Whenever my friends visit Tokyo for the first time, I send them to Tonki, which serves one of my favorite tonkatsu (pork cutlets) in Tokyo. The popular dish consists of a pork cutlet breaded in Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crispy and golden brown. It may be old-fashioned, but Tonki is an institution in …
Each November, the Tori no Ichi Festival takes place at Hanazono Shrine, a Shinto shrine located not far from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, Japan. At Tori no Ichi festivals, held all over Japan, lucky charms or rakes known as Kumade are available for sale. The festival held at Hanazono Shrine is one the most important …
The first time I tasted a bowl of tsukemen was at Fuunji, a small ramen shop hidden on a quiet street near Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, Japan. Fuunji is considered by many, including me, to serve the best bowl of tsukemen in Tokyo. Every time I return to Tokyo, I stop by Fuunji first. Even …
Sushi Kyotatsu is my go-to spot for sushi every time I find myself on a layover at Terminal 1 of Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. Delicious and fresh sushi in the most unlikely of places: the airport. When I think of airport food, the last thing that comes to mind is sushi. But Sushi Kyotatsu is …
Harajuku Gyozaro, officially Harajuku Gyoza Lou, is an affordable dumpling restaurant in Tokyo, famous for its pan-fried and steamed gyoza. The small eatery in the busy Shibuya Ward off Omotesandō Street has perfected the art of Chinese-style dumplings, or gyoza. Harajuku is a lively neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward famous for its unique street fashion, …
When you dream of Tokyo and Japan, you dream of Shinjuku and its neon lights, department stores, bars, love hotels, shrines, and futuristic skyscrapers. During the day, Shinjuku is a great place to visit for its Shinto shrines, endless shopping, and art galleries. As the sun goes down, Shinjuku comes alive. The neon lights, the …