About food in Japan

Hot pepper cookie by Royce Ishigaki (島とうがらしクッキー, ロイズ石垣)

You may know Okinawa prefecture, the southernmost rich-nature islands region in Japan, for the beautiful beaches, Churaumi aquarium or unique folk culture. Recently our mind was hit by the news that The Ritz Carlton Hotel will open its first resort property in Japan in Okinawa main island next spring. 

For us, Japanese people, Okinawa is one of the most popular destination for summer vacation, which arracts any kind of travellers from family with young kids to romantic honeymooners.

An interesting sweets (or snack?) has been reported to us from Ishigaki Island.

It is called "Shima togarashi cookie" (島とうがらしクッキー, Island-hotpepper cookie).

Hot pepper in cookie?!  Seems to be "Yes" as red pepper picture is depicted on the package box as well as the words "13% included hot pepper made in Okinawa". 

The other thing to be mentioned for the cookie is that it is made by a company called "Royce Ishigaki". It is a subsidiary of the most known chocolate producer in Hokkaido "Royce Confect". Royce founded its subsidiary for cacao tree cultivation on the far south island, at another edge of Japan, four years ago. 

Hot pepper cookie sounds strange, while cookie by Royce brings us high expectation...

As it opens the small pack, it is nothing change from ordinary one.

Let's try it.

Uhhnnnn...

 

 

Firstly It is rich in cheese flavor. As per the official site, two kinds of cheese Edam and Camembert are used for it. After the cheese flavor, I felt spicy hot pepper in my mouth. A bit hot and spicySurely hot pepper can be interestingly recognized in the cookie. As snack, it must be matched with chilly beer. It is well-arranged, good souvenir for Ishigaki and Okinawa islands. 

 

Products by Royce Ishigaki, including Hot pepper cookie, are available at major souvenir shops on the Ishigaki Island as well as some stores at Okinawa-Naha Airport, otherwise online store by the company.

Royce Ishigaki home page (Japanese version only) 

 http://shop.royce-ishigakijima.com 

 

Royce Confect (English) 

http://www.e-royce.com/english/index.html

 

Hot pepper cookie is available at souvenir shops in these hotels in Ishigaki island. 

ＡＮＡインターコンチネンタル石垣リゾート　＜石垣島＞

ホテル日航八重山　＜石垣島＞

軽井沢倶楽部　ホテル石垣島　＜石垣島＞

石垣リゾート　グランヴィリオホテル（ルートイングループ）　＜石垣島＞

On other islands

小浜島リゾート＆スパ　ニラカナイ＜小浜島＞（南西楽園ツーリスト提供）

ホテル日航アリビラ

ホテルＪＡＬシティ那覇

Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Fantastic dining experience in ancient Japan, Ukai Toriyama (うかい鳥山)

After mount hike in Takao (高尾), to make the most use of travelling far from central Tokyo, whether it is lunch or dinner time, we suggest a fantastic dining experience in Takao.

The experience is even for us, Japanese, something special and unforgettable. 

The luxury restaurant, Ukai Toriyama (うかい鳥山）is 10 minutes car ride from Mt. Takao's (高尾山) gateway rail station, Takaosanguchi (高尾山口). The restaurant provides complimentary shuttle bus service for their diners to/from Takaosanguchi railway station every 20 minutes. The 10-minute bus journey took us into unfamiliar area deeper woods and less residence houses.

As soon as we arrived and after we were checked in with table reservation, we waited for a few minutes at a cozy waiting space with folk decorations and "irori" (いろり) fireplace. 

The restaurant seats are not accommodated in a single modern building but are scattered in Japanese traditional garden and in traditional style small or middle-sized buildings.  While a lady in Kimono took us to our table in a dining hall, we were admired by the beautiful and romantic scenes of large Japanese garden with red painted bridge on creek, thatch roofing bower and wooden water wheels.

WOW, it is "time trip" to ancient Japan which we imagined as "old tale". 

Our table was ready and facing to the lovely Japanese garden with a pond. 

Whatever we have, it must be nice experience already with the Japanese garden and folk room decoration.

Anyway, here chicken or beef barbecue is the restaurant's speciality. After some starter dishes and/or soup bowl, let's enjoy self-BBQ in ancient style, meal cut in large size and skewered. 

At the end of the course meal, rice with tororo (とろろ, Japanese yam potate) and miso soup are served.

Our dreamy experience was continued to a seasonal special event there.

From the beginning of June to Mid-July, the restaurant offers "firefly show" (hotaru gari, ホタル狩り) at the garden on evening.

After the BBQ dinner, we had been fully fascinated for about 20 minutes with subtle lights by fireflies drifting in the dark. Really sorry for you, it is not technically possible to picture the scene. It is available only when you visit there in real. 

I could never imagine that I was able to see a dream, such many of fireflies in the dark as real-life experience. As you know, Tokyo surroundings where the land is totally developed everywhere, it is rarely found a place which is completely dark without light. The experience was even for Japanese, beyond our expectation. 

Don't miss the chance after you visit Mt. Takao

The restaurant offers different attractions season by season.

Reservation is of course essential for the restaurant.

 

Related link: 

Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Tororo Soba (とろろそば)

Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Japanese traditional sweets at Yukido (有喜堂)

 

Restaurant name:  Ukai Toriyama (うかい鳥山)

Address: 3426 Minamiasakawa, Hachioji-city, Tokyo

Website: http://www.ukai.co.jp/toriyama/

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Accommodation in the area

八王子プラザホテル

京王プラザホテル八王子

八王子スカイホテル

Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Japanese traditional sweets at Yukido (有喜堂)

Following my previous post about Mountain Takao area, here I am introducing Japanese sweets shop for getting souvenir of Mt. Takao and for taking a break with sweet desert after your exciting walking tour in nature.

Since early twenty century, Yukido (有喜堂) has been serving to temples on the mountain as well as tourists visited there. It is one of the most established sweets maker house in the area.

Yukido has two properties in Takaosanguchi (the gateway for Mt. Takao); one which is the main store, close to the railway station along the National Road and another on the way to Cable and Lift stations. Both buildings are in traditional Japanese style with cafe space and they are an oasis of mountain climbers in cosy atmosphere with wooden décor.  

 

Let's try Japanese traditional style desserts, green tea or coffee at the cafe or get "iconic"-souvenir Takao Manju (steamed buns) or Takao Senbei (cookies in shape of maple leaf).

 

My souvenir shopping are Takao Senbei and Yokan (羊羹, beans paste cake) with marrons.

 

 

Related post: Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Tororo Soba (とろろそば)

Shop name: Yukido (有喜堂)

Address: 

<Main store> 2302 Takao-Machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo

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<Kanmi (甘味) store> 2478 Takao-Machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo

大きな地図で見る

 

Accommodations in the area

 

京王プラザホテル八王子

Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Tororo Soba (とろろそば)

One day during a short break of rainy season, I had a chance to visit Takao(高尾). After Mt. Takao has been awarded "three-star ***" by the Michelin guide since 2007, it becomes more popular year by year for both Japanese and international tourists. 

General tips about Mt. Takao: 

The mountain whose height is 599 meters is one of the best place for hiking and for full-day excursion from central Tokyo. The journey time from central Tokyo (Shinjuku station) to Mt. Takao hiking gateway (Takaosanguchi station on Keio line) is only about 1hour by train and it costs less than Yen 1000 for return. From Shinjuku and other stations en route, Keio railway company provides "Round-trip Discount Ticket" combined with cable or lift ride(s) on Mt. Takao. 

For more information about Keio Mt. Takao Round-trip discount ticket,

please visit their official site in English.

http://www.keio.co.jp/english/riding/discount.html

To climb up Mt. Takao, there are several hiking courses recommended by the region's tourist site. The easiest and the most desirable trail for beginner is No. 1 (1号路) depicted in bright red colour on the hiking map. To make your hiking activity easier, it offers an option to take a ride either on Cable car or Lift to the middle of the route. The course is not too tough to reach on the peak so it is taken even by primary school children as a school field trip. At least it requires an appropriate appearance such as sports shoes, trousers.

For more detail about Mt. Takao hiking, please visit its official site linked from below.

Mt. Takao Official Site: http://www.takaotozan.co.jp/index.htm

Where and what to eat?: 

Anyway for food lovers, before or after the mountain hiking, maybe you need to fill your stomach with tasty food, as usual.

From today, I will post three spots around Mt. Takao for food lovers.

The first one is Takahashiya (高橋屋), a soba noodle restaurant accommodated in a traditional style building. It is located between Takaosanguchi railway station to Cable and Lift stations. It is on the corner before the starting point of No.1 (１号路) hiking course. It must be easy to find among restaurants and souvenir shops lined up on both sides of the main street, because a tall persimmon tree with over 50 years age appears from the roof of the restaurant.  

Inside of the cozy casual Japanese restaurant is decorated with wooden folk arts. Let's enjoy looking at them while you wait for your noodle bowl.

 

In Mt. Takao area, soba (そば, 蕎麦) noodle with tororo (とろろ, Japanese yam) sauce is local speciality. Both ingredients, soba buckwheat and Japanese yam (a kind of potato) are from mountains. 

Tororo sauce is served separately in a small bowl with a fresh quail egg.

Mix up well the sauce, egg and also seasonal condiments.

Then pour the sauce into your noodle bowl. Now it is ready!

Side dish ordered, "persimmon leaves" tempura.

This is the first time for me to taste persimmon leaf...

It does not have strong flavour but a bit salty.

Maybe it is good as snack with beer,

if the occasion is after hiking. 

Before or after taking a walk on the mountain, please be relaxed with a nice bowl of soba noodle, surrounded by Japanese folk wooden decoration at Takahashiya.

Related post: Mt. Takao (高尾山), what to eat there? - Japanese traditional sweets at Yukido (有喜堂)

Restaurant name: Takahashiya (高橋屋)

Address: 2209 Takao-Machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo

Official site in Japanese: http://www.takahasiya.com

 

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Accommodation close by the posted site: 

京王プラザホテル八王子

八王子スカイホテル

Radioactive contamination data

I understand some of you concern on radioactivity level in Japan, which was exposed from Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant after the earthquake on March 2011. For those people, the linked site is maybe helpful to ease your anxious and to make decision whether and in which part you tavel in Japan.

The original site is in Japanese but can be translated by Google into English and other languages. The site is linked to various data reports related to radioactive contamination such as air, water and food.

http://atmc.jp/

I hope that helps you with planning trip to Japan.

 

Nara-zuke sable (奈良漬サブレ)

I got an interesting cookies as souvenir from Nara (奈良), the ancient capital of Japan over a thousand years ago. 

 

The package looks like a "normal" chocolate chip cookies, apart from the title on the box. It is written "Nara-zuke sable (奈良漬サブレ). Nara-zuke (奈良漬) is local speciality pickles of Nara (奈良).The vegetable pickles flavoured with sake kasu (酒粕, sake lees) actually has long history and it was recognized on a commerce document of 1300 years ago. 

I have been curious how they can make sable (cookies) with pickles?!

As shown on the package, Nara-zuke sable is produced under collaboration between sweets making school "Donner Du Gateau" and the academic institution Nara Women's University. Hoping that the local speciality pickles is widely introduced and is taken by many people, these two organizations developed French style cookies (sable) by taking advantage of alcohol, sweetness and salt ingredients brought from Nara-zuke.  

The one I had also includes ginger (しょうが, shoga). 

Having a piece of the sable, if I say, the taste is rather close to raisin cookies which often flavoured with rum and grapes. No strong sake flavour remains. It can be consumed even by children, because alcohol component is disappeared already. 

That is a nice way to introduce local historic speciality to people who are unfamiliar with the local pickles

 

Nara-zuke sable is available at branches of traditional pickles store, Yamazakiya (山崎屋) in Nara and Rakuten online shop through the link below. (not exactly same with what I had, ginger included) The one is pure Nara-zuke sable, no ginger.  

奈良漬サブレ630円（8枚入り） 価格：630円（税込、送料別）

 

Yamazakiya (山崎屋), established Nara-zuke local pickles shop is located close to Kofukuji (temple, 興福寺) and National Museum in Nara. 

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Japanese green tea helps wellness

I attended the interesting event which was to promote Japanese green tea from Shizuoka (静岡).  There, a doctor works for a hospital in Kakegawa-city (掛川市), Shizuoka prefecture, presented observation by him and colleague doctors in the city and he implied cause-effect between intake green tea and wellness.

Although it is not yet proved scientifically with clear human testing, at least it is true that in Japanese cities of great consumption in green tea, citizens' average life is longer than ones of less consumption. 

Followings are some statistics and finds from medical reports and/or observations as the health enhancement effects of green tea.

Doctors' findings from residents' health conditions in Kagegawa city where residents often have tea through out a day.

- the lowest mortality of cancer, female ranked on top, male the second top among all cities in Japan with more than 100,000 populations

- City average length of life male 80.4 / female 86.4, higher than average of Japan

- while annual medical cost spent for elderly citizens is three quarters of national average cost and doctors/nurse and cancer departments much less required by the city compared with a typical city in Japan

- elderly people in the city overally look younger than actual age by 5 to 10 years

- their artery is less aged than average human in Japan

It is not specific for tea made in Kakegawa-city, as general effects, those who often have green tea is less likely to get diseases compared with others who do not have or less.

- dementia: among 1000 people of over 70's, the ratio of those have more than two cups of green tea per day is a half of those who have less

- obesity: when samples keep taking 500mg "tea catechin" per day for 8 to 12 weeks, their body mass index(BMI), visceral fat rate and abdominal girth are improved

- arterial sclerosis: those who have 5 or more cups of green tea per day got disease related cardiac blood vessels at less ratio by 30% compared with ones who have less than one cup per day

As "kakegawa study", the doctor and medical specialist team will keep their research for clearer scientific evidences with human testing data and whether there is any variance in wellness effect among different species of tea leaves. 

Kakegawa study (Japanese only)  http://www.kakegawastudy.jp/

Following the medical insights, we tasted green tea from Shizuoka prefecture and dessert specially made with green tea.

To serve nice cup of green tea...

Amount of tea leaves -  5g per person (one tea-spoonful)

Pour 70 degree C of hot water into a tea pot (that is better than boiled water)

Maccha sherbet and jelly included with vanilla ice cream

Sorry, it was exclusive for the event...

Well, where we can get green tea from Shizuoka?

It can be available even at super markets and major department stores, because over 40% of Japanese tea leaf is produced in Shizuoka prefecture. 

To be surer, at tea special shops or Shizuoka Plaza, the unit in Tokyo specialized in promoting products from Shizuoka.

Otherwise, an online shop specialized in Japanese green tea from Shizuoka, 

Chamichami.com was launched this year to introduce Japanese green tea to be enjoyed in casual manners. They source their green tea products directly from tea farmers in Shizuoka. The website is in Japanese so far but they are happy to receive orders in English and to ship them abroad from Japan.  

Chamichami.com - Japanese green tea online shop

Website: http://www.chamichami.com

Shizuoka Plaza (in Yurakucho, Tokyo)

Address: Basement 1st floor Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, 2-10-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

*The building Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan (東京交通会館） is just in front of JR Yurakucho station. 

大きな地図で見る

 

Shizuoka prefecture reported the result of radioactivity test on tea. It shows there is no negative health influence on consumption of tea from Shizuoka.

For more information, please visit the link. 

http://www.pref.shizuoka.jp/sangyou/sa-340/20110520_test_results_radio_activity.html

 

Hello Kitty x Dominique Saibron baguette bag

OHHH, We could never imagine such a cute "baguette bag"

 

Following rusk in Hello Kitty package box, Japanese units of French high end baker, Le Boulanger Dominique Saibron offers a new product, "baguette bag" with Hello Kitty face as well as logo of "Tokyo".

 

The size is exactly for thier iconic product "Baguette Le Boulanger" (Yen 357).

On one side, an orange belt is attached so you can hold the bag easily.

On the other side, the logo Hello Kitty x Dominique Saibron appears.

 

It may be a good souvenir for people from France? so they can use on daily life it when they go back to their country. I am not sure how many times we have a chance to bring the French long-size bread, "baguette" in town of Tokyo or any other cities other than ones in France. Still I could not help but bringing a piece to a cash counter....

What do you want to put in the bag ? if it is not baguette.

 

Hello Kitty x Dominiuqe Saibron baguette bag costs each Yen525. The shop also offers a bag + "one piece of Baguette Le Bouranger" at special price Yen 735. The bread is also very nice, classic French style baquette.

It is available at units of Le Bouranger Dominique Saibron in Tokyo and their brand-new branch in Osaka. Nor is it available at the flagship boutique in Paris (77 avenue du general Leclerc 75014 Paris) nor is at Sanrio shop or Hello Kitty stores in Japan.

Several units of Le Boulanger Dominiuqe Saibron are in convenient location of central Tokyo such as...

Dominique Saibron Akasaka Main store 

Address: Akasaka Biz Tower, 5-3-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Nearest stations: Akasaka-Mitsuke, Akasaka, Tameike-Sanno

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Dominique Saibron Ginza Mitsukoshi

Address: Ginza Mitsukoshi Departmentstore, 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Nearest stations: Ginza

大きな地図で見る

 

 

Dominique Saibron Marche - Tokyo Station Keiyo Street 

Location: inside of JR Tokyo Station 1st floor "Keiyo Street"

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Dominique Saibron Marche et Cafe - Shinjuku LUMINE

Address: B2 floor Shinjuku LUMINE1, 1-1-5 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Nearest stations: Shinjuku

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Dominique Saibron Marche et Cafe - LUCUA Osaka

Address: LUCUA Osaka B1F, 3-1-3 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka

Nearest station: Osaka, Umeda 

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For other stores location, please visit Dominique Saibron official site. It is Japanese version but at least you can find google map with store name.

http://www.maxim-s.co.jp/akasaka/ds/shop.html

 

Nihonbashi Kinoshige (日本橋 紀ノ重） - fish on parade from Tsukiji Market

Kinoshige (紀ノ重) is originally an established whole-seller with four-century history in Tokyo and based in Tsukiji Market. Is it great if we have a chance to taste seafood products carefully selected by the discerning professional Kinoshige buyers with their strong connections in the fishery? In Nihonbashi, Japan's financial centre, there is a Japanese restaurant or Izakaya (居酒屋) with Kinoshige brand.

The restaurant, Nihonbashi Kinoshige (日本橋　紀ノ重) is accommodated in the new building, COREDO Muromachi (室町) opened in 2010. The building is in a prime location, just in front of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Tokyo one of the most luxury hotel in the cosmopolitan, a block away from Bank of Japan or a few steps from Mitsukoshi (三越) department flagship store.

On the contrary to the financial district atmosphere surrounding location, inside of Nihonbashi Kinoshige, it is purposely decorated like "Tsukiji Market" site with Fish market sign boards hang on top and raw seafood displayed towards dining tables. The tables and chairs are unusual as a restaurant and look like wooden box stacked up. What a fun dining experience in a fish market atmoshere!

The menu list can be described fresh seasonal fish and seafood "on parade". Yes, they know the best way to taste each kind of seafood offered, sashimi, ryoshi-yaki (漁師焼, fishery style grill with sauce), genshi-yaki (原始焼, "primitive" style" grill), himono (干物, dried), nimono (煮物, well-cooked in pot) etc. We can never get tired of tasting seafood there. 

Complimentary starter - Squid spicy sauce, cooked with candle fire in front of us

Assorted very fresh sashimi plate 

Left: Octopus and vegetable in vinegar

Right: Salmon rolls (bottom) and

"non-fish dish" (top) fried roll with cheese and sake-kasu（酒粕, sake lees)

Of course Nihonbashi Kinoshige offer nice and wide selections of Japanese sake including ones from Tohoku (as long as stocks available). They must be excellent match with fish and seafood dishes proviede at the restaurant. 

My favourite sake from Fukushima, "Hiroki", not sure if it still has more stock...

and orange liqueur 

***** Update 3rd May 2012 ******

The restaurant is no longer called "Kinoshige" but is "Suminoe". The concept is altered a bit. But it is still under the same operator and the atmosphere and seafood focusing food menu are similar. Hence our recommendation for the restaurant remains. New English website is here.http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g753342/lang/en/
Thanks!

Restaurant name: Nihonbashi Kinoshige

Address: 2nd floor, COREDO Muromachi, 2-2-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g753342/lang/en/

 

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Tharros, Italian restaurant in Shibuya (渋谷) offers Wine Charity plan

Tharros, an Italian restaurant in Shibuya, featuring specifically south Italy and Sardinia food, started Charity Wine plan for their diners. As the charity plan, the first glass wine is offered to guests just at Yen100. If the guests would, they are encouraged to pay more than the price Yen100 and the amount will be contributed as donation to the earthquake and tsunami disaster relief.

The charity plan, named as "Gambari AMO" is offered until the end of July 2011, along with another promotion plan, stamp rally by which 5 stamps out of 10 Italian restaurants in Shibuya becomes a Yen 5000 voucher consumable at Tharros. 

Well, more about Tharros, it is situated a few minutes walk from Shibuya station and the "world-busiest" Shibuya crossing. In the area behind two big commercial complex, Tokyu Plaza and Shibuya Mark City, some interesting small restaurants can be found in addition to Tharros and Cowbelle which was introduced on this blog in the past.

 

South Italian style antipastini dishes

such as tuna, sardine, mushrooms... 

Sardinian pasta "fregula" with pork sausages looks like rice ...

but it is small pieces of pasta

"Pane frattau" Sardinia style lasagna with poached egg

With rich in seafood, olive oil and tomato sauce, their Italian dishes are healthy and good taste of course!

Let's enjoy healthy Italian and contribute to donation at the same time!

About Gambari AMO promotion plan, it is also available in English on eatpia.com.

http://www.eatpia.com/restaurant/tharros-shibuya-italian

Restaurant name: Tharros

Address: SEDE Building 1st floor, 1-5-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.tharros.jp

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