Fukagawa Edo Museum (深川江戸資料館) is a cultural and historical facility located in Koto Ward, Tokyo, that offers visitors a chance to experience the life and atmosphere of the Edo period (1603–1868).
The museum features a recreated Edo-era townscape, complete with houses, shops, and streets, giving an immersive glimpse into daily life during that time.
Hijiki (dried seaweed) and gobo (Japanese burdock root) are ingredients rich in dietary fiber and packed with nutrients. They also have a great texture, providing a satisfying bite and a sense of fullness. In this recipe, in addition to hijiki and gobo, I also use corn and string beans. This salad allows you to get a combination of iron, vitamins, minerals, and calcium all at once. It’s perfect as a side dish for a bento box or as a make-ahead dish for meal prepping.
In this series, I’ll be sharing questions that our customers have asked!
Q. What do Japanese people eat for breakfast?
A. Generally, many people eat miso soup, white rice, grilled fish, natto, raw eggs or tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), and pickled or boiled vegetables.
In our house, my son and daughter often want to eat different things, but it’s too much work to cater to each of them individually. So, our typical breakfast includes miso soup with plenty of vegetables and silken tofu, tamagoyaki, and both bread and white rice. To keep things interesting, I switch up the types of bread and prepare the rice as onigiri with various fillings or as ochazuke. If I have extra time, I also add grilled salmon and fruit to the meal.
Yanaka Ginza is a traditional shopping street located in the Taito ward of Tokyo. The Yanaka area itself is known for its old-fashioned, nostalgic atmosphere and has become a popular spot for both locals and tourists. Yanaka Ginza is at the heart of this area and offers a glimpse into the charm of Tokyo’s Showa-era streets.
The shopping street is lined with small, family-run stores, including local food shops, miscellaneous goods stores, and cafes. There are also many food stalls where visitors can enjoy local snacks like deep-fried sweet buns, grilled skewers, and shaved ice, giving a taste of traditional Japanese street food.
Annual Event & Festive Food In Japan
1st – Shogatsu (New Year) : Osechi(-ryori), Fukubukuro, Shimekazari, Fukuwarai
7th – Nanakusa no Sekku (Seventh-Day New Year) : Nanakusa gayu
11th – Kagami Biraki (Opening the Rice-Cake Offerings) : Oshiruko
15th – Koshogatsu (Small Shogatsu) : Red bean rice porridge
20th – Hatsuka shogatsu : Ozoni
3rd – Setsubun (Seasonal Division) : Ehomaki
8th – Harikuyo (Memorial Service for Needles) : Tofu
10th – Hatsu-uma : Inarizushi
3rd – Hinamatsuri/Momo no Sekku (Doll Festival ) : Chirashizushi
21st – Ohigan (Spring Equinox) : Botamochi
Hanami (Cherry-Blossom Viewing) : Sakuramochi, Dango
8th – Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival)
5th – Tango no sekku,(Children’s Day) : Kashiwa-mochi, Chimaki
Koromogae (Seasonal Change of Clothing)
Around 10th – Nyu-bai : Plum syrup, Umeboshi
7th – Tanabata (Star Festival) : Somen
15th – Obon (Bon Festival) : Vegetable Tempura, Rice Dumplings, Udon, Inari Sushi
15th – Tsukimi (Moon Viewing) : Tsukimi Dango
Ohigan, Autumn Equinox : Ohagi
19th – Choyo no Sekku (Chrysanthemum Festival) : Kiku-zake, Kikuka-cha, Kiku-monaka *Sept.9 on Lunar Calendar
Undokai, Sports Festival : Bento
Ensoku, School Excursion : Bento
15th – Shichi-go-san (Festive Day for Children) : Osekihan, Chitose-ame, Tai no Shio-yaki
13th – Toshikoshi (Crossing over to a New Year)
Around 22nd or 23rd – Toji (Winter Solstice) : Azuki-gayu, Pumpkin
31st – Omisoka (Last day of the year) : Toshikoshi soba
Fukuwarai (福笑い) is a traditional Japanese game often played during the New Year holiday. The name translates to “lucky laugh” or “happy laugh.”
In this game, players place facial features such as eyes, eyebrows, a nose, and a mouth onto a blank face shape, similar to a puzzle. The challenge is that the player is blindfolded, resulting in comically misaligned features.
The game is lighthearted and is meant to bring laughter and joy to participants and onlookers. It’s a popular activity among families and children, symbolizing fun and good fortune for the coming year.
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Japanese egg sandwiches, or “Tamago Sando”, are a beloved type of sandwich in Japan known for their simplicity and deliciousness. They typically consist of soft and fluffy bread (often crustless) filled with a creamy egg salad made from mashed boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and sometimes a hint of mustard or seasoning.
Tamago sando is popular as a quick snack, a bento item, or even a light meal, and it has gained international recognition for its unique taste and texture. It’s a perfect representation of Japan’s ability to elevate simple dishes into something special!
I will introduce two types of Tamago Sando: Japanese omelette-style and tamago salad-style. Which one do you like?
Hidden in the heart of Kagurazaka lies a unique tea house crafted by a former pâtissier. Known for its intriguing pairings of tea and sweets, this spot offers an unforgettable experience with a fusion of unexpected elements.
The tea house, VERT, was established by the pâtissier, who spent many years perfecting the art of desserts, with the hope of “sharing the deliciousness of Japanese tea with more people.”
Their entirely reservation-based course begins with a carefully brewed tea and features six to seven pairings of desserts and teas, followed by a rice dish and tea, and concludes with matcha and wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets).
The course, named “Chasoryūsui” (茶湊流水), is a playful twist on the Japanese idiom “kōunryūsui” (行雲流水), meaning “to go with the flow like drifting clouds or flowing water.” It conveys the concept of “enjoying tea freely, as one would in a harbor where people and cultures converge.”
The first pairing was a strawberry daifuku, but not your ordinary kind. It featured fermented strawberries, the gentle sweetness of rose and white bean paste, and the soft texture of mochi—a perfect harmony of flavors.
Following the success of its sister shop I’m Donut – known for its wide selection of sweet and savoury doughnuts and legendary long queues – Fukuoka-born Amam Dacotan has finally opened up shop in Omotesando.
Have you ever tried Japanese bread? I’m a huge bread lover, to the point where my family finds it a bit ridiculous, but one bakery I’ve been eyeing for a while is Amam Dacotan. The original store is in Fukuoka and is a sister shop of the popular “I’m Donut,” which still has long lines to this day. Recently, they opened a location in Tokyo, so I had to check it out.
This bakery gained fame during the maritozzo boom in Japan, making beautiful renditions of the traditional Italian pastry filled with fresh cream and various toppings. The Omotesando store, which is so photogenic it hardly feels like a bakery, offers over 140 different freshly baked items every day. One of the most popular items is the “Dacotan Burger,” packed with plenty of purple cabbage and homemade sausage.
While many customers opt for takeout, there are about five tables outside where you can enjoy your treats on-site with a drink. However, I stood in line for about 30 minutes before the shop opened on a weekday, and online reviews mention wait times of up to one to two hours, so I recommend arriving early!
Isobe-yaki is a traditional Japanese dish that typically consists of grilled or pan-fried food, often mochi (rice cake), which is brushed with a savory sauce and then coated with nori (dried seaweed). The term “Isobe” refers to the practice of grilling or frying food with the addition of seaweed, while “yaki” means grilled or cooked.
Here’s a breakdown of its common components:
Although Isobe-yaki is often associated with mochi, the dish can also be made with other ingredients, such as fish, taro, or vegetables, all prepared in a similar manner—grilled and then coated in soy sauce and wrapped with nori.
This dish is popular as a snack or side dish and is sometimes served at Japanese festivals or during the colder months. It has a warm, comforting flavor that blends the savory taste of soy sauce with the umami of nori and the chewy texture of the grilled mochi.
