About food in Japan

Japanese Tea Salon - Higashiya, Ginza Tokyo

At Ginza, the best known luxury shopping district in Japan, it is not easy even for locals to find a cozy place for tea break during exciting shopping hours.

Higashiya, locating on the north part or 1-chome of Ginza, is one of such options, very sophisticated oasis. The "Japanese Tea Salon", as it calls itself, is on the second floor of POLA Ginza building, a property by the established Japanese cosmetic company.

Like the cosmetic brand on the ground floor, the space of Higashiya tea salon looks both peaceful and beautiful with arts placed on the wall, modern lighting and warm wooden tables and chairs. It is also quiet and people enjoy their own "tea ceremony" without any kind of noisy disturbance.

 

It offers fantastic selection of Japanese tea in term of the number of options and quality of listed products as well as Japanese traditional sweets. Otherwise choose the tea set at just over Yen 1000. Then you will have small pieces of seasonal Japanese sweets and again seasonal recommendable tea.

 

 

Don't forget bringing a book or someting to read instead of your moile phone to talk with someone. That is what is the best way to spend time and fully to enjoy at Higashiya, Japanese Tea Salon, we believe.

     

 

Lastly, we also recommend that you "pay a visit to the toilet" without fail.

It is the best and the most comfortable toilet that I have ever seen in Japan and in the world. I visited ladies' room only of course. Sorry for gentlemen, as we do not know how it is for you. 

We would not tell you how it is great so you can enjoy finding it.

Cafe name: Higashiya Ginza

Address: 2nd floor POLA Ginza, 1-7-7 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.higashiya.com 

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Furikake (ふりかけ), to make your rice more tasty!

As you know already, cooked white rice is principale food of Japanese. In traditional Japanese diet, rice and miso soup is a regular combination of Japanese meal whether it is for breakfast or dinner.

Also as you may know, Japanese rice is very sticky compared with other species of rice in other parts of the world and the taste of cooked rice is subtle and plain.

So in many cases, we put something on rice to have them together. Then, in Japan, we can find many kinds of food products that are assumed to be taken with cooked plain rice. For example, raw egg (we want to talk about it some days), "tsukemono" (漬物) pickles, "nori" (海苔, dried seaweed) and "kimchi" (キムチ, Korean hot pepper pickles) joined in our choices from around 10 years ago.

Furikake (ふりかけ) is one of the major line ups along with ones mentioned above. Furikake is a kind of mixed seasoning specially made for rice. There are hundreds (or more) of recepi for furikake in Japan but typical ones are likely to consist of dried fish or seafood such as salmon, cod roe (tarako), bonito, seaweed, egg, sesame. Typically they are all dried and cut into very small pieces like powder that makes us failed to imagine what are the ingredients. Furikake has good harmony of salty savory flavours as a whole and it makes the best match with hot plain rice.

Takaing many different kinds of food ingredients without having big volume is one of the qualifications of furikake. Because of that, it is also recommended to children from nutritional view point.

Furikake is often used also for box lunch. The easiness of preparing and variation of colors, such as yellow, brown or green pieces all together, help with changing your lunch box more pleasant in term of taste as well as looking. Rice mixed with furikake is also good for "onigiri" rice balls.

In addition, because furikake is dried and has long shelf-life, it will be one of good souvenir of Japanese food to bring back to your country. You will find selections of furikake at supermarkets and a few choices at convenience stores. 

Here we have two samples from a traditional Furikake producer, Tanaka Foods (田中食品) with over a century history in Hiroshima.

Ryoko no tomo (旅行の友, "a friend of journey")  

As mentioned, furikake is the best suit for lunch box and is easy to bring arund.

So the owner put such name on the rice seasoning,

also naming after her wife called "Tomo".

 

This package must be very attractive for some of you.

a small portion of furikake (one pack for a bowl of rice) in a small Hello Kitty bag

The pack has each different picture of Kitty. 

How fun it is if we bring one of them with lunch box,

even just for having lunc at a school class room...

 

Tanaka Foods official site: http://tanaka-foods.co.jp

Related post in the past: Tsukemono(漬物, Japanese pickles)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/11/tsukemono-japan.html

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 /

 

Kamiyacho Open Terrace by Komyoji Temple(光明寺) Tokyo

The months of May and June are good time to enjoy outside terrace in Tokyo, when the weather is fine. Today's recommendable spot is a bit unique open air terrace where you can enjoy food & drink you bring.

Kamiyacho Open Terrace is 30 seconds walk from subway Kamiyacho (神谷町) station on Hibiya-line in central business district of Tokyo. It is actually a part of a temple, Komyoji (光明寺), building. 

The temple's master (surely open-minded) started sharing the terrace space with public in 2005, aiming at making it as a public space like a park and at inviting people living and working in the area freely to the temple. The temple offers the terrace space in front of the main hall with several tables and chairs and it welcomes you bringing your lunch pack, working with a note PC or reading a book.  As long as you do not mind viewing the temple's cemetery below your eyes, feel the silence and breeze going through greenery scene. Sometimes during weekdays, a monk serves tea and sweets to visitors. He is also happy to answer to vistors' question when his time is allowed.

 

The temple's main hall is also on a side of the terrace.

Don't forget to pray and to say hello & thank to the buddha

 

Kamiyacho is about 15 minutes walk to Tokyo Tower

From the temple terrace the upper part of the tower is visble. 

 

 

Several tables and chairs are set to enjoy the space. 

Business lunch hour 12:00 - 13:00,

these chairs and tables might be filled by local business people enjoying their lunch.

 

 

If you would like to get local style lunch on the way to Kamiyacho Open Terrace by Komyoji Temple, we recommend you drop by "Yatai Deli" (屋台Deli, "food stall" Deli). The take-away lunch box seller is located on the underground floor (B1) of Toranomon MT40 building, directly connected to Exit 3, Kamiyacho subway station. Varieties of Japanese style box meal are placed on small stalls and all are covered by clear plastic top with a price tag. Lunch boxes are sold at reasonable price starting from Yen390 and none exceeds Yen 1000. (as long as we know...) So even for non-Japanese speaker, it will be easy and comfortable to try and to choose one for you. 

 

Don't worry even if Japanese lunch box is not your feeling. Two convenience stores are available at the crossing corners of Kamiyacho subway station. 

And wherever you get food, your cooperation is much appreciated to bring back waste and not to leave it in the temple. 

Komyoji Temple provides information about Kamiyacho Open Terrace in English. For more and the latest infromation, please visit its official blog.

Komyoji Temple  Kamiyacho Open Terrace

Official site: http://www.komyo.net/kot/english/

View 神谷町光明寺 in a larger map

 

Map for Yatai Deli at Toranomon 40MT building

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Alternative spot in similar location:  Belgian bakery cafe - Le Pain Quotidien

 http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/06/belgian-bakery-cafe-le-pain-quotidien.html

Pasta as you like! - Gaston & Gasper Roppongi (六本木)

Today's restaurant might not be what you expect to visit on your trip in Japan but we believe that at least you are interested in what Japanese people, especially ladies, like to have for lunch. 

Here is one of the answers. Gaston & Gasper in Roppongi is mostly filled with ladies for lunch time and they could make a waiting queue line in front of the restaurant some times.

The reason why ladies love Gaston & Gasper is its unique "Pasta Creation System." Guests are allowed to select and organize their pasta dish based on chocices for ...

 1. home-made fresh pasta: from standard "spaghetti" to a short pasta called "campanella." Don't worry even if you are not familiar with names of pasta. The restaurant will show you samples of pasta available on a big plate.

2. sauce: again several from Italian classic tomato, basil to Japanese style and "mentaiko" (hot cod roe)

3.  main ingredient: meat chicken, minched meat or fish, seafood 

4. two vegetable ingredients: tens of vegetable offered!! not only typical choices such as onion, spinach, eggplant, zuccini, paprika, mushroom also a few Japanese ones, okra, yam, daikon Japanese darish...

Your potential pasta menu varies over 100 different choices. It's too hard to decide or absolutely is a joy  That is the first exciting moment at Gaston & Gasper.

Depending on your feeling, select your own special favorite pasta menu for the day. 

When you finally make a decision for your pasta dish, give the order to staff. In case your selection is not enough good to try, the staff will suggest alternative ingredient to make your plate better. 

Here we show you two examples we ordered one day for lunch.

Tagliatelle + Genova sauce + oyster + broad beans + avocado

 

 

Super garlic + Linguine + sausage + paprika + avocado

 

The second exciting moment at Gaston & Gasper is to know how much I made a good choice for my plate by myself.  Even if we are satisfied with the own choice as well as focaccia offered as many as you like for lunch set, we are eager to come back here and to try another best choice of pasta plate

Gaston & Gasper Roppongi is just 30 seconds from Tokyo Midtown shopping complex and is on the way to the National Art Center Tokyo.

 

Restaurant name: Gaston & Gasper Roppongi

Address: Artshell 1F 7-4-4 Roppongi Minato-ku Tokyo

Website: http://gastonandgaspar.com 

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Two recommendable exhibitions in Tokyo for this summer

For those who consider travel to Tokyo in this summer holiday season, About Food in Japan recommends following two exhibitions to visit. 

 

1. TEMA HIMA: the Art of Living in Tohoku

At: 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi

Date until: 26 August 2012

Official site: http://www.2121designsight.jp/en/program/temahima/

Following the first exhibition program with the theme "Clothing (衣)" last year and produced by the world-renowned fasion designer Issey Miyake, this year the second version focuses on "food and living spaces." The exhibition intoroduces rich life-culture and tradition of Tohoku region through a movie, photos and displays of products, ingredients, parts etc. They are brought to the gallery space in Rippongi through the eyes of designers, food director, journarist, film artists and photographer. The exhibition is not simply a showcase of the Japanese traditional culture and life-style but can be considered as an art program extracting aesthetic of daily life inherited in Tohoku region.

At the entrance, make sure to get a leaflet in English, explaining each of 55 works presented. It's amazing even for Japanese like us to know how many kinds of traditional food culture remain in Tohoku region. You will find how traditional Japanese food are prepared with hands of local people. Take around 2hours for visit in order to watch the whole of program fully including the film.   

 

2. GOSSE DE PEINTRE BEAT TAKESHI KITANO

At: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Shinjuku

Date until: 2 September 2012

Official site: http://www.btk2012.jp/

The exhibition was originally presented in Paris by "Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain" to introduce art works by Takeshi Kitano who is mostly known as comedian in Japan while is recognized rather as film director in other parts of the world. As Mr. Kitano described himself, taste of his painting has underlying influence by his father who had been a house painter. While showing his another aspecct as the most popular comedian in Japan, he also demonstrates his art talent that could be even close to Pablo Picasso or Leonardo da Vinci. At least looking at his works, we will see his versatility from comedian, film director, actor as already known to painter, very unique art producer.

Yes, this blog is about food in Japan. The exhibition seems not to be related to food so much. Actually he produced a food stall and products for it as one of the exhibition works. It is at the last of the exhibition work list, No. 83 "The Keep-Hunger-Away-Buddha." It's a kind of joke (I guess at least) which he often shows on TV programs. On the underground floor of Tokyo Opera City, where the art gallery is situated, a small stall stands facing to the central courtyard. The stall is visible from the gallery window.

Please don't miss to find it

Then what are sold there...

cakes in shape of buddha

It's up to you how much you believe

the story Mr. Kitano telling for the cake.

 

In any case, enjoy your summer holiday in Tokyo

 

Tokyo Skytree view spot - Cielo y rio, Kuramae (蔵前)

Tokyo Skytree, the newest icon of Tokyo, opened last month. Although the 634-meter-high tower's main role is broadcasting transmission, many people are more attracted by the observation deck on 450 meters height from the ground. For the entrance until 10 July 2012, advance reservation is required and is almost sold out. On 11July or after, long queue for getting an entrance ticket is anticipated. Then let's think another way to enjoy the newest tourist spot of Tokyo.

A riverside cafe, Cielo y rio is one of such options, situating a stop away from Asakusa on Oedo and Asakusa subway lines. When the weather is fine, it is a nice stroll of 15 minutes along the Sumida river from Asakusa to the cafe in Kuramae (蔵前) area.

The interior decoration of Cielo y rio is totally different from what you can find in Asakusa, the most popular tourist spot of Tokyo. It is modern and very lovely everywhere.

       

The restaurant faces to Sumida river side widely and Tokyo Skytree on the other side of river is visible from the window side and outside terrace.

The menu is also far from ones in Asakusa. It offers Western style plates that match with the adorable decoration. Lunch set, available until afternoon, includes rice or bread as much as you can at reasonable price less than Yen 1000. The bistro provides wide variety dishes for dinner, from fresh fish carppacio, cheese platter, several kinds of pasta plates, Spanish paella, meat plates as main dish. 

As it opens without a break, it can be used as a cosy cafe on afternoon. In addition, only for weekend, it opens for breakfast from 9 a.m. It's a good idea to leave your hotel or room from early morning on weekend and, after having breakfast at Cielo y rio, to visit Asakusa in the morning, less crowded time. 

 

 

Restaurant name: Riverside Cafe Cielo y Rio

Address: 2-15-5 Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://cieloyrio.com

     

大きな地図で見る

beer & cafe BERG, Shinjuku (新宿) the last small shop at Shinjuku Station

I do not know any other restaurant like Berg, nor how I can explain the type of the restaurant.

The small cafe is only 30 seconds from East exsit of JR Shinjuku station or on B1 (underground) floor of Lumine Est shopping complex.

Beer & cafe Berg opens from morning, serving breakfast. For lunch time, It offers Japanese style curry set, German plate (ham, salami and bread on a plate), with option of a glass of beer or wine. On evening, it looks like a cozy bar.

For a half of the floor standing bar counter occupies, while small chairs and tables each for two people stay close each other in the small restaurant. Japanese business men in gray suites, students in jeans, a lady reading a book hang on the counter, enjoyeing their meal with beer or wine on evening.

 

At least what we know about Berg,

it is an indipendent (non-chain affiliate) cafe

aiming at "cafe culture" mix of German, French and British style

leving from profit-first management way.

At the small restaurant,

morning coffee is prepared by the coffee master,

authentic German style sausages, the best feature of Berg, is done by the sausage master

bread with wild yeast is baked by the baker master everyday.

Although many of single menu at Berg cost less than 500 yen, quality of food & drink is very important for the owner and its clients, of course. 

 

The menu board is organized with photos of each plate and the staff are very friendly.

SO don't hesitate to jump in the crowd of beer & cafe Berg just for a glass of beer with sausage, breakfast or Japanese style curry lunch.

The blog title "The last small shop at Shinjuku Station" is taken from a book with the same name in Japanese and telling about the unique management style of Berg. Exactly as the book's title, it is the last small shop at the vital and very busy Shinjuku station. 

 

Restaurant name: beer & cafe Berg

Address: 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.berg.jp

 This is the message from beer & cafe Berg that we can find on the paper sheet, to understand more (or less?) about the cafe.

 

Shari The Tokyo Sushi Bar, Ginza (銀座)

Do you know what "shari" means in Japanese?

"Shari"(シャリ) is cooked and vinegared rice which is used for Sushi. It is said that superior skill of Sushi cook masters appears as good quality of shari that supports main actors, seafood on top of it. Good shari is made by delicate adjustment of heating and cooking rice, mixing a certain amount of vineger with rice etc. The work is too skilled and delicate to be ignored when you have sushi at nice and traditional sushi restaurants.    

So Shari The Tokyo Sushi Bar, the modern Japanese restaurant featuring colorful sushi rolls took its name from one of the most important parts of Sushi cooking, implying something new through the logo spelled in alphabet as "Shari" not in Japanese characters. 

The space on the 8th floor of a modern building in Ginza, just a block away from both Printemps Ginza department store and Ginza 1-chome subway station. It might not be looked as sushi restaurant from the chic interior with dark brown wooden tables, open-kitchen counter and yellow-green back chairs on gray carpet floor. Waiters of sophisticated appearance may be better matched with a posh French or Italian restaurant.

Yes, the sushi served at Shari The Tokyo Sushi Bar is also never what we expect for an ordinary sushi restaurant. It is modern and polished Sushi. Their rolled sushi plates delight diners more by the colorful looks and variety of ingredients unusual for traditional sushi; avocado, mango fruit, squid ink, fried shrimp etc. 

The lunch rolled-sushi set includes several different kinds (and colors) of sushi rolls as well as a choice of "side dish" such as fried chicken (tatsutaage 竜田揚げ), tempura, fried tuna (kajiki maguro fry, カジキ鮪フライ) or grilled fish (yaki-zakana 焼き魚). The price, a bit over Yen 1000, has very good value. 

 

Restaurant name: Shari The Tokyo Sushi Bar

Address: Albore Ginza, 2-4-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website:  http://www.shari-ginza.com

Information in English: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a727903/lang/en/

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Grilled tea (ほうじ茶) parfait at Morinoen, Ningyocho (人形町)

Ningyocho (人形町), literally meaning "dolls town", is an interesting district for a stroll in east Tokyo. The name reportedly comes from the history of the town where a few of Japanese traditional puppet theaters had been there or where a lot of puppeteers lived there in Edo period. Nowaday one of major theaters for Kabuki and other plays, Meijiza (明治座), stands on the town. 

Apart from Meijiza, many small shops, bars, restaurants and studio of Japanese traditional craftwork can be found in the district. Many of them have been loved and supported by local clients for long years. In the heart of Tokyo, Ningyocho reminds us a good old day of Japan, while walking and shopping around at the town. It exist in a town of 10 minutes drive from Tokyo station where tens of Shinkansen bullet trains run in and out. 

Morinoen (森乃園) is one of such small but great shops. The tea shop with a century long history is specialized in Hojicha (焙じ茶), Japanese grilled tea. If you walk down the main street of Ningyocho on weekday afternoon, you may sense the roasting tea aroma. The scent comes from the second floor of Morinoen making grilled tea. The brown tea has excellent flavor and joy different from fresh green tea. It gives you a calm peaceful moment.

It will be a good idea to get a pack of Hojicha, Japanese grilled tea at Morinoen for souvenir. What can't miss at Morinoen is not only the tea leaf.

On the second floor, the tea shop offers a cozy tea salon, next to the studio making tea grilled. The small space is filled by local guests and staff are running around to serve them.

The list of attractive Japanese sweets from ice cream parfait, anmitsu (beans paste and syrup), sweet bean soup to dumplings, will make you be in trouble to select just one or two from them. So let's take the one very unique to the tea store.

This is it, Hojicha ice cream parfait

Ice cream, jelly and cream, all of Hojicha flavor

as well as small pieces of cake, dumplings

fill a tall glass.

 

That is another way to enjoy the grilled tea introduced by the tea shop master.

Why not try it?

 

Tea store and cafe name: Morinoen 森乃園

Official website: http://morinoen.jp/

Address: 2-4-9 NIhonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 

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