About food in Japan

Standing Sushi Bar Uogashi Nihon-ichi in Shinagawa Station

Did you know a Japanese word “Ekinaka”(駅中)?
We believe that It won’t be on your text book or a dictionary.
“Ekinaka” means “inside station” and it represents commercial facilities accommodated in a train station. They are situated in a area accessible only with a train ticket or pass rather than in a building attached to a station.
The one in Shinagawa, called “Ecute”, was the very first among such facilities launched several years ago by JR East.

Last year several new restaurants and shops have been added to the commercial facility inside JR Shinagawa station.

Some of you may be based at a hotel or office in Shinagawa or other may use the station, one of the largest in Tokyo, as a transferring point for Shinkansen toward Kyoto or Osaka, local train for Kamakura or Yokohama etc. Thousands of people just go through the station but now we can also enjoy shopping time at UNIQLO famous casual wear boutique, Japanese traditional sweets stores or craft and variety goods stores on the upper floor.

Not only shopping, Ecute Shinagawa also offers variety of choices for dining.
“Standing Sushi Bar Uogasi Nihon-ichi” is one of them. As the name shown, it is a “standing bar” dedicated to authentic Sushi prepared by Sushi master working inside the counter.

The casual Sushi restaurant is operated by a Sushi chain sourcing their fresh seafood ingredients from Tsukiji fish market. What is provided at the unit inside Shinagawa station is nothing change from it. Entering to the Sushi restaurant, you will find a few Sushi chef preparing sushi inside the counter. Apart from the counter table without a chair, the quality of Sushi must be quite similar to an ordinary sushi restaurant.

 

Considering the points, the price of Sushi provided at Uogashi Nihon-ichi is rather amazing. The price for a piece of Sushi starts from Yen 75 or Yen 150 per order (because minimum order is a pair for a kind of Sushi) and majorities of their Sushi are Yen 75 to Yen 200 per piece.
The menu written on wooden plates and hang on a wall include names in English. Of course the price shows clearly for each group of seafood. That must make you feel comfortable to order to one of the Sushi chef in front of you.

Green tea is “self-service” at free of charge. All stuff for tea can be found on the counter table.
Take a tea cup and add a spoonful green tea powder in it from a pot on the table. Then pour hot water carefully from a tap in front of you. Maybe it is another reason of the least expensive sushi price.
If you would, the restaurant offers Sake and beer as well.

 

 

 

 

Your sushi ordered will be quickly prepared by the chef and placed on a green leaf used as a plate. Just remind you … that the natural tool is never for cost-down but for creating atmosphere.

 

My order, 4 kinds of Sushi (each by pair),　Iwashi, Saba, Maguro, Anago

(sardine, mackerel, tuna and conger consecutively)

and Salmon (not included in the photo) as additional.

Total it costed Yen 1100 only for a person!!

 

 

Each piece might be a bit smaller than ones at an ordinary Sushi restaurant. But due to the reasonable price, we can order more kinds of pieces if we want.

Because of the location inside a train station, that also suits for a quick bite. You will encounter local sole-diners come, have several pieces of sushi with a glass of beer and leave from the counter after 10-20 minutes, before or after his/her trip or hard-work. In that point, as the name is, the facility works like “a bar” rather than a restaurant.

Try a short-time Sushi experience like a Japanese businessman!

 

Restaurant name: Standing Sushi Bar Uogashi Nihon-ichi

Address: JR Shinagawa station 3-26-27 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Official website: http://www.susinippan.co.jp/infos/index/00131

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Japanese breakfast set at inexpensive price

On September 2012, we have featured interesting "breakfast" (朝食, choshoku). This is the 3rd and last post of the monthly featuring. So we have picked up typical Japanese breakfast. 

You could have a chance to take Japanese breakfast at your accommodation, especially if you stay at ryokan, Japanese traditional inn in countryside of Japan. Otherwise, even in Tokyo and other urban cities, Japanese breakfast set may be offered at Japanese restaurants in hotels.  

You won't have a chance to take it in your accommodation? or if you would like to try it at more inexpensive cost? Then we introduce Japanese breakfast set at a casual chain restaurant, Sukiya (すき家).

 

Here it is!

Breakfast set at Sukiya (すき家)

 

Sukiya, whose main product is "Gyudon" (beef & rice bowl), is one of the largest restaurant chain company in Japan. Many of their units open from early morning (or for 24hours) and offer breakfast set in the morning. The breakfast set price is reasonable and ranged around Yen 200 to Yen 400.

 

Let's see what is included in the typical Japanese breakfast.

 

For Sake Choshoku (鮭朝食, salmon breakfast)

with rice in regular size at Yen 360 

Cooked white rice is the most important for Japanese breakfast.

Sukiya offers 3 different sizes of rice in bowl

with slightly different prices depending on the size.

As topping of rice, Sukiya also provides raw egg  

 with soy sauce "specialized for tamagokake-gohan"(raw egg with rice).

We observed here how much the restaurant chain puts importance

on its breakfast menu, not only their beef bow.

 

Raw egg might be unfamiliar ingredient for people outside Japan but for Japanese, it is a typical way for locals to have it with rice in the morning. If it is not easy to take rice and raw egg with chopsticks, please do not hesitate to use a spoon on your table. 

 

To be paired with rice for Japanese breakast is

miso soup

Three kinds of ingredients in the miso soup;

"Abura-age" (deep-fried bean curd),

"wakame" (dried seaweed) and

"negi" (Japanese leek)

   enough good quality, considering the price

 

Side dishes

  

A slice of grilled salmon is popular side dish.

Sukiya also provides a small bowl of

grazed "daikon" radish with "shirasu" (dried whitebait).

 

Another typical side dish that can be found at other restaurants is "tsukemono" or "oshinko" (Japanese vegetable pickles), which is often taken with rice.

 

 

Breakfast menu at Sukiya shows their offer with photos and price clearly. That will help you with finding what you want. Apart from dishes introduced above, "natto" (fermented soy beans) with a bit strong flavour is a major line-up.

 

 At Sukiya restaurants, unlike Yoshinoya and Matsuya both are competitors for "Gyudon" beef bowl, some table seats are offered in addition to a counter table that is likely to be for sole-diners. So it will be more relaxed place than ones by its rival especially for a couple and a small group of three or more people.

 

 

  Restaurant name: Sukiya (すき家)

 

 

Major locations in central Tokyo:

Shinjuku NS Building 

Address: Shinjuku NS Building 1st floor, 2-4-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku

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Ginza 7 chome

Address:  7-14-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku

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Shibuya Inokashira St.

Address: 31-4 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku

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Roppongi 5 chome

Address: 5-9-22 Roppongi, Minato-ku

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******************  Find accommodation in Japan  ***************

OSAKA / NARA / SAPPORO / TAKAYAMA / TOKYO/YUFUIN 

YAKUSHIMA / NOZAWA ONSEN / NISEKO / NIKKO /

HIROSHIMA / MATSUMOTO / KYOTO / KANAZAWA / ISHIGAKI ISLAND /

HAKUBA / FURANO / BEPPU /

 

Wanoba Japanesque Bistro, Ebisu

Sometimes it's a bit difficult to categorize a restaurant into our cuisine type classification. Wanoba is one of them. This time we have marked it for both "Japanese casual" and "International cuisine".  

The restaurant Wanoba is named as "Japanesque Bistro" by itself. It takes "bistro" or French style casual restaurant with a bar counter and it offers plates as starter, main dish and dessert in casual atmosphere. The dishes are suit for sharing by two or more number of people and for having with a glass of wine.

Look at the menu list carefully and we found that the restaurant focuses on Japaneses ingredients or takes some Japanese flavour into their European style plates.

Let's see the examples we had with photos. Sorry the quality of photos are not perfect this time though.

 

Starter

Assortment of "Obanzai" (vegetable side dishes cooked in home-made style from Kyoto)

Cooked eggplants and cucumber with dashi stock soup (left in the photo)

and 

Cooked potato and minched tuna balls (right)

Both are well cooked into tender texture and flavour.

 

Our second dish

"Fried" pumpkin gnocchi with anchovy sauce

Sounds like Italian food totally?

Pumpkin (or squash) is also often used in Japanese cuisine.

The unique "fried" gnocchi is never oily as we had imagined.

It is crispy like "tempura".

 

Main dish

Rolled "Hyuga" chicken and "hakusai" (Chinese cabbege)

"Hyuga" from Miyazaki, Kyushu is a brand of good quality chicken.

Again the way of cooking is Western style but it features Japanese ingredients.

 

Another Pasta...

This is the dish we liked the most on this day.

Peperoncino spaghetti with "Edo-mae anago" (Edo style conger)

The simple and popular Italian pasta

arranged with the Japanese ingredient, grilled conger fish.

 

They are modern style of "East meets West"!! 

 So they will match well both with wine and Japanese sake or shochu (distilled sake).

It could be a good choice when you would like to have both Japanese and Western style food and think over between these two.

To be an important point, Wanoba aims to re-dicover and introduce the beauty and excellence of Japan. Not only through the ingredients, the modern Japanese style bistro also introduces Japanese fine tablewares and fixtures. It means plates, glass and lamps you can find at the restaurant are also selected Japanese craftworks from that point.

 

Wanoba is located in Ebisu, which is one stop from Shibuya by Yamanote-line. It is within walking distance from Westin Hotel Tokyo and is not far from Roppongi or Shinagawa by taxi.

Restaurant name: Wanoba

Address: 3-1-1 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Official site: http://www.wanoba.com 

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Katsukichi (かつ吉), Shibuya (渋谷) - Katsudon (カツ丼, deep-fried pork bowl)

Following our post introducing a tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet, wrapped by bread crumbs) restaurant two years ago, we found another recommendable unit serving the menu in Shibuya (渋谷). When we refer to Shibuya, many may be reminded by the diagonal crossing filled with a lot of people. Three months ago, the newest shopping complex Hikarie (ヒカリエ) opened in Shibuya,attracting local both fashionistas and foodies.

Today's our feature a tonkatsu restaurant is geographically close to Hikarie but it may be phycologically far from such the latest spots.

Katsukichi (かつ吉) in Shibuya is about 5 minutes walk from JR Shibuya staion and only a few minutes from Hikarie. It is just a few blocks away from Shibuya Police station along Meiji street.

Please do not miss the Japanese style gate on the ground floor of a modern building.

 
The traditional gate is rare to be found in central part of Tokyo.

As long as you can find it, you will feel something to raise your expectation. 

 

Once you enter into the restaurant on the basement floor, at its cozy space decorated with thick wooden boards and antique tablewares, you will never be reminded that you are in the bustring modern Shibuya town.

    

Tables on the main space are enough big to be shared by 4 people and be relaxed.

The restaurant also offers Japanese style seating with lower tables for larger group. 

After ordering our meal, 3 pots containing each different kinds of pickles were provided.

 

At tonkatsu restaurants, shreded cabbage is a "must" side dish served with deep-fried pork.

Katsukichi is espceially generous and serves shreded cabbage in a big bowl,

while we are waiting for tonkatsu.

Don't worry, as the vegetable dish won't occupay space in your stomach.

 

Tonkatsu or it is simply called "katsu". The word "katsu"comes from Western menu "cutlet" and "ton" of tonkatsu represents pork in Japanese.

What I ordered for my lunch was "katsu-don" (カツ丼, pork cutlet on rice bowl) which has been my favourite menu since youth age. It brings us fancy harmony of pork, bread crumb skin of it, broken egg seasoned with Japanese stock soup or soy sauce etc and rice. 

There could be many choices not only pork cutlet but also steak, hamburg, pork sautee on the menu. But there is no reason to avoid standard "tonkatsu" dish at tonkatsu restaurant. Some including Katsukichi offer 2 types of pork meat, "hire" (or fillet, ひれ, pork tenderloin) and "lose" (ロース, pork loin). And you could have an option like above, Katsudon (pork cutlet with egg on top of rice) 

Usually tonkatsu is served as a set menu with rice and miso soup. For dinner time, some restaurants may serve the menu as a single plate and it will be a good match with beer or other alcohol drink.

After (or before) you enjoy tonkatsu at Katsukichi, don't forget to drop by the bathroom. On the way to it, you will discover nice pieces of Japanese antique, such as old sign boards etc.

 

Restaurant name: Katsukichi (かつ吉)

Address: B1 floor    , KDC building, 3-9-10 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Official website: http://www.bodaijyu.co.jp/restaurant/shibuya/ 

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Udon (うどん) - Tsurutontan, Roppongi (つるとんたん, 六本木)

In Tokyo, the blistering heat of summer is trying to make us lose appetite almost everyday on August, while definitely consuming our physical energy. Nutrition is important for us under this hard weather. Today's feature, Udon (うどん) noodle is, we believe, an option to combat with summer heat and to take nutritious food more easily. 

First of all, Udon noodle is a major kind of Japanese traditional noodle along with Soba (そば). How different Udon is from Soba? Well, mainly...

Udon noodle is made of wheat flour and the noodle is in white color. On the other hand, soba is of buckwheat and the color is darker and looks in gray. Also they are different in diameter in many cases. If we compare them with Italian pasta spaghetti that many of you know, Udon has larger diameter than spaghetti does but soba has smaller than or almost similar size with the Italian noodle. We are sure, now you can distinguish between udon and soba, if they are both on a table.

As for difference in taste, soba has a bit stronger buckwheat flavor, while udon made of wheat flour has less grain taste. As it is for rice, Udon can be better match with other ingredients or sauce than soba. For example, more often Udon can be cooked with curry (Japanese style), kimchi (Korean hot pickles), beef or minched meat. One of Udon's features is the chewy texture. Soba is more suitable to enjoy the noodle's taste itself with Japanese stock soup and in some cases faint flavour ingredients such as leaf vegetable or seaweed.

Udon and soba noodles can be seen across Japan and they are slightly different versions by regions in term of noodle diameter, soup and typical accompanying ingredients. As for the soup, in East part including Tokyo, it looks dark like soy sauce while it has more delicate flavor with lighter color in West including Kyoto and Osaka. 

Well, if you feel simple udon or soba bowl is too gentle, we recommend that you try Udon in more flavouful style like Italian pasta. 

Tsurutontan (つるとんたん) is a good place to try and enjoy Udon noodle in different styles. Many of their units are located in night spots area of both Tokyo and Osaka. Roppongi branch is also one of them. In the biggest night spot area, Roppongi, it is just a few minutes walk from Roppongi crossing where you won't feel uncomfortable to speak in English or any other than Japanese.

The Udon specialized restaurant Tsurutontan is totally Japanese world visually. What's different from ordinary traditional Udon restaurants is that we can find more younger people who are less likely to take such old style meal. Partly it is because of the location and the rest Tsurutontan's modern and variety noodle attracts them.

 

 

We can also find some Japanese traditional objects

(some maybe antiques) at the restaurant.  

 

 

The kitchen is just behind a counter table.

 

It offers so many different versions of noodle and they are served in very big (almost-wash-basin like ) bowls. We guess the surprise is "made in Osaka", the restaurant's origin.

From typical curry sauce to Sukiyaki, mentaiko (spicy cod roe), cooked with miso paste, with shrimp in cream sauce as Western style or some of them are seved cold... With the price around Yen 2000 or even less, it is hard to decide one from so many attractive choices.

 

Finally with tempura plate, I took

 

The smooth texture is easy to take them into your mouth as long as it is appropriately caught by chopsticks. (or don't hesitate to ask folk or to use spoon, it is actually hard even for Japanese locals.)

The noodle is chewy and whippy. That represents good quality of and carefully cooked Udon.

 

When we finish the udon meal, our energy had been filled up and were ready to get back to the severe hot summer

Tsurutontan opens from 11a.m. to next morning 7:30 a.m. Yes, it also welcomes those have enjoyed nightlife around the area. And another unit is at Haneda International Airport.  

 

Restaurant name: Tsurutontan (つるとんたん) Roppongi

Address: 3-14-12  Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.tsurutontan.co.jp/roppongi/ 

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Sukiyaki by Sugimoto, a high quality beef distributor, at Roppongi

We understand high quality Japanese beef is quite popular among readers of this blog and that to have it in Japan is one of attractions to be completed during your trip in Japan.

Today's feature a small restaurant in Roppongi (also known for the largest night spot of Tokyo) providing high quality Japanese beef at very reasonable cost.

The restaurant's operator, Sugimoto (スギモト) is one of established meat distributors and  founded in 1900. Especially based in Central (chubu) region of Japan, it deals with recognized Matsusaka beef (松坂牛) which is eaqually appreciated as the best of best beef in Japan with well-know Kobe beef. Not only to distribute meat products to restaurants and retailers across Japan, Sugimoto runs own restaurants. One of them is located in Tokyo Midtown, a luxury shopping complex in Roppongi.

The small restaurant only with 14 seats is behind Sugimoto's butcher store counter on the underground floor. Many people could miss a chance to get the high quality beef available at just over Yen 1000, overlooking the tiny entrance. Otherwise several people might be making a queue in front of it.

The restaurant offers only several menu such as hamburg steak and sukiyaki but it is enough to taste the high quality beef at the best condition and in the best way. 

Sukiyaki (beef with vegetable hot pot) is the best way to enjoy Sugimoto's best Japanese beef. It is cooked in a small pot like this just for a person and is served with fresh egg for dipping sauce like other restaurants do.

Oh! we have to mention the price of this Sukiyaki menu... it is at Yen 1380 for Sukiyaki with wagyu brand and at Yen 3150 with the highest quality Matsusaka beef for one person. Both are set menu with rice and miso soup. They can be a double price if you have same menu with same quality beef at ordinary sukiyaki restaurants. Here, as you can imagine, it is exclusively available at such reasonable price due to the distributor's own and direct operation.

The small eating space must be comfortable even for a sole-diner, unlike a normal sukiyaki hot pot restaurant. 

The last ordering time for Sugimoto's Midtown unit is 20h30. It will be a good to have sukiyaki before dispatching out to the night spots in Roppongi.

 

In Tokyo, Sugimoto recently opened its newer unit in Solamachi, the shopping complex attached to Tokyo Skytree.

There, some Japanese beef menus are provided at around Yen 2000. It must be still good bargain considering the quality of beef.   

 

 

 

Restaurant name: Sugimoto (スギモト)

Address: B1 floor Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-3 Akasaka, Mintato-ku, Tokyo

Official site (in Japanese): http://www.oniku-sugimoto.com

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Restaurant name: Sugimoto (スギモト), Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi

Address: 6th floor Tokyo Skytree Town, 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

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Unagi (eel) as a summer feature in Japan

As one of our previous posts, unagi (うなぎ, eel) is one of summer icons in Japan. It is believed among Japanese that unagi as food energizes us much. On the beginning of Summer season, to take eel is an important event to prepare for Japan's hot and humid summer. 

However in this year, the price of eel is shaking the Japaneses' tradition. Since last summer, the price of eel has risen up to more than double of the price range in 2008-2010. (Check the trend of eel price. Click here.) Narurally restaurants and supermarkets are foced to increase the price of the fishery products. The sky-high deal price of eel is considered due to bad catches of young eel not only in Japan area but also in China and Taiwan, two biggest alternative eel fishing places.

Some of Unagi specialized restaurants started offering alternative menu such as similar species, conger (anago, 穴子) or pork grilled with sweet sauce originally made for unagi, while increasing their prices for unagi menu by around 20 - 40% or offering smaller pieces of unagi. Finally at traditional Unagi restaurants, the most typical unagi menu "Una-ju" (Unagi with rice on a square box) is at around Yen 2500 - Yen 4000. 

Now unagi is very luxury product like fois gras or truffle. 

Any way we can enjoy it at reasonable price? 

Then we have a way to go to the most famous beef-bowl first food chain "Yoshinoya" (吉野家).

This summer, Yoshinoya offers Una-don (鰻丼, unagi on rice bowl) at just Yen 650 for regular size. The piece of Unagi is not so large to cover the rice but the reasonable price allows us to have the eel menu more than once 

 

 
Una-don at Yoshinoya

Small piece? but

it is still soft and enough rick taste eel.

The price must be enough for those who have never tried eel in your country and who is wondering if it is good taste or not. We are sure it is worth trying once in Japan. It is a food that Japanese can never miss it. 

 

Official site of Yoshinoya (吉野家): http://www.yoshinoya.com/

 

Related stories about unagi:

Unagi(うなぎ、鰻） eel - Matsukawa

  http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/07/unagi-eel---mat.html

 

Hitsumabutshi, Wasabiya (櫃まぶし, わさび家) - Shinjuku (新宿)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/11/hitsumabutshi-wasabiya-%E6%AB%83%E3%81%BE%E3%81%B6%E3%81%97-%E3%82%8F%E3%81%95%E3%81%B3%E5%AE%B6-shinjuku-%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF.html

 

Ochazuke (お茶漬け) - En (えん)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/02/ochazuke-%E3%81%8A%E8%8C%B6%E6%BC%AC%E3%81%91-en-%E3%81%88%E3%82%93.html

 

Daily Yomiuri Online: Price of eel increasing due to bad catches

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20120322dy02.htm

Modern Japanese, Yusoshi in Shinjuku (新宿)

If you have ever been to Shinjuku (新宿), you must understand that there are "too" many restaurant choices in the heart of this metropolitan city. There are many nice ones but it is not easy to find one that is the best fit for your feeling at that time without any pre-screening process or recommendation from someone. The situation is same for local Japaneses.

Today's our recommendation, Japanese cafe Yusoshi, is for the time when...

you would like to try some Japanese but not too much localized

and would like to stay close from the train station.

 

Yusoshi is situated on 6th floor of one of major shopping complex in Shinjuku, Lumine "1" (Keep in mind more than a few Lumine around the station). It is just one minute from JR Shinjuku South Exit and is directly connected from the station's ticket gate. 

The restaurant calls itself as "wa(Japanese)-cafe". The name Yusoshi is not familiar even for local Japanese. As per thier expression, yu-so-shi (愉 - 想 - 使) represents to imagine something joyful and to express and deliver the joy. 

If you see the menu for dinner time, you would think of it as modern Izakaya. On evening, Yusoshi provides more than just what is expected for cafe. Like at Izakaya, some snacks on the menu are well matched with alcohol drinks also available there. The dishes have Japanese taste to some extent but not fully. They are more close to Western menu; for example, spicy fried potato, fried chicken wings in sweet and hot flavor, seafood croquette, curry flavor fried pork, fried swordfish with spicy tartar, avocado-tuna rice bowl etc etc. We are sure you do not have to be afraid of encountering some extreme Japanese local taste.

  

Spicy potato and Fried rice with salty dried "combu" kelp and scramble egg

Yusoshi's another feature is the interior, modern Japanese taste.

A half of the tables are on this floor (as the photo), looked like "tatami" at a glance but is actually made of glass with lighting. Take off your shoses and sit on a zabuton cuision with bending knees. Let's be relaxed in Japanese style. That is what Japanese people do at their home 

 

 

Probably because of the modern Japanese menu, modern but relaxing atmosphere as well as the location a few minutes from Shinjuku station, Yusoshi is always filled mainly with Japanese ladies. That differs from ordinary Izakaya.   

Of course, during a day, Yusoshi serves as a nice cafe and offers several selections of drinks from Japanese green tea to vanila latte and sweets made with Japanese ingredients.  

 

Restaurant name: Yusoshi 

Address: 6th floor, Lumine 1, 1-1-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo

Website in English : http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g030043/lang/en/ 

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47 Prefectures' local specialities in Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

Newest shopping complex in Shibuya, "Hikarie" opened in April, has caught local's attention so much that it had to ask visitors to wait and make a queue to go in the building during Golden Week holiday season on May this year, just after it opened. Some of shops and restaurants in Hikarie are new to Tokyoiets and they attract a lot of locals who love to try new things. 

Restaurant are on two floors, 6th and 7th. They are well appointed as a whole with the relaxing and modern concept as well as varieties of interesting dining choices from Kaiten-Sushi to Hawaiian tables. They are often full with guests and busy even on weekday lunch.

What we recommend in Hikarie, Shibuya is on the 8th floor. The space including art gallery, museum, shop and studios is uniquelly produced under "creation" concept. "d47 shokudo" (d47 食堂, dining) is a part of the space.

The number 47 of the cosy cafe's name represents the total number of all prefectures in Japan, from Tokyo, Hokkaido in the northest, Osaka to Okinawa in south. d47 shokudo offers local specialities from each of 47 prefectures.  

For example for lunch, it has several teishoku (定食, Japanese style set meal at reasonable price) style courses and each of courses is tied with a certain prefecture;

No.001 Hokkaido - dried Hokke fish from Kushiro and salmon rolled by kobu kelp

No.020 Shizuoka - fried chicken of Fuji-Asahi local branded and black fish cake

No. 046 Kagoshima - Pork ginger sautee and simmered potato  

and the photo right  is

No. 043 Nagasaki - deep fried horse mackerel wih tartar sauce and jelly of shrimp and vegetables

As it is very likely to be traditional "teishoku" (定食) style, these main dishes are served with a bowl of rice, miso soup and pickles. That is very close to Japanese locals' "ordinary" meal even not so gorgeous like sushi or sukiyaki.

The cafe also offers very interesting drink tasting set; 3 kinds of either Sake, shochu (distilled sake), made-in-Japan red / white wine, orange juice or grape juice Actually in some parts of Japan, very good citrus concentrated juice is produced. If you would, you can try 3 different branded juices each from different prefectures.

My case, I ordered a single kind of orange juice from Ehime prefecture, one of the best-known origin of "mikan" Japanese orange. It is really fresh and rich in taste.

It is worth to try even though it costs more by a few hundreds yen

than a cup of coffee (the coffee is also special local product though). 

 

Another point to be noted about d47 shokudo is its view of Shibuya town. Through the large window on the 8th floor, a town of Shibuya with hundreds of ad-signs, random sized and shaped buildings, cars on a highway, people on streets .. all are visible and will surely make you feel being in Japan.

Lastly some of ingredients and drinks provided at the cafe are able to be purchased at the cafe and d47 design travel store on the same floor.

 

Restaurant name: d47 shokudo

Address: 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Official website: http://www.hikarie8.com/d47shokudo/

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******************  Find accommodation in Japan  ***************

OSAKA / NARA / SAPPORO / TAKAYAMA / TOKYO/YUFUIN 

YAKUSHIMA / NOZAWA ONSEN / NISEKO / NIKKO /

HIROSHIMA / MATSUMOTO / KYOTO / KANAZAWA / ISHIGAKI ISLAND /

HAKUBA / FURANO / BEPPU /

 

Cafe MUJI - simple but good quality like its products

You may know Japanese varaiery store "MUJI". The shops offers huge range of selections from funiture, stationary, fashion items to grocary foods etc, almost everything you need for your daily life. We believe that the store concept "simple" attract people across borders and regardless culture, language or gender. That is same in Japan, the origin country. MUJI might be a part of life for many people.

In addition to the retail outlets, in Japan, MUJI runs cafe in some places and a few of them are located in central Tokyo, such as Shinjuku, Aoyama or Yurakucho.

Cafe MUJI, which we introduce here, is in Hibiya or close to the Imperial Palace. The cafe is not attached to the brand's retail store but is accommodated in a hotel called "remm Hibiya". We can say it is on a prime location location surrounded by the Imperial Hotel, Hibiya Park and JR Yurakucho station. But the cafe on the secound floor is quite peaceful with wooden chairs and tables, and sunlight from large windows.

Well about the food offered at Cafe MUJI.

 As same with MUJI products, food & drink at Cafe MUJI are never be gorgeous but are sought for the quality and rustic. For example, on the website, it introduces ingredients carefully selected by them and how they are good in term of quality and nutrition; rice of rich-mineral, 100% cane sugar, preservative-free lemons etc. 

The cafe offers the food in delicatessen style. You can select main and side dishes from the counter showcase. Many include more than a few kinds of fresh seasonal vegetables and they are appetizing colorful It is really hard to select just a few plates for a meal.

The lunch set includes "rice with 10 grains" (十穀米) that helps you with taking mineral, fiber and vitamin. You cannot be unhealthy at this cafe.

 

After meal or during tea time, it provides interesting selections of soft drinks from fair trade coffee, Rainforest Alliance Certified orange juice, to fresh ginger ale.

 

It looks gorgeous with a chandelier

No no, can you recognize that it is made with simple glass bottles  

Cafe name: Cafe MUJI

Address: 2nd floor, 1-2-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Official site (Japanese): http://www.muji.net/shop/cafemeal.html   

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