Taste of Japan

🟢 Great in Tokyo — Great experience you can enjoy in Tokyo. Have a transit layover at Haneda Airport or a few hours to kill before hotel check-in? Looking for a relaxed alternative to Asakusa? Discover Togoshi-Ginza, Tokyo's longest shopping street. Just a quick train ride from the airport, it's the perfect place to taste authentic regional flavors from across Japan—all in one relaxed food walk. Last updated: 2026-03-15 Why Togoshi-Ginza? If you want to enjoy a food walk in Tokyo, Asakusa is probably the first place that comes to mind. While Asakusa is a wonderful destination with a deep history, to be honest, it is often dominated by standardized, overpriced food aimed at tourists. The decisive difference is the crowd level . Togoshi-Ginza is never packed with people like Asakusa. Although the main street is not wide, you can walk at your own pace, keeping enough distance from other pedestrians. There are still relatively few foreign tourists, and the atmos...

🟢 Great in Tokyo — Great experience you can enjoy in Tokyo. Experience the fun of Hamayaki (indoor seafood BBQ) at Isomaru Suisan , a popular izakaya chain in Tokyo . Grill fresh scallops , rich crab miso , and juicy tuna skewers right at your table—an affordable and authentic Japanese dining experience. Last updated: 2025-12-31 Introduction Isomaru Suisan is an affordable and delicious seafood izakaya chain that you will surely encounter when walking the streets of Tokyo. The biggest feature of this shop is the "Hamayaki style," where you grill seafood right on a stove at your table. The fun begins the moment you sit down. Surprisingly, the Otoshi (appetizer) here consists of Shishamo (smelt) and Kamaboko (fish cake) to grill yourself! This style feels much more gorgeous and exciting than the small cold dishes served at ordinary izakayas. Once you start grilling your appetizers, you are ready to go. Just order your favori...

🟢 Great in Tokyo — Great experience you can enjoy in Tokyo. Experience authentic Hokkaido cuisine in Jiyugaoka. This hidden Izakaya serves ice-cold Sapporo Beer, sizzling Genghis Khan (mutton BBQ), and juicy Zangi fried chicken—all recreated by a chef with 20 years of local experience. Last updated: 2025-12-27 Introduction When people think of stylish neighborhoods in Tokyo, places like Kichijoji and Shimokitazawa often come to mind. However, if you are looking for a more mature and relaxed atmosphere, Jiyugaoka is the place to go. With its stone-paved streets, tasteful cafes, and the latest fashion and lifestyle shops, this sophisticated town is especially beloved by women. Yet, in a corner of this chic neighborhood, there is a place where you can taste "authentic Hokkaido." I visited a certain Hokkaido bar here. The chef has a background of living in Hokkaido for 20 years. I would like to introduce the unpretentious northern flavors recreated by...

🟣 Tokyo-do-must — Only-in-Tokyo experience. Discover a hidden oasis in Togoshi-Ginza. At Togoshi Hachiman Shrine, you can relax on a sofa right inside the sacred grounds while sipping hot Amazake or hand-drip coffee. Experience this unique "open-air living room" in Tokyo. Last updated: 2025-12-16 Introduction Just a few minutes' walk from the bustling Togoshi-Ginza Shopping Street lies a quiet sanctuary: Togoshi Hachiman Shrine. Unlike famous tourist spots like Asakusa or Meiji Jingu, this shrine is woven into the fabric of everyday life here. It is a common sight to see locals pause and bow slightly as they pass by the entrance. In a corner of the sacred grounds, there is a small stall serving Amazake and coffee. A few sofas are placed nearby, allowing you to sit back and fully relax in this peaceful setting. 💡 Did You Know? The Origin of the Name "Togoshi" The name "Togoshi" (戸越) is said to come from the ...

🟢 Great-in-Tokyo — Great experience you can enjoy in Tokyo. Crispy Kaki Fry (fried oysters) and Salmon & Ikura Clay Pot Rice (Donabe-meshi). A comforting feast of Japan’s seasonal seafood tradition, perfect for a cold winter day. Last updated: 2025-12-31 Introduction In the West, oysters are often eaten raw on the half shell. But in Japan, when winter arrives, a completely different way of enjoying them takes center stage: Kaki Fry . It is a dish where oysters are coated in breadcrumbs ( panko ) and deep-fried. When I ordered it at the Kyushu-style izakaya Ebisu in Togoshi-Ginza, I was pleasantly surprised. The freshly fried oysters were served beautifully on real oyster shells—a stylish presentation that demanded a photo—accompanied by a generous mound of tartar sauce. My Memory As a child, I was definitely more of a "meat person" than a "fish person." But winter was the exception; I would always beg my mother to make K...

🟢 Great-in-Tokyo — Great experience you can enjoy in Tokyo. Dashi-rolled omelet is a Japanese comfort dish. Experience the craftsmanship and dashi technique at a local counter in Togoshi-Ginza, Tokyo. Last updated: 2025-12-31 Introduction Dashimaki Tamago is more than just an omelet. It is a Japanese culinary classic created by mixing egg with large amounts of dashi (savory broth), then skillfully rolled into thick, tender layers on a rectangular pan. The photo shows the Dashimaki Tamago from Togaya in Togoshi-Ginza. At the counter, you can watch the chef constantly rolling the egg as it cooks, releasing the sweet and fragrant aroma of dashi into the air—the true essence of Japanese cooking. What to Try Dashimaki Tamago: The Texture Unlike regular rolled omelets (Tamagoyaki) which can be firm, Dashimaki Tamago is designed to be moist and delicate. The large volume of liquid dashi in the mix ensures the final product is fluffy and juicy inside, with dash...

🟢 Great-in-Tokyo — Great experience you can enjoy in Tokyo. An annual Oita food festival at the foot of Tokyo Tower where you can taste jigoku-mushi steamed dishes, fresh sushi, fried chicken, croquettes, and local drinks from all over the prefecture in one place. Last updated: 2026-03-27 Introduction Once a year, Oita Prefecture gathers at the foot of Tokyo Tower — that is the “Jigoku-mushi Festival in Tokyo Tower.” Popular shops and producers from all over the prefecture come together, offering Beppu’s famous “jigoku-mushi” as well as sushi, karaage, toriten, gyorokke fish croquettes, kabosu drinks, and Yufuin beef steak, allowing you to experience the flavours of Oita all at once. The photo shows a Yufuin beef steak skewer. The rich, flavourful red meat with just the right amount of fat truly felt like “a feast from Oita.” It is a valuable event where you can find local foods that are rarely encountered in everyday Tokyo. My Memory I first climbed to ...