I cannot believe that I have not heard of Maisen, this popular tonkatsu restaurant until recently! From what I have read and heard, Maisen is housed in what used to be a public bath-house, and is practically an institution in
Tokyo: Takano Fruit Parlour
Besides pancakes, the other two things that I really wanted to eat in Tokyo were fruit sandwiches and a fruit parfait. Oooohh, I love sandwiches made with soft white Japanese bread and filled with fresh fruit and whipped cream. I
Tokyo: Aoyama Flower Market and Tea House
We walked past Aoyama Flower Market, a beautiful florist-cum-tea-house in Omotesando, and dropped in to use their bathroom. I took a peek into the tea-house and decided that I wanted to go in! The interior was so pretty! Like a
Tokyo: Blueberry Pancakes At Clinton St. Baking Company & Restaurant
I am very fond of pancakes. My earliest memories of pancakes are the thin crepe-like ones that my maternal aunt used to make for tea. We ate them hot off the skillet, with lemon and sugar. I would roll my
Tokyo: Omotesando Koffee (Again)
Update: Omotesando Koffee is no longer in business and is now operating as Toranomon Koffee at Toranomon Hills. So glad to be able to drink Omotesando Koffee’s brew again. This coffee bar was a regular feature during our February trip to Tokyo.
Tokyo: Under The Yurakucho Tracks
We had a reservation at Shin-Hinomoto in Yurakucho on our second night in Tokyo. It was a rainy day, and the rain continued into the night. We were 30 minutes early for our 7pm reservation and had to wander around the
Tokyo: Morning In Shimokitazawa
I have read so much about the lovely Shimokitazawa neighborhood located not far away Shibuya, I told myself that I must visit it on this trip. Besides the indie vibe that Shimokita is known for, I also wanted to visit
Tokyo: Awesome Bara-chirashi At Sushi Sho
I have not been to Jiro. Or any of the other famous sushi restaurants in Tokyo like Mizutani, Sushi Saito, Sushi Dai. It is just too difficult to get a reservation. Most of them accept reservations only one month before
Tokyo: Bear Pond Expresso
We visited the famous Bear Pond Expresso in Shimokitazawa on our recent trip to Tokyo. Google ‘coffee in Tokyo’ and this tiny coffee bar will definitely turn up in the search results. I went there with pretty high expectations given
Tokyo: Kissako Kaiseiken In Ningyocho
One of the first Japanese words that anyone learns in a beginner Japanese class is ‘kissaten’ – meaning ‘coffeeshop’, or ‘tearoom’, or ‘cafe’. In my mind, I have always associated ‘kissaten‘ with a modern (the popular word nowadays being ‘hipster’)
Takayama: Shirakawago
If I had to recommend one place in Japan that one should visit, it will be Shirakawago. A UNESCO heritage site, the scenery here is stunning, with architecture that is quite unlike anything else that I have seen in Japan. Shirakawago is
Tokyo: Hanami At Nakameguro
Cherry blossoms at Nakameguro-kawa. It is an excellent place to view the beautiful cherry blossoms. We walked along both sides of the river, filled with quaint and charming boutiques and cafes. What lucky residents to be living in those apartments overlooking
Tokyo: Tamahide Oyakodon in Ningyocho
If you are a big fan of oyakodon and you happen to be in Tokyo, you should give Tamahide a try. I read that this famous restaurant in Ningyocho, founded in 1760 (or thereabouts), is the birthplace of oyakodon. What