Teppen Shibuya - Grilled Meats and Vegetables

A new year and a new post! Let’s talk about food. One of the foods we wanted to try in Japan was Yakitori. Yakitori is typically different types of grilled chicken on a stick with some sort of sauce on it. We went to a restaurant that served yakitori and other types of meat and vegetable skewers, called Teppen Shibuya Onnadojo. This place was delicious and the staff was very welcoming and friendly to tourists. The reason we went inside was because one of the workers flagged us down and asked if we were hungry as we walked by. The answer is always, “Yes!”

This place had a very wide variety of dishes. We were interested in their grilled meat and vegetable skewers, as well as their yakitori. First, they brought us a small plate as a type of appetizer. This was really similar to a chawanmushi, a savory egg custard dish, with some green onion, fish roe, and little fish called Shirasu on top. There was dashi poured over the top that brought the whole dish together. Delicious!

Next, we started with a few kinds of yakitori. This one was my favorite. It was a chicken meatloaf. The restaurant has a house recipe for their chicken meatloaf that is then marinated and grilled.

Then, we moved on to some other grilled skewers. I was interested in their grilled mushrooms. These were incredible. They were marinated and grilled with a nice smoky flavor from the grill. Then, they finished these off with some extra sauce in the mushroom cap folds. YUM!

They also have some interesting pork dishes. First, we tried these pork wrapped peppers stuffed with cheese. The cheese was hot and bubbly inside of the pepper, and the pork was crispy and delicious.

Next, we tried the pork stuffed with green onions. This was another really flavorful one. The onion pork combination was perfect!

At the end, the shop even gave us a really cute thank you message plate with two brownies for dessert. That really showed their hospitality! What a nice gesture!

We loved this place so much that we went back again on our second trip to Japan. Teppen Shibuya Onnadojo is on a little side street just a few minutes from the main shopping area. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy good conversation after a long day of site seeing. I definitely recommend you check them out on your next trip!

Conveyor Belt Sushi - Hinatomaru

One thing that Japan is known for is their sushi, of course. And one of the most interesting ways to eat sushi is at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant! That’s why, when we went to Asakusa, we searched for a conveyor belt sushi restaurant to try. We found Hinatomaru while walking along all of the shopping streets close to Senso-ji temple.

This place was fantastic. You could take any of the sushi off of the conveyor belt as it circled the restaurant. The chef would choose a fish and make a few dishes with it. He then loaded it on the belt for customers to select from. You could also tell him what you’d like to try, and he’d make it just for you. It was like a moving buffet combined with a made to order restaurant. There were also hot water spouts and a jar of matcha in front of you, so that you could have some tea with your meal.

My favorite was the tuna. It really did just melt in your mouth. I also really liked the tamago. It was the sweet but salty tasting Japanese omelet.

The chef was hilarious. He was laughing and joking with us the whole time. He made the experience really fun and enjoyable.

At the end, you count up all of your color coded plates to pay. The plate color determines the price. It was a simple and delicious meal, and it was really affordable. I definitely recommend checking out this restaurant the next time you go to Tokyo’s Asakusa area.

Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival Food

One of my favorite places to visit during cherry blossom season is Ueno Park, in Ueno Ward, Tokyo. This park is filled with tons and tons of cherry blossom trees and lots of food to enjoy! Most years, you’ll find people setting blankets and tarps out under the trees and setting up picnics to watch the cherry blossoms while they eat. They call this “hanami.” There are food vendors of all kinds at this festival, but here are just a few of my favorite street foods from the past few years.

Above is a photo of some delicious yakitori I ate in 2019 at the festival. You’ll notice the skewers are labeled with the cut of meat on each skewer. They were all coated in a delicious teriyaki sauce and marinated very nicely. They were fresh and juicy and definitely one of my favorite things at this festival.

Next, we have some delicious street corn. They’re grilling it fresh at the food stall with some butter for flavor. During this visit, it was still a little cool outside, and this nice hot corn was the perfect snack.

Another favorite is something I’ve never seen in the US… grilled crab on a stick. It is imitation crab, so more of like a crab flavored fish cake on a stick, grilled. They season it, grill it over a charcoal grill, and top it with Japanese mayo. This was my #1 favorite food item at this festival. Absolutely incredible!

In 2019, we found this delicious snack. They’re called “American Long Potatoes” at most of the food stalls around town. This was so funny to me, since we don’t have fries this long in the US. But these fries are literally about 1 foot long, and then they’re drizzled in the topping of your choice. I chose liquid cheese and parmesan. It was really satisfying and crunchy. They make these extra long fries not by cutting potatoes into strips like American fries, but actually by mashing the potato, putting it into a presser, and pressing out these long potato strings into the fryer. So really, it’s almost like fried mashed potatoes.

Finally, no meal would be complete without a drink! And what better drink that a cherry blossom themed drink! Japan has tons of cherry blossom themed snacks and drinks during the spring season, and alcohol is no exception. This is a brut rose Chandon tastes pretty much like the normal Chandon but with a hint of cherry blossom flavor. And the bottles are beautiful. You can buy a glass or an entire bottle to share with friends during hanami. We saw this in 2018 and 2019.

There’s so much more here besides these delicious foods. Don’t forget, the cherry blossoms here are world renowned. I definitely recommend visiting this festival in the spring and trying something new. Enjoy!

Unicorn Gundam - Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan

Odaiba… a futuristic, fun-filled area of Tokyo that is a must-see on your trip. There is so much to do in this area, but one of the biggest attractions is the life-sized Unicorn Gundam in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza.

If you're not familiar with gundam, it is a popular science fiction franchise in Japan. There are tons of movies, animes, manga, video games, and merch for these giant fighting robots. The basic idea is that they are robots used to fight, controlled by a pilot in a cockpit inside. That said, they’re supposed to be huge in the stories, for maximum military strength. And this guy is huge! The Odaiba model is almost 65 feet tall! He’s modeled after a gundam from the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn series.

One of the coolest things about this attraction is that he isn’t just big… he also moves. If you stop by at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm or 5 pm, you’ll catch quite a show! This gundam transforms and lights up… his armor even shifts into destroyer mode! And later in the evening, there are projected scenes from the anime and music playing every half hour. This is really a cool display! And it's free.

While you’re there, check out the rest of the plaza. It's a really nice park with beautiful flowers and walking paths. I definitely recommend this attraction, so check it out next time you visit Tokyo!

Driving Go Karts in Shibuya and Harajuku - Street Kart

Last spring, we got to experience Shibuya and Harajuku in a rather unusual way… by go kart. Thanks to Street Kart Shibuya, you can dress up in character onesies and drive a go kart all around town. There are several locations and different routes you can take, but we picked the night time Shibuya and Harajuku route.

We knew right away that this was going to be amazing. At night, with all of the lights, driving down the busy streets seemed so surreal. It feels like you’re in a movie. The neon signs surround you and you feel like you’re becoming part of the night’s cityscape.

We drove through Shibuya crossing, with the huge TV screens, video advertisements, and bright lights. We drove up to Harajuku and through the Omotesando area. We even got a special view during cherry blossom season. We went down one side street that was lined with cherry blossom trees. The trees were lit by the streetlights, making a bright glow throughout the branches. The trees made a tunnel overhead as we raced down the road and around the corner, back into the busier traffic again. The air was cool and strong, and felt like roller coaster winds on your face. It really was a rush to experience!

If you’re ever in Tokyo, definitely check it out. I definitely recommend the night session. Bring a GoPro to capture video or photos, as driving while using your phone is not allowed. I’m sure the day session would be fun, as well, but at night, you get to see all of the lights! It really made it special.

Cat Cafe Mocha - Shibuya - Tokyo Japan

On the 8th and 9th floors of a skyscraper in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, you’ll find Cat Cafe Mocha. This place is a cat connoisseur’s paradise. If you love cats, this place will definitely be somewhere you’ll need to check out. It is two levels of super chic, stylish cat cafe filled with a modern vibe, free drinks, and of course… cats… and sometimes in costumes.

On this occasion, we visited during October when the cats were dressed up in cute little costumes. This one was a police officer cat and was super well behaved. He looked as though he actually may have enjoyed the costume. We assume this was a seasonal event for Halloween, as when we went during the spring the following year, the cats were not in costume anymore (but they were still just as cute).

The atmosphere is high class and soothing. They play calming music. The lighting is soft and spot lit. The furniture is all cat friendly but very modern. And the views are incredible! Since you’re looking out the 8th or 9th floor, you can see the beautiful lights of Shibuya, sparkling below you. As the cats leap around from hanging baskets or climb a wooden tree sculpture, you just feel happy. You can pay a little extra to feed the cats treats, or you can just enjoy the cats’ company. They even have toys so that you can play with the cats. No matter what you’re doing there, it’s relaxing and enjoyable.

We originally planned to only be here for maybe 20 minutes, but we really got drawn in and stayed for over an hour. They give you sanitized slippers when you walk in the door and a locker in which to place your personal items. You pay per 15 minutes, so definitely watch that clock if you’re on a budget. You can even buy little souvenirs to take home and show your friends.

Overall, this was one of my favorite places to relax in Japan. They have several locations around Tokyo and other parts of Japan, so make sure to check them out on your next visit!