Restaurant Review
Caramel Mama, Kyoto: Japanese diva Yumi Matsutoya fandom bar
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) a.k.a. Yuming (ユーミン) is one of the most successful female singer-songwriters in Japan. She is […]
Year: 2023
Restaurant Review
Kushihachi Honten: Unrivaled, Kyoto-based kushikatsu izakaya chain
Background music at Kushihachi Honten. Kushihachi (串八) is a Kyoto-based, kushikatsu (串かつ: deep-fried skewers)-focused Japanese izakaya chain. Its […]
Restaurant Review
Kyoto’s only Subway at Aeon Mall KYOTO
Kyoto’s only Subway (サブウェイ イオンモールKYOTO店) is located in a food court on the 4th floor of Kyoto’s second […]
Travel
Jankara Deep Fuse: Best karaoke bar in Osaka
Jankara Deep Fuse (カラオケ喫茶 ディープ / ジャンカラ ディープ布施店) in Osaka is probably Japan’s cheapest karaoke bar (all-you-can-drink-alcohol and […]
Restaurant Review
Tenzankaku Hihi-yokocho: Japan’s longest countertop izakaya in Osaka
At retro Uehommachi Hi Hi Town (うえほんまちハイハイタウン), a Japanese underground food hall (地下飲食店街) connected to Osaka-Uehommachi Station (大阪上本町駅), […]
Restaurant Review
Shintamon Sakakura, Osaka: Malaysian Japanese tachinomi izakaya
Tachinomi izakaya(立ち飲み居酒屋) means “Japanese standing food bar” (more details). Amid a tachinomi izakaya neighborhood surrounding busy Temma Station […]
Restaurant Review
TEL AVIV: Kyoto’s Israeli izakaya restaurant downtown
TEL AVIV (テルアビブ / TEL AVIV ISRAELI STREET FOOD BAR) opened on December 1st, 2023 in Downtown Kyoto […]
Restaurant Review
Ganso Mawaru Genrokuzushi Honten, Osaka: birthplace of revolving sushi
Ganso Mawaru Genrokuzushi / Ganso Mawaru Genroku Sushi (元祖廻る元禄寿司) is a Japanese sushi chain known as the birthplace […]
Restaurant Review
Hokkyokusei Shinsaibashi Honten, Osaka: birthplace of omurice
In a Studio Ghibli’s famous Spirited Away bathhouse-ish retro Japanese teahouse (茶屋) is Hokkyokusei Shinsaibashi Honten (Hokkyokusei Shinsaibashi […]
Restaurant Review
Hachimonjiya, Kyoto: Legendary dive bar downtown
Hachimonjiya (八文字屋) looks like an old atelier operated by Kyoto-born award-winning photographer Fusayoshi Kai / the bar’s owner. […]
Restaurant Review
Bar Kisaragi, Kyoto: Pop diva Miyuki Nakajima fan hangout
Miyuki Nakajima (中島みゆき) is one of the most sold Japanese singer-songwriters of all time. Her energy is more […]
Restaurant Review
Rokuzaemon, Kyoto: Speakeasy John Wick izakaya downtown
So John Wick izakaya means a Japanese izakaya (居酒屋: tavern) that looks like it could appear in the […]
Restaurant Review
Gnome, Kyoto: Cozy left-wing Irish pub
Going to an Irish (or British) pub is sort of like a cool foreign thing to do in […]
Restaurant Review
Kushitatsu: Kyoto’s only whale meat restaurant in Arashiyama
As the controversy of Japan’s whale-eating culture catches international attention, there are certainly some Japanese restaurants that serve […]
Restaurant Review
Ishimaru Shoten, Kyoto: Tiki bar in the alley in Pontocho
Pontocho (先斗町) is one of the five most popular neighborhoods in Downtown Kyoto. Bars and restaurants are crammed […]
Restaurant Review
ha ra, Kyoto: Au naturel cafe by Kamo River
ha ra is famous for two things. One is that the cafe is operated by an ex-manager of […]
Restaurant Review
Saiko People OSAKA, Japan: Contemporary pan-Asian izakaya
Just one station away from garish, John Wick 4-featured Namba (なんば) is quiet Sakuragawa (桜川) where posh Saiko […]
Event
Rainbow Festa Osaka (Kansai Rainbow Pride)
Rainbow Festa Osaka (レインボーフェスタ大阪), also known as Kansai Rainbow Parade (関西レインボーパレード) is an annual two-day event at Ogimachi […]
Travel
Free manga library at Daimaru Kyoto (Manga No Kabe)
Daimaru Kyoto Daimaru Kyoto(大丸京都店) is a Kyoto location of a Japanese department chain Daimaru (大丸) founded in Fushimi, […]
Travel
Daimaru Kyoto’s 8th floor: Restaurants, rooftop, and manga library
Daimaru Kyoto (大丸京都店) is a Kyoto location of a Japanese department chain Daimaru (大丸) founded in Fushimi, Kyoto […]
Restaurant Review
Pig & Whistle: Kyoto’s most famous British pub
Except for Japan’s mighty British pub chain ‘HUB’, it should be Pig & Whistle that’s the most famous […]
Restaurant Review
Kafu, Kyoto: Retro hip Okinawan tavern
On a historical street market/commercial district ‘Sanjo-kai Shotengai (三条会商店街)’ is a retro hip Okinawan tavern ‘Kafu (かふー)’. It’s […]
Restaurant Review
Dublin, Kyoto: Clearly an Irish pub
Interestingly, in Japan, the word “pub (パブ)” indicates Philippine thanks to “Philippine pubs (フィリピンパブ)” where Japanese male sleazeballs […]
Restaurant Review
DE FRITES STAAN, Kyoto: Dutch french fries specialty bistro
It looked like a handsome Japanese bakery or a bistro to my Japanese eyes when I first saw […]
Restaurant Review
TORIKI BURGER, Kyoto: Chicken sandwich shop by Japan’s top yakitori chain
Japan’s top yakitori chain ‘Torikizoku (鳥貴族)’ opened the first Kyoto location of its chicken sandwich chain ‘TORIKI BURGER […]
Restaurant Review
Din Tai Fung, Kyoto: Upscale Taiwanese dim sum chain
Din Tai Fung – once rated as one of the top 10 gourmet restaurants in the world by […]
Restaurant Review
Konparu Osu Honten: Nagoya’s legendary kissaten-cafe chain
Konparu is one of Nagoya’s most famous kissaten (喫茶店) cafe chains known for its authentic retro vibe. Here’s […]
Restaurant Review
Sekai No Yamachan Honten: Nagoya’s legendary izakaya chain
Sekai No Yamachan (世界の山ちゃん) is a Nagoya-based izakaya chain specializing in Nagoya comfort food. Here’s what Sekai No […]
Restaurant Review
Yabaton Yaba-cho Honten: King of misokatsu chains in Nagoya
Yabaton is a misokatsu (deep-fried pork tonkatsu with miso sauce) specialty chain based in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. Here’s […]
Restaurant Review
Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima: Kyoto’s only gyoza specialty sauna
Here’s what Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri-ten / Gyoza-yu(京都 夷川餃子 なかじま 団栗店 / ぎょうざ湯) looks like. Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima […]
Restaurant Review
Matsukawa Liquor Store: Kyoto’s most famous kaku-uchi izakaya
Izakaya is a Japanese tavern. Among the three kinds of izakaya, kaku-uchi (角打ち) izakaya is considered the dopest. […]
Restaurant Review
Watte Chai: Kyoto’s only Indian tea stall
In Uji (宇治), the mecca for Japanese green tea ‘Uji tea (宇治茶)’, tea shops and cafes are everywhere. […]
Restaurant Review
Burisho, Kyoto: THE yellowtail specialty restaurant
Opened in 2022, Burisho (魚師匠) has been gaining attention as Kyoto’s only yellowtail specialty restaurant / the master […]
Restaurant Review
Rub A Dub: Kyoto’s oldest Jamaican reggae bar
In Downtown Kyoto is Kyoto’s oldest/first reggae bar ‘Rub A Dub(ラバダブ)’ which opened in 1986. Or it’s Jamaica’s […]
Restaurant Review
1G, Kyoto: Ruin bar in abandoned kamaboko factory
One might have heard of Naruto. It’s a Japanese manga series about ninja students / its protagonist’s name. […]
Restaurant Review
Suba, Kyoto: THE contemporary soba shop
Soba shops (or buckwheat noodle bars) are as popular as ramen shops in Japan. One of a few […]
Restaurant Review
DIG THE LINE, Kyoto: European beer bar at ShinPuhKan
DIG THE LINE (or DIG THE LINE BOTTLE & BAR) is a stylish European beer bar at Kyoto’s […]
Restaurant Review
Bisan: Tokyo’s only Palestinian restaurant
Bisan (ビサン) is Tokyo’s only unequivocal Palestinian restaurant by Chef Sudki Mansour Sudki from Bisan (or Beit She’an […]
Restaurant Review
Rutubo, Kyoto, Japan: Smoked food bar in Gion
Downtown Kyoto’s prominent Gion (祇園) neighborhood is where Rutubo is at. Past the antique store-ish facade of Rutubo […]
Restaurant Review
Daidokoro Tenya, Kyoto, Japan: Downright cozy izakaya
A discreet alley behind Kyoto’s poshest shopping mall ‘BAL’ is where a cozy izakaya ‘Daidokoro Tenya (台所 てんや […]
Travel
Ernest Fenollosa’s Japanese grave at remote temple in Shiga
A Japanese grave of Ernest Fenollosa, who was a Massachusetts-born Spanish American art historian, is at remote Homyoin […]
Restaurant Review
The Kosher Wok, Brookline, US: Best Chinese schnitzel ever!
During my 3-year stay in Israel, I was basically a Japanese diaspora who was craving for pan-Asian food. […]
Restaurant Review
Imai Shokudo, Kyoto: Legendary simmered fish shop
Simmered fish (煮魚/nizakana or 魚の煮付け/sakana no nitsuke) is a quintessential seafood dish in Japan. Especially with mackerel (鯖の煮付け/saba […]
Restaurant Review
Ki: Kyoto’s only Lebanese bistro
Ki (汽) is such a sophisticated, fast casual bistro in chic Gojo in Kyoto City. It’s impossible to […]
Restaurant Review
EAGLE TOKYO & EAGLE TOKYO BLUE: Best Gay Bear Bars in Japan
EAGLE TOKYO and EAGLE TOKYO BLUE are the best gay bear bars / the most tourist-friendly gay bars […]
Event
The Big 3 of Kyoto festivals
Here are highlights and basics of the Big 3 of Kyoto’s festivals: Gion Matsuri (祇園祭), Jidai Matsuri (時代祭), […]
Restaurant Review
Sameya, Hyogo: Kobe Chinatown’s shark ramen
Jaws! That’s what I said when I saw Sameya’s signboard. Lame, I sounded naive: I wasn’t ready to […]
Restaurant Review
Pyongyang Reimenya, Hyogo: North Korean-inspired cold noodles
Pyongyang Reimenya (Ganso Heijo Reimenya Honten / 元祖 平壌冷麺屋 本店)’s founder is said to be the first to […]