Sugamo Jizo-dori (巣鴨地蔵通り商店街) is a famous shopping street located in the Sugamo district of Tokyo, Japan. It’s often referred to as “Grandma’s Harajuku” because it’s particularly popular among older generations. The street is known for its traditional atmosphere and its variety of shops that cater to elderly customers.

The street is easily accessible from Sugamo Station on the JR Yamanote Line, and it features many stores catering to both locals and visitors, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.

The street is also home to the famous “Togenuki Jizo” (Togenuki Jizo Bosatsu) statue, located at the grounds of the nearby Kōgan-ji Temple, which attracts many people who come to pray for health and healing.

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Menson RAGE (麺尊 RAGE) has been featured in the Michelin Guide every year since its opening and is famous for its high-quality soy sauce ramen, attracting long lines of customers.

The interior has a unique atmosphere, with hip-hop music playing, shelves filled with the SF action comic AKIRA, and street-style graphics adorning the walls.

While the original location is in the Nishi-Ogikubo area, we visited the Azabudai Hills branch.

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Azabudai Hills(麻布台ヒルズ) is a large-scale urban complex located in Azabudai, Minato City, Tokyo. It officially opened on November 24, 2023 and its concept, “Modern Urban Village,” blends urban functionality with lush greenery, creating a harmonious environment in the heart of the city.

Here are the 7 places you should check there!

1. Arabica coffee

This coffee brand was founded by a Japanese entrepreneur from Kyoto, who was raised by parents active in the Esperanto movement, along with a father who ran a trading company, traveling the world while growing up. The brand aims for global expansion.

2. Saboe

This tea organization dedicates to contributing to the development of tea, creating and preserving modern tea-drinking practices in the present day.

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Nakamura Tokichi (中村藤吉) is a long-established Japanese tea specialty store, founded in 1854. It is especially renowned for its production of matcha, with its matcha made from carefully selected tea leaves from regions like Uji in Kyoto.

The matcha is known for its rich flavor and deep green color. Nakamura Tokichi Café offers a modern twist on traditional matcha culture, making it popular not only with matcha lovers but also with those who enjoy café culture.

Some of the signature matcha desserts include matcha parfaits, matcha ice cream, matcha cheesecake, and matcha Mont Blancs. These desserts are characterized by a rich matcha flavor, with not only matcha powder but also matcha syrups and sauces that are carefully crafted.

The café also offers a wide variety of matcha drinks, such as matcha lattes, iced matcha drinks, and even original matcha-based beverages. The perfect balance of matcha’s bitterness and the sweetness of milk makes these drinks irresistible to matcha fans.

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Do you know a Japanese famous artist, Katsushika Hokusai? Even if you do not know his name, you may have seen this ”The Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa”, one of his masterpieces.

This is one of his representative works and is particularly famous among ukiyo-e (浮世絵). The piece depicts the fierce waves swallowing boats, characterized by its powerful movement and vibrant colors. Hokusai boldly expresses the power of nature, highlighting the smallness of humanity.

Recently, it was decided that “The Great Wave” will be featured on the reverse side of the new 1,000 yen banknote in Japan. This reflects the recognition of Hokusai’s work as a symbol of Japanese culture worldwide. This choice signifies the universal appeal of Hokusai’s art and its importance in conveying the tradition of Japanese fine arts to future generations.

The influence of “The Great Wave” extends beyond just being an art piece; it can also be seen in contemporary design, fashion, and advertising. In this way, Hokusai’s works continue to inspire people across time.

Since this LEGO product were recently released, we decided to display it inside the YJC classroom. Furthermore, we are happy to add a Japanese-style interior

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Togoshi Ginza (戸越銀座) is a lively shopping street located in Shinagawa, Tokyo, exuding a charming Showa-era atmosphere. In this vibrant area, the ramen shop Menya Hachitoku (麺屋八徳) stands out with its emphasis on high-quality ingredients and soy sauce-based broth.

They offer a variety of options, including the classic Chuka Soba, niboshi soba, shoyu tsukesoba, and rich tonkotsu or light chicken broth ramen, with plenty of toppings to choose from!

My daughter and I ordered the backfat shoyu soba, a bowl of white rice, and a plate of gyoza. We had the option to choose the amount of backfat, and we selected “normal.” Even then, it provided plenty of richness that paired wonderfully with the homemade, chewy noodles.

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Ippodo Tea Co. is a well-known and long-established Japanese tea company, founded in 1717 in Kyoto. For over three centuries, they have been dedicated to producing high-quality tea, specializing in fine Japanese green teas like matcha, gyokuro, sencha, and bancha. Ippodo is particularly celebrated for its meticulous tea selection and blending processes, ensuring that their teas maintain consistent taste and quality over time.

The company’s philosophy emphasizes the connection between tea and everyday life, promoting tea as a means of relaxation and mindfulness. Ippodo has a flagship store in Kyoto, along with tea shops in other major cities like Tokyo and New York. They also provide workshops and detailed guidance for brewing the perfect cup, helping tea lovers around the world appreciate the depth of Japanese tea culture.

In addition to their retail and online presence, Ippodo Tea Co. has gained international recognition for its traditional and authentic approach to tea, catering to both connoisseurs and beginners alike.

At the back of Ippodo’s Kyoto flagship store, there is a dine-in space where you can enjoy tea. Take your time to relax and savor the calm atmosphere of the main store, as well as the peaceful moments that flow there!

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Unveil the Elegance of Japanese Confections: Experience the Art of Wagashi and Tea Pairing!

Overlooking the canopy of trees along Marunouchi Naka-dori, HIGASHIYA man Marunouchi provides a serene escape from the busy atmosphere of the city’s most picturesque business district. Here, you can find freshly steamed buns, a selection of exquisite confectioneries perfect for gifts, and a distinctive range of tableware.

The store features a dedicated tea counter with an extensive selection of teas, showcasing a diverse array of flavors and blends. Additionally, HIGASHIYA man Marunouchi includes a cozy sabo(茶房), a Japanese tea salon, where visitors can experience the art of tea appreciation and learn about the nuances of different tea varieties in an intimate setting.
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Hatoya is a Japanese tea stand where you can enjoy carefully selected Japanese teas, lattes, and sweets made from only the finest teas in Kyoto.

The owner, Nobuhiro Maruyama, originally came from the coffee industry and worked as a barista for 10 years. After encountering a cup of Gyokuro tea, he became fascinated by the world of Japanese tea. He then trained at a Japanese tea company before opening the first Hatoya location, Hatoya Ryouyousha, in Arashiyama, Kyoto, in 2019.

In addition to the Kyoto location, Hatoya has stores in Tokyo and Kamakura. My family and I recently visited Hatoya Asakusa, located behind Sumida Park in Tokyo.

The signature item, the Matcha Latte, is topped with homemade matcha ice cream made with an Italian gelato machine. The vibrant green color and the exquisite flavor of the high-quality matcha were truly captivating.

They also offer a variety of matcha-based baked goods and unique sweets like Half-Baked Matcha and Fresh Matcha Terrine. Whether you’re a matcha lover or looking for a unique souvenir, I highly recommend stopping by when you visit Asakusa!

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The world of ramen is becoming more diverse. While traditional ramen often uses a lot of animal-based ingredients, high-quality vegan and vegetarian ramen options are definitely on the rise.

Vegan ramen often relies on dashi made from kombu (kelp seaweed) and shiitake mushrooms, along with various vegetables to create a deep umami flavor. For example, a broth based on kombu and shiitake mushrooms offers a rich taste without using animal products. Plant-based seasonings and spices are also used to achieve a well-rounded flavor.

Moreover, there are creative uses of ingredients like soy milk or nuts to make creamy broths, and toppings like tempeh or tofu to provide protein. These innovations result in ramen that is visually appealing and flavorful, without losing to traditional options in taste.

The growing popularity of vegan and vegetarian ramen means that there are more diverse choices available, which is a wonderful development for ramen enthusiasts. In this article, I would like to introduce one of the popular vegan ramen shop in Tokyo. 

T’s Tantan (T’s たんたん) is a popular vegan ramen restaurant originating from Japan, known for offering Japanese-style tantanmen(坦々麺) based on Sichuan cuisine’s dandan noodles, all made from plant-based ingredients.

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