well could feel unconfortable with unexpected environment where many of staff and guests are non-Japanese.

Address: 2n floor Fusion bld., 7-13-8 Roppongo, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.tokyo-sportscafe.com

 

 

Footnik (Ebisu, Osaki, Nakano)

Footnik has 3 units in central Tokyo.

They are a type of sports bar where ordinary Japanese football fans feel more comfortable compared with the first 3 our recommendations. It means that Footnik more focuses on Japanese football fans and they will be full or over capacity for games when Japanese team play. 

Well, still it will be good for non-Japanese to enjoy other football games. Among their 3 units, especially Ebisu branch has much more international guests. When the World Cup was taken place in Japan in 2002, a British TV broadcasted and reported from this bar in Ebisu as a base of football fans in Tokyo.

 

Website: http://www.footnik.net

Ebisu branch

Address: 1-11-2 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

 

Osaki branch

Address: Ground floor ThinkPark 2-1-1 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

 

 Nakano branch  (Closed, updated on 14 June 2018)

 

 

 

Hokkaido's specialty, the most expensive melon, Yubari(夕張)

Hokkaido's local specialty is not limited to seafood. Here we introduce probably the most expensive "melon" in the world. 

Some of you may know that you can find many pricey fruits sold in Japan, especially in Tokyo. These fruits are supposed to be sent as a gift. Yubari melon (夕張メロン) is an icon of such gorgeous gift fruits. 

 

How much is it ?

On 5days ago, the first auction for 2014 season was taken place at Sapporo Central Wholeseller market.  

 

There the highest bidding price was recorded...

at 2.5 million yen(25,000 US dollars) for a pair of Yubari melons.

Here we have a web article

"A PRICEY PAIR OF CANTALOUPES"

http://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/society/a-pricey-pair-of-cantaloupes/

 

Of course, not all melons won't cost over 1 million. But still the price around Yen5000 per piece is very expensive compared with other fruits including other brands of melon. 

 

At least we could watch the farms and green houses of Yubari melon on our trip in Hokkaido. This is what we want to share on this post.

 

Just we could imagine the luxury fruits are inside the houses...

    

Wishing we can eat Yubari melon as much as we want some days in future, so far we only enjoy the flavor through processed products that are sold at more reasonable prices...

 

Such as ... 

Yubari melon cake 

(Price around just 1 US dollar at a local market)

 

or 

 

 

Yubari melon sherbet
(costs at 3 US dollars at a hotel's gift shop, still  resonable)

and others.

Yubari melon is available in markets during summer and are sold mainly at department stores or upscale fruits shops like Senbikiya.

 

Sushi Minato, Michelin 1 star, Asahikawa(鮨 みなと, 旭川)

During the trip in Hokkaido by the owner of About Food in Japan blog, she visited a Sushi restaurant with a Michelin star. Following a couple of last posts introducing seafood available in Hokkaido, today we report an upscale sushi restaurant in Asahikawa (旭川).

Asahikawa is the second largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo, the prefecture’s capital. Asahikawa city is known for Asahiyama Zoo which is located outskirt of the city.

As per the Michelin restaurant guide Hokkaido, a star is awarded to 8 restaurants in Asahikawa city. There is no 2 or 3 stars awarded in the city.

  

Among the 8 restaurants with the highest evaluation in the city by Michelin guide, we visited Sushi Minato, only one Sushi restaurant with a Michelin star in Asahikawa.

The restaurant is located central area of Asahikawa town. It is more specifically on “3 Jo (３条)” street, where restaurants and bars are gathered. 

The restaurant has a counter with around 10 seats where Sushi cook prepare sushi pieces in front of guests as well as some private rooms for small groups. Staff and cook are friendly and some speak English. They seem to be happy to welcome tourists from out of Hokkaido as well as the world. 

 

 

 

We do not like to take a photo at a such luxury sushi restaurant, while the cook is preparing sushi in front of us. So we are sorry we do not have a phot of sushi and what we had.

 

At the counter seat, we saw the sushi master preparing scallop taken from its shell and other fresh seafood ingredients. The quality of their seafood and sushi is excellent, while the price is really good value for money. Our check, around Yen 5000 per person for sushi and a few side dishes with sake, is surpriging even for Japanese, if we consider the price for sushi in same quality and offered in Tokyo.

 

 

If you have a chance to visit Asahikawa, Sushi Minato is truly recommendable. We also recommend that you secure the counter seat with advance reservation.

 

 

 

Restaurant name: Sushi Minato

Address: 5-Left 9, 3 Jo Street, Asahikawa-city, Hokkaido