EAT

Gohanya Isshin Daikanyama (ごはんや 一芯 代官山) is one of our favourite traditional Japanese restaurants, and hidden gems, to take friends visiting Tokyo. Located across the street from Kyu Asakura House and next to the Daikanyama Koban (Police Box), Gohanya Isshin sits hidden at the basement of a pale, yellow brick building. Walk …

Increase your greens at our Top 5+ Recommended Salad Spots in Tokyo – all deliciously filling and healthy! 1) Green Brothers (Ebisu, Azabu Juban, Ark Hills, Otemachi) – Green Brother’s has three seasonal salad offerings and nine year-round offerings. The salad sets run from 1,090 to 1,380 JPY (prices include tax). They also …

Floresta Nature Donuts, known for their adorable animal designs, makes cute, light tasting donuts using all natural ingredients from organically farmed sources. Floresta was started in 2002 by a husband and wife who wanted to make donuts that were the most natural and kind to their kids` bodies. They use natural …

The Pompompurin Cafe sits in the heart of Harajuku down the street from the Rainbow Sweets Ice cream and Cotton Candy shop. They offer adorable Pompompurin character themed drinks and dishes, and exclusive merchandise. The staff allows entrance a few groups at a time so patrons can select their seats …

The Good Morning Cafe Sendagaya opens every day at 7:00 and offers great breakfast options for the best price in Tokyo. If you are staying in the Shibuya or Shinjuku area it easy to get to; located right next to the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Enjoy breakfast and then walk 8-10 …

Fungo Breakfast & Burgers Cafe is a local family favorite. It is conveniently located less than a minute walk from the popular Setagaya Park with mini SL train that you can ride, pedal go cart track, playgrounds and shanty town where kids build fires, saw wood and take risks, and a …

Decora Creamery is a fantastic spot to satisfy your sweet tooth. Located in the food courts at Divers City Odaiba Decora Creamery offers huge cotton candy / fairy floss, colorful soft cream, tapioca drinks and fairy floss combos. They serve interesting combinations of unique Soft-Serve Ice Cream with Cotton Candy; …

If you’ve wandered into a Japanese supermarket simply shopping for rice, you have probably been surprised and maybe overwhelmed by the variety. White rice, brown rice, non-wash rice the list goes on! Japanese rice is more than a source of carbohydrate, it is a part of Japan’s culture. According 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 …

Nestled along the Meguro River sits the Nakameguro Peanuts Cafe – a lofty and bright cafe themed around Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. Patrons are welcomed to the 1st floor dining area filled with natural light, fresh green plants and walls lined with Peanuts original and limited-edition merchandise. The second …

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 …

** Space Joy CLOSED it`s doors after 7 years of service in MAY 2016 ** Space Joy (スペースジョイ) Jiyugaoka is the perfect place to have a meal while your little ones play. The main floor is a dining cafe (patio dining is available on nice weather days), the 2nd floor is …

Nabe, Japanese hot pot, is our favorite winter meal. It`s quick, nutritious, and it`ll warm you up fast. There are many different types of nabe; sukiyaki, shabu shabu, chanko nabe, kimchi nabe, etc. Our favorite is Japanese shabu shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ) which consists of raw assorted vegetables, tofu, thin slices of …

The TY Harbor Brewery Restaurant in Shingawa is a popular date spot and family-friendly. Located in the Tennoz area TY Harbor opens daily from 11:30am serving traditional American cuisine with soup and salad sets and vegetarian meals as well. Their non-smoking restaurant with in-house brewed craft beers and seasonal spirits are a …

Tiger Gyoza in Hiroo is an inexpensive but yummy restaurant to have a quick lunch or dinner. The speciality is gyoza (dumplings/pot stickers) both fried and boiled.  Tiger Gyoza is a chain with locations in Shibuya, Akasaka and many other locals around Tokyo, but we frequent the one in Hiroo. …

Have you discovered Shimokitazawa in Tokyo? Shimokitazawa is a charming coffee filled Tokyo neighbourhood! Discover Shimokitazawa Like its location just outside the Yamanote line circle, Shimokitazawa tends to fall just out of the view of international residents living in central Tokyo. Yet the neighborhood, which is just 7 minutes from Shinjuku …

Helianthus baby wear and infant-friendly cafe is a great spot for parents to chat, have a meal and read a magazine while your little ones explore their play den (for infants and toddlers only). They serve a simple lunch menu with sandwiches, curry, drinks, spirit and desserts for a very low …

Ginkgo nuts (Ginnan – ぎんなん) are in season from October – December, so try these Japanese Gingko Nut Recipes. If you live in Japan, you have probably been noticing the stinky mushy fruits falling from local trees. To some people the odor is camembert cheese to others far worse odors. …

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 …

J.S. Pancake Cafe (ジェイエス パンケーキカフェ) serves delicious and filling brunch all day every day. J.S. Pancake Cafe is owned by the Japanese casual clothing brand, Journal Standard, and specializes in savory and sweet pancakes. They have twelve locations in Japan including two in Tokyo and one in Yokohama. We stopped in at the Tennoji location in the Mio …

We visited the Micro Pig cafe and spent a delightful time with the most ADORABLE micro pigs. The Meguro micro pig cafe opened in March this year and was such a hit they opened another location in Harajuku this month! Not only can you spend time with the micro pigs …

I am a New Englander and grew up on lobster, so I am thrilled that Luke’s Lobster is expanding in Japan. They have opened their sixth Japan store in Hiroo. If you are still waiting in the HUGE line in Omotesando, come on down to Hiroo, especially M-F when it is …

Our family loves conveyor belt sushi. Here are our TOP Family Friendly Tokyo Sushi Restaurants. Do you have one to add? Leave a comment below.  Also checkout our handy basic Japanese guide for eating out!  When my out of town friends with elementary and teenage eater ask me for Tokyo …

Blue Bottle Coffee (ブルーボトルコーヒー) opened their newest shop in Nakameguro. They now have stores in nine Tokyo locations and don’t seem to be slowing down – Sangenjaya, Meguro, Nakameguro, Shinagawa, Roppongi, Aoyama, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and their 1st was Kiyosumi Fukugawa (where they also roast).  I`m thrilled to have a …