@sakananoeki #Ikuji seafood market is at #Kurobe, #Toyama port. Toyama Bay is famous for its #seafood. There is also a restaurant and there is pressed sushi and some #bento. The variety and freshness of seafood is impressive. There is also miso marinated filets, shellfish, air-dried fish, 🍥 kamaboko fish cakes, and shiokara fermented seafood. The…
Shinjuku Soba
I was walking in a new part of Shinjuku and happened upon a nice soba restaurant. On the menu was a black soba made from black beans, black rice, black sesame seeds, and buckwheat. It is a seasonal menu item. Tip: always inquire if there is a seasonal soba. Fumotoya is in the basement of…
Yuzusco
One of my favorite condiments is Yuzusco. Like a Tabasco but made with #yuzu. I use it with pasta, pizza, and omelette.
Sudachi and Kabosu
This time of year there are two citrus, kankitsu 柑橘, that are in season. sudachi 酢橘 – fragrant smaller citrus that is quite tart. Lovely sliced thin over a bowl of soba or squeezed over grilled foods such as sanma Pacific saury or matsutaké mushrooms. *I use a Benriner mandoline for slicing the citrus. Push…
Kombu
On our visit to Kurobe city in Toyama we had the great pleasure to visit Aimono Kombu. Kombu kelp is a sea vegetable rich in natural umami called glutamates. It is essential for making dashi stock which is used in many Japanese dishes. Most kombu is harvested in Hokkaido. In the Edo to Meiji periods…
Toyama Onsen
Kurobe Unazaki Onsen on the Kurobe River in Toyama is a hot springs resort area that is celebrating 100 years this year. Enraku is a lovely ryokan inn with onsen hot spring baths. A stay at Enraku includes a multi-course dinner of seasonal dishes and a traditional and luxurious Japanese breakfast. Highlights of the meal…
Rice Bran Fish
Sanma Pacific saury is marinated in nuka rice bran and salt for four days before grilling. This local lunch spot in #Kurobe,#Toyama is at Hokuyo no Yakata. The café is charming. There is also a shop with local products including kombu kelp, pantry items, and seafood. Hokuyo no Yakata is on the Sea of Japan….
Beef Tongue Breakfast
Rikyū servers gyūtan, beef tongue, with rice, beef tail soup, and tororo grated mountain potato. Agree the tongue is grilled. #Gyūtan is a specialty of #Tohoku and particularly #Sendai in #Miyagi prefecture. Perfect breakfast at #TokyoStation for a long day of travel and exploring. Rikyū is located in the basement inside Tokyo Station in the…
Toraya Shave Ice
Toraya Japanese confectionary wagashi shop’s rich history can be traced back to the 1600s. While it is a traditional sweets shop I love the modern café serving matcha latté and in summertime kakigōri 氷 shave ice. Here is natsu mikan 夏みかん, a tart and sweet summer citrus and renyū 練乳 sweetened condensed milk. There is…
Hand Roll Sushi Party
Sushi party for dear friends in Minnesota. In the past we made maki zushi rolls but I much prefer the Japanese homestyle version of temaki zushi hand rolls. No rolling or slicing so hand rolls are so much easier to make. Simply put some vinegared rice on the nori, add your fillings, and roll up…
Tenka
Tenka Zushi is a kaitenzushi, conveyor-belt sushi, chain with a branch near Kichijoji Station. What makes this different from the other big chains is that the sushi is made by hand, not by a sushi robot machine. That means the rice is still warm. My girlfriend has been telling me for years how she loves…
Fukuro Juku
On a quiet street behind Itoya is Fukuro Juku, a sliver of a shop popular for its #kakigori #shavedice. Fukuro Juku also serves tai chazuke, sea bream sashimi in a creamy sesame dressing with rice and an umami rich dashi. The sea bream has a lovely rich texture. Enjoy a few pieces as sashimi with…
Acacia
Shinjuku Acacia is a famous yōshoku restaurant serving Western-style dishes since 1963. Acacia serves classic dishes like omuraisu – omelet over ketchup rice, curry rice, croquettes, and more. The signature dish is rolled cabbage which is delicious and made without milk, yet is creamy. The hayashi rice made with beef and a dark stew was…
Inari Zushi
Inari zushi is sushi made with deep-fried tōfu. Often these are packets that are stuffed with vinegared rice. There is a new style at #Ginza #Matsuya #depachika called at a shop called @tsukijitenko that makes inari zushi from @matsuyama_age. Matsuyama agé is fried tōfu that is dried so it is shelf stable. The fried tōfu…
Shōan Bunko
Delightful #teishoku set lunch at #Nishiogikubo Shōan Bunko. Grouper katsu (breaded and deep-fried), ten different vegetables, miso soup, and rice from Hinata Yamazaki san. Dessert was cheese cake with salt and iced coffee. A nice way to forget about the heat and humidity which is hitting Tokyo at the moment. It’s also the lovely tableware…
Hoshino
The udon noodles at Hoshino in Nihonbashi are mocchiri chewy. The Sanuki style of handmade udon noodles is a popular lunch spot. I usually get chilled noodles with a splash of soy sauce or in a chilled dashi broth. The meal is rounded out with vegetable tempura – maitake mushrooms, onions, sweet potato, and Satsuma…
Ueshima
The morning sets at Ueshima Kissaten. The coffee shops are quiet spots to enjoy coffee or get some work done. I love the small fresh salad, thick toast and egg dishes. The Toranomon shop plays jazz in the background. Japanese kissaten coffee shops often have morning sets of coffee and toast and a boiled egg,…
Zingaro
Nakano Broadway is ground zero for Japanese pop culture, particularly anime and manga. Artist Takashi Murakami has reopened his cafe Coffee Zingaro hidden away in the back of the building on the second floor. It’s a throwback to the 80s with the music and the tables which are also games like Donkey Kong that can…
Ippodo Tea
Kyoto Ippodo tea shop @ippodotea started in 1717. It has a lovely shop and Kaboku tea room café in the heart of the city, a short walk north of Nishiki Market and @bentoandco bentō shop. Knowledgeable staff help to educate customers on the variety of matcha and loose tea for sale. There is also tea…
Tuna Pasta
Japanese-style pastas are a great fusion food of Japan and Italy. This simple one is made with spaghetti, a can of tuna, yuzu koshō a paste made from green chili peppers, salt, and yuzu peel, that comes together with Sakura Kaneyo dashi jōyu. The soy sauce bottle contains a dried and smoked filet of skipjack…
Kugutsusō
Kugutsusō kissaten in Kichijōji is famous for its two year dry-aged coffee beans and spicy curry. The nel drip coffee is smooth. This is the morning set with thick toast, salad, and strawberry jam. I love the interior of the basement coffee shop. It feels like a cave. The wooden menu and salt and pepper…
Ajitaka
The lightest shaved ice 🍧 I have ever had. This one topped with a kabocha squash mousse with a hint of rum. The ice is made with spring water from Shinshū. The cafe is five minutes from Mitaka Station on the Chūō line. It is not far from the #GhibliMuseum. Strawberry and mango kakigōri from…
Kyoto Potel
Umekoji Potel is a fun hotel in Kyoto. I loved the hotel room with the used artist brushes on the wall. There’s a small library with some books on Kyoto which were fun to peruse. There is also a simple snack bar with dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, juice, beer, and wine. There is a public…
Yellin Pottery Gallery
Near the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto is a pottery gallery with a vast selection of ceramics from Japanese artists. Many of my clients love picking up pieces, notably guinomi saké cups, for their home collection each time they are in Kyoto. I was so happy to pick up a yunomi tea cup from Katsuya Kato….
Kissaten Breakfast
Kissaten morning at Kanda Hobnob. Coffee, cucumber and tomato sando, two eggs and ham for a ridiculous 600 yen ($4.25). Quiet coffee shop on a side street. Hobnob also has a big menu that includes spaghetti, omu raisu (ketchup flavored rice topped with an omelet), and curry rice. It was hard to choose something for…
Harunaya
Just north of Ogikubo Station on Kyōkai Dōri shotengai street is Harunaya wagashi shop. The small shop has a colorful selection of Japanese confectionaries. This time of year the seasonal selection includes 青梅 aoumé, a green apricot shaped mochi filled with shiro an white bean paste and tart green apricot. The other traditional sweet is…
Woodberry Coffee
Woodberry Coffee is an excellent spot for coffee, salads, grilled cheese, and more. Woodbury has a few branches in Tokyo including in Shibuya. The Ogikubo branch is big with seating on three floors, including the rooftop. The Buddha Bowl salad includes quinoa, chickpeas, and a beet hummus. Woodberry Coffee Suginami-ku, Momoi 1-2-2 https://woodberrycoffee.com #foodsaketokyo #foodsakeogikubo…
Pelican Café
Pelican Bakery near Kappabashi is famous for its white bread. Pelican has a café for toast and sandwiches. The ham katsu sando is a thick slice of ham that is breaded and deep-fried. The katsu is covered with a thick sweet sauce. Potato salad and carrot soup to round out the meal. Popular shop, so…
Onigiri
Excellent onigiri shop Konga in the basement of the Akasaka Biz Tower. The cook apprenticed at the famous Otsuka Bongo onigiri 🍙 shop. Free refill of miso soup. 🥰 It is located near Akasaka Station. Follow the signs for Akasaka Biz Tower. Konga has opened a branch at Haneda Airport. I highly recommend this new…
Ikebukuro Tempura
Yamami is a fun tempura restaurant in Ikebukuro in the Sunshine Building. The shop is from Fukuoka so on the table are two classic condiments, mentaiko – spicy pollack roe, and karashi takana – a pickled green. The condiments are all-you-can eat. The tempura is brought to the table after it comes out of the…
Hotaka Kissaten
Hotaka kissaten at Ochanomizu Station opened in 1955. I love the velvet forest green booths and dark wood. The coffee here is very smooth. A simple toast, margarine, and orange marmalade is the morning menu. On a recent rainy morning the shop was quiet. A few solo customers reading a book and newspaper. I got…
Onigiri
The famous onigiri (or omusubi) restaurant Bongo has opened a sister shop in Shinjuku called Manma @onigiri_manma. We loved the onigiri. Mentaiko & cream cheese. Seasoned meat with a soy sauce-cured egg. Grilled salmon & sujiko salmon roe. My favorite was the bacon & cheese. The only side dishes are miso soup and tsukemono pickles….
Cheese Toast
Cheese toast at Dixans Patisserie et Café in Kanda, a short walk from Suidōbashi Station (and the Niwa Hotel). I have many clients staying at the Niwa Hotel. I hear such good things about the property. Great staff, nice rooms, and centrally located. It’s a good value hotel. Rates this week look to be about…
Bricolage Bakery
Avocado 🥑 toast at #Roppongi#Bricolage. My favorite bread in Tokyo is the dinkel (sp?) with grains. There is also a branch in #Shibuya #Tokyu #depachika. If the weather is good the outdoor seating is lovely. With owner and chef Namae Shinobu, one of Japan’s great chefs!
Corn Rice
Adding corn to a pot of rice with some seasonings is one of my favorite versions of takikomi gohan. Cooking ingredients with the rice is a technique called taki komi gohan. The seasoning for today was saké and dashi jōyu from Sakura Kaneyo. In the katsuobushi seasoned soy sauce bottle is a dried and smoked…
Kyoto Tonkatsu
I love Katsukura tonkatsu because the shop gives diners a mortar filled with toasted sesame seeds. Using the pestle crush the seeds. The aroma fills the air. Add some of the tonkatsu sauce to the ground sesame seeds to season the tonkatsu. In springtime Katsukura also has bamboo shoots and ferns that are breaded and…
Kissa Royal
The morning set at Kissa Royal, only 650 yen ($4.75), includes coffee, toast, an egg, and a cabbage salad. Kissa is short for kissaten – the old school coffee shops. I love having breakfast at kissaten. Sometimes it is as simple as a piece of toast, boiled egg, and coffee. The shop was quiet. On…
Kyoto Hotel Higashiyama
The Tokyu Higashiyama Hotel is a comfortable stay near the Heian Jingu Shrine. The rooms are large and spacious. The bar has some Japanese whisky and the Japanese breakfast includes a colorful selection of Kyoto-style obanzai small dishes. The hotel is encouraging sustainable practices. The hotel is about a five-minute walk from Higashiyama Station. Near…
Kyoto Yakitori
Tsujiya yakitori near Kyoto Station. I enjoyed sitting at the counter watching the skewers and yaki onigiri being grilled over charcoal. The tsukune ground chicken with cartilage was served with an egg yolk. A few other interesting dishes including potesara, potato salad, tōfu with shaved kombu, and a simmered tomato with a cheese sauce. Staff…
Kyoto Pickles
In Kyōto station is Doi, a tsukemono Japanese pickles buffet restaurant. There is a selection of pickles and vegetable dishes. Kyoto is famous for pickles and there are a few pickle companies that have restaurants associated with them including Kintame and Nishiri. If you love tsukemono do plan on having one meal in Kyoto at…
Kyoto Nijiyura
Nijiyura is a delightful tenugui shop in Kyoto near the cool @bentoandco shop and Nishiki Market. Tenugui are colorful cotton cloths that have many purposes. Hang a tenugui on the wall for art, a scarf, hand towel, luncheon mat, napkin, for wrapping gifts, and so much more. I love wearing them as a scarf. In…
Kyoto Incense
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…
Kyoto Incense
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…
Kyoto Hotel
The Mitsui Garden Hotel Shijō is a lovely hotel with an onsen hot springs near Shijō Street in Kyōto. I booked at the last minute and got a good rate of 8,500 yen ($60). The only twist was that it was a room with three beds in it. 😂😭 Shijō Street is wonderful as it’s…
Kyoto Shuiro
Near #HeianJinguShrine is a fantastic new shop and restaurant, Shuiro @shuiro_eatandcraft. There is a nice selection of tableware and kitchenware displayed in a brightly lit space. I love that it is open for breakfast. Stop by before or after an early visit to Heian Jingu Shrine which opens at 6:00 a.m. I recommend visiting the…
Kyoto Ogawa
The morning toast set at Ogawa kissaten in Kyoto. This branch is located just across the street from Kyoto Station on the north side. @ogawacoffee Shimogyō-ku, Higashi Kōji-chō 902 https://www.oc-ogawa.co.jp/shop/ #foodsakeTokyo #foodsakeKyoto #coffee #kissaten #toast #Kyoto #Kyotomorning #Kyotokissaten #京都グルメ #京都モーニング #トースト #コーヒー #京都駅 #京都駅グルメ #Japan #Japantraveltip
Kyoto Suba Soba
A simple and satisfying bowl of buckwheat noodles at Kyoto Suba Soba. The simple shop only serves hot bowls of soba with a variety of toppings ranging from meat with a soft-boiled egg, steamed mussels with watercress or these enoki mushroom tempura. The bare bones shop is popular. Lots of young Japanese quickly came and…
Bento&co
Frenchman Thomas Bertrand and his wife Erico are the founders and owners of Bento&Co. Their shop is in the heart of Kyoto, just north of the famous Nishiki Market specializes in all things for bento lunch boxes. There is a website if you don’t make it to Kyoto. But, if you are in Kyoto do…
Kyoto Tune Stay
I picked Kyōto Tune Stay hotel because I love books. Check out this wall of books! Most are in Japanese, but there are some English books in the library. The books cover a variety of topics. I kept carefully perusing the food books and could have stayed up all night. The rooms are a bare…
Food Sake Tokyo 