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…
Tag: shops
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…
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…
Ameyoko 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…
Ameyoko アメ横 – Fruits at Hyakkaen 百果園
Hyakkaen 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 snack. 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)
Ameyoko アメ横 – Candy at Shimura Shouten 志村商店
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. It is usually filled with kids in school uniforms visiting Tokyo from the countryside. It is…
Kappabashi Gotta Gets
I love these shochu cups in the winter when I drink shochu with hot water. These have the type of base ingredient written on the cup 芋 for imo jochu (sweet potato shochu) or 黒糖 for kokuto jochu (brown sugar shochu). These teacups will get lots of use in any home. The cup on the far…
Kappabashi Gotta Gets
Kappabashi is filled with treasures, gadgets, and tools for anyone passionate about cooking. These refrigerator sushi magnets are always fun gifts. Iron tea pots are said to soften the water that result in tea that is round on the palate. These sturdy pots retain heat and are gorgeous on any table. Some do rust…
Kappabashi – Okuda Lacquer Shop 合羽橋のオクダ
Okuda Lacquer 漆器のオクダ商店 Taito-ku, Matsugaya 3-17-11 台東区松が谷3-17-11 Phone: 03-3844-1606 http://www.kappabashi.or.jp/shops/31.html (Japanese) Lacquer shop including miso soup bowls, chopsticks and more as well as a nice selection of wooden products including manaita, wooden cutting boards that are very gentle on knives, steamers, and otoshibuta (drop lids) that are essential in any Japanese kitchen.
Kappabashi – Nishiyama for Lacquer
Nishiyama in Kappabashi has a wide array of lacquer dishes as well as affordable vessels for daily use. These red and black bowls in the left box are advertised as something that you can put in the microwave. These wooden bowls are good for miso soup, but also great for ice cream. Nishiyama also has…
Kappabashi – Komatsuya for Pottery 合羽橋の小松屋
Komatsuya 小松屋 Nishi-Asakusa 2-21-6 03-3841-2368 http://www.tctv.ne.jp/members/moto/ (Japanese) This may be the most photographed shop on the street. There is a wide selection of pottery, ramen bowls, teapots, serving dishes, nabe, sake cups, tokkuri. These are all durable and sturdy.
Kappabashi – Hashitou for Chopsticks 合羽橋のはしとう
Hashitou はし藤 Taito-ku, Nishi-Asakusa 2-6-2 台東区西浅草2-6-2 03-3844-0723 http://www.hashitou.co.jp/ (Japanese) Hashitou specializes in chopsticks, including the disposable type if you entertain a lot at home. Naturally there is a selection of hashioki (chopstick rests). There is a nice selection of skewers and long picks that would brighten up any appetizer plate, as well as toothpicks.
Gotta Go Shops at Tsukiji Market
Some of my favorite shops at Tsukiji Market. This article first appeared in Metropolis magazine. http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/682/localflavors.asp (text follows) It is no surprise that the bustling, frenetic Tsukiji Market is a popular tourist destination. Nowhere else in the world will you see so many varieties of seafood under one roof. Restaurants such as Sushi Dai and Daiwa Sushi have…
Foodie’s Guide to Kappabashi 合羽橋
Kappabashi is a wonderland for chefs. Here you will find almost everything that one would need for cooking. While it is famous for its plastic food models, that is only a tiny part of what you will find in this area, very close to Asakusa, the popular tourist destination. It is a short walk from…
Chocolate Shops in Tokyo
Chocoholics should be warned that Tokyo abounds with chocolate shops. Here are just a tiny few of what tempts customers. This article first appeared in Metropolis magazine. http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/619/localflavors.asp (text follows) One of my New Year’s resolutions was to find a man who was rich, sweet and most important, who would satisfy me. But I had…
Tokyo Bakeries
Tokyo has a surprising number of amazing bakeries. Some of France’s top boulangeries have set up shop in this country whose meal is based on a bowl of rice. Here are some of my favorite bakeries in the capital city. This article originally appeared in Metropolis magazine. http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/596/localflavors.asp (text below) My first Japanese sandwich,…
Kagurazaka – 50ban for Stuffed Buns 神楽坂５０ban
Kagurazaka 50ban 神楽坂五十番 Shinjuku-ku, Kagurazaka 3-2 03-3260-0066 9:00 – 23:00, Sundays & holidays until 22:00 http://www.50ban.com (Japanese) The lines at the top of the hill are for the chukaman savory and sweet steamed buns at the popular 50ban. With over two-dozen types to select from including shrimp, pork, kaibashira (scallops), cheese, curry and sweet ones…
Okuda Shouten Shiten in Kappabashi for Bamboo Products
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. I have picked up many items here including long cooking chopsticks, otoshibuta (wooden drop lids for pots), and a large, bamboo basket that I take to the…
Takahashi Souhonten in Kappabashi for Pottery and Ceramics
Takahashi has a wide selection of pottery including ramen bowls, teapots, teacups nabe hot pots, and plates and bowls. Takahashi Souhonten 高橋総本店 Taito-ku, Nishi-Asakusa 1-5-10 Phone: 03-3845-1163 http://www.takaso.jp/contents/store/ceramic.html (Japanese)
Machikan Knife Shop in Kawagoe, Saitama
Kawagoe in Saitama is a short train ride just north of Tokyo. This historic city is charming and a great day trip. The downtown “kurazukuri” area is filled with old, wooden buildings and this tall bell tower. Shinji and I came to Kawagoe to purchase knives for each other. Machikan is on the main street…
Izumiya for Sembei in Asakusa
Izumiya 和泉屋 Taito-ku, Asakusa 1-1-4 Tel. 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 delicate…
Miyazaki Kan Konne Antenna Shop
Regional foods are celebrated in Japan and the best place to explore these in Tokyo are at “antenna shops”. At these shops you will find artisan sake and shochu (distilled spirit), miso, pickles, sweets, crackers, and at some shops, seafood and meat products. Near Shinjuku station is the Miyazaki prefecture antenna shop. The shops are…
Kappabashi – Pottery at Dengama
Near the Asakusa temple district is Kappabashi, an area where chefs and restaurateurs come to buy anything they need to set up shop. Open to the general public, it is a great destination for anyone who likes to cook at home. It is an easy area to navigate as most of the shops line a…
Food Sake Tokyo 