Eat

Enjoy Ginza With Kids At The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cafe I write many guides here on Best Living Japan, but what you may not know about me is that I have a serious sweet tooth. My daughter is now one year old and loves cruising Tokyo with me, so I’m …

Along with all the foodie trends out there today a personalized latte with your face on it is possible at the Nissan Crossing in Ginza. Once you venture into the car store, surrounded by the highest technology out there with cars, go up to the second floor and there you …

The days are brighter, and the days a bit warmer – a great time to start dining outdoors. Here are our Top Tokyo Restaurants with Terrace Seating with water, city or garden views. Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comment section below. Terrace Seating with Water View 1. …

Guide to Rice Cookers in Japan Rice is the staple of the Japanese diet and there’s no shortage of rice cookers (炊飯器 | すいはんき | suihanki) on the market that aim to make modern-day cooking as efficient as possible. This guide will walk you through the basic functions of a …

Mr Farmer is known for their farm-to-table concept, delivering fresh, locally produced food to local consumers. Whether you are a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free Mr Farmer offers something for everyone. Mr Farmer Komazawa (their 4th restaurant) is located in Komazawa Olympic Park at the Nishi-guchi gate or near the Jabu Jabu Ike (paddling …

Niseko has numerous evening foodie options, but Niseko Breakfast & Coffee spots are a bit trickier. Luckily over the past few years, there are have been some new entrants, so families no longer have to survive on convenience store options.  Here are our top recommend early morning breakfast options in Hirafu, …

Winter is the perfect time to try some delicious Japanese mushroom recipes. We are highlighting six Japanese mushrooms which are all delicious, easily available in Japanese supermarkets, very economical and versatile in their usage.  If you love mushrooms, the recipes below will be some great additions to your winter dishes. …

My kids love Mochi snacks on cold winter afternoons. They are a warm, filling and easy to make!  Mochi is gluten free.  Bags of hockey puck shape and sized pounded rice (もちmochi) are availabe in all Japanese supermarkets year-round, but promoted headily from October to February. Bags of Mochi are …

Trunk Kitchen located in the Trunk Hotel in Shibuya is a great place to have early breakfast and lazy brunch. If you can stay at the Trunk Hotel I would recommend due to the excellent service and impeccably appointed boutique rooms. However, at least enjoy a meal. The breakfast service …

Guide to Japanese Baby Food Brands and Ingredients Weaning is an important milestone in a baby’s growth. As parents, we want to make the right choices regarding baby’s food and diet. In Japan, weaning typically begins when babies are around 5 or 6 months of age. This may differ with …

American Thanksgiving Dinner in Tokyo 2017 is right around the corner – Thursday, November 23rd, 2017. Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Turkeys are already being sold and reservations being taken for November 23rd, be sure not to miss out and to be able to relax by planning ahead.  To help …

Oyako Cafe / Parent Child Cafe Three Little Pigs (親子カフェ三びきの子ぶた) is another great spot to add to our Top Tokyo Restaurants with Playrooms list. Oyako Cafe is a clean and cozy, baby & kid-friendly cafe with floor-level tables, private nursing room and play area equip with toys for babies up to …

Kimukatsu is a popular tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant in Japan serving high quality pork thinly sliced and stacked into 25 layers. It is then covered with fresh breadcrumbs and fried slowly in low temperature for 8 minutes resulting in a deliciously crunchy and tender mille feuille type of pork cutlet. We …

Japanese sweet potato recipes to make today! Japanese sweet potato (さつまいも satsumaimo) is an incredibly delicious, nutritious and economical food for your family. If you want a fun outing go dig your own potatoes at one of the Chiba and Saitama farms.  You can find some great sweet potatoes at …

Japanese persimmon recipes to make today! Japanese persimmon (kaki, 柿) is an incredibly delicious, nutritious and economical fruit for your family.  You can find some great sweet persimmons at the Tokyo Farmers Market at the UN University on Saturday and Sunday in Omotesando.  Also remember to cook with other in-season fruits and veggies like Nashi …

Finding quality Mexican restaurants in Tokyo can be tough. We`ve done the legwork for you. Here are our favorite Tokyo Mexican Restaurants; from tacos, to burritos, to Tex-Mex we`ve got you covered. ***** Top Tokyo Mexican Restaurants ***** 1. La Jolla Mexican Restaurant, Hiroo – La Jolla Mexican restaurant is a sure winner in …

One of my husband’s and my favorite Yakiniku restaurants is Kirakutei (きらく亭) in Minami Azabu. The restaurant is family friendly, but the food is so good and the price a bit on the high side (for yakiniku) so best for a date night or special family dinner. Kirakutei is very popular, …

Gelateria Acquolina (ジェラテリア アクオリーナ) is another spot to add to our Favorite Top 5+ Ice Treats in Japan. It`s is a cozy shop in Yutenji that creates delicious homemade gelato with flavors that change with the season. The classics are there but they also have unique flavors like our favorite: basil …

Reading Japanese Food Labels – Allergens and Tips  A challenging part of life in Japan is navigating the supermarket aisles and deciphering the labels. You may be wondering how to recreate home dishes using ingredients available at your local grocer, or you may have special dietary restrictions or allergies. Food …

What kids does not love noodles? Especially the big, fat, warm noodles at Udon Buzen in Azabu Juban. As the temps are dropping a warm bowl of noodles accompanied with tempura hits just the right spot. Udon Buzen, Azabu Juban – Great Tokyo Kids Noodle Lunch Spot Udon Buzen is …

Lotus Baquette is an Organic Bakery and Cafe that uses 100% all natural ingredients to create their delicious breads and desserts. There are two locations in Nakameguro, one with indoor seating located a few minutes walk from the station, and another along the Meguro River. Lotus Baquette offers a variety of breads; …

I grew up on a farm so crave a good burger every once in a while – very happy Umami Burger has launched in Japan. Umami Burger started in California and now has 24 branches in Las Vegas, Chicago, NYC and Tokyo!  Their whole concept is gourmet burgers which capture …

Summer is here! Perfect time to try some cool and delicious ice treats in Japan – icecream and shaved ice. These are our top picks! Favorite Top 5+ Ice Treats in Japan – Icecream and Shaved Ice 1) Gelateria Marghera is definitely one of the most delicious gelato shops in Tokyo. The …

** Note as of Dec 2017 Kichiri no longer offers lunch service and they have closed their playroom. We`re disappointed as this was our favorite spot to lunch with kids however we there are still eight great locations to dine at and let the kids play. Kichiri Ebisu is a …

Blue Seal,a specialty ice cream brand that was “born in America and raised in Okinawa” since 1948 is a great spot to try a unique fusion of American and Okinawan flavors that are rich in taste and refreshing. Some of their unique flavors are Okinawa Ta-imo Cheesecake, Ube (Okinawan Purple Yam), …