Tokyo


October 4, 2012

Crop Shop in Azabujuban (TYO)

by Shizuka Wakashita

I used to live in Azabujuban for four years during my 20s. Sadly I don’t get to go there that often anymore as I live farther away. I love Azabujuban so much because there are so many great restaurants and cool shops there – both old and new. I like to check out new places […]

September 19, 2012

The Ramen Shaman: Yokohama Ramen Nakamura-ya (Hakusan)

by Will VanderWyden

I first learned about ramen – real deal Japanese ramen that is – two years ago. Like many niche interests I stumbled upon it via the internet. There was just something about the heartiness of a bowl of ramen… and the fact that people obsessed over it piqued my interest. It felt like I discovered […]

September 5, 2012

The Ramen Shaman: Aoki-tei (Asakusa)

by Will VanderWyden

Push yourself. Every challenge makes you better. Or as I learned, making a fool of yourself at a run-of-the mill ramen shop prepares you for the big boys. I recently traveled to Japan, where I had 21 bowls of ramen in 23 days. It would have been more but I was sidelined for a few […]

August 16, 2012

Tokyo JUNKtion: Toraya (Roppongi Hills)

by Yoko Kumano

On the very special occasion that a visitor from Japan would bring Toraya to our home in Cupertino, I would actually be excited about eating. I was a very picky, skinny child, but whenever my mom busted out the Toraya I would eat blocks of yokan (red bean dessert) and stack as much anko into my […]

June 21, 2012

Tokyo JUNKtion: Matsunami Ramen

by Yoko Kumano

Matsunami Ramen was my first stop in Tokyo after a 9-day long trip of a lifetime to Darjeeling, India (more on that later). I was in Darjeeling and Tokyo on business but I was able to squeeze in a lot of culinary excitement into the trip. After eating spicy curries in India, and fresh herbs […]

May 24, 2012

Tokyo JUNKtion: The World Famous Awamori Wasabi-wari

by Yoko Kumano

I want Washio’s Awamori Wasabi-wari to be world famous, so I’ve gone ahead and named it “The World Famous Awamori Wasabi-wari.” It’s been out there on the WORLD wide web for over three years now, so I think it has earned its title. I caught the making of the world famous Awamori Wasabi-wari on tape […]

March 29, 2012

Tokyo JUNKtion: Ikko-an (Koshikawa)

by Yoko Kumano

After reading Moto’s post about making anko (sweet bean paste), I began to reminisce about my visit to a wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionary) shop in Koishikawa, Tokyo called Ikko-an. All of the wagashi are made by hand by the owner Chikara Mizukami, while his wife works in the storefront. He has made it a point […]

February 15, 2012

Sobayuwari (Shochu + Hot Soba Water)

by Shizuka Wakashita

By Shizuka Wakashita What do you drink when you go to a soba place? Beer? Sake? Shochu? I thought sake but I was wrong. I was converted into a sake lover about three years ago. Ever since then I almost always order sake when I go out for Japanese food, except for the occasions when I […]

February 7, 2012

Postcard from Tokyo: Urara

by Nahoko Morimoto

*Nahoko Morimoto is a Tokyo-based photographer. Her work has been featured in Brutus and Vogue Japan.

February 3, 2012

Great UM Noodletown: Pizzeria Matsuhisa (Tokyo)

by Kayoko Akabori

Spaghetti with asari (clams), shirauo (little white fish) and arugula at Pizzeria Matsuhisa in Denenchofu, Tokyo. Someday, I will open a wafu (Japanese-style) pasta shop in Oakland.