About food in Japan

Kuromon Ichiba (黒門市場), Osaka

Today's our recommendation for food lovers is from Osaka.

Kuromon Ichiba (黒門市場) is a local food market in Osaka city center. The nearest station for the spot is "Nipponbashi"  on subway lines, which is just one stop from Namba. If you do not mind taking a 10-minute walk or you prefer to take an option to save money for a subway ticket, the market is accessible even by walk from Namba, one of the major central area in Osaka.

From Nipponbashi subway station, take Exit No.10, the market street is less than a minute walk from the station.

Even though you are not so hungry, just go through the narrow local street, looking at what are sold there. You will find so many many stuff, mainly local food including fresh seafood, along both sides of the street. Small retail stores stand in a row.

 

 

At a look, that's a typical local shopping arcade in Japan.What is different for Kuromon Ichiba from other local markets is.... for last several years, the market becomes quite popular among Chinese speaking tourists. Then unlike other local shopping arcades in Japan, many local retailers place products appealing to the non-Japanese customers not only to local ones. That is the reason why, in Spring, we can find a box of luxury strawberry, including ones in white in front of a super market!! They are usually placed on shelf at the end of row, because such  luxury products are not what many customers are looking for.

 

Also you will find signs and information in English not only in Chinese and Japanese at many shops. The market has more welcoming atmosphere for international tourists and it is easy to go around and to enjoy some food with lower language barrier.

 

Sometimes tasting is offered.

 

Fugu, pufferfish is one of specialties in Osaka.

Fresh and boiled fugu are also provided.

 

 

Another point to mention is that the market offers eat-in space in the middle of the shopping street. The space is designed for international tourists who wish to enjoy take-away food from shops in Kuromon Ichiba. It's free to use and provides also restroom and vending machines and even wifi service as well as tables and chairs. Although some local restaurants are also available in the market, this will be a good option for those who visit the market out of lunch/dinner time and who would like to try variety of local food at reasonable cost.

 

I also got my lunch! at quite reasonable price.

 

 

 

Name of spot: Kuromon Ichiba (黒門市場)

Address: 2-4-1 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-city

Official website in English: http://www.kuromon.com/en.php

Tripadvisor link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298566-d1896861-Reviews-Kuromon_Ichiba-Osaka_Osaka_Prefecture_Kinki.html

 

Good but reasonable Tendon(天丼) & Tempura chain, Tenya (てんや)

Some of you may already visited Tanya(てんや), a major tendon & tempura chain restaurant, in Tokyo or some other parts of Japan.

Tenya is a casual chain restaurant but their crispy tempura quality is good as much as what are served at up scale restaurants.

 

For those who are not familiar with the word "Tendon"(天丼), it means "tempura" + "don"(rice in a big bowl). Tendon is a rice bowl topped with some tempura pieces.

The ingredients of Tendon vary by restaurant and a restaurant might offer a few different tendon such as ebi(prawn) or kakiage (shredded vegetable tempura). 

At Tanya, your check won't be higher than Yen1000 per person in many cases. Each single tendon menu costs much less than Yen 1000.

 

At some Tenya units in central Tokyo, including one in Harajuku, English menu is available as above.

 

It will be easier to choose for international travelers from various tendon types and some set menu, for example with noodle.

 

As it may be a bit difficult to search on information in English, here we put useful information on Tenya's official site.

Menu in English: http://www.tenya.co.jp/english/menu/

They also provide seasonal special and these will be found only at each restaurant with photo images.

 

Restaurant units in major locations of Tokyo: http://www.tenya.co.jp/english/tokyo-locations/

Among their over 100 units, they will be easily accessible by international tourists.

 

They also have some international units out of Japan!

Thailand : http://www.tenya.co.jp/shop/oversea/thailand/

 

Indonesia : http://www.tenya.co.jp/shop/oversea/indonesia/

 

Find a nice Japanese Tendon in your country! We guess more international units by Tenya will be opened year by year.

 

 

    

 

Ninja Akasaka, Tokyo

To meet a Ninja and learn his/her magical method might be one of your dream.

There is a hidden spot in Tokyo, where we can meet some Ninja and enjoy nice dining experience as well.

Ninja Akasaka is located near Akasaka-mitsuke subway station in central Tokyo, not far from the official residence of Prime Minister of Japan. We often visit the area where we can find some other interesting restaurants such as produced Umaya by a Kabuki actor. But we have overlooked the house of Ninja for long years as the entrance exists almost in hidden location. Ninja Akasaka is on the ground floor of Akasaka Tokyu Plaza, where Akasaka Excel Tokyu Hotel is accommodated. The building can be found easily by anyone when they get out from Akasaka-mitsuke subway station. But it is not easy to find the entrance of Ninja Akasaka. 

Anyway, before looking for the entrance, we strongly recommend you make a reservation for Ninja Akasaka, because the restaurant is quite popular and is likely to be fully booked for every evening. Reservation is available from the official website here.

Well from here, it is our visit report....

Once we arrived at the restaurant, a couple of Ninja welcomed us and showed the way to our reserved dining table.

But on the way to the table, we were asked to take small training to be more familiar with the world of Ninja. Hahaha. Don't worry that was not so hard.

When we were finally seated, we got "a scroll" which is called "menu" in ordinary restaurants. To look at each of food descriptions on the scroll was fun, because most of them can never be found in any other restaurants. For example, "Shuriken star-blades grissini", Snow crab and grapefruit served "with a sword trick" etc.

At Ninja restaurant, we were also asked to have "another training to find a call bell hidden around our table." That was another fun experience even though it was too hard for us. Hahaha...　

We have not been enough trained yet to be a Ninja!

 

 

 

We would NOT like to tell you so much about this restaurant, because that may spoil your surprising opportunities there. So we won't tell you so much but it was really joyful moment for sure.

We will show you a few more pieces of what we saw there.

One of icon menus, "Shuriken star-blades grissini" .

 

Treasure box served as ...

 

A cocktail served by a bowl for "goldfish"

 

 Ninja restaurant hires cooks from different fields such as Japanese, Chinese, French etc.

So all the menu sounds innovative and interesting to enjoy the world of Ninja at the same time the food is in good quality. It also offers some alternative cuisine menu for vegetarians and other with food diet restriction.

Their Ninja have served some VIP guests from the world. And the plates satisfied even such people.

It's quite worth to visit  there (with reservation!!) for having one of exciting moments in Tokyo.

 

Restaurant name: NInja Akasaka

Address: 1st floor, Akasaka Tokyu Plaza, 2-14-3 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Official website: http://www.ninjaakasaka.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kamaboko (fish cake) restaurant & museum in Odawara

Did you know "Kamaboko"(かまぼこ)? It's Japanese traditional steamed fish cake. Even though you haven't know the name Kamaboko, you may have it as an ingredient or as a part of side dish.

Kamaboko usually has semicircle shape and in many cases it is served after sliced into thin pieces. Ordinary Kamaboko is in white color and some has pink color outer. Japanese people express celebration feeling with stripe pattern of white and pink made with sliced Kamaboko pieces. Some local versions exist with different shapes (such as ones looked like a leaf, fish) and colors.

Kamaboko is made from white meat of fish. After the fish meat is mushed, it is steamed in a mold. No record exists to know where and when Kamaboko was invented but in Japan at least it has 900 years history.

Suzuhiro (鈴廣) is one of major Kamaboko producers based in Odawara (小田原, next to Hakone). In 2015, it celebrates 150th anniversary of foundation. Today we are going to introduce interesting facilities to know more about Kamaboko in Suzuhiro's home-ground.

Kamaboko no Sato (かまぼこの里, the town of Kamaboko) is just a just a few minutes walk from Kazamatsuri(風祭) station on Hakone Tozan Train. It is in-between 2 major stations on Hakone Tozan Train, Odawara(小田原) which is accessible by Shinkansen from Tokyo and Hakone Umoto(箱根湯本) which is the gateway of Hakone sightseeing. So if you are interested in the fish processed food, it will be good to drop by the town of Kamaboko on the way to/from day trip of Hakone which is known for the viewspot of Mt. Fuji.

Kamaboko no Sato has some facilities to enjoy Kamaboko and Suzuhiro's other products in different ways from the flagship store, fish cake making experience, a restaurant and food market. Unfortunately basically all facility is provided with information in Japanese only but we introduce some facilities where international tourists can enjoy.

*Suzuhiro flagship store

First, at the flagship store in a Japanese traditional style building, make sure what looks like Kamaboko and how it is sold. 

The brand name on the signboard is written from right to left.

The old writing style reminds us the long history of the Kamaboko producer.

 

We can find many variation of Kamaboko

that are not available at supermarkets in town.

 

*Kamaboko Museum

Although the explanation is in Japanese only, you will know how it is made from visual information such as pictures and actual producing activities.

At the center of the facility, the museum offers Kamaboko making experience program to tourists. It is visible for those who don't participate in the program.

This is "Chikuwa"(ちくわ) another type of fish cake.

Chikuwa has long straw like shape with a hole in center.

It is cooked by the museum staff after each participant made the shape of own Chikuwa.

 

*Buffet Restaurant

Making the most use of buffet restaurant, simply taste Kamaboko and other fish-made processed foods in different ways. You may discover new ways to enjoy those products. The Kamaboko producer knows the most ways to enjoy them.

Main product Kamaboko with

plum sauce, extra virgin olive oil or sesame & mustard sauce, as the simplest ways.

Otherwise served as "pinchos" with vegetable or mushroom.

 

Not only fish cake, local and seasonal fish menu offered.

 

Vegetable is not fish?! Yes!

but those fresh vegetable is grown with fertilizer "made from" fish born and skin left after Kamaboko making process.

 

Finally plates are filled mostly with fish-related food.

Don't miss also deep-fried fish cake, served just after cooked.

 

Now you will know variety of ways to enjoy Kamaboko, traditional fish cake in Japan!

Restaurant' name is "Erenna Gosso"(えれんなごっそ). Find this building and log on the site.

Lunch buffet starts from 11a.m. and is offered until 14:00(Last order time)

Price: Yen 1850 per person

 

Facility name: Suzuhiro Kamaboko no Sato

                       (鈴廣　かまぼこの里)

Restaurant name: Erenna Gosso

Address: 245 Kazamatsuri, Odawara-city, Kanagawa

Nearest station: Kazamatsuri (風祭) on Hakone Tozan Train

                          The site is directly connected from the station.

 

Official website (Japanese only): http://www.kamaboko.com/sato/shisetsu/

 

 

 

Small museum for food and daily life in Tokyo

Today we introduce a small exhibition space related food in Shinagawa.

It will be an interesting spot for those hoping to learn deeper about Japanese food culture .

The exhibition space is called "Small museum for food and daily life"(食とくらしの小さな博物館) in Japanese, while it is "Ajinomoto Corporate Museum" officially in English.

It is about 15 minutes walk from JR Shinagawa station on Yamanote line and situated next to Takanawa Prince Hotel. It is also a few minutes walk from New Takanawa Prince Hotel. So especially if you stay at those Japanese brand hotels, the museum will be a good stroll in neighbor area.

As the name shown, the exhibition is organized by a Japanese major processed food corporation, Ajinomoto. The site is called as "the center of food culture" accommodates different facilities, used for training and learning opportunities among Ajinomoto staff as well as external visitors. It also provides some conference rooms and a library for those who are keen to learn and study food culture field.

The exhibition space is on the second floor, accessible through a spacious lobby hall facing to a small Japanese traditional courtyard.

First we found a small room displaying several Ukiyoe arts and food sample showing how bento box in Edo era look like. It's a room telling us Japanese food culture in the period, a few hundreds year ago.

Proceeding to other rooms, we can find how home dining space in Japan has been developed in the 20th century, along with products by Ajinomoto. The newer scenes are familiar for locals but the older is not even for us.

To be good for international travelers, the exhibition space provides information in English. AND the entrance is free.

 

 

 

Just keep in mind the museum opening hours and days limited.

Museum name:　Ajinomoto　Corporate Museum

(In Japanese, Shoku to Kurashi no Chisana Hakubutsukan 食とくらしの小さな博物館）

Open: Monday to Saturday

Hour: 10h00 - 17h00

Close: Sunday, national holiday, new year holidays and exhibition renewal period

Website (in Japanese): http://www.syokubunka.or.jp/exhibition/culture/

Address: Ajinomoto Group Takanawa Training Center, 3-13-65 Takanawa, MInato-ku, Tokyo

 

Cute bear doughnut from Hokkaido available at Tokyo station

No word maybe necessary to tell how it’s cute apart from an image like this.

The cute cake is called “Shiretoko Doughnut” made by Shiretoko Factory.

The company is based on Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido (中標津、北海道) where it is known for dairy products from the vast land. But this Shiretoko Doughnut is available at 2 stores in Tokyo!! They are within JR stations Ueno and Tokyo. Don’t miss to get a piece while transferring at either station or when you visit some places around the stations.

Shiretoko Doughnut is of course made from milk and other ingredients from the origin, Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido. No doubt for the taste and quality. We also would like to remind you that it is baked but “no fried.” So it must be less oily and healthier than ordinary deep fried doughnut.

 

Just one thing we mind and concern is that we have to take the cute bear finally!! Oh.

 

Several flavor choices are available as your taste,

chocolate chips, caramel, coffee etc.

 

It can be purchased by a piece. Although the shelf life is not so long to bring them back to your country unfortunately, let’s enjoy cute Shiretoko doughnut while staying in Tokyo.

 

 

 

Official facebook page Shiretoko Factory: https://www.facebook.com/siretocofactory

2 units in Tokyo

* In JR Tokyo Station

Location: Keiyo Street inside of ticket gate at JR Tokyo station

*In JR Ueno station

Location: ecute 3rd floor inside of ticket gate at JR Ueno station

 

 

 

Get Japanese traditional sweets around Tokyo Sky Tree

After our series of posts related alcohol drinks, from today, we will introduce you a few topics about “sweets.”

The first one is a Japanese traditional sweets shop near Tokyo Sky Tree.

It’s called “Morihachi”(森八) opened in 1933, so now with over 80-year history!

 

The first feature of Morihachi is the exterior appearance.

Looks like a castle!!

 It can be found even from Tokyo Sky Tree tower, which is five-minute walk to the traditional sweets shop. As long as you take the right direction, you won’t miss the building.

The castle like sweets shop is a bit out from a main street but it will be exciting just to watch the exterior even if you are not interested in sweets.

The shop interior also looks like the one coming from Edo period as same with the exterior. The small shop with small pieces of traditional sweets in show cases reminds us a good old days in Japan. It is obviously much different from a convenience store or supermarket where we often buy modern type of sweets.

Fresh and traditional hand-made-sweets look all cute. They cost around Yen 100-200 and most of them can be purchased piece by piece.

 

Among such sweets, the second feature is this.

Oshinari-kun Manju (cake with beans paste)

 

"Oshinari-kun" is the mascot of Oshiage, the area where Tokyo Sky Tree is located. The character is inspired from a poet come from this area in 9^th century or Heian era and he wears the costume in that period.

 

Two pieces of cake each with Oshinari-kun faces are packed in a plastic box.

One is “traditional” taste with red bean paste filling and another is “modern” chocolate flavor filling. So you will be able to compare and enjoy both traditional and modern taste!!

When you visit Tokyo Sky Tree, include to drop by Morihachi in your plan to discover Japanese traditional sweets under the latest and highest tower!!

 

Shop name: Morihachi　森八

Address: 1-3-6 Narihira, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

 

Sake Plaza, a place to know more about the Japanese alcohol

As many know, sake is Japanese local specialty alcohol drink made from rice. It has long history over 1000 years some times associated with Shinto or local culture. The making process is much different from other alcohol drinks in other parts of the world.

The taste is close to white wine made from grapes but it is sweeter in many cases.

As per Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, over 2000 sake producers across Japan offer over 10,000 different brands of sake. You must encounter different brands and taste each time you take sake, as same we do.

Some might seek for a learning opportunity about sake while you stay in Japan, others may be interested in a chance to try some sake brands. For such international travelers, we introduce Sake Plaza in the heart of Tokyo.

Sake Plaza is accommodated on the ground floor of Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association's building located 5 minutes from JR Shimbashi station.It means it's in very center of Tokyo.

 

 

 

From outside, we can find miniature telling us how to make sake in old days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside, hundreds of sake bottles are displayed along a wall.

They are collected from sake breweries across Japan and they are lined up by precture of origine. Unfortunately they are only for display but not for sale, nor for tasting. Still it is insteresting to look at variation of labels and shapes of bottles. 

 

You can also get some detail infromation about sake in English. It will be helpful to purchase sake for gift or order the alcohol drink at a restaurant.

 

What shouldn't be missed here is "Sake Tasting". 

Ask the staff and you can try 5 different brands of sake with a small amount of cost. There the list of sake for tasting are ready in English. You can select 5 brands from the list by region or by types as you like.

Just one point to be noted is the opening hour/day. It is available only within business hours. It's close during weekend and opens only in mid-day.

So actually it's a bit hard for Japanese business people to visit it...

 

 

Spot name: Sake Plaza

Address: 1-1-21 Nishishinbasi, Minatoku, Tokyo

Opening time/day:10h00-18h00 Monday to Friday (except for new year holidays)

Website: http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/about.html#Profile

 

Try and enjoy Sake in different ways and in casual atmosphere in Nihonbashi

 

Happy new year 2015 !!

 

At the beginning of a new year, we introduce an interesting casual bar associated with an established sake brand Hakkaisan.

“Hakkaisan Sennen kouji-ya” (八海山　千年こうじや) is accommodated in a newer shopping complex called “Coredo Muromachi.” Coredo Muromachi, consisted from 3 buildings standing next each other, is just in front of Mitsukoshi Department in Nihinbashi area. So it will be easier to find the complex.

“Hakkaisan Sennen kouji-ya” is on the ground floor of Coredo Muromachi “2.” The shop consists of 2 parts. One side of wall is a boutique providing all line-up of Hakkaisan sake brand. On the other side, you will find a bar counter with several seats.

The casual bar in the shop offers some choices to enjoy the brand's sake in different ways.

On lunch time, the bar provides lunch menu whose main dishes are “cooked with sake or related ingredient.”

My dish one day, “today’s special” menu was

salmon and ikura(salmon roe) on top of rice.

Where is sake?

The pieces of salmon has been dipped in “Sake-kasu” (lees from sake) which making food softer and sweeter taste. The pieces of salmon had sophisticated flavor and incredibly soft texture by the work of sake-kasu.

 

 

What a good work of Sake!

 

 

 

 

During bar time from 17h00, of course the bar offers sake menu, including a few sets to taste different types of Hakkaisan brand with several choices of snacks or local specialties of Niigata, the region of Hakkaisan origin.

 

It will be a good option to try and enjoy sake by an established brand, Hakkaisan in casual manner. Then if you like one of them, you can get a bottle at the boutique behind the bar.

 

Shop name: Hakkaisan Sennen Koujiya (八海山　千年こうじや)

Address: 1st floor Coredo Muromachi 2-3-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website - Coreco Muromachi: https://mi-mo.jp/lng/eng/muromachi.html

Website- Hakkaisan Sennen Koujiya(Japanese only): http://www.sennen-koujiya.jp/shop/hakkaisan-sennenkoujiya

Why not try "Japanese craft beer"? - Craftman Gotanda

Sake(日本酒, nihon-shu) is the most known Japanese alcohol drink in the world obviously. Well, what kind of alcohol drink is taken the most by locals in Japan?

We believe...it's BEER. In Japan we have various choices in alcohol drinks from sake, shochu (distilled sake), beer, wine, cocktail, whiskey etc. But if you check people enjoying at izakaya, you will understand that. Beer is the most popular alcohol in Japan.

Some of you may know a few Japanese beer brands such as Kirin, Asahi, Ebisu, which can be found at Japanese restaurants around the world. Not only such major beer brands, craft beer (beer by microbrewery) has become popular more and more in Japan. Now we can find several bars and restaurants specialized in craft beer in Tokyo.

Today we introduce the newest craft beer bar among them, Craftman in Gotanda.

Although you may not be familiar with the town name, Gotanda (五反田) station is on Yamanote line between Shinagawa and Shibuya. Craftman is five minutes walk from the station.

The bar is modern and bright with wooden tables and chairs. Tens of beer taps on the wall must make beer-lover exciting.

 

On the beer menu, we can find around 30 kinds of Japanse craft beer across Japan. They are categorized by types such as pilsner, ale etc and referred with brewery location. For those who would like to try some different beers by small portion, the bar offers tasting set which includes own-selected 3 kinds of beer by small glass.

The reason we recommend Craftman is its food menu. In addition to the wide selections of Japanese craft beer, the bar offers unique, interesting and nice food. Actually the bar calls itself as "craft beer bistro." So it can't leave the quality and selection of food. Of course those food plates are well matched with beer and they have some Japanese taste rather than perfect Western style dishes which we often find at beer bars and restaurants.

 

For example, what we had there are...

Motsu-nikomi (cooked variety meat)

One of the popular izakaya menu is

arranged and cooked with craft beer here.

Then served with a few pieces of "baguette."

 

Wrapped pizza with yuzu (Japanese local citrus) and cheese

We could never imagine the good combination of yuzu and cheese!

 

The spicy fried chicken (karaage から揚げ)　is also one of their specialty.

 

It will be nice to explore various Japanese beer while staying in Japan, if you love beer.

 

Restaurant name: Craftman

Address: 1st floor, 2-18-3 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

Website (Japanese version): http://craftsman-craftbeerbistro.jp