Japan-Guides

Uji｜Famous for its matcha tea, this little treasure town is very healing!

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

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A World Heritage Site, famous for its matcha tea, and the setting of the world's first full-length novel, The Tale of Genji, this little treasure of Japan has so many titles. it is Uji.

Uji is less than 20 kilometers from Kyoto and 50 kilometers from Osaka, and is easily accessible by JR. I left Kyoto early in the morning and arrived in Uji at 8am. I spent the whole day in Uji and loved this healing city so much. There is so much more than just matcha tea and so many interesting things to explore.

🤗 A matcha tea lover's favorite

The last thing you need on the streets of Uji is a tea store, and as one of the most famous teas in Japan, Uji's tea is known all over the world. Matcha lovers can rest assured that Uji's matcha drinks and desserts won't step on any toes when blindly selected.

After my visit to the Equalizer, I arrived at Nakamura Fujiyoshi (Equalizer), a very popular matcha dessert store in Uji, at 10am. This century-old store is located on the edge of the Uji River and has large floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Uji River, so you can eat your dessert while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Uji.

The matcha barfi that almost everyone orders is high in value and quite tasty. Matcha cream, white jade, basmati rice, matcha custard, red beans, chestnuts, and various ingredients are paired together for a richly layered texture.

Eating a beautiful dessert, looking out the window at the high sky and the old townhouse smelling quaint in the warm sunshine, I felt healed all of a sudden.

After walking across the Uji Bridge, I tried a second matcha store, Tomonen Tea Shop. The store was founded in 1160 and has a history of 800 years! The tea store building itself is a cultural asset of Kyoto, built in the Edo period, more than 300 years ago. Famous Japanese historical figures such as Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu have all visited the store.

When you walk into this small tea store, you can feel the history, the tables and chairs are very old. Matcha soba noodles, matcha red bean soup, and matcha ice cream are sold here, and I bought a matcha and sencha double-flavored cone for more than 300 yen, which was refreshing and had a very pure matcha flavor.

Fukujuen Uji Tea Workshop was built in 1790 and is located across the street from the Equalizer, along the Uji River. Here you can experience making handmade matcha (reservation required). Since I didn't have a reservation, I couldn't participate in the making experience, so I ordered some matcha desserts on the second floor and sat down to relax. There weren't many tourists here, and it was a pleasure to drink tea and eat dessert in peace facing the silent Uji River.

Ito Kyuemon, an old matcha store with over 300 years of history, was the 4th matcha store I hit. I purchased many matcha souvenirs here before I left Uji.

🤗 Traces of The Tale of Genji

As a huge fan of The Tale of Genji and the NHK Okaa drama To Kou no Kune, I had to go to Uji. The last ten posts of The Tale of Genji take place in Uji. The Uji mountain village is home to two beautiful people, the eldest and youngest daughters, and their story, along with their sister Ukiyo, with Kaoru-kun and Kashibei Ching-miya, is the best part of The Tale of Genji.

Uji is full of traces of The Tale of Genji. From the Equalizer, it is a few minutes walk to the bridge of Uji Bridge, where there is a statue of Shikibu. Purple Shikibu is the author of The Tale of Genji, a female writer who tells the love story of the Kougen clan and its many women during the Heian period in delicate, beautiful language. What an elegant woman was the writer who could write such a beautiful novel! The Tale of Genji had a notable impact on subsequent Japanese literature, and Yasunari Kawabata credits The Tale of Genji as a major influence.

On the other side of the Equalization Garden, there is a statue of “Uji Jubilee” and a scene of Kaoru-kun talking with the eldest daughter of the family.

The Tale of Genji Museum, themed on the Tale of Genji, exhibits Japanese costumes, items from the Heian period, and more. Even if you don't know anything about The Tale of Genji or Japanese, you'll have no problem going to the museum, as there is an English audio guide throughout.

There were two original short films that were very good, shown every half hour, and the English audio guide was synchronized and translated during the screenings.

The museum is simply beautiful during the maple season! The entrance to the museum is all glass, you can see a fiery red color from far away, behind the glass door is a large maple leaf, like a painting set in a glass frame, very beautiful.

I spent 3 hours at the museum, and the Tale of Genji museum is visited by mostly middle-aged and elderly Japanese.

🤗 Japan's National Treasures and Historic Buildings

The most famous World Heritage Site in Uji is the Equalization Institute, which was my first stop after arriving in Uji. after the doors opened at 8:30, I entered the Equalization Institute as the first wave.

The Equalizer is also associated with The Tale of Genji. The prototype of the hero of The Tale of Genji, the historical Fujiwara Michinaga, had a villa in Uji that was the Equalizer, and Fujiwara Michinaga's son, Fujiwara Yoritomo, transformed the villa into the Equalizer.

The centerpiece of the Equality House, Phoenix Hall, is a national treasure of Japan. Located in the center of a pond, Phoenix Hall, also known as Amidado Hall, is one of the few remaining Heian-era buildings in Japan. It is one of the few remaining buildings in Japan from the Heian Period. Heiken is a representative of Japan's “Jodo gardens” and is depicted on the back of the Japanese 10-yen coin.

When viewed from the front, the Phoenix Hall has the appearance of a large bird flying with its wings up. Inside the Phoenix Hall is enshrined the seated statue of Amida Nyorai, which is classified as a national treasure of Japan, along with the Buddhist temple canopy, the fifty-two cloud-supporting bodhisattvas, and the pair of bronze cast phoenixes on the roof ridge of the hall.

Some of these national treasure artifacts are housed in the Hoshokan at the Equality Institute, not the Phoenix Hall, so the Hoshokan is well worth a visit. When I was there, there was an exhibition “Jodo and the Tale of Genji” in the Hoshokan, but unfortunately, no photos were allowed in the Hoshokan, so I don't have any photos here.

On the other side of the Equalizer is Uji Shrine and Ujigami Shrine. Ujigami Shrine is very old, and its main shrine was built in the Heian Period and is listed as a World Heritage Site.

Two shrines are dedicated to the rabbit god, and the rabbit-themed Mikado and Ema are adorable.

Not far from the two shrines is an ancient temple, Koshoji. During the maple season, the Kotsuzaka Sindo Road to Koshoji Temple is lined with maple trees that look like fire, creating a beautiful tunnel of red leaves.

This temple has a Tang Dynasty style and the Ying Zhang corridor and blood patio inside the temple are the attractions. There are few tourists coming here and you can enjoy the purity alone.

🤗 Ujikawanabe dazed

The Uji River is a river that runs through the center of Uji and bisects the city. On both sides of the river are numerous historical sites and century-old stores.

The scenery of the Uji River is not amazing, but it is full of the beauty of simplicity and tranquility, which cannot be shown in photos or videos, but can only be felt by being there.

Standing on the old Uji Bridge, which was built in 646, you can watch the water of the Uji River flowing quietly, and in the distance is a blue and pure sky with white clouds hanging low. Did that beautiful woman's pontoon boat from a thousand years ago also wander along the shore?

📎 Strategy

🌆 Equalization Courtyard

Open from 8:30 to 17:30, admission to the garden is 700 yen (including the Hoshokan), and admission to the Phoenix Hall (interior) is 300 yen (20-minute groups of 50 visitors each).

🏠The Tale of Genji Museum

Open from 9:00 to 17:00, closed on Mondays. Reservations are not required. There are self-service ticket machines with language options at the entrance to the museum, and admission is 600 yen. There is a free English audio guide for rent at the entrance, which will automatically synchronize the translation during the screening of short films (remember to wear headphones). The museum is divided into Heiankan, Ujikan, Monogatari Museum, and Kenga Special Exhibition, all of which can be photographed except for the Kenga Exhibition, which cannot be photographed.

Uji Shrine and Ujigami Shrine

The two shrines are very close to each other, open 24 hours a day, and free to visit.

🔔Kojyoji Temple

Open from 9:00 to 17:00, a visit to the temple's garden is free, and worship inside the hall is 300 yen. Koshoji Temple is a famous maple viewing spot in Uji.

Paradise Lost Terminal——旧軽井沢ふふ - 静養の森

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

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In Paradise Lost, Hisagi and Rinko, after a thunderous affair, drink poisoned wine in a forested villa in Karuizawa and go to sleep together, creating a shocking ending that has made the couple and the novel a household name. While many readers in China scoffed at the book's “twisted values,” I planted the seed in my heart to visit Karuizawa, and this year I was able to do so.

Karuizawa is located on a plateau on the border of Nagano and Gunma Prefectures, about 1,000 meters above sea level, with temperatures significantly lower than those of Tokyo all year round, and is known as Tokyo's backyard, a summer resort with churches, villas, and high-class Western-style restaurants, and where John Lennon and Yukio Mishima were once regulars. Karuizawa has no spectacular sights, but it is the perfect place to rest and recuperate.

Another reason why Karuizawa has become a favorite is the newly opened Fufu (or Fufu, as it's also known) this year. Karuizawa has opened two Fufu's this year, Sunshine Winds and Shizen Mori, the former focusing on a bright and airy style while the latter has a darker tone, which is more to my liking.

The communal area is small, with a lobby and bar in one, connected to a small enclosed courtyard, in typical Fufu refined and compact style. On the second floor is the restaurant, in addition to no other public facilities (each room has a private soup, no public bath), the room is only 20. The check-in attendant was a Taiwanese lady, and it was very interesting to hear the familiar delicate Taiwanese accent.

Through the rain-slicked courtyard to the reserved Premium Suite, home for the next two days.

Everything without words. Sit on the edge of your bed and look at the rainy forest to the sound of jazz, or strip down and forget about the day's troubles in a piping hot spa. That's it.

It's dinner time, and the duck-filled meals that Fufu is known for are so good you'll be eating them off the walls. The flavors are so good that you'll feel like you're getting your money's worth out of the exorbitant room rate. The same goes for breakfast, where the already hearty and complex breakfast of the Japanese people is transformed into a feast by Fufu, making you want to cancel your lunch reservation right away.

After breakfast, turn right out of the hotel and walk through a forested villa area to Karuizawa's famous Unba Pond, where you can take a stroll around the lake. If you visit in late autumn, you can see the reflection of the colorful red leaves.

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Karuizawa is so beautiful that Fufu is only a small part of it, even if it's good.

Coffee OR Art? Scattered throughout Japan are pop-up coffees that line up in front of stores!

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

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Wherever you walk.

There's always a local specialty cafe that

to wake up the taste buds and make the admiration happen.

I've gotten used to finding “good” cafes

I've gotten used to finding “good” cafes scattered all over Japan during my travels.

This is the season to travel.

I think it's a good idea to order a cup of coffee and spend the afternoon together.

It's also a good choice.

🤗 CAVE CAFE

Cave Café in a Primitive Forest

The Gangala Valley, where the café is located, is a subtropical forest that is tens of thousands of years old, and it's fun to explore the area on foot!

Okinawa's CAVE CAFE is located at the entrance to the Gangala Valley, a canyon formed by the collapse of stalactite caves that existed hundreds of thousands of years ago. Following a professional guide through the primeval forest and vast vegetation, listening to the history of the Minato Kawai people, who lived about 7 million years ago, etc., before you know it, you will arrive at the surprising Cave Cafe.

The stalactites hanging down from the ceiling exude a mysterious sense of nature's fantasy, and with the natural cool air flowing in the pristine environment, ordering a cup of original coffee made from Okinawa's local coffee beans and the underground water of the Tamasen-do cave opens up a warm and heartfelt good time. The café is also a good choice for parties, and if you have a party in such a special place, you are sure to remember it for the rest of your life!

CAVE CAFE

202 Maekawa, Tamagusuku-aza, Minami City, Okinawa Prefecture

+81-98-948-4192

10:00～18:00

www.gangala.com/cave-cafe/

🤗 OHacorte

Although the friction between Okinawan islanders and the U.S. military never seems to have subsided, objectively speaking, the long-term integration of foreign cultures has indeed brought a richer content to Okinawa as a tourist city. Urasoe City, south of Naha, is no exception. The Minatogawa Foreigners' Residence here, which was originally a bungalow for the families of Okinawa's U.S. military, was left with these distinctive white single-family bungalows after these “outsiders” moved out one by one. This kind of house, which is so cute and dorky, has attracted many people with dreams and has gradually developed into a neighborhood of its own.

Many of these houses have been transformed into grocery stores, tea stores, coffee shops, and second-hand clothing stores. By adding ingenuity to the otherwise ordinary white buildings, the old houses have been given a new lease of life.

This fruit tart café, oHacorte, is the 18th of its kind, and while it has retained its original house number, the entire courtyard is uniquely Japanese and refreshing. It is a famous cafe in Okinawa, which selects only the best seasonal fruits of the day, and uses the palate to experience the change of seasons, so that you can get the best gift of nature by adapting to the season.

When it comes to oHacorte's deliciousness, there is also a legend about 7 centimeters. It turns out that all the fruit tarts here are 7cm in diameter, not just for the sake of being cute and adorable, but also for the balance of taste and texture. After countless trials, the store found this size to be the most delicious.

The whole cafe is decorated in a foreign style, especially the small courtyard mixed with Japanese and French styles, which makes girls fall in love with it. The interior of the store is preserved as it was when Americans lived there, which is quite harmonious with the white French exterior, and the exotic wall decorations and restrooms are intriguing.

oHacorte

2-17-1 #18, Minatogawa, Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture

+81-98-875-2129

11:30～19:00

www.ohacorte.com

🤗 C h a r i t e

Seasonal menus are developed by the curator and the chef with reference to certain works of art, in an effort to continue the delicious journey through the art classics.

When in Oita, you can't miss the Oita Prefectural Museum of Art, which is located in the center of the city. The exterior of the library uses large floor-to-ceiling glass doors, which can be freely adjusted to open up the interior and let in enough light.

Both the exterior and interior decorations are closely related to the history and culture of Oita Prefecture, and the architectural design has won the Pritzker Prize, commonly known as the Nobel Prize in architecture. On the first floor of the library, there is an open area for the exhibition and sale of art derivatives and a café, where you can see the interesting works of art inside; on the second floor, there is a reading area in the cafeteria and a children's area; on the third floor, the undulating structure of the roof hints at the high level of skill in local bamboo craftsmanship, and the sunshine and rainfall pouring down from the original atrium that is intentionally hollowed out echoes with the works of art.

Café Charite, located on the 2nd floor of the gallery, is a place where you can enjoy cherry black tea with pink tea broth, accompanied by handmade multi-tiered gradient cakes to satisfy the visual taste and olfactory experience.

cafe Charite

Oita Prefectural Museum of Art OPAM 2f, 2-1 Shoumachi, Oita City, Oita Prefecture

+81-97-578-7788

11:00～17:00

www.opam.jp/page/shop.html

🤗 The theo

Next door to the café is “Artegio”, a music-themed art gallery whose name is a combination of the Italian words arte (fine art), gio (day) and giocco (joy). The most impressive feature of the museum is the sheet music printed on hundreds of transparent plastic plates, which appear differently when viewed from different angles.

The European-style caricatures drawn with a few strokes on the pure white walls are simple and dynamic, and the original wooden tables and chairs blend perfectly into the Japanese garden outside the window. The cafe, created by Simplicity, a renowned Tokyo-based design firm, seems to be an extension of the “Echo” sheet music of the famous music museum “Konjiki-no-Mori” next to it, and everywhere you look, the beauty of ethereal relaxation unfolds.

There is also a counter outside the cafe that specializes in selling chocolate, so it is clear that the chocolate here is known far and wide. The perfect blend of tea and yuzu truffles in the chocolate is a flavor unique to Oita, and goes perfectly with the slightly bitter coffee. The yellow rice in a mortar and pestle covered with the minced meat and cartilage of a Kandyan chicken, this chicken jerky curry and rice, is a creative dish that can only be savored here.

the theo

Oita Prefecture, Yufuin Onsen Kawakami 1272-175 artegio

+81-977-28-8686

10:00～17:00

www.artegio.com

🤗 Mori no Tokei

For those who are familiar with Japanese dramas or who like Masami Nagasawa, this cafe hidden deep in the jungle is the prototype of the cafe that Takuro's father opens in his wife's hometown of Furano in the Japanese drama Tender Moments in memory of his late wife.

When you enter the cafe, the smell of logs is blended with the strong flavor of coffee, and the air is filled with a warm and romantic atmosphere. At the entrance, there are many pamphlets with memories, which have been read by countless people over the years, recording every aspect of the cafe. Inside the store, an old grandpa is carefully arranging the coffee, and time seems to stand still with the sound of the coffee beans being plucked and shaken. The sunlight shines through the crystal clear floor-to-ceiling glass, illuminating the interior of the café, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature among the lush greenery.

Guests can grind their own coffee beans at the bar and hear the sound of the beans grinding together, as if telling the story of time.

Mori no Toki

Adjacent to the New Furano Prince Hotel, Nakago, Furano City, Hokkaido.

+81-167-22-1111

12:00～20:45

www.princehotels.co.jp / furano - area /summer/morinotokei/

🤗 MORIHICO

Despite its reputation and proximity to the subway, it's a well-hidden cafe that you have to turn around after leaving the subway station to get to.

There are four branches of Morihiko Café in Sapporo, all with different styles, so if you have time, you might want to visit more than one, but if you can only pick one, go to the Kumin family's main branch.

Back in 1996, Morihiko's coffee story began in this small vintage wooden house. Morihiko has always insisted on selecting the best coffee beans and roasting them in-house, and the stacked wooden facade coincides with the word “Mori”, which is a beautiful thing that most people don't need to express in words, as long as they are immersed in the place, they will understand it.

Morihiko's philosophy is to use the simplest substances for the best experience. If you come here, please let the thoughts of coffee ferment in this space that is fused with coffee.

Morihiko

2-18, 26-chome, Minami-2-jo-nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido

+81-11-622-8880

10:00～21:30(L.O 20:30)

www.morihiko-coffee.com

🤗 MATSU KAZE

Located in Niji-shi, a city with a rich onsen culture, “Daimaru Bessho” has an impressive sense of history. The huge log-colored wooden pillars, the original boulders, and the old trees all show the care and age of the place, and the items used by the Emperor Showa, who stayed here in 1949, are still intact today.

While the hot spring water, which has been gushing out for thousands of years, is undoubtedly attractive, the café in the lobby of the Daimaru Bessho offers another special experience, with its sophisticated coffee equipment and unexpectedly delicious cake sets, giving visitors to the onsen a taste of something other than hot springs.

Daimaru Bessho Lounge Matsukaze

1-20-1 Yu-machi, Chikushino-shi, Fukuoka

+81-92-924-3939

daimarubesso.com

🤗 STARBUCKS

Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the Japanese god of learning, and this ancient shrine with a history of more than 1,000 years attracts nearly two million worshippers from all over Japan every year on New Year's Day alone. In such a neighborhood, where history and tradition meet, Starbucks collaborated with renowned architect Kengo Kuma on a new challenge.

2,000 wooden bars ranging from 1.3 to 4 meters long were intertwined and interlaced throughout the interior space, and for the first time, a difficult problem of four wooden bars intersecting at one point was attempted to be solved. The warmth of the wooden space keeps worshippers coming and going, and the sunlight spreads through the cracks of the intertwined wooden bars to the corners of the store, where you can enjoy a moment of relaxation wrapped up in the aroma of rich coffee - this is Kuma's Starbucks.

Starbucks Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando Store

3-2-43, Dazaifu, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

+81-92-919-5690

8:00～20:00

http://www.starbucks.co.jp/store/search/detail.php?id=1058

🤗 KAYABA

A flavor that has lasted 70 years since the Meiji era.

The area where Kayaba is located is filled with the atmosphere of an architectural merchant of the late Meiji period, including an Edo colorful paper store, a vintage art store, a famous sushi restaurant in Hoshi Eel, a dyeing store, and a konjac store. After the death of the last owner, the NPO Historical Urban Research Association, art galleries, and local people have revived this small but cozy cafe. The first customer on this day was an elderly man from the neighborhood, who came in as if he were back home: “One of the usual!” The second group were nearby college girls, “This is the place, I hear the sandwiches are superb!” ...…

Although remodeled, the beams, the exterior, the bleachers, the chairs, and the eating utensils have all survived, with the same regulars and the same flavors.

KAYABA Coffee

6-1-29 Tanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo

+81-3-3823-3545

8:00～23:00 (Mon.-Sat.) 8:00～18:00 (Sun.)

kayaba-coffee.com

Fairy tales come to life! Japan Hello kitty Theme Tour

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

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If there's one place in the world Can perfectly intertwine fairy tale and reality It must be a corner filled with Hello Kitty elements. Today, we Today, we have organized 7 unique Hello Kitty places to visit. Here, not only can you see Hello Kitty's cute and classic elements everywhere There are also a variety of activities for the whole family. Bookmark it now!

🤗 HELLO KITTY SHINKANSEN

The whole train from the front to the rear is surrounded by Hello Kitty elements. As if entering a moving pink fairy tale world

Hello Kitty is everywhere in the train. From the patterns on the seat backs to the ceiling decorations Every detail makes you fall in love Whether you are a big friend or a child This place can satisfy your heart of girls and children.

Train: Kodama824\849

🤗 HELLO KITTY 50th Anniversary Exhibition

Hello Kitty is everywhere in the exhibition! This exhibition has been specially designed to follow the time line from 1975 to the present. from 1975 to the present day. You can clearly see the journey of Hello Kitty from the very beginning of its existence from its humble beginnings to its current status as a household name around the world.

Casinos Exhibition Information

Exhibition: Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Exhibition

Exhibition Date：2024/11/1-2025/2/24

Exhibition hours：9:30-17:00

Address：13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo

🤗 Sanrio Rainbow Land Tokyo

Sanrio Rainbow Land in Tokyo! It's like a real-life fairy tale. It's so cute and dreamy! Hello Kitty, Melody, Pudding Dog, etc. are everywhere. These super cute cartoon star elements and scenes

In addition to a variety of exciting themes in the park there is also a fairytale-like dream castle Not only can you interact with Hello Kitty, Melody and other cartoon stars You can also see the wonderful opera, parade and musicals. Recently, during the Christmas season, there will be a Christmas-themed event with a great sense of atmosphere. In January, there will also be a super cute Melody Kurumi themed event. It's a great place to bring your kids!

Park Information

Park：Tokyo Sanrio Rainbow Land

Opening hours: 9:00-17:00

Address：1-31 Ochiai, Tama City, Tokyo

🤗 Melody 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Coffee Tour

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the birth of the super cute Melody Sanrio Japan and a number of cafe stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, etc. A number of cafe stores in Tokyo and Osaka, Aichi. The entire cafe will be decorated in a healing pink color. The entire space will be decorated in a super healing pink color and covered with cute figures of Melody, making it a perfect place to visit.

Drinks and desserts are inspired by Melody! It's so delicate that you can't even bear to eat, just looking at it makes your heart melt! Drinking a cup of coffee here will make you feel happy!

Melody 50th Anniversary Limited Coffee Tour--Tokyo Store Information

Store：BOX Cafe&space Q Plaza Harajuku Store

Event date：2024/12/12/-2025/1/26

Address：Harajuku Q Plaza 3F, 6-28-6 Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Melody 50th Anniversary Limited Coffee Tour--Osaka Store Information

Store：BOX café &space KITTE Osaka No.2 store

Event date：2024/9/13~2024/10/20

Address：6F KITTE Osaka 3-2-2 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka

Melody 50th Anniversary Limited Coffee Tour--Aichi Store Information

Store：BOX café &space Nagoya LACHIC 1 store

Event date：2024/9/13~2024/10/20

Address：Basement 1F, LACHIC, 3-6-1 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi, Japan

🤗 SANRIO GIFT GATE

The store's building is a super cute Hello Kitty holding an apple. It looks like it came out of a fairy tale. Before you even enter the store, you're already screaming with cuteness!

The store offers a wide range of limited edition items featuring popular cartoon characters. From common dolls and stationery to unique Japanese limited edition items. Each item is so cute that you'll want to take it home! The 2nd floor is decorated with the concept of “Matsuri”. The 2nd floor is filled with the concept of “Matsuri” and is full of Japanese atmosphere.

Name:Sanrio Gifts Asakusa Store Opening hours: 9:00-19:00 Address: 1-17-5 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo

🤗 KEIO PLAZA HOTEL HACHIOJI

The hotel has launched special rooms themed on Kurumi & Melody and Hello Kitt. Themed rooms are filled with them! Every detail of the room is exquisite This hotel is really going to get me!

In addition to the rooms, the hotel has a special photo area And Sanrio-themed afternoon tea Ideal for families Adults can rest and relax in the cozy rooms Children can also have fun in the Sanrio-themed environment.

Hotel: Hachioji Keio Plaza Hotel Address: 14-1 Asahi-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo

🤗 SANRIO CHARACTERS GARDEN CAFE

The entire space is decorated with elements of Sanrio cartoon stars. Inside the store, such as Hello Kitty, Melody, Pudding Dog Kurumi and so on These adorable dolls are dotted around the corner

The dessert series is as exquisite as a work of art. Each one of them has the elements of Sanrio characters. It's a real treat for both the palate and the eyes!

Paradise Information：Sanrio characters Garden cafe Opening hours: 11:00-19:30 Address: 1F Pasela Resorts Ueno Koen-mae Store, 2-14-30 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Slow Kyoto: Birds, Tofu, Yoga

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

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If you look at it from a car, everything in Kyoto is static. However, if you stop and linger, you will be able to perceive the rhythm of the flow. If you stop, you can hear the water gurgling, see the trees, and a bird gathering its breath on the water. Food portions are small and light, suitable for small eaters; roads, rooms, furniture, cars, appliances, all small, just right, suitable for small people; days are like carriages, walking evenly on their own track, not too slow, not scrambling, suitable for people who hate competition.

After checking the Internet for information, I realized that this little bird railing was made by Sunpole, a Japanese flagpole production company, and is available throughout Japan, called “ピコリーノ (Italian for little things)”. In addition to blocking cars from being able to enter, it was originally designed to prevent children from sitting on the railing and falling off. Near Enoshima Station in Kanagawa Prefecture, there was once a grandmother who was afraid that the birds on the railings would get cold and knitted clothes for them for 22 years in a row.

The Japanese seem to have a special fondness for birds.

This may be related to the worship of birds since ancient times. The crow has always been a lucky bird in Japan, and it often appears in fables with a cute face. According to the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Events) and the Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan), Emperor Jimmu was guided out of a difficult situation by a three-legged crow on his way to conquer Nara in the east. As a result, the crow became the supreme god bird in the minds of the people. In temples and shrines, crows are everywhere and are not afraid of people.

Torii, the symbol of Japanese shrines, is the gateway to the divine realm in every shrine. According to legend, Amaterasu Omikami (the sun god) hid in a cave for some reason, and the earth was deprived of light as a result. In order to draw her out, a high wooden frame was built and all the roosters were allowed to stand on it and crow, thus giving the frame the name “torii”.

Not to mention, there are various bird-loving associations in Japan. I've written about Felissimo, a Japanese moe production company, and they have a department called “Bird Department” that develops bird peripheral products.

There are also bird sounds that can be heard everywhere. For example, many of the announcements at subway stations and traffic light announcements use bird sounds.

🤗 livehouse 磔磔

The livehouse I stumbled into in Kyoto was also related to the sound of birds. It was located near Shijo in Kyoto, and its name was “jerki jerki (pronounced the same as tetsu)”, which means the sound of a bird's call and corresponds to the English word takutaku, and it was hidden in a small road near the corner. When I passed by that day, I saw a wooden house deep in the parking lot, the door was closed, but there were several people gathered in a crowd and it was very lively.

I asked, what's happening here? A young girl enthusiastically came over to talk to me, but she didn't speak much English, so she danced around and talked for a long time. It was only then that I understood that this was a livehouse, but it was booked for the night. Check Facebook for information on their shows, and you can walk-in without a reservation for a 2,000 yen ticket plus 600 yen for a drink.

The day before we left, we made an impromptu decision to go to a show and open a blind box. The show was two hours long, with two bands, one on top and one on the bottom. The first band was pop and the second was rock, and they were said to be local Kyoto bands that I hadn't even heard of, but both bands were very professional and committed to their live performances. Many of the audience members looked like regulars, coming in their work clothes right after work, while others were sitting around a table with their friends. There was seating available and a no-premium meal was offered.

The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of tearing off the limbs of the limbs, and the walls of the house are covered with huge posters of musicians such as Los Lobos, Screaming Jay Hawkins, The Staples Singers, and John Lee Hooker. the original building was once a factory for storing liquor, and is therefore a wooden structure. in 1974, it was converted from a tea store into a bar. In 1974, it was converted from a teashop into a bar that also hosted bands. Hiromu Mizushima, then 23 years old, became the manager, and now, at the age of 72, has been succeeded by his son Hiroshi Mizushima, 43, as the second-generation manager.

Starting from 1979's, jerki jerki initially gathered young people who liked music. Later, the blues boom of the 70s, the punk new wave of the 80s, and the band boom of the 90s took place here. Although the maximum capacity of this venue is 300 people, since the 2000s, many big bands have chosen this venue for their tours in Kyoto. In the last decade or so, Harumi Hosono, Yukihiro Takahashi and Jun Togawa have all played here. Chance encounters seem to be more pleasurable. I am very close to the stage and occasionally meet the musicians' eyes. The music culture in Japan is obviously more civilian than at home. For musicians, there are more opportunities for live performances; for music lovers, there are more opportunities to enjoy live music.

After the show, the musicians and crew sat down to eat and chat. Since I ran out of cash, I went to a convenience store to get money and bought their 50th anniversary T-shirt as a souvenir. The podcast “World in a Day” has talked about the importance that the Japanese place on spoken word culture. I think this might also explain why they like music, birdsong, and the sound of water (like the sound of lock-higi fishing from the eaves of a house). It's not surprising that they like birds that are marked by their sound.

🤗 Slow down and eat a piece of tofu

The Japanese are notorious for their love of tofu.

Yasujiro Ozu has a saying: I am a tofu seller, so I only make tofu (僕はトウフ屋だからトウフしか作らない). This sentence can become his famous words, but also because tofu in the hearts of the overall Japanese have a distinct image: light and simple, but healthy and nutritious; the original flavor, low-key and unobtrusive, but richly layered, varied; the production process, slowly, but speaks of the care of the Japanese craftsmen.

The richness in simplicity, this is the Japanese tofu gives me the impression.

When I was in Kyoto, I made it a point to visit the tofu restaurant in front of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, right next to the bus stop. I also went to the January Kitano Tenmangu Shrine market that day, and ended up just in time for the tofu restaurant to close, but luckily the retail stall selling tofu was still open.

I tried the desserts such as soymilk, tofu pudding, and tofu yogurt separately, and the flavor and texture were truly unlike anything I've ever tasted before. Apparently, these are modern product innovations made on traditional tofu, which are easy to carry around, and spices such as brown sugar and honey are added to enrich the flavor. Tofu yogurt is different from yogurt made from milk, with a denser texture, a spoonful scooped up to be shredded like cheese, and a refreshingly acidic flavor with the aroma of plant protein.

The more traditional tofu restaurants serve courtly dishes. When I came out of Nanzenji Temple, I was tired and hungry and couldn't find public transportation, so I went to a tofu restaurant down the road and sat down. The set menus here start at 3,000 to 4,000 yen a piece, which isn't a bad price, but it's very generous. Various types of plates and bowls were filled with various forms of tofu, and I ate it in one gulp, not knowing what it was, but just thinking it was delicious.

It's amazing that they can make so many fancy foods with just one ingredient, soybeans. According to statistics from the Japan Soybean Association, in 2018, Japanese people consumed about 61.4 grams of soybean products on average per day. In comparison, according to the Dietary Nutrition Report for Residents of Selected Provinces and Cities released in May 2020, the average daily intake per capita in Zhejiang Province, which is the “favorite place to eat tofu,” was just 19 grams. Historically, tofu was first introduced to Japan from China. In the beginning, tofu was the food of monks in monasteries, so in the Edo period, tofu was especially famous around the temples in Kyoto. It was only later that tofu spread to neighborhoods and more popular areas. I found the names of the various types of tofu I ate in “Tofu Hundred Treasures,” which was published in the Edo period (and reprinted in an organized manner by later generations). For example, tamagoyaki is tofu skewered on bamboo sticks and simply grilled with a smear of miso or soy sauce.

According to “The Heart of Wagashi” written by Yoshihiro Murata, the god of Japanese kaiseki cuisine, Japan is blessed with an abundance of soft water from many rivers rarely found in the world, and “water” has become the foundation of Japanese cuisine. In Shinto, water is a symbol of purity. Soft water is the best way to make high-quality tofu.

🤗 Pause and stretch

When I was in Tokyo, the itinerary was always easily packed and the amount of information came crashing down on me at all times. In Kyoto, on the other hand, time slowed down and I decided not to go to the spots that social media told me to hit up. The girls here are also different from those in Tokyo, with more veiled faces and fewer hidden glasses.

I decided to try Mysore Kyoto, a yoga studio mentioned in Mango's “ Mysore Kyoto Soup Tour”, because I had to wake up early for the morning class, and considering my physical condition and sleep, I chose to drop in at 11 a.m., with no reservation required.

Mysore Kyoto is in a neighborhood near Nijo, Kyoto, across the street from a children's playground. The yoga studio is on the second floor of a detached house, with no mirrors, tatami mats, and a corridor between two large yoga classes connected by a small patio-like courtyard. So in the classroom, one could see the sky. That morning, there were only three students in the large yoga classroom, and besides me, two other middle-aged local ladies rustled around and talked to the teacher, who seemed to have been practicing here for a long time.

Yoga classes are said to be one of the few occasions where you can directly see the curves of a Japanese woman's body. Traditionally, Japanese women always used to hide their bodies with clothing. However, I also think that Japan is very suitable for practicing yoga because most of the rooms require shoes to be taken off, and people are also used to sitting on the floor with their bodies connected to the ground. On the floor, I always unconsciously stretch my body and release my feet. Sit quietly and stay with your body for a while. The yoga teacher is gentle and leads slowly with Japanese commands. Doesn't give me more attention because I'm a foreigner.

Halfway through practice, it rained. The rain fell on the rocks, leaves, and pool in the small yard. Listening to the sound of the rain made my heart feel quiet. We recommend two porcelain stores near Mysore Kyoto, Sake and Utsuwaya Saisai. After yoga, you can also take time to visit the nearby Nijo-koya coffee shop. Tucked away in an alleyway, it's a small place to sit, but the feeling of space is such that you can't help but relax. Although the walls and windows show signs of age, the utensils and bar are neatly organized.

The owner is the only person in the store, and if there are many people coming, they will be hand-powered one by one, in order of priority. He does not talk to customers, just quietly doing things, grinding beans, brewing. We don't say a word. Patiently waiting for the arrival of a cup of coffee.

💡

As Shu Guozhi wrote, “As a layman in Kyoto, I can't bear not to walk. If I didn't walk, I wouldn't be able to see too many beautiful sights. As a layman in Kyoto, I need to walk slowly and stay long.

The rice tension is full! 12 must-eat omelettes in Tokyo!

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

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Tokyo Ueno, Harajuku, Ginza and other major stations next to the almost all have omelet rice store, this recommended ins, tabelog repeatedly named 12 must-visit stores, including the old tea store Coffee Seibu, the new creative store egg and private, combined with the battered hamburger steak Mabu Matsuken, and so on, the must-spot flavor and price is also once a collation for you!

🤗 01 銀座｜喫茶You

Omelet Rice & Omelet Sandwiches are a must!

喫茶You's omelet rice is a work of art in appearance alone, with a mouth-watering golden-colored egg skin that is so smooth it reflects the light. The texture of the omelette itself is thick and substantial, with a rich buttery aroma, and is paired with fried rice in a tomato sauce at the bottom of the plate to create layers of flavor.

In addition to omelet rice, 喫茶You another star meal is sandwiches with soft omelet eggs (オムレツサンドイッチ), plus a cup of colorful floating soda is a classic Japanese eating tea set meal.

Address：Tokyo Chuo-ku Ginza 4-13-17 Takano Building 1F Office hours：11:00 - 16:30 Price：￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 02 銀座｜煉瓦亭

Genjo Omurice with Eggshell and Rice Scrambled Together

The signature omelette at Lian Wa Ting is called Genjo Omurice on the menu, which is different from what we know as “omelette with rice”, but is closer to a dish where the egg, rice and toppings are scrambled together and then molded into a shape.

Each bite of the omelette has a tantalizing aroma of stir-fried ingredients, a moist texture due to the addition of egg, and a sweet-and-sour tomato sauce that highlights the flavor of the rice and minced meat, which is sure to break through your imagination of this centuries-old omelette dish.

Address：3-5-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Office hours：11:15 - 15:00/17:30 - 21:00 Price：￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 03 上野｜洋食や三代目たいめいけん

Dandelion rice omelet that blooms with flavor on your plate!

Located in Ueno Station, YOSHIYA SANYOME Taimen is a branch of Nihonbashi's main restaurant, and their signature omelette has the cute title of “dandelion,” which not only looks like a dandelion in full bloom when you cut it open, but also appeared in a famous food movie and led to the craze for the half-boiled style omelette.

A knife cuts through the tender outer layer of the egg skin, and the glistening egg juice runs down the fried rice, which is then spooned into the mouth along with the tomato sauce, where you can taste the freshness of the egg along with the tantalizing aroma of minced meat and shiitake mushrooms, and the flavor of the egg still lingers on your teeth even a few moments after finishing the meal.

Address: 3F Ecute Ueno, 7-1-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo Opening hours: 10:00 - 23:00 Price: ￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 04 Asakusa｜グリルグランド

Slightly charred with honey sauce to bring out the sweetness of the half-cooked egg skin

Grill Grand, selected as one of Tabelog's top 100 restaurants in 2023, is a three-generation-old western-style restaurant tucked away in the bustling streets of Asakusa. Popular dishes include omelet rice, beef stew, beef burgers, etc., all of which are representative of Japanese Western cuisine.

Of the two types of omelet rice, we especially recommend the special omelet rice topped with a rich honey sauce. The thick caramelized aroma of the sauce accentuates the sweetness and smoothness of the egg skin, and it's perfectly cooked and seasoned, revealing a wonderful taste that you can't get at other restaurants.

Address：3-24-6,Asakusa,Taito-ku,Tokyo Office hours：11:30 - 13:45/17:00 - 20:30 Price：￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 05 Shinjuku｜珈琲西武

A tea store's special omelette with a hidden surprise.

Café Café Seibu has a gorgeous vintage décor, and when you walk in, you feel like you've traveled back in time to the Showa era in Japan. The café is frequented by literati and photo enthusiasts on all weekdays and holidays.

The soft and melt-in-your-mouth Shinjuku special omelette can be purchased as a lunch set with a salad and drink for 200 yen before 2 p.m. The most surprising thing is the melted cheese under the crust, which adds another layer of flavor and texture. The best part is that there's melted cheese underneath the crust, which adds another level of flavor and texture.

Address: 2F Hanamichi TOKYO Kabukicho, 1-6-12 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Opening hours: 11:00 - 23:30 Price: ￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 06 Shibuya｜卵と私

More than 10 kinds of omelettes to choose from!

Ovo Toshiaki specializes in egg dishes, and there are more than 10 varieties of omelettes to choose from, ranging from the fluffy and creamy Soufflé Omelette to the creamy and fluffy semi-cooked Cheese Omelette, and seasonal seasonal specials that make you want to come back again and again.

Some of the lesser-known items at other restaurants include the Pancake Plate, which combines omelet rice with a teriyaki muffin, and the Soufflé Egg Bake, which is heated up with a rounded egg skin and cheese sauce, so you'll be able to witness the infinite possibilities of omelet rice cooking.

Address: Dai-Ichi Kangin Kyodo Building 6F, 23-3 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Opening hours: 11:00 - 21:30 Price: ￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 07 Harajuku｜AUX BACCHANALES

Melt-in-your-mouth Soufflé Omelette

AUX BACCHANALES is a stylish restaurant with a photogenic interior and delicious cuisine. The large floor-to-ceiling windows face the street in front of Harajuku Station, making it cozy and comfortable to dine while watching the crowds on the street.

The appearance and texture of the Soufflé Omelette faithfully reflects the name of the dish, with a full and puffy appearance, and tastes as light as a cloud and melts in your mouth. After the meal, we recommend another one of the restaurant's signature strawberry lasagna pies, which is so gorgeous that you won't want to eat it!

Address: Gallery Center Bldg. 1F, 6-3-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Opening hours: 11:00 - 23:00 Price: ￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 08 表参道｜Little pool coffee

Trying two types of omelette at once is a luxury

Little pool coffee offers a menu of seven different types of omelettes, divided into the feather-light FUWA FUWA and the lava-like TORO TORO, which flows down slowly after being cut. The former is suitable for those who want a soft, airy texture, while the latter is recommended for those who prefer a semi-cooked flavor.

If you don't want to miss out on either of the two flavors, you'll want to try the luxurious omelette (赘沢オムライス), which is layered with fufuwa and toro toro crusts, or the special seasoning of truffle oil and cheese powder, which makes the flavors even more sophisticated and gorgeous.

Address: Partners Omotesando 1F, 3-8-26 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo Opening hours: 10:00 - 16:30 Price：￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 09 中目黑｜麻布笄軒

A perfect match for a juicy hamburger steak!

The half-cooked omelette burg er (とろとろオムリバーグ), which has a fat slice of hamburger steak sandwiched between an egg skin and tomato fried rice, is a limited-edition meal at the Nakameguro branch of Azabu Matsushi-ken, and its three-layer construction creates a full visual effect even before it's eaten.

After cutting the round egg skin, the half-cooked egg juice pours down, and it is even more criminally delicious to eat it together with the thick white cheese sauce at the bottom of the plate; the tender hamburger steak is full of sweet gravy when you bite into it, and it also becomes the best seasoning for the egg skin.

Address：Kyoritsu Kosei Nishi-Azabu Building 1F, 4-6-5 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo Office hours：11:30 - 15:00/17:30 - 22:00 Price：￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 10 新橋｜鉄板処めぐろ

Freshly fried hamburger steak sandwich adds a sense of satiety

Known for its wide variety of freshly made teppanyaki dishes, Teppan Sho Meguro has a bar where you can enjoy the chef's skills up close, and during lunchtime, it offers a variety of set menus that are relatively inexpensive and hearty, making it a favorite of the neighborhood office workers.

They also specialize in the Demi Om Burger (デミオムハンバーグ) which has a hamburger steak sandwich, the difference is that the bottom layer is padded with buttered fried rice and drizzled with the store's special demi-glace sauce to add flavor. The freshly fried burger is firm and fluffy, bringing you a full feeling of satiety.

Address: 2F Sunwood Building, 8-5-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Business hours: 11:00 - 14:30/17:00 - 23:30 Price：￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 11 惠比寿｜チャモロ

Tender Beef Tongue with Omelette is more than addictive

Chamoro, which has been operating in Ebisu, the food war zone, for more than 50 years, is a favorite omlette specialty store for men, women, and children of all ages. Chamoro uses the finest eggs from the Ojusshi region, which are rich in minerals and have a sweet taste, making their omelette dishes particularly flavorful.

The must-order Beef Tongue and Omelet Rice, which netizens say is a must-have, features a thick, chewy beef tongue burger steak layered on top of a large, glistening yellow egg crust, drizzled with a savory-sweet, savory dolce de leche sauce, and comes with a choice of three portions of rice to go with your meal.

Address: B1F Amamiya Building, 1-2-8 Ebisu-Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Opening hours: 12:00 - 15:00 Price：￥1,000～￥1,999 yen

🤗 12 麻布十番｜グリル満天星

Wakayo Eclectic Famous Omelet Rice

The chef at Grill Meman Tensho is a former student of the Emperor's Imperial Chef, and he has fused elements of Japanese style into his western cuisine. In addition to omelet rice, seafood risotto, Kaya rice, and baked rice with cream are all star dishes.

The famous omelet can be served with either curry or honey sauce, and the rich French risotto wrapped in a smooth egg skin makes it a very special dish. If you're confident about your appetite, we recommend ordering the one-plate mix, which allows you to choose two entrees and enjoy two delicious meals at once.

Address: B1F Aporia Building, 1-3-1 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo Opening hours: 11:30 - 15:30/17:30 - 22:00 Price: ￥1,000～￥1,999 yen