-
Bustling Ameyoko Shopping Street Has A Little Bit Of Everything
What is the Ameyoko Shopping Street?
Ameyoko Shopping Street in the Ueno district includes more than 400 stores selling all manner of goods. You can find seafood, clothing, bags, cosmetics, dried food, sweets. You name it, you can probably find it on this bustling street. There’s A LOT of stores, shops, and restaurants crammed into this area. Prices are fairly cheap as well.
Ameyoko is located right next to Ueno Park and Ueno Station which makes for a great place to stop by before or after a day in the park to grab some food. There’s a TON of places to eat around the area, so you’ll definitely be able to find something to munch on!
Himuro Ueno Ramen
I didn’t even know Ameyoko existed. I went to Ueno with the intent on going to the park and hitting up the museums. I did want to grab some food prior to heading over though and quickly saw throngs of people located near the entrance to Ameyoko and decided to walk around a bit.
One of the restaurants that caught my eye in the area was Himuro Ueno Ramen. It’s not on one of the main streets, it’s located on one of the many side streets. Having a hankering for some ramen on this particular day I decided to give it a try.
It’s one of those ramen restaurants where you order at a machine and receive a ticket to give to the chef. They can be a little intimidating if there’s no English and a line behind you. Fortunately, although there was no English, they did do something else to help us Non-Japanese speaking folk.
There were taped numbers on the machine that correlated with the numbers of the ramen photos in the front of the restaurant. So I just had to match the number. I didn’t know what anything else on the menu was but was happy to be able to get what looked like a delicious bowl of ramen.
Himuro Uno Ramen storefront 
Himuro Uno Ramen with the ordering machine It’s a small restaurant with limited seating, much like many of the ramen places I visited. I really enjoy these types of places. Very homely with great ambience. You get a good look at how the ramen is made which is great.
The Kimuchi Ramen Medium Spicy
I ended up getting the Kimuchi Ramen Medium Spicy (980 yen, $6.68). The ramen came out piping hot about ten minutes or so after I handed them the ticket.
It came with 1 piece of pork chashu, bamboo shoots, kimchi, seaweed, bean sprouts, and green onion. Lots of goodies were in it! The broth had a nice rich flavor to it and was fairly spicy. Not sure what the base was but it was quite tasty.
The chashu was very thin and lean. It wasn’t heavily salted or seasoned but tasted great.
The noodles were thicker and curly. Defintely al dente with a nice bounce to them and they tasted very fresh as well.
There’s a good number of textures within this bowl of ramen. From the chewiness of the noodles to the crunch from the bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, kimchi and seaweed. They all delivered a different type of crunch with each bite, which is always a nice!
Overall this was a hearty bowl of ramen with a lot of goodies in it. I love kimchi so having that included in it was really nice and added to the overall flavor of the ramen broth.
Himuro Ramen
Address: 4 Chome-5-2 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
Hours:
Wednesday 11 AM–3:30 AM Thursday 11 AM–3:30 AM Friday(The Emperor’s Birthday) 11 AM–3:30 AMHours might differ Saturday 11 AM–3:30 AM Sunday 11 AM–2 AM Monday 11 AM–3:30 AM Tuesday 11 AM–3:30 AM Oedo-Sho Sushi
After spending the entire day in Ueno Park I decided to cap the day off with some sushi near Ameyoko Street. I stumbled upon Oedo-Sho which is a conveyer belt sushi restaurant. It’s a cheap, affordable place to enjoy some sushi. Conveyer belt sushi is defintely an experience that should be tried while in Japan. There’s conveyer belt sushi places throughout the world, but this sushi quality and selection is likely to be far superior. There’s just a ton of different cuts of fish here.
The menu is quite large with a ton of different types of sushi. The options on the actual conveyer belt seemed to be fairly minimal though. You can order directly from the chefs to get sushi from the menu that isn’t going around the conveyer belt it seemed. I just wasn’t sure how to do that exactly. With minimal English speakers working on this particular night I just stuck with what was going around.
The Sushi
The sushi that I did know and recognize included were pretty much salmon, fatty salmon, shrimp. I ate a few others as well, what kind of fish they were, I have no idea.
Overall, the sushi was pretty decent. For my whole meal it was only (2070 yen, $14.10 USD) It wasn’t top tier but you get what you pay for and it was pretty good to boot.
Salmon 
Shrimp 
Fatty salmon 
No idea lol Service options: Cash-only · Doesn’t accept reservations
Address: 6 Chome-12-14 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
Hours:
Friday(The Emperor’s Birthday) 11:30 AM–10 PMHours might differ Saturday 11:30 AM–10 PM Sunday 11:30 AM–10 PM Monday 11:30 AM–10 PM Tuesday 11:30 AM–10 PM Wednesday 11:30 AM–10 PM Thursday 11:30 AM–10 PM -
5 Parks To Visit in Tokyo – You Won’t Be Disappointed!
5 Parks To Visit in Tokyo – Why Visit Parks In Tokyo?
Tokyo is a massive city with endless things to see and do. For a first time visitor there’s generally too much to see to be able to find the time to make a trip exclusively for a park. I was able to visit five parks while in Tokyo, some intentionally, some I just happened to stroll through on the way to an attraction. They’re a nice change of pace from the hectic and often very crowded sites of Tokyo. A lot of these, and other parks throughout Tokyo, you may just happen to walk through or see on the way to your next attraction. Intentional or not, visiting at least one of the parks is well worth it.
These are just a handful of the parks that Tokyo has, there’s quite a lot overall!
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
This was the favorite park that I visited. It was also the only one that cost yen to enter (500 yen) but it’s well worth it. Even though this is listed as a garden, it’s really a massive park. With huge open lawn spaces and wide meandering paths throughout, it’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku.
There’s three different types of gardens located within the park. There’s traditional Japanese gardens which feature well kempt shrubs and trees with ponds and bridges.
A French garden that is symmetrical, with clearly defined lines and very orderly.
And a English garden which would include the massive lawn areas which have cherry blossom trees surrounding them. Yes, the beloved Cherry Blossom trees are strewn throughout the park. There’s over 16 different varieties planted in Shinjuku Gyoen. I can only imagine what this park looks like in the Spring when it’s Cherry Blossom season and also in the Fall as the leaves change colors. It definitely must be a site to see!
I came here in the middle of December so nothing was in bloom and the trees were barren. But I still loved it. Due to the season and visiting mid-week added to the charm since the park was not busy at all. It was very peaceful to walk with minimal crowds.
There’s a Starbucks in the park, along with a couple other tea houses and places to grab a snack. The Starbuck overlooks one of the traditional Japanese gardens with a great outdoor area with seating. It’s a great spot to grab a coffee, relax with a great, peaceful view, and soak in all the surroundings.
Ueno Park
Ueno Park is located in the Ueno District of Taito, Tokyo. It’s a large public park that was first established way back in 1873.
This is a bustling park which includes a number of different museums, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum for Western Art, The Tokyo Metorpolitan Art Museum, and the National Science Museum. If you’re a fan of museums, this park is a must visit.
Not only is the park home to a number of museums, but it also includes the Ueno Zoo and a few temples and shrines.
Shinobazu Pond is also found in Ueno Park. It’s a large pond that’s broken up into three different subdivisions: the boat pond, lotus pond, and cormorant pond (where all the ducks and local waterbirds are located).
The park is a very popular place to visit during cherry blossom season since there are over 1000 cherry trees lining the central pathway. You’ll have to use your imagination since I was here in December. But even during this month these particular trees looked amazing.
When I went on a Sunday there was a small concert going on and seemed like a koi fish market. The park was busy and people were just hanging out enjoying the nice weather and park. It was great! Overall there’s just A LOT going on at this park. It has a good energy and vibe to it and there’s something for everyone here to enjoy.
You can easily spend an entire day here. There’s just so much to see and do here, especially if you’re a big museum fan.
Meiji Jingu
This isn’t a park per se, it’s a very famous Shinto Shrine located in essentially a forest right in the middle of the bustling Harujuku District. One of the most popular Shinto Shrines in all of Japan, Meiji Jingu is most likely on your list to visit while in Tokyo already.
Over 100 years old, the orginal shrine was destroyed during World War II but was rebuilt in 1958. It’s a very impressive shrine and one of the most iconic in all of Japan.
Walking through the massive torrii gate to gain entrance to the shrine grounds instantly transports you from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo to the tranquility of a massive forest.
You can’t hear any city noises, can’t see any massive buildings protruding from the treeline, you’re quite literally in a forest…in the middle of Tokyo.
I’ve been here before but was more invested in the walk to the shrine and the shrine itself and didn’t quite take in the beauty of the overall surroundings. There’s over 100,000 trees that were donated from all over Japan that create this city forest. It’s a really amazing walk once you pass through the torri gate and the area in general is amazing, outside of the shrine.
There’s also pathways that stray from the main path to the shrine, so you can wander off as well. These other paths don’t have as many people either so it can be a quieter experience allowing you to further soak in the surroundings.
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park is a large spacious park located in Shibuya, right next to Meiji Jingu Shrine. After visiting Shibuya, I happened to walk through it on the way to Meiji.
This doesn’t have any spectacular gardens or real standout features. It’s just a massive, pleasant park with huge lawn space, plenty of trees, a large pond, a big dog run, and plenty of space on the pathways for a nice jog or bike ride.
There’s a lot of benches located throughout the park where you can chill at and take a break after visiting Shibuya if you’re walking to Meiji Shrine. It’s a peaceful place.
Inokashira Park
Inokashira Park is located in the Kichijoji district which is the western part of Tokyo. It’s home to a zoo and small aquarium and the popular Studio Ghibli museum as well. In the middle of the park the large Inokashira Pond, with bridges that cross over it. Rowing boats are available for rent as well.
The pond is the real centerpiece of the park. It’s massive. There’s plenty of pathways with benches around the pond where you can sit and just enjoy the surroundings. It’s a lively park on the weekend (I went on a Saturday), with a lot of people and families enjoying a nice stroll, jog, or taking their dog on a walk.
But you can also find areas that are more serene and quiet and you can just chill.
Even during December the ambience was quite nice and the trees full of color. Like all of these parks, I can only imagine what Fall and Spring must look like here. It must be amazing!
-
Flaming Shaved Ice Is A Must Try At This Cafe In Tokyo, Japan
The Background
Shaved Ice or “Kakigori” in Japanese, is a classic dessert in the Japanese culture. It’s a very old dessert. It dates all the way back to the Heian Period (794-1185) where wealthy elites enjoyed the refreshing treat. By the 1860’s shaved ice started becoming more readily available. Shaved ice shops started popping up and the general public was able to enjoy the tasty snack.
Today, shaved ice is still immensly popular. Considered more of a summer staple since it’s a great way to cool down during those intense summer days, it’s still enjoyed all year long.
The Evolution of Shaved Ice
Shaved ice has always been served with various toppings, syrups, and condensed milk. That remains the case today as well.
That doesn’t mean shaved ice hasn’t evolved over the many years of its existence. The toppings and syrups have gotten more creative and flavorful as well as the presentation itself. Cafe Lumiere took it to next level status by covering it in merengue and lighting it on fire.
Who would have thought you’d be able to enjoy a “flaming” shaved ice, lol. They really don’t go hand-in-hand with one another. But at Cafe Lumiere it’s the norm!
Cafe Lumiere
Cafe Lumiere is a tiny cafe located on the 4th floor of the Higashiyama building in Kichijoji. In a country full of all things “kawaii”, the ambience and atmosphere of Cafe Lumiere fits snugly into that category. It has the feeling of a children’s story book with many little trinkets hanging on the walls and from the ceiling.
The inside of Cafe Lumiere 
On each table you’ll find little Menu Book story books but you actually order off their online menu you scan to look at. Great ambiance in this cozy little cafe!
I came here specifically for the shaved ice. The choices here all looked incredible so it was a VERY difficult choice on what to get! The below is just a few of the options that were on the menu. I wasn’t sure if all of them were wrapped in merengue and lit ablaze and that’s what I really wanted to experience, so I went with the Lumiere special baked ice (1540 yen, $10.37 USD) and got a coffee (429 yen, $2.89) as well.
The Lumiere Special Baked Ice
This did not disappoint in either deliciousness or spectacle. Coming out coated with a shell of merengue, the shaved ice more resembles an egg than a bowl of shaved ice. It gets covered with some rum concocation and lit of fire right in front of you. It’s really cool to see!
Flaming shaved ice!
Once you dig in and break through the merengue, the shaved ice is extremely pillowy and soft with pieces of strawberry throughout. You get a few sides to dump into and mix the ice with. A strawberry sauce, carmel sauce, and I believe, condensed milk.
Mixing in some of the fluffy merengue added a different type of sweetness and texture to the shaved ice. Overall, just a REALLY delicious, satisfying shaved ice. It’s quite refreshing and light to boot!
If in the Kichijoji area, I’d certainly recommend stopping by Cafe Lumiere and giving one of their shaved ices a try. They always have different kinds depending on the season as well and it will be a fun experience.
Please note, when I went it was cash only so be sure to bring some cash if you plan on visiting!
Address: Higashiyama Bldg., ï¼”F, 1 Chome-2-2 Kichijoji Minamicho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0003, Japan
Hours:
Tuesday 12–6 PM Wednesday 12–6 PM Thursday 12–6 PM Friday 12–6 PM Saturday 11 AM–6 PM Sunday(National Foundation Day) 11 AM–6 PMHours might differ Monday(National Foundation Day (Observed)) 12–6 PMHours might differ -
You Can Get A Tempura Bowl For Less Than $4 USD At This Restuarant Chain in Tokyo, Japan
What’s Tendon?
In Japanese “tendon” is a shortened abbreviation for Tempura Donburi. In Japanese “ten” is tempura and “don” is donburi (rice bowl). The abbreviated tendon is a bowl of tempura covering a bed of rice.
Tempura is very famous in Japan and you’ll be able to find it everywhere in Tokyo. Tempura for those who haven’t had it before, consists of seafood (shrimp is a staple) and vegetables coated in a thin batter and deep fried. It’s about as delicious as you’d imagine!
There’s a dipping sauce comprised of dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar, called tentsuyu that’s either drizzled over the top of the tendon or served on the side as a dipping sauce.
Budget Tempura in Tokyo
Looking to grab some cheap tempura in Tokyo? Look no further than the Tenya Tendon restuarant chain located throughout Tokyo and Japan in general.
In a city as large as Tokyo with endless alleyways filled with food, tempura is certainly one of the most popular food choices. Price ranges will vary of course, but Tenya Tendon was the cheapest I came across.
The touch screen menu at Tenya Tendon They have a touch screen menu which you use to place your order and you can choose English. The above is the standard tendon menu which is exactly what I was looking for.
The most expensive combo for 720 yen is about $4.92 USD. VERY cheap for a full on meal. I didn’t even get those combos opting for the Tendon meal for 560 yen ($3.83). It wasn’t about the difference in price, the Tendon meal just sounded better to me.
The Food
The Tendon meal consists of prawn, squid, sandborer, pumpkin, and green beans, along with a cup of miso soup. There’s a total of six pieces of tempura.
Quite a bit of food for $.3.83 USD! 
The tempura had a very light outer coating which was nice and crispy. It also wasn’t very greasy which was a pleasant surprise. The shrimp was sweet. The veggies tasty. I’d never had squid or sandborer tempura before and they were pretty solid as well!
The Tentsuyu sauce was drizzled over the tempura and the bed of rice. It’s dispersed well throughout and over the bowl and not further seasoning was needed.
The Verdict
I have to admit, expectations were not super high with this being more of a fast food type, budget friendly type place. Was it the best tempura I’ve ever had? Nope. But the quality and overall taste of the tendon bowl were fantastic for the price. A couple of shrimp, squid, and fish for less than $4 USD? Sign me up!
If you’re on budget traveling through Japan or if you’re looking to save some money for a delicious expenisve dinner later in the day, Tenya Tendon can certainly tide you over with quality cheap food!
-
Is Odaiba, Tokyo Worth Visiting?
Odaiba is an interesting district since it’s a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. Originially built as a defensive fortress to Tokyo against possible sea attacks back in 1603-1868, it has now evolved into a large enterntainment area. There’s an abundance of shopping in the area with large malls, most notably Diver City Plaza, which has ample restaurants as well. Also, of note, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation is located in Odaiba as well.
The Odaiba station is about a 15-20 min metro ride from teamLab Planets. From Shinjuku Station it would be over an hour. The station is located right next to Diver City Plaza and the below attractions which makes it a very convenient location.
Three of the biggest attractions in the area are listed below.
Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge is a two-story bridge which connects Odaiba to Tokyo. It lights up at night and is supposed to be quite the sight. There’s an area in Odaiba with a great platform walkway around the area which is nice to be able to walk around to take in the sights. The view of the bay and the bridge here is spectacular. I imagine at night this view would be even better. The walkway leads down to the bay as well and there’s a paved path to stroll around.
Rainbow Bridge Replica Statue of Liberty
Located in front of the Rainbow Bridge is a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Originally placed here to celebrate Japan’s ties with France back in 1998, the statue proved to be quite popular. In a sign of goodwill, France gifted Japan a replica of the statue in 1999 where it has remained since. The statue stands 40′ tall, about 1/7th the size of the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Replica Statue of Liberty Unicorn Gundam Statue
In my opinion, the coolest attraction in Odaiba is the “life-sized” Unicorn Gundam statue standing 19.7 meters tall. This is a full-scale statue of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam.
The statue itself is very impressive. Even without any knowledge of the series, I was still blown away. The level of detail on the statue is really amazing. If giant robots really existed, surely this is what they would look like!
Nine times a day the statue goes into “destroy” mode and its frame expands and glows pink. This includes an accompanying light and sound show as well!
The schedule is listed below.
Daytime show: 4 times/day: At 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm
Nighttime show: 5 times/day: At 5.30 pm, 8 pm, 8.30 pm, 9 pm, and 9.30 pm
So…Is Odaiba Worth Visiting?
If you’re a Gundam fan or just someone that’s into nerdy stuff like giant robots (like myself) than yes! It will be worth it. The Gundam statue is captivating. You can truly admire and appreciate the level of detail that was put into it. I missed the transformation to “destroy” mode but it’s certainly something I’d love to see in the future.
If you’re in the area due to having visited teamLab Planets, have somewhat of an interest in seeing the Gundam statue, than it’s worth the short trip to visit.
The walk way around the replica Statue of Liberty and view of Rainbow Bridge is great, but I wouldn’t come here just to see those attractions. They aren’t worth the trip solely to see, in my opinion.
The shopping as well, namely Diver City Plaza, wouldn’t move the needle for me. There’s a ton of other massive malls in Tokyo that aren’t quite so far away from Central Tokyo.
So bottom line is if you’re not a fan of Gundam or giant robots, than I wouldn’t make the trip out to Odaiba. Although it’s a cool area, it’s a little ways out of the way. If you only have a few days in Tokyo to explore, it most likely is not worth your time.
-
Try This Hole In The Wall Tonkatsu Restaurant If Visiting Taito City, Tokyo
The Background
Tired after a long day of sight seeing and not wanting to venture out too far for food. I found Tonkatsu Sugita while searching for nearby food options from my hotel.
It has a respectable 4.0 rating on Google (which isn’t always the most reliable for food) so I decided to give it a shot since it was less than a ten minute walk from the hotel I was at and tonkatsu sounded quite good.
I’m certainly glad I gave it a try.
The restuarant is quite tiny – there’s a total of 20 seats, in a quiet part of Taito City. It’s been around since 1977 and has only had two owners during its run.
Where the restaurant was located was a nice change of pace from other bustling and packed parts of Tokyo.
Most of the seating is located at a counter where you can watch the chef prepare your food right in front of you. There’s some additonal seating in the back for large parties as well.
Fortunately, they have an English menu so figuring out what to get is extremely easy. The menu is also small so it takes out a lot of the back and forth of having a difficult time deciding on what to get, which I’m certainly prone to! The small menu is explained here. I appreciate the seriousness of how the owner goes about selecting the pork and prepares the food. The quality of the food certainly shows his dedication to his craft.
The Tonkatsu
I went with the No. 1 – Tonkatsu fillet (2900 yen, $19.63 USD) and added miso soup (200 yen, $1.35) and rice (300 yen, $2.03, $23.01 total).
Tonkatsu is also always served with a side of cabbage. There’s a few reasons for this.
Cabbage provides a nice crunch that complements the tonkatsu flavors and texture well.
It also helps to reduce the oil and can help with digestion. The cabbage can be eaten with dressing (which was provided here) or with tonkatsu sauce (essentially a thicker worcester sauce).
It definitely works with the overall meal and I can’t imagine eating tonkatsu without it.
It took about 20-25 minutes for the food to come out. The chef was very friendly and you can watch him make the food right in front of you. Think of a sushi restaurant where you can watch the chefs prep the sushi right in front of you but with pork cutlets and huge pots of oil.
The tonkatsu was fried to perfection. The outer shell was very crispy and the meat was incredibly tender. It literally melted in my mouth. Taking a bite of the fried pork, cabbage, and rice was fantastic.
The miso soup was outstanding here as well. It had a deep, flavorful taste to it and was a great complement to the meal.
The Verdict
In my three weeks in Japan this was the best tonkatsu I had. Granted, I had it three or four times (which I think is a lot in three weeks, lol) but this was hands down the best. It wasn’t even a contest. The chef certainly knows his craft and the food reflected this.
The prices were quite reasonable for what I got – $23.01 – for everything and well worth it.
I later saw that it’s mentioned in the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand rating, so this place is legit. I would definitely recommend checking the place out if you’re staying in the Taito City area. It’s also about a 30 minute or so walk from Asakusa if you wanted to grab some food after visiting there. It’s worth the walk.
3 Chome-8-3 Kotobuki, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0042, Japan
-
When NOT To Trust Google Maps In Japan
When traveling most anywhere in the world, nothing is more useful than Google Maps. The ability to provide directions in a totally foreign environment cannot be understated! It’s something we take for granted in this day and age but Google Maps is a lifeline when traveling. I cannot imagine trying to get around without it. That’s also including domestically!
In a country like Japan with its vast infrastructure, which you’ll no doubt be using quite often, Google Maps in Japan is a true lifesaver. With it listing all the different subway lines, the platform the subway line will be on, when to get off and transfer to another line, what exit to use, it’s all extremely, extremely useful.
99% of the time you can mindlessly follow the directions and not even really think twice about it. There are certain occasions where, if you aren’t paying attention, can lead to some delays or confusion while using the subways.
I ran into this a couple times while traveling in Japan. I thought I’d write something to help others out who may be traveling to Japan.
When Google Maps Can Get Confusing
Example #1
One example is below from Tokyo:
This was my route when I was on the way to the airport to fly home:
It seems pretty straight forward. Only one line is listed – the Asakusa Line. BUT the confusion lies (at least for myself) with the highlighted “Remain on board”.
The overall directions tell you to stay on board when you get to Sengakuji Station. But it also lists the Keikyu Main Line.
The overall directions don’t list this, stating only the use of the Asakusa Line. Does the Asakusa line turn into the Keikyu Main Line? Do you need to exit the subway and get on another platform to catch the Keikyu Main Line?
Fortunately, this was the tail end of the trip for me. At this point I was always on alert when Google Maps said to “Remain on board”, which I’ll explain below.
The Japan subways do an excellent job of making announcements calling out what lines you can transfer to as you approach each station. They also make announcements in English.
If you aren’t paying attention, or are just staring at Google Maps, it’s pretty easy to miss these call outs though.
Fortunately from past experience, I was definitely paying attention on this trip and was able to hear that the Keikyu Main Line was indeed a totally separate line which required me to leave the Asakusa line. The same for the Keikyu Airport line. This was a separate line than the Keikyu Main Line.
If I hadn’t been paying attention I would have stayed on the Asakusa line and then figured out I was supposed to transfer to those other lines after a few more stops. I would have had to back track and get back on course.
That’s a pain in the butt and time consuming. Especially with me needing to catch a flight.
Example #2
For this example I don’t have a screen shot of the directions. However, this happened in Osaka on the Osaka Loop Line, which JR West operates. It runs in both a clockwise and counter clockwise loop and hits 19 stations. It’s a very useful line to use while in Osaka.
Similar to my previous example, Google Maps told me to take the Osaka Loop Line and to stay on board at a certain station. Unlike the first example there were no other subway lines listed at all. It appeared that I should remain on board when the train stopped. This time I wasn’t paying attention to the announcement at all figuring that after this stop the train would continue on its clockwise journey.
This wasn’t the case. After sitting on board for about five minutes the train departed…but in the direction it had come from.
It was an easy correction. I got off at the first stop and refreshed Google Maps and re-boarded the correct line. There were a few other tourists on board who most likely were using Google Maps as well who did the same thing I did.
Takeaways
- If you see a totally different subway line listed on the Google directions and it’s telling you to “stay on board”, than really pay attention to the announcements. Like I mentioned, there will be an announcement made prior to every station stop about what lines you can transfer to at what station.
- If you missed the announcement (sometimes it can be noisy and you might not hear or may not have been paying attention) you can always get off at the station in question to get your bearings.
- New subway trains come by quite frequently and you can always hop on and off to figure things out.
- The lesson from Example #2 is if the train stops for an abnormal amount of time, most if not everyone gets off board, then you should most likely double check / refresh Google Maps or exit the train entirely and make sure the directions are correct.
- Also, don’t be afraid to ask! People in Japan are incredibly friendly and helpful and will likely help point you in the right direction.
The Japan subways are really amazing and incredibly helpful to shuttle you around the city. They can be overwhelming initially but in due time you grow accustomed to them and gain a better understanding of what Google Maps in Japan is telling you. You got this!
-
Why The Tsukiji Outer Market Is A Must Visit In Japan
The Tsukiji Market has been in existence for 80+ years. Despite the main fish market closing in Tsukiji and relocating to Toyusa the outer market still remains. The outer market is home to wholesale retail shops, produce, fish, as well as many, many restaurants / food stalls. The seafood here is some of the freshest in the city since it comes directly from the Toyusa fish market.
There are a TON of food stalls / restaurants within this vicinity so if you’re a foodie, this is a must stop.
Despite the main fish market moving to Toyusa in 2018, the outer market remains just as popular amongst both domestic and international tourists. Expect big crowds here!
One of the entrances to Tsukiji Outer Market 
Food everywhere, with lots and lots of tourists The Food Experience
There’s going to be too much food here to try it all (for most people). Budget may also play a part in what you look to purchase too. Depending on what you’re looking to eat, certain items can certainly get pricey. But that’s what’s nice with such a large and varied market, there’s something for all budgets to be found here.
Here’s what I got on my visit:
Mochi and Tanghulu
This shop near one of the entrances to the market (photo above) specialized in strawberry mochi and tanghulu. This was just too tempting. I HAD to start off the food tour with this, it looked too good!
I decided on going with the strawberry flavored mochi with strawberry (400 yen, $2.83 USD).
The mochi was incredibly soft, chewy, and very fresh. It was also filled with red bean paste and powdered sugar( the powdered sugar was a nice surprise!). The strawberry is very juicy. It wasn’t overly sweet but I really couldn’t notice due to the sweetness of the red bean paste / powederd sugar.
I couldn’t just get the mochi with all that delicious tanghulu on display. I opted for the grape and strawberry tanghulu (600 yen, $4.24 USD).
Both the grapes and the strawberries were very sweet and juicy in their own right. I don’t want to understate the juiciness of these grapes and strawberries. These fruits EXPLODE with juice when you bite into them. The sugar coating provides additional sweetness of course, as well as a hardy crunch.
Tamagoyaki
What exactly is Tamagoyaki? It’s a sweet and savory type of Japanese type of omlette. I’d never had it before but had heard of it. I saw this restuarant and figured today was the day to give it a try! The price for a block of it was only 150 yen ($1.06) too. Good deal!
The egg is super soft, fluffy, and light. It’s also very sweet though. I was expecting it to be sweet but this was much more sweet than savory.
Grilled Wagyu
Yes, this is a fish market BUT there’s also wagyu here! There’s a few stalls that sell grilled wagyu skewers within Tsukiji. The cuts of wagyu vary and the price points reflect accordingly. They also have skewers of various seafood (octupus, squid, scallop, unagi, all 1000 yen, $7.09 USD) and even have skewers of wagyu with uni (sea urchin) spread over it. There’s a lot of skewer options!
I opted for the rump wagyu, which was the cheapest cut of wagyu – for 3000 yen, $21.27 USD.
The meat is grilled medium rare. It’s lightly seasoned with just salt with a teriyaki glaze drizzled over the top. The glaze is a little sweet with a hint of spice to it. The meat just melts in your mouth. No exaggeration. You barely have to chew. The wagyu is unbelievably good!
Tuna Nigiri
No visit to Tsukiji would be complete without eating some seafood, specifically tuna. I decided to give Maguroya Kurogin a try. They specifically specialise in tuna here with various cuts served as sashimi over rice, nigiri, or sushi.
Decisions, decisions. It’s a tough choice on what to get 
Sooo much tuna!! Look at how huge these chunks are! 
The tuna gets cut right in front of you as you wait in line 
This definitely helps point out what you’re getting I went with the six pieces of nigiri that consisted of special fatty tuna, very fatty tuna, medium fatty tuna. This was 3400 yen, $24.10 USD.
I ate this at the stall. They have a little area right next to the counter where you order at that has some tables you can stand around and a counter you can enjoy your food. They give you a cup of tea as well. The food comes out and the server goes over what nigiri is what. They speak English really well here. I believe from left to right it goes: special fatty tuna, very fatty tuna, medium fatty tuna.
The speical fatty tuna 
Very fatty tuna 
Medium fatty tuna These were all very high quality pieces of tuna. I couldn’t say that one cut was better than the others. The fattier pieces may dissolve faster but ALL of the cuts essentially dissovle in your mouth when you start eating them. The sushi rice is also high quality. Overall, these are six pieces of nigiri you won’t be disapppointed with.
Conclusion
I ate a variety of food in my time at Tsukiji and barely scratched the surface of everything that’s there. There was a lot of stuff that I wanted to get but skipped over on this trip, like grilled crab legs, and grilled scallops, and a boatload of other food. Not to mention the number of sit down restaurants that all looked delicious.
I will advise that many of the places here accept ONLY CASH, so that keep that in mind if you plan on visiting. There’s also an atm on the premises if you forget to bring some cash. It’s located in the facility which also has a public restroom.
I did have a budget in mind and how much I wanted to spend here, so that took some of the food out of the equation…this time around. Some of the restaurants had very long lines which I also avoided since there was a lot I wanted to that day. Bottom line: There’s A LOT of food here.
The total for everything I ate came out to 7,550 yen / $53.53 USD. Not too shabby! It was definitely a fun time walking around and trying multiple dishes. If you’re a foodie this is must visit place.
One final tidbit of advice: Choose your stomach space wisely!
-
Oyako-Don At Torimkura In Diver City, Odaiba, Tokyo
If you’re in the area visiting Odaiba and are wanting to grab some food there are plenty of options in the area. Specifically within Diver City Plaza. There’s a large food court on the bottom floor and then several restaurants on other floors of the massive mall.
Torimkura
Torimkura is one of the restaurants located in Diver City. It caught my attention since it specializes in Oyako-Don. What exactly is Oyako-Don? It’s a simple Japanese dish that includes tender pieces of chicken, egg, and rice. The sauce that coats everything is generally both salty and sweet. It’s a real comfort food in Japan and is very popular.
The front of Torimkura 
The Oyako-Don
There wasn’t much of a decision on what to get here. They had a lot of options outside of Oyako-Don but this was definitely a restaurant known for its Oyako-Don, so I had to go with that!
The first thing that really jumps out once the dish is served is the bright orange egg yolk. How they serve this without breaking the yolk I have no idea.
Without a doubt the egg and chicken mixture is scrambled well and really is a nice mixture. It covers a warm bed of rice.
Breaking the egg yolk and mixing it into the rice, egg, and chicken, really added a rich and creamy element to the overall bowl. It adds a different flavor in addition to the mildly sweet and savory sauce that coats the egg, chicken, and rice.
The pieces of chicken were quite tender and flavorful. It was good. I only wish there had been more. I was certainly left craving more chicken.
Is It Worth A Visit?
Oyako-Don can be found throughout Tokyo. With Odaiba being a bit of a trek from Central Tokyo I wouldn’t make a trip specifically to Diver City to eat here. If you find yourself out in the Odaiba area sight seeing and needing a bite to eat, than sure, it’s worth a stop. But there will be a lot of other options to choose from as well. Overall it’s a solid bowl of Oyako-Don but isn’t something I’d go out of my way to get again.
-
Is The Street Food On Takeshita Street, Harujuku Worth Getting?
If you plan on visiting Harujuku you will no do doubt be visiting its most iconic street: Takeshita. This a 350-meter street that’s located near the JR Harujuku Station which is jam packed with all different types of shops. With this being Harujuku, there’s a ton of small clothing shops and boutiques lining this street.
Expect there to be crowds here. This is afterall one of the most popular streets in Harujuku. This street is also home to many of the popular street foods in the area. I got to Takeshita fairly late in the evening after a long day of touristing and eating but still wanted to sample a couple of the well-known street food places.
Undoubtedly, a visit to Harujuku will correlate with shopping and perhaps a visit to Meiji Jingu. Street food is not likely the main reason you’ve decided to visit, so is it worth getting the food in the area, specifically on Takeshita?
Long! Longer!! Longest!!!
Long! Longer!! Longest!!! (LLL) has a few flashy items on their menu including, rainbow cotton candy, cheese hot dog, and strawberry tanghulu. They may best be known for their Tornado Potato though. They vary in sizes, as you’d imagine based off the name of the place, from 35 cm (600 yen, $4.23 USD), 42 cm (700 yen, $4.93) and 52 cm (800 yen, $5.64).
There’s three different seasonings you can get with the Tornado Potato. I had a hard time translating what the three were but one was definitely butter. The other two seasonings, the best I could make out were chicken and beef kabob (?). I went with the long (35 cm/ 600 yen, $4.23 USD) and got the butter and chicken seasonings.
The Long Tornado Potato at Long! Longer!! Longest!! 
Plenty of seasoning on this tasty treat! This comes out piping hot and they really coat the potato well with seasoning. It definitely did taste buttery and savory with a hint of sweet. Even though this was the smallest size to get, it was still quite a lot of food!
If you’re a fan of these Tornado Potatoes it’s worth a try here since the seasonings here are certainly different than what you normally see.
Marion Crepes
Another food item that’s very popular on Takeshita Street is crepes. There’s three different places all within a close vicinity of one another so there’s plenty of choices to choose from. Marion Crepes may be the most famous and popular of them all.
Without a doubt they have a LOT of different selections to choose from here. I went with the more simple strawberry with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup (630 yen, $4.40 USD).
Despite all the fillings inside of it, the crepe was quite light and not very sweet at all. They do a good job of layering all the ice cream, whipped cream, straberries, and chocolate syrup so everything mixes reall well within the crepe. It’s definitely a tasty snack as you walk around Takeshita.
Final Opinion
Part of the fun of walking around on this famous street is grabbing some of the more iconic street foods you see people posting on Instagram. I grabbed a couple of food items here but there’s definitely a lot more to experience. The prices for the two items I got were both under $5 so they’re aren’t going to break the bank. It’s definitely worth grabbing some snacks while you’re here walking around and taking in all the sights that Takeshita Street in Harujuku have to offer. It’s all part of the experience!
