Monzen Terrace Enya (エンヤ) is an Izakaya-style restaurant at the starting point of Zenkoji Temple‘s approach. Befitting the restaurant’s name, it has a large comfortable terrace at the back. When the weather is good, sit at one of the tables on the terrace for fresh air. There might even be a few adorable dogs that […]
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If you are after a nice boutique Italian diner in Tokyo, visit momento (モメント) in Kichijōji! The chef of this vegan-friendly restaurant near Inokashira Park was trained and had worked in Italian restaurants in Italy. Thus, the dishes he cooks using a mixture of both local and Italian ingredients are authentic. Moreover, momento won an
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On the bridge leading to Inokashira Boathouse, you might notice a traditional building at the other end of the lake. It is the home of the Benzaiten, who gets jealous of happy couples rowing boats in Inokashira Park. The Inokashira Benzaiten Temple (井の頭弁財天) in the park’s northwest corner is serene and ideal for contemplation. The
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Besides INOKA, Blue Sky Coffee (ブルースカイコーヒー) is another place to head for a coffee break in Inokashira Park. It is also the spot for all cat lovers. However, just to be clear, this isn’t a cat cafe. It is a place where you can purchase cat-shaped donuts (ねこドーナツ)!
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If you are tired from trekking around Inokashira Park or paddling the swan boat, visit INOKA (イノカ) for a quick break. The cafe at the side of Nanai Bridge (七井橋) offers tofu donuts and coffee with soy milk. The handmade tofu donuts there are egg-free and dairy-free, making them perfect for those who have an
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If you are in Matsumoto and crave Indian food, visit Doon Shokudo Indoyama (DOON食堂 印度山). It is where you can find delicious home-style Indian food with a light twist to the Japanese taste. Many dishes are cooked using the recipes from the owner/chef’s grandmother from India. Like Kobayashi Soba, the couple who run the restaurant
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Just a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo, Kawagoe (川越) in Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県) is where you can timeslip into the Japanese township in the Edo and the Meiji/Taishō periods. Getting off at Honkawagoe Station, the first part of Kawagoe that is filled with the retro atmosphere is the 300-meter long, Taishō Roman Yume-dōri Street (大正浪漫夢通り).
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If you are a Japanese history buff or love to examine Japan’s cultural properties, the temple you have to stop by when you get to Kawagoe is Kita-in (喜多院). The temple that has a deep connection with the Tokugawa clan not only houses the most cultural properties in Kawagoe, but it is also the last
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When you stroll around Kawagoe, you will notice a couple of the traditional confectionery shops are named Kameya (亀屋). A few centuries ago, the confectionery maker was chosen as a dedicated sweets maker for Kawagoe Domain’s lord. Even today, the family business is still prosperous. Thus, unsurprisingly, a few of the old houses and residences
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Koedo Kurari (小江戸蔵里 川越市産業観光館) can be your first and last stop when you visit Kawagoe‘s traditional area. This facility was renovated from old warehouses and is filled with Kawagoe’s souvenirs. If you love Japanese sake, sake tasting can also be done here at a reasonable price!
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