About food in Japan

Enjoy premium alcohol drink at net price - Genka Bar GINZA

3 years ago we introduced the first unit of “Genka Bar” in Gotanda.

Charging system of the bar is unique. You can purchase your drink & food at “NET price”, ONCE you have paid “entrance fee.”

Genka Bar Ginza is located in the middle of Corridor street, popuar dining area among locals. We can find a plenty of nice restaurants and bars along a street between JR Yurakucho and Shimbashi stations on west end of Ginza.

Compared with other Genka Bar units, in Gotanda and Akasaka, the Ginza unit offers upscale service, quality and atmosphere in place of  higher entrance fee Yen 2500 per person.

Food and drink menu are also upscale at Genka Bar Ginza but all are net price as same with other units.

For example, you will find some premium selections of Japanese and Scotch whisky at net prices...

Highland Ardmore Yen 140

Spyeside Glen Fiddich 12years Yen 140

Spyeside Macallan 18years Yen 720

Spyeside Macallan 25years Yen 4100

 

Japanese Taketsuru 21years Yen 410

Japanese Yoichi 20years Yen 810

 

Even though you do not have an idea of net prices of those alcohol drinks, if you know the average prices at ordinary bars, you will find the prices at Genka Bar are incredible as long as you forget the amount of entrance fee.

Food is selected depending on the season and to be well matched with the premium alcohol drinks, such as cheese imported from France, skewered vegetable etc. Many of them costs less than Yen500.

 

While we enjoy relaxing time at the unique charging system bar, it is nothing change with other peaceful cozy bars. When we find the prices of the menu, we realize that it is an unusual place in term of food and drink prices!! It is very kind to those who love alcohol. Just be careful not to drink TOO MUCH!!

 

Genka Bar Ginza is located on the 2^nd floor of the building.

Please find the red sign of “原価BAR” to find the entrance door.

 

Bar name: Genka Bar Ginza (原価BAR　GINZA)

Address: 2^nd floor, 26^th Paul Star building 7-2-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Official website (Japanese): http://www.genkabar.jp

Menu for the Ginza unit :http://www.genkabar.jp/ginza_menu.html

 

Two fancy bakery cafes in Shinagawa(品川)

At the last of “cafe” series, today we introduce two fancy bakery cafes both in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Both are not strongly associated with Japanese food culture but they will be comfortable space to take a break or lunch before or after taking Shinkansen, Narita Express or other long distance journey from, Shinagawa, one of the largest terminal in Tokyo.

Some of you may or will stay in Shinagawa, as several large international standard hotels are in the town. Many high office buildings are also around the station and many people coming out of Tokyo, even Japanese, get a surprise with the number of people moving around the train station.

Shinagawa is totally a town for business and it doesn’t have enjoyable shopping zone unfortunately apart from “ecute” shopping zone within the station gate. At least we could find some nice café including two as below.

 

*The City Bakery

Some of you know, the cafe brand name comes from New York and The City Bakery Shinagawa unit is the second one in Japan. It is situated in Atre, a shopping complex adjacent to JR Shinagawa station. Being on the same floor from JR train ticket gate, it is easily accessible within five minutes from the station exit.

If you proceed to Konan Exit from the station gate, you will find The City Bakery on your left side. On the opposite side, you will also find Dean & Deluca, another nice food spot in Shinagawa.

The City Bakery offers 3 types of service, bakery for take-away, café and full-service restaurant depending on your situation. We recommend the café where we can take pastry available at the bakery.

One day I took “pretzel croissant” one of the most popular menu at the bakery

as well as apple crumble.

From the counter table, we can do enjoy ”watching people” bustling and going to/from the train station. The scene is a kind of real life in Tokyo, while you are in a café from New York.

 

The City Bakery opens from 8am in the morning. So it must be a good place for breakfast as well, as long as you do not have to depart early morning.

 

Café name: The City Bakery

Address: 2^nd floor Atre Shinagawa, 2-18-1 Konan, Mintato-ku, Tokyo

Website (partly in English): http://www.thecitybakery.jp

 

 

 

*Caslon

Caslon has its flagship shop in Sendai, the capital of Tohoku region. It has two units in Tokyo. For the first time, I happened to get a chance to have some bread bought at Caslon Bakery Tachikawa in west part of Tokyo. The good taste of bread by Caslon was rather impressive even for me who tried many bakeries in Tokyo. So I was quite happy, when I found another unit (out of only two) of Caslon in Shinagawa, which is not far from my base.

Caslon ecute Shinagawa is situated within the controlled area, inside JR Shinagawa station. It may be a bit surprising for some of you to find not a tiny shopping zone inside a train station. Ecute Shinagawa has several bakery shops actually inside the station, targeting tens of business people working in or transferring at Shinagawa. I had missed Caslon among such bakery shops with a big name such as Paul from France.

Caslon is on the upper floor of ecute shopping zone. Unless we go around the upper floor, it might be difficult to find it.

Once we reach to the café, we are able to forget where we are, inside one of the largest station in Tokyo.

Recommendable menu is definitely “sandwich” because of the finest bread. It offers many variation such as BLT. Chicken, vegetable etc.

It looks normal? But the crispy and rich taste of bread is distinctive.

 

Café name: Caslon

Address: 2^nd floor, ecute Shinagawa, 3-26-27 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Website (in Japanese): http://caslon.co.jp/

Café with panda items in Ueno(上野)

Some of you may visit Ueno Park in Japan. In the large Ueno Park, some major tourist attractions, such as Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science and Ueno Zoological Garden, are located.

 

Ueno Park will be a good spot to spend a half day by visiting one or two museums you are interested in. You will also be able to enjoy the nature showing different scenes by season, while moving around museums etc in the park.

Current season, on the beginning of December, we can find yellow leafs everywhere in the park.

 

 

 

 

Well, today we will introduce two recommendable cafes in Ueno around the train station.

 

Café name: Ueno Green Salon

The café is situated just at the entrance of Ueno Park near National Museum of Western Art. The casual canteen like café offers some cute “PANDA menu”, celebrating the most popular animal in Ueno Zoo in the park.

 

 

 

I wish I could try this “Panda Curry”

but my stomach did not allow that.

 

Alternative recommendation, café latte,

if you are not enough hungry to try the cute main dishes

like curry, Omuretsu(omelet & rice).

 

 

It has a plenty of,100, seats and it will be easier to find a table out of peak time, lunch time during weekend. It also has some tables on outside terrace which will be a nice option when the weather is in good condition.

 

 

Address: 7-47 Ueno Park, Taito-ku Tokyo

 

 

 

Café name: Nomono Ueno　（のもの）

Nomono café is a part of Nomono shop in the building of JR Ueno train station. It is outside the gate near Central Exit and is accessible without a train ticket.

From outside you can find the grocery store. The café is behind the shop.

 

“Nomono”(のもの) is a food store operated by JR East railway company, offering local specialties and seasonal products in East Japan area.

 

As long as you order one drink or food at the café counter, you can also take food products available from Nomono grocery shop, from sweets, snack etc.

At the small café, lunch set, small salty plates and Japanese sake are provided. Some menu are changed by month and products from different prefectures are introduced.

It will be a good place to try some Japanese local food and sake or to take a short break before or after taking a train from the station.

 What I selected for today is…. A piece of Panda  hand-made rice cracker from Nomono shop and “Azuki” beans tea served by a pot.

 

If you arrive there on evening, sake tasting set (Kikizake set 利き酒セット) will be interesting. It costs Yen 500 for 3 different kinds of alcohol.

 

Address: Grand Concourse JR Ueno station Central Exit, 7-1-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo

 

 

If you look for something associated with Panda, you will find more souvenir products or food at other stores or cafe. Like this!

 

 

Souffle “Doria” by Hoshino Coffee (星乃珈琲)

Not only Starbucks, we can find some Japanese domestic coffee chains in Tokyo. Today we introduce one of them, Hoshino Coffee (星乃珈琲) with its interesting food menu.

 

 

Hoshino Coffee shop has a kind of atmosphere like an independent coffee shop, although they are operated by a major restaurant chain in Japan. The interior and their menu cannot be felt as modern and latest. We could rather regard it as being in the good old days. That makes the coffee shop comfortable space from young girls to an old couple.

 

 

Another feature of Hoshino Coffee is a series of menu, “Souffle”(スフレ). Some of you may know “souffle” is a way of cooking invented in French cuisine. The original one has fluffy texture made by whipped egg white. The fluffy texture is essential element of food called “soufflé.”

Hoshono Coffee offers several menu on its soufflé series from pancake, cheese cake, traditional soufflé cake etc.

 

 

But the most interesting menu is “Souffle Doria.”

 

“Doria” is popular lunch menu in Japan and you may find it at family restaurants in Japan. It is a kind of “rice gratin.” Cooked rice is covered with white sauce and cheese in a thick pot and it is baked in oven. It is considered as “Western food” among Japanese but now we found it born in Japan. As per description on Wikipedia, it was invented by a chef from Switzerland but based in Japan when he served to a banker from Europe.

 

The original doria is also recommendable but, at Hoshono Coffee, in a large cup, rice is covered with soufflé(whipped and baked egg white maybe)!!

 

I was so excited for the great match, when I found the menu,

soufflé doria.

 

The rice under souffle part is flavored with ketchup, so the taste may be a bit similar to omelet with rice, which is also popular menu in Japan. But the texture of soufflé is much better. It is melting in the mouth…

 

That is not traditional Japanese food but it’s worth trying the texture in Japan.

"Souffle doria" is available only at Hoshono Coffee chain shops.

 

 

While many of Hoshino Coffee units are situated in residential area, some are in central locations, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi.

Here are some of them;

 

Shinuku Alta

Address: Shinjuku Studio Alta B1, 3-24-3 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

 

 109 MEN’S (Shibuya)

Address: 2^nd floor, 109 MEN’S, 1-23-10 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

 

 

Roppongi

Address: 1^st floor Trinity bld. 7-14-7 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

 

Ginza 8chome

Address: 2^nd floor Taiyo bld. 8-8-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

 

"Public" cafe with nice park view, Hibiya Green Salon

Now it's a good season to enjoy autumn leaves in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.

Today we introduce a nice cafe operated by a public sectore, Tokyo metropolitan government.

Hibiya Green Salon is located in Hibiya Park, which is between JR Yutakucho and Shimbashi station. The park is also sandwiched by Imperial Hotel Tokyo and Japan's goverment office district called "Kasumigaseki (霞ヶ関)". In spite of such central location, the park is filled with trees and plants.

When the weather is nice and it is not too cold, it will be a good option to walk around in the park for break or even to have lunch at a bench in the park.

Another option to enjoy looking the park view is to have coffee and a piece of cake at Hibiya Green Salon. The cafe is located west area of the park, near the library.

Inside of the cafe, it looks like a canteen and provides lunch set that are likely to be found at a such canteen. But its sweets are not same type of food. The cakes are from "Patisserie Ikedayama" in Gotanda and they look much better quality ones obviously. 

A piece of cake and coffee must be a good choice to enjoy the green or yellow colored trees in the park from the terrace of Hibiya Green Salon.

 

We will keep continue to introduce several more cafes in central Tokyo.

 

Cafe name: Hibiya Green Salon

Website of Hibiya Park (where the tea salon is located):

 http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_02.html

 Address: Hibiiya Koen 1-6, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

 

 

 

 

 

Tranquil tea break spot in Asakusa(浅草)

Asakusa is quite popular tourist spot in Tokyo, as many of you know probably, and it is always filled with tourists inlcuding those come from out of Japan.

Here we introduce two newer nice spots there.

The first one is the top floor of "Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center" .  

The information center, opened two years ago, is situated just in front of Kaminarimon gate over a crossing, very heart of Asakusa.

On the ground floor, information service is provided as same with other tourist information centers around the world. On the 2nd floor, it has some PC with internet for self-searching and also some seating space where we can enjoy the view of the crossing in front of Kaminarimon gate, the icon of Asakusa.

You will miss a lot unfortunately if you leave from the center by just visiting the lower two floors.

 

Don't forget to climing up to the top !! So you can find very nice view from there.

 

 

Like this, if the weather is fine.

 

Overlooking the Nakamise street

from another side.

 

On the top floor of Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, a small cafe is available, so you can enjoy the scenic view of Asakusa town as long as you want and the floor opens for public, until 8p.m.

Well, for those who enjoyed the town view from the 8th floor enough, we will introduce you a nice Japanese tea salon near Kaminarimon gate.

It is accommodated in Matsuya department store in Asakusa. The department store is between Sumida river and Kaminarimon gate and is adjacent to Asakusa station on Tobu line. It will be easy to be found it.

The tea salon called "Toraya"(虎屋) is on the ground floor, in the middle of sweets boutique area. Toraya has been mentioned a few times on our past blog posts.

For example, as below.

Japanese tea salon - Toraya Akasaka flagship store(虎屋赤坂本店), Tokyo

Toraya Cafe, Roppongi (トラヤカフェ, 六本木)

 

Toraya is one of the most appreciated Japanese traditional sweets makers in Japan.

 

Here in Asakusa too, we can enjoy the traditional sweets.

It must be a good escape spot in the heart of busy Asakusa.

 

 

Served in self-service style with a paper cup and a tea bag.

Yokan (sweet beans cake) is served by cutting into small pieces.

 

Take a short break with traditional sweets on a cute cushion

 

Cafe name: Toraya, Matsuya Asakusa (虎屋　松屋　浅草)

Address: 1-4-1 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Matsuya Asakusa official homepage: http://www.matsuya.com/foreigner/en/m_asakusa/

 

Kappabashi (かっぱ橋), largest kitchen tool town, Asakusa Tokyo

Are you interested in cooking by yourself? how about cooking Japanese cuisine?

Even if you are not, Kappabashi must be interesting spot to visit and to discover Japanese daily life related cooking and dining.

 Some of you, especially those who loves PARIS and gourmet, may know "Rue Montorgueil" on 1st and 2nd districts in Paris, where you can find various kitchen tools such as large pots, strainers, cooking utensils, dishes etc. The place is very exciting for food lovers.

Kappabashi Dougu-gai (kitchen tool street) can be considered Rue Montorgueil of Japanese version. You will find thousands, tons of various kitchen tools piked up and stacked up in over 100 stores in the area.

Such town is rare even in Japan and local people who do or will run restaurant(s) or food sale store(s) are likely to visit Kappabashi to buy equipment and materials necessary for their business. You will find the street and stores are filled with such people.

 

 

What is unique in Kappabashi and what we cann't find on Rue Montorgueil in Paris must be this type of products.

 

Amazing FAKE FOOD SAMPLE!!

 

 

Unfortunately it is rare to be found such samples at restaurants in central Tokyo, as that type of food presentation looks a bit obsolete nowadays. Here we are happy to find the towers of spaghetti that reminds us good old days.

 

Can you believe all of food found here is FAKE sample?

 

Also some products found in Kappabashi are good even for those who would not cook so much. Personally I found a key chain with a piece of fake sushi.

 

Place introduced: Kappabashi Dougu-gai (かっぱ橋/合羽橋　道具街)

Official website with some English information:

http://www.kappabashi.or.jp/en/index.html

Nearest metro station: Tawaramachi on subway Ginza line

 

On the Toast by Fujiya Hotel, the best breakfast spot at Haneda Airport

Today we introduce the best breakfast spot at Haneda International Airport.

The restaurant is called "On the Toast" sounds like breakfast! It is located on the 2nd floor, arrival hall of International Terminal of Haneda Airport.

Even if you arrive at the airport for departure or even for domestic flight, it worth taking time to enjoy breakfast there. Especially if you like ordinary "toast".

On the Toast is operated by Fujiya Hotel chain, whose flagship hotel is in Hakone, one of the most popular hot spring resort among residents in Tokyo. The classic hotel has acquired the greatest reputation for its hospitality welcoming VIP guests, having a good balance between Western and Japanese flavor in the atmosphere.

Because of the highly reputation in hotel operation, we can expect high quality on the breakfast at a unit located in the international airport.

Well, the toast menu must be a good wake-up call for your sleepy mind. Even for the standard breakfast set, we need to tell "my favourite style of toast", thickness, doneness, and with/without crust. You can have something you have at your home, as you do every morning.

 

If you have something much more special here, it offers toast with 10 DIFFERENT toppings.

Some of the toppings sound gorgeous. Such as salmon mousse, truffle butter, Fujiya Hotel Blueberry jam etc... This is one of its Grand Menu. So even if you visit the restaurant for lunch, the menu will be available.

One day I want to try it but anyway, today I do not have enough time, so I ordered the traditional Western style breakfast set.

 

The interior decoration really looks like the dining hall of their flagship unit, Hakone Fujiya Hotel.

Very comfortable place for breakfast before traveling.

 

My breakfast started with orange juice and cold soup in summer,

while we were waiting for the toast.

 

This is the feature of this morning!!

Yes, this is exactly what I ordered.

Not too much done. Just timing.

 

And I have to mention, their bacon is also good as much as the toast is.

It must be good with beer on evening.

 

 

Well, let's go back on return way?

Now we have a reason to wake up and to arrive in the airport much earlier for the fantastic breakfast.

 

Restaurant name: On The Toast

Address: 2nd floor, Arrival Hall, International Terminal, Haneda Airport

2-6-5 Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.fujiyahotel.co.jp/toast/en/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donburiko (どんぶり子), near Tokyo station

Donburiko is a casual restaurant operated by one of the most popular Yakitori restaurants in Tokyo, called Torishige (鳥繁).

 

"Donburi" in the name represents a bow of rice with some toppings.

So the menus of Donburiko are mainly donburi style food(with rice in a bowl), such as 

Oyakodon (親子丼), chicken with egg

Teriyaki chicken-don

Soborodon (そぼろ丼), minched chicken 

 

Yes, as the parent company is Torishige, Yakitori restaurant, Donburiko is also specialized in chicken menu.

Actually this soborodon (minched chicken) menu is so popular menu at thier Yakitori restaurant units that we sometimes fail to take it because of sold-out. So we are very happy to find THE Soborodon out of the yakitori restaurants, as we can take it even for lunch not only after yakitori dishes.

 

Donburiko is accommodated in a shopping mall, Kitchen Street, which is really stone's throw distance from JR Tokyo station. The casual restaurant has several seats around a counter and serves many busy sole diners.

It is also suitable for quick lunch in the very very heart of Tokyo.

 

 

But the taste is too good just for quick lunch! 

 

 

Official website (Japanese only): http://www.torishige.com/donburiko/index.html

Address: Tokyo Station 1st floor, Kitchen Street, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever tried? Robot restaurant, Shinjuku, Tokyo

What we are going to introduce today is unlike an ordinary restaurant.

The name includes surely a word “restaurant” and it provides (boxed) meal in its main hall. But probably it will be better to consider it as a “show place” rather than a place where you enjoy meal and drink.

Anyway as we found that it’s a fun place and provides amazing entertainment for adults, we would like to introduce the venue as an option to enjoy a moment in Tokyo.

 

Robot restaurant is situated in the middle of Kabukicho (歌舞伎町). The area is five minutes walk from Shinjuku station. It is known as “red-light” district among locals. Usually females and kids are unlikely to drop in the area. However Robot Restaurant is the 16th most popular tourist spot among international travelers visiting Japan, according to Tripadvisor.

So why not to go there?!

It’s an exception, where female can be welcomed, in Kabukicho.

The show provided 4 times a day and the number of seats are limited for each show. So we strongly recommend that you make a booking in advance through its website.

http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/
It has English version and reservation screen!! No worry to book.

 

 At the entrance, some female robot can be found. From the entrance, it is filled with colorful and shiny decoration.

 

 

 

 

On the wall at the entrance, we can also find a lot of pictures capturing celebrities, artists or journalists visiting Robot Restaurant. 

 

 

We arrived much earlier than the main show start, because we head that we can enjoy very much even at the waiting lounge before the main show.

 That is true!!

 

The waiting lounge itself is so gorgeous and is worth to visiting it. As we arrived earlier, we could take the most comfortable armchairs. 

At the waiting lounge, some light snacks and alcohol drink are offered. But you can stay even without ordering any item.

 

 

 

I ordered tequila to enjoy the wonderful moment.

Live music is also provided for a while. They look like also robot but maybe human who play nice peaceful music.

There we were also welcomed by a cute and small ROBOT called pleo.

 

 

 

After we fully enjoyed the waiting lounge. We were invited to downstairs where we can find the main show.

  

 

Even before its starting, I felt exciting at the dark floor with some colourful decoration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we could put a few images of the show but they are not all.

 

 

 

For the rest, we won’t disclose as we want you to enjoy them by your own eyes.

The main show includes many different simple stories with amazing entertainment not only by robot but also by Japanese female dancers. For some people, the show could be felt like watching cheap comedy show on TV. But still it was fun and we had good time. And that exceeds our expectation much!!

If you want to enjoy with laughing and excitement for a couple of hours, while leaving your daily life and something annoying you, we recommend that you spend Yen 6000 and 2 hours at Robot Restaurant. But that is as long as you are a matured adult, because of the show by too sexy female dancers and taken place at the largest red-district in Japan.

After that, simply enjoy the show!!

 

Restaurant name: Robot Restaurant

Address: 1-7-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Official website: http://www.shinjuku-robot.com