About food in Japan

Part 8 Kumagaya, For Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 matches, recommendable options in host cities

Kumagaya is a half hour train ride from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet train.

It can be a base of sightseeing in surrounding regions, such as Chichibu, Omiya, Nagano or Nikko.

We found the city’s tourist bureau compiles a nice list of evening dining options on its website in English.  http://www.oideyo-kumagaya.com/kumanomi-en/

In the residential and industrial town, many Izakaya(casual dining & bar) options are available mainly around Kumagaya train station.

The website introduce many options with basic information, categorizing by the characteristics. We strongly believe that the site is useful for those who visit and enjoy Kumagaya.

Enjoy and drink like a local in Kumagaya!

Part 7 Nagoya, For Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 matches, recommendable options in host cities

We introduce top 3 Nagoya-meshi(local speciality dishes of Nagoya).

1. Miso-Katsu – Some of you may know “Tonkatsu”(pork cutlet). Miso-katsu is a regional variation of Tonkatsu. Bitter sweet brown sauce made from miso paste is over pork cutlet.

 

2. Hitsumabushi – Grilled eel on top of rice is common across Japan. The Nagoya style set is served with a few condiments and a pot of hot water or green tea. The traditional way to enjoy the dish is first round, simply have just eel and rice, the second round mix them with served condiments such as wasabi, shredded leek and seaweed. As the third round, pour (as served, included in the set) green tea or stock soup or hot water on eel, rice and condiments in the rice bowl and take them. Be ready to have three bowls of rice with grilled eel!

Even though you have never had eel, try the premium seafood in Japan. It is never fishy, no strong flavour at all. Japanese choose the menu as festive meal or to gain more energy.

 

 

 

3. Tebasaki – means “chicken wings”. No further explanation is required for the simple menu. Crispy and spicy chicken wing well matches with beer. You will easily find them at Izakaya, local style dining bars and take-away stands in the region.

 

Rugby World Cup 2019 official site
Match schedule: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match-schedule
Official Ticket purchase guide and tour information : https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/buy-official

 

*** This post was reproduced from our official Facebook account post made on 14 January 2019. ***

Part 6 Nagoya, For Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 matches, recommendable options in host cities

Moku Moku Kaze-no Budo, buffet restaurant by a tourist farm

A major gateway city for Toyota Stadium, Nagoya is located in the middle of Japan. Our favourite restaurant, Kaze-no Budo(grapes of winds) is the place bringing natural country taste in the bustling central area of Nagoya.

 

The buffet restaurant, operated by a popular tourist farm Moku Moku Farm in the region, offers a variety of charcuterie, vegetables and so on. Dishes include both Japanese and Western styles, most look fresh and healthy.

 

Gelato ice cream made from fresh farm milk was also excellent, don’t miss it!

 

 

 

 

The restaurant is on the 7th floor of a shopping complex called “Lachic”, in central Nagoya Sakae area.

Moku Moku farm Official site http://www.moku-moku.com/farm/index-en.html

Rugby World Cup 2019 official site
Match schedule: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match-schedule
Official Ticket purchase guide and tour information : https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/buy-official

*** This post was reproduced from our official Facebook account post made on 11 January 2019. ***

Part5 Toyota, For Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 matches, recommendable options in host cities

Toyota city – the name reminds you of the global motor company?

Yes, it is where the headquarters of Toyota Motor Corporation is located.

The stadium with over 40,000 seats was also used for major football matches, 2002 World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in the past.

 

Some choices of bars are available on the way from the station to the stadium though. We found a lovely café in Matsuzakaya Department store when we visited the city.

The chopstick cover origami was a big surprise!

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Their Instagram account also shows what they offer well.
https://www.instagram.com/machicafe_toyota/

****** UPDATE 06Sep 2019 ****

Above cafe in Matsuzakaya (Machi cafe) was unfortunately closed on the end of April 2019.

Another cafe by the same operator is in neighbor area.

It will be 20 minutes taxi ride from Toyota-shi train station.

Yama Cafe

Address: 846-39 Hirohata, Yanami-cho, Toyota city, Aichi

http://www.yama-machicafe.jp/yamacafe.html

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Rugby World Cup 2019 official site
Match schedule: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match-schedule
Official Ticket purchase guide and tour information : https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/buy-official

*** This post was reproduced from our official Facebook account post made on 09 January 2019. ***

Part4 Osaka, For Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 matches, recommendable options in host cities

Osaka Airport Winery

 

Yes, it is in an airport!!: The number of wineries across Japan is increasing, but we have never imagined a winery IN a major airport! Osaka Airport Winery sources grapes harvested in different parts of Japan. Their fermentation tanks are visible from both the winery’s restaurant seats and the airport luggage handling area. Just wonder if vibration caused by aircraft arriving/departing the airport every day makes a difference in the taste? We can seek for the answer at the winery restaurant by tasting a variety of wines from other wineries in Japan as well as in other countries, in addition to their original ones.

The unique winery is situated in Osaka International Airport (known as Itami Airport) that mainly serves for Japan domestic flights. Don’t be confused with Kansai International Airport (known as KIX).

 

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Rugby World Cup 2019 official site
Match schedule: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match-schedule
Official Ticket purchase guide and tour information : https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/buy-official

*** This post was reproduced from our official Facebook account post made on 08 January 2019. ***

Part3 Osaka, For Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 matches, recommendable options in host cities

Takoyaki(octopus ball) spot in Universal Studio Japan area

One of the most popular tourist spots in Osaka must be the movie theme park, Universal Studio Japan. If you visit and stay in the theme park area, try also takoyaki(octopus balls), the most known local snack of Osaka, at TAKO-PARK. The food-court like facility accommodates six most popular takoyaki shops in the prefecture. We can try different styles of the best takoyaki dishes in the city in one place! even without leaving from the film world.

 

Rugby World Cup 2019 official site
Match schedule: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match-schedule
Official Ticket purchase guide and tour information : https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/buy-official

*** This post was reproduced from our official Facebook account post made on 04 January 2019.
***

Part2 Osaka, For Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 matches, recommendable options in host cities

No. 2: Osaka, holding Hanazono Rugby Stadium in the east side of the prefecture.

 

Sekai Hotel Fuse and its surrounding local shopping street - is not far from the rugby match venue, a few stops by local train, in Higashi-Osaka city(East Osaka). Unlike the very central part of Osaka, Higashi-Osaka area has more laid-back atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

Sekai Hotel Fuse is a hostel made in a local shopping street area. The good-old-day shopping street atmosphere surprised even me, Tokyoite, as we cannot find a similar one in Tokyo any longer. The casual café in the hotel’s open-entrance area facing the shopping street will be the best place to enjoy human-watching and the town’s atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

In Higashi-Osaka, we can also enjoy fantastic night illumination from the top floor of City Hall free of charge.

 

 

Rugby World Cup 2019 official site
Match schedule: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match-schedule
Official Ticket purchase guide and tour information : https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/buy-official

*** This post was reproduced from our official Facebook account post made on 04 January 2019. ***

Part1 Sapporo, For Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 matches, recommendable options in host cities

Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 will be taken on September to October this year and 12 cities across Japan will host the games. Celebrating the world-class event, we will introduce nice dining options, drink spots, or local specialities in these cities.

The first post is about Sapporo. Although the northern capital was affected by a big earthquake last September, the city's infrastructure and service operation, including the gateway Shin-Chitose Airport, have been back to normal already. The city is accessible also by bullet train, Shinkansen, from Tokyo, if you have enough time to take a long journey.

 

Ramen is one of the local specialities of Sapporo, where two "Ramen Street" exist in the central part, Susukino district. Several ramen restaurants lined along the narrow streets attract both local and tourists with a variety of ramen bowls.

 

Another popular ramen-lover spot is "Ramen Dojo" on the 3rd floor of Shin-Chitose airport. Regardless of your flight destination, domestic or international, take additional one hour to enjoy the last or first bowl of local Ramen.

 

 

 

 

The weather might be a bit cold in late September. "Soup curry" will help you with making your body warmer. You will find a lot of restaurants, mainly small and casual ones, specialized in the menu in Sapporo city centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*** This post was reproduced from our official Facebook account post made on 03 January 2019. ***

 

Rugby World Cup 2019 official site
Match schedule: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match-schedule
Official Ticket purchase guide and tour information: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/buy-official