Kyoto Shoyeido has been making incense since 1705. The shop has a wide variety of products including non-burning sachets, that are not lit with a fire but that can be carried in a bag or used as a bookmark. I put a small sachet in my business card holder which infuses the cards. Incense culture…
Category: shops
Matsumoto Kissa Senzu Wagashi
Kissa Senzu serves modern and traditional wagashi sweets inside of the historic Kaiundo confectionary shop, opened in 1884 in Matsumoto. Monaka, a crispy wafer is served with a flight of three types of red beans (smooth, chunky, and whole). A fun way to compare the textures. Dorayaki of two small pancakes stuffed with sweet anko…
Gotta Get – Summer Fruit Saké
In the humid summers I seek relief in chilled fruit saké that are tart and mouthwatering. Here are two worth seeking out, lemon and natsumikan (imagine an orange pomelo). My favorite producer for these kajitsushu is Tsuru Ume from Wakayama. Their aromatic yuzushu is also one of the best made in Japan, in my opinion. On…
Tsuruya Supermarket in Nagano
We love visiting local supermarkets when we travel. Tsuruya is a chain of supermarkets in Nagano that has been on our Go List since it was featured on a television program. It has a strong private brand (PB) program that is very popular with their customers. These items on this blogpost are all PB products…
Tsukiji Market Nakagawaya
Pickles play an essential role on the Japanese Table. It is served at many meals. At a kaiseki meal it is included in the rice course with miso soup. Casual curry shops serve fukujin-zuke, a soy-based relish made with daikon, eggplant, and cucumbers. If you really love Japanese pickles, then be sure to have a meal at Kintame. There…
Tokyo Sky Tree Solamachi Food Shop Highlights
Tokyo Sky Tree is the city’s most popular tourist destination. The world’s tallest tower (for the time being) the communication tower replaces the landmark Tokyo Tower. Solamachi, at the base of Tokyo Sky Tree, is very exciting mall to visit with so many shops it’s hard to come up with a short list. It has…
Tokyo Sky Tree Shops – Ganso for Plastic Foods
Great news for tourists visiting the Tokyo’s hottest destination, Tokyo Sky Tree. You don’t have to go to Kappabashi to get your plastic food samples. Ganso Shokuhin Sanpuruya has a branch in the new Solamachi shopping mall. The original store is in Kappabashi and is very popular. Here you’ll find the great plastic food samples that…
Kappabashi – Okuda Shouten Shiten for Bamboo Products
Okuda Shouten Shiten is on the rightside This shop features bamboo products. Strainers, steamers, bamboo baskets for soba, tempura, or for large strainers, chopsticks,handai for making sushi rice, bento boxes, bowls for miso soup. Okuda Shouten Shiten オクダ商店支店 Taito-ku, Nishi-Asakusa 1-5-10 Phone: 03-3844-4511 http://www.kappabashi.or.jp/shops/32.html (Japanese)
Support Tohoku – Kessenuma Shop in Ginza
Antenna shops showcase food and other products from a certain area, usually a prefecture in Japan. I love to shop at antenna shops for hard-t0-find shochu, sake, regional seafood, and other items like miso. It is a good place to pick up omiyage for friends, or things for yourself. Recently in Ginza, across the street from…
Where do Tokyoites Shop for Food?
So where do Tokyoites do their grocery shopping? There are large supermarkets, like Ito Yokado, Daiei, or Seiyu (a subsidiary of Walmart) but these require a lot of space so are usually found a bit out of the city. There is an Ito Yokado a few stops from Tokyo station on the Tozai line at…
COREDO Muromachi コレド室町
Nihonbashi has a rich food history as it was the original home of the fish market before it moved to Tsukiji. The new COREDO Muromachi building is filled with restaurants and food shops, some dating back hundreds of years. Pick up Japanese knives at Nihonbashi Kiya or taste the smoky bonito stock or dashi based…
Okinawa Washita Shop in Ginza 沖縄わしたショップ
Okinawa Washita Antenna Shop 沖縄わしたショップ Chuo-ku, Ginza 1-3-9 03-3535-6991 10:00 – 19:00, no holidays http://www.washita.co.jp/info/shop/ginza/index.html (Japanese) The Okinawa Washita Shop in Ginza may be one of the most unique antenna shops in the city due to the unique food and beverage culture of Okinawa. The cuisine of the southernmost islands of Japan is very different…
Ginza Takumi 銀座たくみ
Takumi たくみ Chuo-ku, Ginza 8-4-2 03-3571-2017 11:00 – 19:00 (closed Sunday & holidays) http://www.ginza-takumi.co.jp/ (Japanese) Pottery and other crafts are showcased in this two-story shop on the outskirts of Ginza. There is daily use pottery with reasonable prices starting at 1,000 JPY. The shop features a wide variety of pottery including Mashiko, Tanba, and…
Orimine Bakers near Tsukiji Market 築地のパン屋「オリミネベーカーズ」
A great little bakery near Tsukiji has opened up and is definitely worth checking out if you are in the area. The name of the shop is printed in gold on the windows, reminds me of Balthazar Bakery in Soho. You can’t miss its green and white awning and the green exterior. The breads range…
Yubakichi in Kyoto’s Nishiki Market 京都錦市場の湯波吉
Yubakichi’s rich history dates back to 1790. The delicate yuba is made using domestic soybeans. The yuba has a light sweetness to it. You will find both dried and fresh yuba. The fresh yuba is creamy and has a nice texture. This can be served with just wasabi and soy sauce. Yubakichi 湯波吉 10:00 – 18:00,…
Aritsugu in Kyoto’s Nishiki Market 京都錦市場の有次
Aritsugu 有次 9:00 – 17:30, no holidays 075-221-1091 http://www.aritsugu.com (Japanese) Aritsugu has been in business since 1560. Famous for their knives, you will also find an enticing selection of other essential tools for the kitchen including nabe, handcrafted oroshigane (graters), and peelers. Aritsugu also has a shop in Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, but this shop in…
Dintora in Kyoto’s Nishiki Market 錦市場のぢんとら
Dintora is filled with spices, perfect for any home cook, including dried yuzu, chinpi, ichimi, shichimi, sansho, and karashi. Many of these spices are light and portable so stock up here if you are visiting from abroad. The chinpi (dried citrus peel) can be mixed with honey and hot water when you have a cold,…
Ginza Toraya 銀座とらや
Toraya is a purveyor to the Imperial Family and its rich history can be dated back to the 1600s. The signature item at Toraya is the yokan cakes wrapped in bamboo leaves. This is considered one of the top shops for wagashi, in particular, the yokan. The yokan comes in several flavors including azuki, mattcha,…
CLOSED – Fukumitsuya Sake Shop in Ginza 福光屋
Sadly, this gorgeous shop has closed. Fukumitsuya is a sake shop representing a brewery from Kanazawa that opened in 1625. Rest your feet at the small tasting bar and try a few before purchasing. The bottles are stored in small box refrigerators in the back of the shop, as all good quality sake should be….
Yamagata Antenna Shop in Ginza – Oishii Yamagata Plaza おいしい山形プラザ
The Yamagata antenna shop, Oishii Yamagata Plaza in Ginza is home to chef Masayuki Okuda’s restaurant, San-Dan-Delo (see post below). It is also one of my favorite antenna shops in the city due to the variety of products available. Yamagata has some of my favorite foods, cherries, La Furansu pears, pork, wagyu, rice, sake, and…
Fukushima Antenna Shop Near Tokyo Station 福島アンテナショップ
Located just outside of Tokyo station on the Yaesu side is the Fukushima antenna shop. Here you will find local sake (jizake), tomato jam, and very unique pickled peaches. Fukushima Antenna Shop Chuo-ku, Yaesu 2-6-21 03-3275-0856
Miyagi Antenna Shop in Ikebukuro 宮城アンテナショップ
One way to show your support for Tohoku is to visit the antenna shops that showcase local products. Antenna shops are an excellent way to find food products and other goods from a specific region, mostly from a specific prefecture. Miyagi prefecture, one of the hardest hits from the earthquake and tsunami is known for…
Tokiwadou Okoshi 浅草の常磐堂
Tokiwadou Okoshi 常磐堂 Kaminari Okoshi Kaminarimon Honten Taito-ku, Asakusa 1-3-2 台東区浅草1-3-2 Phone: 03-3841-5656 http://www.tokiwado.com (Japanese) This shop to the left of the main gate is a popular destination for visitors. Okoshi are the popular food gift that Asakusa is famous for. These colorful, pastel-colored, puffed rice crackers include flavors like peanuts, almond, nori, mattcha, brown…
Izumiya in Asakusa 浅草の和泉屋
Izumiya 和泉屋 Taito-ku, Asakusa 1-1-4 台東区浅草1-1-4 Phone: 03-3841-5501 10:30 – 19:30 (closed Thursdays) http://www.asakusa.gr.jp/nakama/izumiya/ (Japanese) This quaint sembei shop presents the rice crackers in glass jars with tin lids. A wide variety of flavors include both sweet and savory like shiso, zarame (rock sugar), and a very spicy dried red pepper covered ookara. The very…
Kibundo Souhonten in Asakusa 浅草の紀文堂総本店
Kibundo Souhonten 紀文堂総本店 Taito-ku, Asakusa 1-2-2 台東区浅草1-2-2 Phone: 03-3841-4401 9:00 – 20:30, closed Wednesday no website This popular shop is on the main street just to the right of the Kaminarimon has a collection of kawara sembei (crispy, tile-shaped sweet crackers), uzura kasutera (small bite-size castella cakes), ningyoyaki, and a mix of crackers called okonomiyose.
Iriyama Sembei in Asakusa 浅草の入山煎餅
Iriyama Sembei 入山煎餅 Taito-ku, Asakusa 1-13-4 台東区浅草1-13-4 Phone: 03-3844-1376 10:00 – 18:00, closed Thursdays http://www.prpub.jp/senbei/asakusa/iriyama.htm (Japanese) Popular round sembei are toasted until a golden caramel color and then dipped into a soy sauce. Only one style is made, shoyu (soy sauce). Uruchimai (rice) cakes are dried for 3 days and then grilled for five minutes….
Kimchi Yokocho キムチ横丁 2/2
Marukin まるきん Taito-ku, Higashi Ueno 2-19-1 台東区東上野2-19-1 Tel. 03-3832-4549 http://www.kimchi-marukin.com/ (Japanese) Daiichi Bussan 第一物産 Taito-ku, Higashi Ueno 2-15-5 台東区東上野2-15-5 Tel. 03-3831-1323 http://www.d1b.jp/ (Japanese) Konan Foods コーナンフーズ Taito-ku, Higashi Ueno 2-15-5 台東区東上野2-15-5 Tel. 03-3831-2017 no website The handful of shops here specialize in handmade kimchi, meats for cooking at home, and ingredients for cooking Korean food…
Kimchi Yokocho キムチ横丁 1/2
Kimchi Yokocho キムチ横丁 http://panda.starfleet.ac/~kaeru/kimuti/kimuti.html On the other side of the tracks is an area called Kimchi Yokocho. In an area of a few blocks is a concentration of shops and restaurants specializing in Korean food. There is a much larger area filled with Korean supermarkets, restaurants, and shops near Shinjuku near the Shin-Okubo station on…
Yoshiike in Ameyoko アメ横の吉池
Yoshiike 吉池 Taito-ku, Ueno 3-27-12 台東区上野3-27-12 Tel. 03-3831-0141 9:30 – 24:00, no holidays http://www.yoshiike-group.co.jp/ (Japanese) Since 1920, Yoshiike has been a prominent shop in this area of Ueno. This large store has a supermarket in the basement, a large seafood department, and fresh produce. The second floor is a liquor shop, with wine, sake, shochu,…
Niki no Kashi in Ameyoko アメ横の二木の菓子
Niki no Kashi 二木の菓子 Taito-ku, Ueno 4-6-1 Tel. 03-3833-4051 9:30 – 19:30, no holidays http://www.nikinokashi.co.jp (Japanese) Niki no Kashi maybe one of Ameyoko’s most famous vendors. In business since 1947, Niki no Kashi is a large discount shop for sweets and candies. Part of the attraction is the unusually large selection of dagashi. Dagashi are…
Daimasu at Ameyoko アメ横のダイマス
Daimasu ダイマス Taito-ku, Ueno 4-6-13 台東区上野4-6-13 Tel. 03-3831-5023 9:00 – 18:30 (closed the 2nd, 4th and 5th Thursdays of each month) http://www.daimasu.net/ (Japanese) Daimasu has a colorful display of dried beans, grains and rice. Sesame seeds, millets, daizu, adzuki, and more round out this tiny shop.
Ameyoko’s Iseoto Shouten 伊勢音商店
Iseoto Shouten 伊勢音商店 Taito-ku, Ueno 6-4-10 台東区上野6-4-10 Tel. 03-3831-4411 9:00 – 19:00, no holidays http://www.iseoto.com/ (Japanese) Iseoto’s history can be traced back to 1876. The shop specializes in katsuobushi and other products for making dashi. You can smell the smoked, and dried katsuo flakes. The products are placed in wooden barrels that fall into the…
Ishiyama Shoten and Ameyoko Center Building in Ameyoko
The fish stall at the base of the building is Ishiyama Shoten. The large building in the center is the Ameyoko Center Building. Ameyoko Center Building アメ横センタービル Taito-ku, Ueno 4-7-8, Ameyoko Senta Bldg. 台東区上野4-7-8アメ横センタービル 10:00 – 20:00 Closed the third Wednesday of each month except for December. http://www.ameyoko-center-bldg.com/ (Japanese) In the basement of the Ameyoko…
Shimura Shouten in Ameyoko アメ横の志村商店
Shimura Shouten 志村商店 Taito-ku, Ueno 6-11-3 台東区上野6-11-3 Tel. 03-3831-2454 9:00 – 19:00, no holidays http://homepage3.nifty.com/ameyoko/ (Japanese) This candy shop, overflowing with chocolates and sweets is famous for its 1000 yen bags. It is a show where an enthusiastic salesman shouts out to the customers as he fills a bag up with candies, sweets, and snacks.
Ameyoko’s Fruit Shop Hyakkaen 百果園
Fruits Shop Hyakkaen 百果園 Taito-ku, Ueno 6-10-12 台東区上野6-10-12 Tel. 03-3832-2625 10:00 – 20:00, no holidays http://www.guidenet.jp/shop/083c/ (Japanese) This fruit shop sells whole fruits boxed for gift-giving, however they are most famous for their seasonal fresh fruits skewered on waribashi (disposable chopsticks) like strawberries, pineapple and melon. The fresh fruits are juicy and a refreshing, healthful…
Ameyoko near Ueno Station アメ横
Located under the Yamanote line train tracks at Ueno station heading south to Okachimachi station on the way to Akihabara, the electronics town, is Ameyoko, a boisterous, lively outdoor market. Not nearly as impressive as Tsukiji Fish Market, but this is open on seven days a week, which is a good alternative if Tsukiji is…
Kotobukido in Ningyocho 人形町の寿堂
Kotobukido 寿堂 Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Ningyocho 2-1-4 中央区日本橋人形町2-1-4 Tel. 0120-48-0400 (toll free number in Japan) 9:00 – 21:00, closed Sunday This 5th generation shop is so small that only a handful of people can enter at one time. The three-story gray building with red trimming displays some of their confectionaries behind glass display windows up front….
Shigemori Eishindou in Ningyocho 人形町の重盛永信堂
Shigemori Eishindou 重盛永信堂 Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Ningyocho 2-1-1 中央区日本橋人形町2-1-1 Tel. 03-3666-5885 9:00 – 20:00 (Saturday and holidays until 17:30) closed Sundays Commanding the corner with its large display of stuffed cakes and sweet crackers is Shigemori Eishindou. It opened in 1917 as a shop selling ningyoyaki of shichifukujin (the seven lucky gods). The azuki paste in…
Uokyu in Ningyocho 人形町の魚久
Uokyu 魚久 Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Ningyocho 2-4-3 中央区日本橋人形町2-4-3 Tel. 03-3666-0048 Monday – Friday 10:00 – 20:00 Saturday 10:00 – 19:00 Sunday and holidays 10:00 – 18:00 http://www.uokyu.co.jp/ (Japanese) Uokyu is famous for its seafood marinated in sake kasu (sake lees). This process is not seen too much outside of Japan, unlike the miso marinated seafood, which…
Kintame in Ningyocho 人形町の近為
If you are really passionate for pickles, a meal at Kintame (from Kyoto) is not to be missed. Ask for the bubuchazuke, an array of pickles along with a grilled fish that has been marinated in miso or sake kasu. The most convenient location is at Daimaru’s Restaurant Floor at Tokyo station. The other shop,…
Tokyo’s Shoutengai Shopping Arcades 東京の商店街
This article from Metropolis magazine is a list of my favorite shoutengai in Tokyo. Shoutengai are shopping arcades. Here you will find small ma and pa shops selling freshly made tofu, vegetables, seafood, meats, and much more. This is a great way to spend some free time while exploring the city. http://metropolis.co.jp/dining/local-flavors/street-eats/ (text follows) While…
Kintokiya in Kagurazaka 神楽坂のきんときや
Kintokiya きんときや Shinjuku-ku, Kagurazaka 2-10 新宿区神楽坂2-10 Phone: 03-3260-4151 10:00 – 20:00 (Sundays and holidays until 19:00) no holidays http://www.kintokiya.com (Japanese) This tiny wagashi sweets shop has items based on with imo (sweet potatoes) and kuri (chestnuts). There are also some classic sweets including yokan and dango. In the summertime pick up a purple sweet potato…
Fujiya in Kagurazaka
Fujiya 不二家 Shinjuku-ku, Kagurazaka 1-12 新宿区神楽坂1-12 Tel. 03-3269-1526 10:00 – 22:00, Monday – Friday 11:30 – 19:00, weekend and holidays http://www.fujiya-peko.co.jp (Japanese) Fujiya is a chain famous for affordable Western-style sweets. Normally nothing to line up for, however, this Kagurazaka branch is the only shop in Japan where you can purchase Pekochan-yaki. Pekochan is the darling…
Shotengai Shopping Arcades – Walking Food Tours of Tokyo
I love the shotengai, Japanese shopping arcades. Filled with ma and pa shops selling tofu, fresh produce, rice, pickles, miso, and other basics of the Japanese pantry. This article recently appeared in Metropolis magazine and features five of my favorite shotengai in Tokyo. http://metropolis.co.jp/dining/local-flavors/street-eats/ (text follows) While the one-stop food shopping at Tokyo’s depachika is an amazing…
Japanese Knife Shops in Tokyo
Tsukiji Masamoto There are several knife shops in the market. Some of them are friendlier than others. Fifth generation Tsukiji Masamoto (opened in 1891) has always been on the friendly side and has an English speaking staff on some days. This is where my husband and I have purchased knives in the past and we love…
Junko Nakahama – Tour Guide to Yanesen Area
My friend Junko Nakahama is a food and wine writer in Tokyo. She has recently started to conduct Saturday tours of the popular shoutengai area Yanesen (Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi). This article from Metropolis magazine (by my editor Steve Trautlein) interviews Junko on some of her favorite foodie spots in Tokyo. http://metropolis.co.jp/dining/table-talk/junko-nakahama/ (text follows) Some…
Setouchi Shunsaikan Antenna Shop
Setouchi Shunsaikan せとうち旬彩館 Minato-ku, Shinbashi 2-19-10 港区新橋2-19-10 Tel. 03-3574-7792 10:00 – 20:00, no holidays http://www.setouchi-shunsaikan.com/ (Japanese) This shop is a collaboration of both Ehime and Kagawa prefectures in the rich Setouchi inland sea on the island of Shikoku. Naturally this shop has a wide variety of seafood. Ehime is also famous for its production of…
Murakara Machikara Antenna Shop in Yurakucho
While antenna shops typically represent a prefecture, this shop carries a mishmash of items from all over Japan. The shop is not that organized, so you have to know what you are looking for. There are several antenna shops in the Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, like Hokkaido, Akita, and many more, so definitely worth spending some…
Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza – Antenna Shop
Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza 北海道どさんこプラザ Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-10-1, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan 千代田区有楽町２−１０−１東京交通会館 Tel. 03-5224-3800 10:00 – 19:00, no holidays http://www.dosanko-plaza.jp/ (Japanese) The large northern island of Hokkaido is famous for many agricultural products including kombu, potatoes, dairy products and its rich seafood including salmon and crab. Potatoes are represented here with croquettes, dairy with soft cream…
Kagoshima Yurakukan Antenna Shop in Yurakucho
Japan is a small country, about the size of California, yet each prefecture and region has its own local food and the Japanese treasure these regional products. There is no better expression of the diverse terroir of Japan than its local commodities. Kombu harvested from the rich mineral waters of Hokkaido. The southern prefecture of…
Food Sake Tokyo 