It is a no-frills, yet elegant spacious and bright restaurant with a Japanese touch and it is pretty straightforward there is one item on the menu: Tonkatsu. Fried pork cuttles are served along with mountains of shredded cabbage and condiments. With different variations of meat to choose from, including fillet or roast the concept is easy to understand.

As Tonkyu is well known by locals for its great food, service, and value, it can get quite busy around lunch and dinner time. However, it is easy to get a table if you arrive after 1 pm, so a great place for late lunch. It is worth the wait should there be a queue though.

The Experience at Tonkyu

As you walk in, the waiters will guide you to your seat, offer you a delicious cup of tea (cold in the summer and hot in the winter) and let you browse through their options. They have great lunch sets and you can customize your order, more meat, bigger rice, toppings ect.

Before your fish of choice arrives, a small grinding bowl filled with sesame seeds is served. You can grind them to the consistency of your liking and once your food arrives add them either as sprinkles on top of the shredded cabbage or mix them in with the Tonkatsu sauce for both texture and flavor.

Once your food arrives, you will find perfectly breaded slices of pork, cooked to perfection with the center still being slightly translucent. This is exactly how it is meant to be, however, if you do prefer it a little more cocked you can let the waiter know when ordering.

What makes this Tonkatsu a Tokyo Favorite?

For one it’s the quality of the meat and then the coating. Perfectly crisp, yet not greasy at all. The sauce is sweet and rich and the shredded cabbage brings the perfect relief and will help with digestion.

Meals can also be customized, more rice, more meat and toppings and they have great seasonal dishes, like the Tonkatsu we ordered today which was compared to a juicy Daiginjo sake. Was it like a Daiginjo? It was certainly juicy, succulent, and aromatic, so we let the description pass.

Our Verdict?

This is one of our go-to places when our Tonkatsu cravings hit and with its location right inside Ueno station a great place to have on your list when traveling around Tokyo and Japan. With Ueno being a major Shinkansen hub, Tonkyu is perfect if you are looking for a bite to eat while waiting on your train or before heading to your hotel.

Definitely on the list of great places to eat in Tokyo!

Web

http://tonkyu.com/

Address

〒110-0005 Tokyo, Taito City, Ueno, 7 Chome−1−1 アトレ上野EAST 2階

Opening Hours

Suggest new hours

The post Tonkyu – One of the Best Tonkatsu in Tokyo! appeared first on Obsessed with Japan.

Not so easy to find, as it is located on the 3rd floor of what looks more like an office building, a small sign lets you know you are at the right place. Take the stairs or ride the elevator up to level 3 (or the 2nd floor if you are not counting the ground floor) and there it is, a very clean and stylish coffee shop with plenty of space.

Settle in, either indoors, by finding yourself a table in the comfortably air-conditioned room, or, and that is our suggestion, head out to the terrace. And don’t worry, because of its location there is plenty of shade and often a pleasant cool breeze. Also, if you happen to pop in, in the colder months, they turn on the heaters to keep you warm

Great Coffee and Amazing Open Sandwiches!

Coffee will set you back 550Yen for a latte and they have plenty of food options to indulge yourself with. The avocado on sourdough, with pickled onions on top, just hit the spot and the Croque Monsieur will bring it home if you are looking for something a little dirtier. Both cost 770Yen each and there are of course also homemade sweet options as well as cookies and cakes. 

Our Verdict?

Alpha Beta Coffee Club is a great place to rest for a while, and grab a bite and a coffee in a chic environment minus the crowds. A little gem hidden that should be on any coffee lover’s list and definitely on our list of the best coffee shops in Jiyugaoka!

Web

https://www.abccoffee.co/

Address

〒152-0035 Tokyo, Meguro City, Jiyugaoka, 2 Chome−10−4 ミルシェ自由が丘 3F

Opening Hours

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To be honest, what’s not to love? A square onigiri filled with egg and spam among other toppings, it’s like hiding a couple of fries in your salad. Innocently healthy looking but a little bit naughty. A great pocket-size meal, perfect for exploring Okinawa and with various locations on the island, there is no reason to miss out on it. There even is a shop inside Naha airport to say farewell to this treat.

The Pork Tamago Sandwich @ Potama

It is as simple as it sounds. Nori seaweed topped with a thin layer of rice, some Japanese omelet (that is the “tamago”, as this means egg in Japanese), and a slice of grilled spam and voila!

In case you are not familiar with it “spam”, it’s canned meat. Yes, it does not sound very appetizing but have a little faith, it really is amazing! Because when the healthy sushi rice and seaweed meet the meat and egg magic happens. It’s juicy, salty, and reminds you a little bit of a fried breakfast. So in case, you tasted a little too much of Okinawa’s delicious awamori, it also makes for the perfect hangover food…

They have a couple of different “sandwiches” to try from. With every Potama location adding a local special. I recommend the red Mizo one, it comes with a sliver of savory Mizo paste – addictive. 

Starting at 380¥ (just under 4$) it’s fairly priced. They are a good size, but if you are really hungry you might want to order two (a good chance to try different ones). Or add a soup or side to make it a meal.

This should definitely be on your food list if you are finding yourself in Okinawa, I am missing it already….

Web

http://porktamago.com/en/

Stores

Store locator

Opening Hours

Please check each store individually to avoid disappointment.

The post Potama Okinawa! appeared first on Obsessed with Japan.

It is a small neighborhood in Setagaya, laid-back, local, and far from the city lights of Tokyo. Yet only about 30min from Shinjuku on the train. It is a nice little getaway, especially if you love cats…

Find Your Luck at Gotokuji Temple

Let’s start with the main attraction, cause who am I kidding, this is what we are here for!

Arriving at the station you will already be greeted by one of these lucky cats and a leisurely 10-15min walk later you will be facing this beautiful temple, with its immaculately trimmed gardens, main hall, and wooden pagoda.To be honest this Gotokuji Temple is already worth visiting for this alone. However, the moment you see the cats, all of it becomes background purr.

Gotokuji Temple

This temple, even without its feline inhabitants is worth a visit, peaceful and calm it is a place to rest an take a breath. Perfect to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Come in autumn and see the temple’s trees all turn beautifully red and orange.

Walking through the front gate you will first see a beautiful black lion statue and only at second glance realize this is actually an incense burner.

As you move on you are passing the majestic wooden pagoda on your left. To shortly after discovering the temples “Ema” plaques, the small wooden plaques to write your wishes and prayers on. And of course, these too feature our cat friend, along with the current year zodiac animal. Funnily enough which is the mouse/rat this year…

And just as you may get excited by these you will already be able to see a glimpse of what we came here for in the back. Like a sea of white cats, shelves over shelves…

It’s hard not to get excited and yes you will take too many pictures here. But how could you not? With every angle giving you another photo opportunity and with cats as small as your thumbnail or as big as a real ones it is impossible to resist.

And if you like, just around the corner you find the temple shop, so why not add your own? Starting from as little as ¥300 for a tiny one (which is absolutely adorable and will also make a great gift or souvenir). Or if you want to go all out and spend ¥5,000 for a life-size one. Good to know, the size does not matter here and your lucky cat will look after you no matter how big or small it is.

The idea is, you make a wish and either leave your cat there or you take it home and bring it back once your wish has come true. However, many of these lucky cats make their permanent home abroad and I have a feeling that is just as ok.

The Lucky Cat – A Story

If you are visiting the temple shop, you will be given the story of the Lucky Cat. They have an English leaflet so don’t worry.

As the legend goes, along time ago, this temple was looked after by a monk and his cat. In a particularly bad year the monk asked that the cat please bring good fortune. One day there was a big storm and five samurai were caught in it, as they saw the temple the cat waved them to come and stay and take shelter. As it turned out, one of them was the feudal lord of Hikone. And he was so grateful he donated rice fields as well as the grounds. Making Gotokuji into the temple of his family.

And this is how the story goes. After his lucky cat passed away, the monk put a cat statue on its grave and it became what we now know as the “Maneki Neko”, a symbol for luck and good fortune…

Gotokuji – Best Places to Eat

Now that you have fulfilled your cat-related needs, it is time to see what culinary delights this small neighborhood has to offer. With many small mum and pop shops, stalls and cafes you will not leave hungry, wait, unless it is a Monday…

Because as I sadly discovered, many places are shut on Mondays. Also, if you arrive before 11 am many things will still be closed. So make sure you had your coffee before and explore what Gotokuji has to offer after you visited the lucky cats. Let me share some of my favorite places to stop here.

Eat Sweet Potato from Around Japan at Fuji

Fuji is all about the humble sweet potato. Offering seasonal and often rare varieties from all over Japan, this is a great treat. The highlight and must-eat is the purple one from Miyazaki, but it is only available in autumn and winter. The rest of the year, the shop owner told me, they only sell 1 or 2 local varieties.

Contempory Japanese Sweets at Mahorodou Sougetsu

Between the Station and Gotokuji Temple, you will find these Japanese sweets shop. Come here to try some of their seasonal Japanese sweets with a nice cup of green tea for the full traditional experience. And the best part, you can also buy their sweets to take home. Look out for the “Maneki Neko dorayaki” the purr-fect treat to share with friends.

Get Your Coffee Fix at Iron Coffee

This small standing coffee bar offers what might be the best coffee in the area. And as my secret tip, if you do want to sit down, just about 30m down the road is a small covered waiting area, including tables and all.

Pastries Galore at Uneclef

If you do like your danish and pastries than this is another place you don’t want to miss out on. Great to grab a quick breakfast or reenergise after walking around. It is located behind the station, in the opposite direction of the cat temple, which is why many people don’t see it. Making it the perfect stop on the way back.

Some Last Facts

How to get here?

Take the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku, it is about a 30min ride.

How much time to spend?

You can just do a quick 1h visit, however I would suggest spending at least 2h in the area. Half a day is probably the best amount of time, especially if you try some of the food or get a coffee.

Find out more about traveling in Japan, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get all the latest updates, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

The post Your Ultimate Guide to Gotokuji – Cats, Cafes, and more appeared first on Obsessed with Japan.

By Paul McInnes

Hokkaido, the giant northern Japanese island is very different from the Japan you think you know and so is Hokkaido’s Food Culture.

The Japan from movies like Lost in Translation and Black Rain and from the crushed Tokyo and Osaka trains you’ve watched, gobsmacked, on YouTube and numerous TV travel shows. 

It is Japan. It has neon and big cities with izakaya, retail stores and ski resorts. But it’s a world away from Tokyo. It’s quieter, with more space and stunning scenery. Freezing cold in winter with piles of snow and relatively mild in summer making it a popular destination for mainland tourists. It’s also a relatively new addition to the Japanese archipelago. Having only been colonised in 1869 and due to its slightly frontier mentality Hokkaido does things its own way especially when it comes to food. Famous for its supreme, fresh seafood, quality dairy products and love of lamb it’s a world away from Tokyo and Osaka whose citizens eschew dairy and look down their collective noses at lamb – which many mainland Japanese view as pungent and unappealing. How wrong they are.

Ramen

One of the main variations on typical Japanese cuisine can be found in Hokkaido’s version of ramen. In Tokyo, noodle lovers can be found slurping up shio (salt) and shoyu (soy sauce) varieties while Fukuoka is renowned for its tonkotsu ramen made from pork bones. Hokkaido, in a wise move, uses and fuses what it’s famous for – its legendary miso ramen. The late, great Anthony Bourdain, one of the best food writers in recent memory, wrote:

“Miso ramen is a Sapporo thing, invented in the 30s. Like any ramen it starts with the broth. In this case roasted pork bones, crushed garlic, some fish oil. The broth is the heart and soul of ramen. But of course the ramen is important too. The noodles, fresh egg noodles to be precise. Lemony yellow in color, quickly boiled and slightly chewy. Here in Sapporo they saute crab legs in butter, infusing it with the taste of the shells and local scallops which it’s also famous for. Then miso, made from fermented bean curd. Garnished with beansprouts, char siu slices and a knob of whole butter. And then the kooky, crazy addition of sweetcorn.”

Hokkaido is a must-visit destination for ramen geeks and those looking for a hot and meaty broth to warm their cockles on a cold day. The ramen that Bourdain describes above has its regional variations throughout the island so best ask the restaurant staff for their recommendations with “osusume wa nan desu ka?” It’s one of the essential phrases that anyone new to Japan should learn.

More about Hokkaido’s food culture will be revealed in part 2. Until then check out some of Sapporo’s best Ramen restaurants including famous RAMEN YOSHINO or pushing the limits of what ramen can be at SAPPORO RAMEN HARUKA…

The post Hokkaido’s Food Culture – part 1 appeared first on Obsessed with Japan.

We love the variety of small Cafes, Restaurants, and stalls and of course, whatever you fancy, you will find it in Shinjuku! So let’s have a look at our list of best Restaurants in Shinjuku!

1.Tatsunoya Ramen

Our best Restaurants in Shinjuku List would not be complete without a Ramen place on it!

We warn you, there is always a queue, but it is worth the wait! We recommend getting the “Tsukemen” and don’t forget to eat it with their signature Spicy Bean sprouts. It does not get much better than this.

Address

〒160-0023 東京都新宿区西新宿７丁目４−5

Opening Hours

Every day 11 am to 10.30 pm

2.Sapporo Soup Curry Tokyo Dominica

if you are in Shinjuku hungry and craving for vegetables make sure you visit Sapporo Soup Curry Tokyo Dominica!

With Hokkaido soul food on the menu, if you feel a bit worn out, this will get you the boost you need with all the extra veggies. Another nice thing, you can easily customize your dish, one thing often a tough one in Japan. Make sure you add extra cheese, you will not regret it!

Just make sure you got money as this is cash only.

Address

〒160-0022 Tōkyō-to, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3-chōme−31−31-1 第2大伸ビルB1F

Opening hours 

• Every day 11.30 am to 10.30 pm
• except for Sunday they close at 9 pm.

3. Coto Cafe

Coto Cafe is a stylish Cafe on the 2nd floor near Shinjuku Sanchome Station. You enter and immediately feel comfortable!

The menu is only in Japanese, but the staff goes out of their way to help, so don’t worry. It features Cafe style dishes, Lunch sets, and great Cakes. So this is the perfect place to eat a lighter lunch or Dinner when in Shinjuku.

Address

〒160-0022 Tōkyō-to, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 5-chōme−17−6 中田ビル2F

Opening Hours

• Wednesday to Monday from 11.30 am – 11 pm
• Tuesdays closed

4.Al Dente

At first glance, Al Dente may look more like a franchise or family restaurant. But don’t be fooled, if you like pasta this is a great choice to go to!

You will be queuing around lunchtime as Al Dente is well known in the area, but if you go in the evening you should be ok. The English menu reads easily: pasta, pasta, and more pasta. With the highlight being a bacon-topped carbonara. And yes it was delicious!

Our tip: Get a Bruschetta for a side for the perfect meal or just bread to soak up all the sauce…

Address

〒160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 1 Chome−25−1 新宿センタービル

Opening hours

• Every day 11 am – 9 pm
• except Sunday from 11.30. am

5.Oiwake Dango Honpo Cafe

Ok, you caught us! Technically not a Restaurant, this Shop, and Cafe is a must-visit if you have a sweet tooth and want to try this traditional Japanese dessert!

Oiwake Dango Honpo Cafe famous for its dumplings called “だんご” as well as it’s shaved ice dessert known as Kakigōri. Get the dumpling set for 567¥, which includes two variations and as much free Green Tea you can drink. A set includes 2 skewers with 3 dumplings each on it. Covered in a sauce or topping. The standard set comes with one skewer topped with Red Bean past and the other one is a traditional Mitarashi Dango.

They also do take away, which is great with Shinjuku Gyoen just a little walk away.

Address

3 Chome-1-22 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022

Opening hours 

Every day 10 am – 8.30 pm

So this is our list of the best Restaurants in Shinjuku!

Now we hope you check them out! We will be adding more, so come back if you cannot see a place you want to go just yet. Or let us know your favorite place in Shinjuku and we go check it out!

Also, have a look at our best Lunch places in Shibuya! or how about checking out where to eat in Shimokitazawa?

The post Best Restaurants in Shinjuku appeared first on Obsessed with Japan.

This creepy pizza from Japanese pizza chain Aoki’s Pizza is another one of their annual gory specials and we love the theater of it!

Yeah but looks is not all you may think, right? What’s on this thing called “Zombino”? It’s packed with layers of vegetables, salad, and Mushroom for the undead to crawl out from. Whereas the Body of this unearthly creature is made of mashed potatoes and meaty goodness such as beef ribs and pork sausages. We are salivating just by writing this.. And do not fret, there is cheese and sauce, sure it would not be a real Pizza without that!

Check out this making-off from Aoki’s Pizza official Twitter Account:

How awesome, eh, we mean terrifying is this?

Only downside? This blood-covered treat is only going to be available if you live in the south, Shizuoka and Nagoya included. You can order online from Aoki’s Pizza. A medium will cost you from ¥2,600 and the lare being at ¥4,200 for large. Make sure you get it before the 31st of October too, as it is available for a limited time only!

If you do get it, please share your pictures it with us! Or if you are unlucky to live in Tokyo, as we wont be able order it, we dare you to try to make one yourself! Post your pictures on our Facebook or tag us on Instagram, we cannot wait to see your creations!

Web

https://www.aokispizza.co.jp/page/menu/index.html

The post Scary zombie Pizza created by Aoki’s Pizza for Halloween 2019 appeared first on Obsessed with Japan.

To be honest for quite some time we never ate it. Until recently we tried and instantly fell in love with this tasty leave.

Why Did We Not Try This Earlier?!

The reason behind writing about whether shiso Leaf is decoration or tasty is, we just watched someone not eat it and it broke our heart.

We just went for dinner and the people next to us (all foreigners), pretty much ate around it. We fought the urge to take it off their plates, as it felt like it was such a waste. But we controlled ourselves. Sure not too long ago we did the same.

We guess we often get a bit shy with unfamiliar things, right? But we do think, especially in Japanese cuisine, everything has a place and a reason to be there. So if it’s on your plate (and not made out of plastic) it is there to be eaten.

But What Is This “Shiso Leaf”?

Actually, if you google it you might find it under “perilla leaf” in English. It comes from the mint family and most of the time it is on our plates to give us a refreshing flavor. It is often served with fish, rice or tempura.

To be honest, the taste is a bit hard to describe. We would almost say it is a bit sour? Some say it has citrusy notes. I guess you will have to try it for yourself, but do believe us it is very pleasant!

And of course, as with so many leaves and herbs, it also comes with multiple health benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties, contains a large amount of calcium and iron and is meant to help with asthma and eczema. All making it a great addition to your meal.

How To Use It?

And it is not crazy expensive, we bought a bunch of about 10 Shiso leaves for about 95¥ in the supermarket. So if you live in Japan try to use it in your kitchen. We added it to a tomato and mozzarella salade and it was great! Or simply, use it with rice dishes or if you want to single portion some appetizers on it. It is also great with chicken. Just saying. The way of using it is endless…

For more ideas on how to cook with it, check out “Morning chores” 100 Shiso Recipies!

Obsessed Or Not?

Pretty obsessed! So our summary to the question, whether shiso Leaf is just decoration or tasty is (drumroll): It’s definitely tasty! And good for you too! Make sure you give it a go the next time it finds a way onto your plate and let us know what you think!

If you are in Tokyo try Sushi no Midori, they have a “Shiso Leaf and Plum Maki”, we absolutely love it!

The post Shiso Leaf Decoration Or Tasty? appeared first on Obsessed with Japan.

Is there ever a time when tiny portions of meat on sticks are not appropriate? I would not know of such an occasion ???? As many know they come in all sizes, there is the street food version vs. the more high-end one and this is definitely the later. Just without the massive price tag!

We arrived for dinner around 7 pm and there was still space, it did quickly fill up, so there might be a wait if you come in after 8 pm. We sat at the counter, to be honest for a small group of 2-3 people I always prefer the counter seats. Especially as often you get to see the chef preparing the food. Here you get to see him through a tiny window…

Its a classy yet casual setting, the crowd was pretty mixed, maybe a bit older like in their ’30s. They have an English Menu and also ask how much you want the chicken cooked. As some may know, it’s not “rare” to get half-cooked chicken. ????

Now for the Food, they have a great selection of all the parts of the chicken, as well as vegetables, salads and some other things. If you wanna just give it a taster, go for the sets, they are great value, with the cheapest one at ¥1200. We went for a mix of many. But be careful not to get as carried away as we did. So many tasty things, we totally over-ordered (see pictures below).

They are also passionate about Sake and the guys next to us got one of the taster sets. Its a Bargain at ¥500 for 3 small glasses. If you are into it ask the waitress for her recommendation. I will definitely go back and order one!

Web

https://uchiwa-shibuya.com/

Address

〒150-0043 東京都渋谷区道玄坂1-5-3 ケントラストビル2・3F

Opening Hours

• Saturday to Thursday 5 pm – 11 pm
• Friday 5 pm until 4 am

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We have eaten our fair share of Ramen and always thought, the best Ramen we ever ate was in Hokkaido. But there is a new contender and Mazesoba 七 is it! Without a doubt, this is one of our favorite Ramen spot in Tokyo and you don’t even have to travel far, it’s right in the center of Shibuya

Like most Ramen shops, it’s pretty straight forward, you buy a ticket at the Machine when you come in and a few minutes later, delicious Ramen will appear :p

Mazesoba Ramen is a small shop, maybe 20 counter seats, so if you are in a group you might not be able to sit all together. Also, this place is almost always busy. But that only shows you that they are selling something tasty!

With prices being around ¥ 900, which is pretty standard, but we love the additional options you get. Our favorite is definitely the spicy Ramen. You can pick whether you like thick or thin noodles and there are also options without the broth. They also smoke the meat, which makes it extra delicious and the sauce is rich. They call it oily Ramen.

Opening hours are 11.30-23.30 on Weekdays and 11.30-22.00 on weekends, plenty of time to stop by and try for yourself. It’s about 5 min walk from Shibuya stations south Exit. So really only a quick stroll away.

Web

These guys don’t have a Website but check their twitter @ https://twitter.com/men_daikokuya

Address

〒150-0031 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Sakuragaokachō, 16−10

Opening Hours

• Monday to Friday from 11.30 am to 11.30 pm
• Saturday and Sunday 11.30 am to 10 pm

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