Big Neko

Western-influenced Japanese cuisine, known as yōshoku, is gaining popularity internationally as a new taste of Japan. Representative dishes include hamburger steak, omurice (omelet rice), and Napolitan spaghetti (a type of ketchup-based spaghetti popular in Japan). “Sudacho Shokudo Akihabara UDX,” located in Akihabara, is a long-established yoshoku restaurant founded in 1924. Here you can enjoy the dishes of this famous establishment…

Located within the atré Ueno shopping and dining mall directly connected to JR Ueno Station, “Tonkyu Ueno” (referred to hereafter as “Tonkyu”) is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy high-quality tonkatsu at reasonable prices. From the brand of pork to the condiments and seasonings, everything is infused with Tonkyu’s passion. Savor the umami of rare black pork tonkatsu At…

Hamburger steaks, sometimes also called hamburg steaks (and known as hambāgu in Japanese), have become one of Japan’s hottest dishes among international travelers. Tokyo boasts so many restaurants offering these succulent patties made from ground meat and delicious seasonings, it can be hard to decide on one! This article will serve as guide on five of the best restaurants to…

Located right next to Ueno Station in Tokyo, the Ueno Marui department store houses a number of enticing restaurants. One of them, “yusoshi chano-ma Ueno,” offers a delightful selection of sweets made with distinctly Japanese ingredients such as matcha and kinako (roasted soybean flour). These visually appealing desserts are so beautiful, you’ll find it hard to stop taking photos! Two…

Among the many areas in Tokyo, Ginza is particularly known for its concentration of high-end fashion brand stores. In Ginza, even the dining establishments exude sophistication and refinement. “Yakiniku Inoue Ginza” (hereafter referred to as “Yakiniku Inoue”) is a yakiniku (Japanese grilled meat cuisine) restaurant with a modern and impressive interior design. The restaurant offers carefully selected Kuroge wagyū (a…

Ochazuke has long been loved in Japan as somewhat of a fast food. It’s a simple and easy dish made by pouring tea or dashi broth over a bowl of white rice. However, a visit to “Ochazuke Onigiri Yamamotoyama” located in the EATo LUMINE complex inside JR Shinjuku Station is bound to change your image of the simple dish. While…

The gastropub culture born in the UK is something foreign to Japan. Located in Roppongi, “THE PUBLIC SIX” is a restaurant that blends the cultures of British pubs and Japanese cuisine together. The menu centers around classic pub dishes with a Japanese twist! Pork chops inspired by Japanese home cooking THE PUBLIC SIX was created with the concept of “what…

“NAGASAKI TORUKO RICE SHOKUDO” (hereafter referred to as “Nagasaki Toruko Rice Shokudo”) is a restaurant that prides itself on using ingredients from Nagasaki Prefecture. The restaurant’s signature dish is the Nagasaki-originated Turkish rice, which is also the namesake of the restaurant. “Toruko” is how “Turkey” or “Turkish” is referred to in Japanese. While it doesn’t have any particularly strong ties…

Izakaya, traditional Japanese pubs, are one of the country’s unique culinary cultures. One key feature that best symbolizes these establishments is the nomihōdai, or “all-you-can-drink” service. This service allows you to drink as much as you want from a selection of specified drinks for a fixed fee, a common offering at these pubs.. At “Yakitori Marukin Shinjuku Honten” (hereafter referred…

When visiting the highly popular sightseeing area of Hakone in Japan, a trip to Hakone Shrine is a must. The “Torii Gate of Peace” (heiwa no torii), which appears to float upon Lake Ashinoko, is a famous photo spot, with long lines of people waiting for a chance to take pictures. The Torii Gate of Peace Mountain deities enshrined at…

For lovers of super spicy ramen in Japan, “Kikanbō” is well-known hot spot. In 2022, Kikanbo branched out to open a curry specialty restaurant called “Karashibi Curry Kikanbō!” “鬼金棒カラシビカレーライス,” Karashibi Kikanbo Curry Rice 1,100 JPY (tax included) Much like the ramen shop, the flavor cherished at Karashibi Curry Kikanbo is the spiciness of chili peppers and the numbing sensation of…

Kōtoku-in, a temple in Kamakura, is widely renowned for its Great Buddha statue. The official name of Kamakura’s Great Buddha in Japanese is dōzō amida nyorai zazō, otherwise known as the Bronze Seated Amida-butsu (Amitabha Buddha). It is the only Buddha statue in the area designated as a National Treasure of Japan. The Great Buddha of Kamakura – the only…

In Japan, there are certain fruits that hold special value as presents as part of the country’s strong gift-giving culture. Unlike fruits commonly used as ingredients in everyday cooking, those chosen as presents are top-quality in taste, appearance, and everything else. “Sembikiya-Sohonten,” founded in 1834, offers a menu that changes one’s image of fruits and shows why they can be…

Meiji Jingu, a shrine located near Harajuku and Shibuya in Tokyo, is known for having the highest number of New Year’s visitors in Japan. The first visit of the year to a shrine or temple in Japan is a custom known as hatsumōde, where many pray and make wishes for the upcoming year. The shrine’s vast grounds are so green…

Imado Shrine (Imado Jinja in Japanese) enshrines Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, the deities of marriage. The shrine is said to provide blessings for finding a good relationship match and marital harmony. Imado Shrine is also famous for its maneki-neko (beckoning cat) motifs. These feline figures and statues are thought to summon good fortune. So, from the shrine’s sacred items (lucky charms,…