Japanese kitchenware contributes so many ways to cooking at home. One of my favorite shops for kitchen tools and gadgets is @tsukijihitachiya at #TsukijiMarket. I use many of their items at home including the pressed sushi and onigiri wooden molds, oroshigane grater for daikon and ginger, miso koshi to make it easier to add miso to…
Tag: shops
Natsuno
My favorite shop for #chopsticks in #Tokyo. @ginzanatsuno has a colorful selection of chopsticks🥢, chopstick rests, and some tableware in the heart of #Ginza. I have collected several pieces from here over the years and they all brighten up each meal. Ginza NatsunoChūō-ku, Ginza 6-7-4
Fukui Lacquerware
Lacquerware is a beautiful way to present dishes. This gorgeous red lacquer bowl is from Shitsurindō. In Tōkyō the lovely Fukui antenna shop in Ginza sells this Shitsurindō bowl. This bowl feels silky soft and is big enough to use as a donburi rice bowl, but also for noodles, miso soup, or for snacks. As…
Gargantua
One of the best bites I have had in a while is this seasonal vegetable tart at the #ImperialHotel bakery #Gargantua. Perfectly sliced squashes in gorgeous circles over an herbaceous base. The ham and cheese bun was also amazing. There is a small eat-in area in the popular bakery. The Imperial Hotel is near Yurakucho…
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 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
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…
Matcha Latte
Thick matcha 🍵 poured over 🥛 milk is intense and delicious. Kikuya Chaho tea shop is a short walk from Kōriyama Station in Fukushima. Matcha latte is a reverse import from overseas. It’s also sold at Tsukiji Market at Matcha Stand Maruni. Kinako roasted soybean flour and kuromitsu black sugar syrup is like a caramel…
Vegetable Bentō
Met a girlfriend for lunch after eight years. We picked up noriben, nori bentō, from the basement of the Ginza Six department store and headed to the roof. I was so excited to try the vegetable version. Maitaké (hen of the wood mushrooms) tempura, yamaimo (mountain potato) and renkon (lotus root) is grated to a…
Tsukiji Nakagawaya
I love the pickles at Tsukiji Nakagawaya tsukemono shop. Nakagawaya has an amazing space near the entrance to the market – and across the aisle from Sushi Zanmai. There is a colorful selection of Japanese pickles including: misozuké – miso nukazuké – rice bran Narazuké – sake lees bettarazuké – daikon pickled in kōji, a…
City Bakery
The deli plate at @citybakeryjapan. Only 990 yen ($7). There is also selection of breads, both sweet and savory. Many of my clients say that they feel like they are not getting enough vegetables when visiting Japan. So this is one option to get one’s fill of vegetables. Sadly City Bakery has closed in New York…
Sakura Mochi
This time of year we are starting to see the early blossoming sakura cherry blossoms. The wagashi confectionary shops are starting to offer sakura mochi. There are many variations. Ginza Akebono’s sakura mochi is a sweet azuki red bean paste surrounded by a thin cherry colored pancake wrapped in an edible salted cherry tree leaf…
Taiwan Dumplings in Kichijōji
Taiwanese food is trendy in Japan. In Kichijōji is an addictive roasted dumpling filled with beef and pepper (I think it was beef) at Roryu Koshi Mochi. The meat is highly seasoned with spices and pepper. The leeks are sweet and I think the dough was a little sweet. The dumplings are cooked like Indian…
Ercole Moretti
There are some tableware that I come across at restaurants that are so beautiful that it’s fun to add them to my home collection. I first came across Ercole Moretti while dining at Tsuru to Kame restaurant. However the restaurant was unable to tell me the name of who made the colorful glassware. They did…
TKG Raw Egg 🥚 Over Rice
Raw eggs over a bowl of rice is a popular breakfast in Japan. TKG (tamago kake gohan) is the nickname for raw egg over rice. At Ginza Matsuya there was a pop-up of gourmet eggs for TKG. Japan Tamago Kake Gohan Lab has a selection with tasting notes for each egg. Six eggs for 900…
Number Sugar Caramels
If you love caramels be sure to visit numbersugar_official. Fun flavors like raspberry, brown sugar, and rum raisin. There are a few branches in Tokyo. The Marunouchi branch has limited edition flavors of matcha, kokuto black sugar, and miso. https://numbersugar.jp
Tsukiji Gyūdon at Kitsuneya
Kitsuneya at #Tsukiji Market is famous for offal (horumon in Japanese). The sliver of a shop also has a delicious #gyūdon, #beef #donburi #rice bowl. Napa cabbage #tsukemono pickles rounds out the meal. The leaves are squeezed into a tight bundle. Sprinkle with shichimi seven spice. Peel away the cabbage in layers. Kitsuneya is super…
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…
Matsumoto cohiludo Oyaki
We are visiting Matsumoto in Nagano for winter holidays. One of our first stops was at the charming cohiludo café. It is on the main street leading to Matsumoto Castle from the station. Oyaki are stuffed dumplings, a local dish from Nagano prefecture. My favorite is the Nozawana, a mustard green leaf – also a…
Onigiri at Tokyo Station
Onigiri, also called omusubi, #Japanesebreakfast at #TokyoStation Honnoriya. I was craving roe so picked mentaiko spicy pollack roe and ikura salmon roe. Include miso soup with carrots, spinach, and fried tōfu. Diners select from one of @marukome_family’s four miso flavors. I chose sea bream which was oishii delicious. There is a small eat-in section and…
Ginza Kikunoya
Kikunoya in Ginza came up with the idea of dry confectionaries for tea time and this colorful fukiyose was developed. Presented in colorful tins the sweets have a long shelf life and are a fun omiyage gift for friends. Opened in 1890 Kikunoya is a busy shop in the heart of Ginza (Ginza 5-9-17). The…
Kyobashi Isehiro Yakitori
Not far from Tokyo Station is one of my go-to yakitori shops. Isehiro has been grilling chicken skewers for over one hundred years (est. 1921). The tsukune chicken balls, my favorite in the city, have a meaty texture. Isehiro calls these dango on their menu. When I worked at Takashimaya depachika down the street I…
Parlour Kimuraya Kissaten
The morning coffee set at Kimuraya kissaten in the Shinbashi Building near Shinbashi station. Thick toast, boiled egg, and coffee for 490 yen ($3.50). I added a salad and was tickled. Fun presentation – and pineapples! I love these retro coffee shops. The music playing was from when I lived in Japan in the 80s…
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…
Food Sake Tokyo 