Friday, August 21, 2015

Hello Jessica

This post is for you.

Okay hiatus for super long, and I haven't found the time to continue, but I WILL finish this by... the end of the year HAHAH oops.


I won't be doing reviews, just locations (nearest station, and directions if I can remember) and pictures. I didn't put addresses and directions for some, but if you need more info you just google lah ok hahah.


In no particular order, here are the recommendations: 


Ichiran

Locations: They have shops littered all around, you go and hunt lah hahah.

http://www.ichiran.co.jp/english/html/map.html 

DELISH AND CHEAP PLS EAT.
Mutekiya (無敵家)
Location: Ikebukuro station. Go early, cos it gets crowded pretty quickly.
I ate: Honmarumen cos I was pretty full and didn't want to overeat, but there are other more filling options!

Taimeiken (たいめいけん)
Location: Nihonbashi station. I think it's exit C, turn left, and you should see the brown building as in the picture below. Look for the kite museum. Go early, like wait for it to open, cos there will typically be a queue already waiting for it to open.
I ate: Tampopo omurice (タンポポオムライス)

Menya Takeichi
Location: Hatsudai station, one of the shops on the right when you come out of the North exit. Opens 530pm till late.
I ate: Nokou tori paitan ramen 濃厚鶏ら~めん (lit. thick chicken white soup ramen hahaha) the 2nd picture of the left column. BEST CHICKEN EVER.



Ichifuku (一福)
Location: ~8-10min walk from Hatsudai station. I think you'll need to google this one. It's easy to miss, so keep a lookout for it! 
I ate: Irorimen (囲炉裏麺), a miso-based ramen with sake, magical croutons, and shark cartilage  you'll have to buy the food ticket from the vending machine, so look out for the characters hahaha.


Takano Fruit Parlour
Location: Shinjuku Exit A7 (either A7 or A10, I can't remember, but there is this huge Takano billboard at the exit, so keep a lookout for it).
I ate: Musk melon parfait. Really, the only thing you need to eat in Japan. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, DON'T DISAPPOINT ME.

Gindaco takoyaki
Locations: All around also have hahaha. I went to the Ameyokocho outlet, but there's one in Asakusa too.

I ate: 6-pc takoyaki. They have 6 and 8 piece options I believe. It was a lot better than I expected, so it's worth the try imo.

Chasen (traditional Japanese dessert)
Location: 3 Chome-59-19 Izumi, Suginami, Tokyo 168-0063, Japan (google "Chasen Suginami"). It's a small, humble shop at the entrance of this ugly brown building hahah easy to miss (as with everything else ugh).
I ate: Some matcha set hahah it was delicious. Worth the hunt if you have nothing else to do.

Shirohige's totoro cream puffs
Location: Setagayadaita Station (世田谷代田駅) on the Odakyu Line 

I got damn lost here, and I would hate for anyone to experience that same frustration, so I have detailed directions!! 


Take the West Exit (西口), and when you reach the road, turn right. You should see a Lawson up ahead on the right. Turn right at the next junction, and walk straight all the way to the end, and you will reach the cafe. Along the way, you should see Cypress Hills or Terrace (or Cypress something) on your left, and parking lots on your right. Keep walking straight, and you will see a TOLO coffee and bakery signboard. Follow the road beyond that, and you will eventually reach the cafe on your left!


(This sign was rather inconspicuous and not very helpful)

I ate: Strawberry, custard and matcha cream puffs.


Gyukatsu Motomura (牛かつ もと村)
Location: Shibuya station, B1F 3-18-10 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. The shop itself is in the basement, but the queue will reach the ground level. Go early!!
I ate: Gyukatsu (80g) we wanted to get the 130g one but it was sold out (!!) so yes GO VERY EARLY.

Narikura Tonkatsu (成蔵とんかつ)
Location: Takanobaba station; Japan, 〒169-0075 Tokyo, Shinjuku, 高田馬場 (Takanobaba) 1-32-11


I ate: Tonkatsu teishoku. They have a variety of cuts, like hire (leaner) and rosu (fattier) and a variety of weights. Don't be tempted to order the largest, cos it can get quite gelat if you overeat imo. And the  crust gets soggy if you take too long to eat it also.

Sukiyaki Yoshihashi (すきやきよしはし)
Location: Asakusamitsuke station; 1, 1 Chome-5-25 Motoakasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Go for lunch, and go early, cos there will definitely be a queue. I got there at about 1045, thinking it opened at 11am, but it opens at 1130. But by 11, quite a number of people had arrived.

I ate: Gyu-nabe teishoku (鍋 定食) or just tell the waitress sukiyaki. They don't speak english, nor do they have an english menu, so just point at the words on the menu hahah.


Shitamachi museum (下町風俗資料館)
Location: In Ueno Park, accessible from a number of stations. Japan, 〒110-0007 Tokyo, Taito, 上野公園 (Ueno Kouen) 2−1. http://www.taitocity.net/taito/shitamachi/sitamachi_english/shitamachi_english.html
I did: There are these super cute games and puzzles on the second level and you could just spend half a day playing with everything and trying to work all the puzzles out. Good if you have nothing to do and don't wanna spend time outdoors. No pictures allowed on the second level where specified. 

Science museum (科学技術館) 
Note: NOT the National Museum of Nature and Science, which is in Ueno
Location: Kudanshita station or Takebashi station; http://www.jsf.or.jp/eng/index.php website gives more information on access and directions. It's near the Imperial Palace Gardens, Nippon Budoukan, and National Museum of Modern Art.

I did: Spent the entire day here! There are so many things to do and to look at. There are like 7 levels, and each level has a number of sections as well. Devote an entire day here, but be prepared to be tired hahah.
OKAY DATS IT. ((:

p/s sorry I cannot find the mountain hahah.