About food in Japan

Update about Kumamoto, Kyushu

Update about Kumamoto in Kyushu, which is the area affected by the latest big earthquakes

Many of you may know several big earthquakes hit Kumamoto and a part of Oita prefectures (in southern part of Japan) on 14-17April 2016.
In some parts, life infrastructure and transportation service have been still affected and damaged by the shake.

If you consider traveling in Kyushu region near future, please check the latest information on the websites below.

JNTO(Japan National Tourism Organization)
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eq/kumamoto.html

Japanguide.com
http://www.japan-guide.com/news/0035.html

If you are planning to travel in other parts of Japan such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Okinawa etc, please do not worry, as our life and businees go on as usual and all people are happy to welcome you.

If you like to help the affected area in some ways, purchase a product(s) with "Kumamon" symbol.
The black bear mark means "the product from Kumamoto prefecture."

   
 

You could find some of them at supermarkets, convenience stores etc in many parts of Japan.

We much appreciate your continuous warm support and attention to Japan.

 

 

Kura Cafe in Koedo Kurari, the last and largest spot to get souvenir of Kawagoe, Saitama

This is our last post of Kawagoe introduction series, then, we introduce you that the last and (maybe) the largest shopping spot to discover local products for souvenir for Kawagoe town.

Koedo Kurari (小江戸　蔵里)　is a large shopping and dining house focusing on local products of Kawagoe.

It is on the way between the old town district and two train stations.

It will be useful even when you forget purchasing some products in the old town or when you would like to take a break before leaving Kawagoe by train.

The building both exterior and interior looks like Kura (traditional style storage), even though the inside is modern space with a big gift shop, restaurant, cafe etc.

Espcially we recommend Kura Cafe existing in a corner of the shopping area.

The space looks good with wooden furniture in the mixture style of modern and traditional element.

 

As for menu, if you look for sweets, please try sweet potato pudding, made from the town's local specialty ingredient.

Alternatively, the cafe also provides lunch set meal or local brand beer (Koedo), green tea etc.

 

Please find our other posts about Kawagoe, if you have not visited them.

 Kawagoe(川越), an old town easily accessible from Tokyo

Lunch spot in Kawagoe, Kasho Umon tea room

Kashiya Yokocho (菓子屋横丁) must-visit spot for food lovers in Kawagoe

History with sweet potato - Kameya Eisen sweets maker, Kawagoe

 

 

Shop name: Kura cafe at Koedo Kurari (小江戸　蔵里)

Address: 1-10-1 Shintomi-cho, Kawagoe city, Saitama

Official site (Japanese version only): http://www.machikawa.co.jp/

 

 

 

 

 

History with sweet potato - Kameya Eisen sweets maker, Kawagoe

From some posts made on the last year, please let us add a couple of spots especially "for sweets lovers" to visit in Kawagoe.

 

Kameya Eisen is an established sweets maker with over a century long history in Kawagoe, Saitame prefecture(30 minutes train ride from Tokyo).

In the middle of main street of Kawagoe old town, the exterior looks nice, reflecting the history of the house.

On the ground floor, the sweets shop offers variety of their traditional delicacies, as we can imagine.

 

 

For food lovers, please do not leave without visiting the upper floor!

The second floor space is open as a small exhibition hall and it introduces us the history of sweet potato product with the maker. The exhibition tells us how much the product has been appreciated by people for a century and how it had been produced in ancient time.

 

 

One of the interesting displays is "excursion travel tickets" from Tokyo to Kawagoe.

In a series of tickets, one is for "a bucket of sweet potato" offered

as local specialty souvenir to tourists visiting Kawagoe!!

 

 

For more information about spots in Kawagoe, please visit other pages,

 Kawagoe(川越), an old town easily accessible from Tokyo

Lunch spot in Kawagoe, Kasho Umon tea room

Kashiya Yokocho (菓子屋横丁) must-visit spot for food lovers in Kawagoe

 

Spot name: Kameya Eisen

Address: 5-6 Saiwai-cho, Kawagoe City, Saitama

Open: 10h-17h 

Official website (Japanese version only):  http://www.kawagoe.com/kameyaeisen/information.html

 

 

 

Aeon Mall Narita, the last stop fully to get Japanese products before leaving

We believe many of you leave from Japan by taking a flight from Narita airport.

If you have a few hours in Narita and wish to do shopping something more than airport boutiques before leaving, Aeon Mall Narita must be the best place. 

It has units for major Japanese brands, shops such as Sanrio, Daiso(100yen shop), cosmetic DHC, FANCL, MUJI, they are available in the shopping mall.

In addition at the large supermarket, you can find some sweets and food products of course.

 

Japanese souvenir sweets 

 

 

Even though you are not interested in shopping, the mall will be a good place as the last chance to enjoy tasting nice meals at reasonable prices. The food court offers ramen, seafood, takoyaki balls as well as McDonalds, 31 ice cream etc.

 

 

 

 

Omelette with rice from Pomme's curry

Fried chicken(karaage) from Kyushu Danji

 

If you need breakfast for next morning, drop by the high quality bakery Mont-thabor from Azabu Juban on the ground floor.

 

 

 

 

 

Shop name: Aeon Mall Narita

Website: http://narita-aeonmall.com/static/detail/translation-en

Shuttle bus available to/from Narita train station and Narita Airport

Access information http://narita-aeonmall.com.e.vd.hp.transer.com/static/detail/access-transport