sourencho curations

Japan

Tips

  • Add a SUICA card to your apple wallet to use for subway
  • Use the tabelog site instead of google maps to find good restuarants nearby. Note that 3.5 is a good rating
  • Search for food on google maps in japanese, not english
  • Find a, not necessarily konbini, onigiri or bento box place in the morning to get you going. It’s a fast and light breakfast
  • Laundromats are easy to find, often 24/7 and auto include detergent
  • If you want to do a road trip, you can rent a car from Toyota Rent a Car. Make sure to get an international drivers license from AAA
  • Use the app Flush to find public toilets

Tokyo

Organized by neighborhood because Tokyo is so large

Lists

Omote-Sando

Shibuya

  • らぁ麺はやし田渋谷宇田川町店
    • Duck ramen! I tried all three. I recommend the dark duck one and the salt chicken one. The rich broth option was too much.
    • Careful about going to the wrong place. Google maps showed the opposite side of the building for us.
  • Ramen Hayashi*
  • Uobei Shibuya
    • Cheap but delicious sushi spot where you order with a touch screen and the sushi zips to you on rails until your stack of plates topples over
  • Mukai
    • Seafood donburi, pile of mixed seafood on rice
  • Katsudon-ya Zuicho
    • Only katsudon on the menu and cash only. I recommended large rice and extra egg
    • Not really the typical katsudon. They use a sweet dark sauce that isn’t my favorite
    • Long line because it’s only 8 seats. Best to arrive when/before they open
  • About Life Coffee Brewers*

Shinjuku

  • Udon Shin
    • Popular udon spot with excellent dishes including carbonara udon that comes with a huge piece of bacon tempura
    • Reserve two weeks in advance

Yoyogi

Roppongi

  • Nihonbashi Kaisen Don Tsujihan
    • Seafood donburi, pile of mixed seafood on rice. At the end they fill your bowl with delicious broth!
  • Butagumi Shokudo
    • Super high quality tonkatsu restuarant. Didn’t know pork could taste so good!
  • Electrik Jinja
    • Amazing, free live jazz on Tuesdays. The snarky puppy drummer did a guest appearance when we went!
    • Note that they allow smoking inside

Chiyoda City

Shimokitazawa

Hip neighborhood with nice walkway, thrift shopping and fancy stores

Kappabashi Kitchen Street

Walk along the street for kitchenware. Lots of knife shops

  • Chiyoda Sushi
    • Lowkey, delicious take out sushi boxes
  • Kama-Asa
    • Great kitchenware including the special black soft cutting board
    • Metal trays and non special items are cheaper in the stores down the street
  • Kikumaru
    • Amitsu dessert across from the huge Higashi Hongan-ji temple

Other

Kyoto

Lists

Shop

  • Find one of the Ochanokosaisai stores and try their red rice seasoning
    • It’s so good that I bought 8 packs to give to friends

Eat

  • Kyogaku Kaneyo
    • A long-loved eel restaurant from the taisho era. They’ve been in business for around 100 years
  • Manpuku Onigiri
    • Old onigiri stall
  • Monk*
    • Seasonal pizzas and dishes from famous chef Imai. 7 course meal. Watch Chefs Tapble Pizza episode about it
    • Gotta reserve super in advance

Drink

  • 7T+
    • Fancy matcha and tea
  • kazubar
    • Raw, unfinished, no frills bar with a friendly staff and very strong vibes. No big light, literally only candles and the occasional flashlight.
    • 3rd floor above elephant. Cash only, but fairly inexpensive
    • guest editor’s note: a woman spent her first 30 minutes dancing by herself in the corner to a mix of old fleet foxes and bad low tempo edm. vibes are incredible.

Do

Osaka

Eat

Drink

  • Groovy
    • Very laid back record bar with great sound system. Perfect for a night cap
    • ⁠Bar owner speaks english, is knowledgeable, and is a total yapper. Ask him about Brooklyn

Naoshima

  • We stayed in a cheap hostel in Uno and ferried in.

Port

East side

South Side

Teshima

*haven’t been myself but recommended by someone I trust!