Topic: All things Japan / page 21 of 23
Kanamean Nishitomiya ryokan in Kyoto

Kanamean Nishitomiya ryokan in Kyoto

Kanamean Nishitomiya ryokan in Kyoto

Staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Kyoto was a very special experience. Let’s say, hoteliers who are willing to learn how to host a guest in their hotel should stay in a high-end ryokan for at least one night. The experience was “special” from the moment my taxi…

18
Mar '10
A moment in time. Kyoto.

A moment in time. Kyoto.

A moment in time. Kyoto.

17
Mar '10
An impossible ban?

An impossible ban?

An impossible ban?

While some environmentally conscious countries are proposing to ban the international bluefin tuna trade, in Japan business keeps going. The first tuna auction this year fetched a price of 1.55 million Yen ( around 11 600 euros) for a 150 kg fish. For an obvious reason, Japan is opposing the ban…

5
Jan '10
Harutaka, Tokyo

Harutaka, Tokyo

Harutaka, Tokyo

Harutaka (1*, Kawabata Building 3F, 8-5-8 Ginza, tel. 03 3573 1144 ) – the last sushiya from the sushi from Tokyo series this year. And my favourite so far. Harutaka Takahashi ( left) comes from Sukiyabashi Jiro “school”, so you can see many similarities with Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi (and, I…

16
Dec '09
Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi

Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi

Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi

I missed my plane back to Europe, so instead of waiting at Narita for the evening flight I went back to Tokyo and had lunch at Sukiyabashi Jiro in Roppongi Hills. (The one Michelin English speaking sister restaurant of the three Michelin Sukiyabashi Jiro in Ginza. The sushi chef is…

1
Dec '09
Master, soup first or noodles first?

Master, soup first or noodles first?

Master, soup first or noodles first?

If you love Japanese culture, you must have seen or heard of an eighties movie called “Tampopo”, Japanese comedy about love, life and ramen. The movie starts with a younger truck driver Gun (Ken Watanabe) reading a book about ramen to an older truck driver Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki). The younger…

24
Nov '09
Only in Tokyo

Only in Tokyo

Only in Tokyo

Only in Tokyo – 3 melons for around 500 dollars, found in a fruit shop in Ginza… No, I didn’t buy one.

21
Nov '09
Nobu Tokyo

Nobu Tokyo

Nobu Tokyo

I find it hard to believe myself but I’ve been three times in Nobu over a stay of two weeks in Tokyo. Why go to an international chain when Tokyo has so many exciting local places to offer? Well, the first time I went there was out of plain curiosity.…

1
Nov '09
Thick pieces of raw fish is a problem

Thick pieces of raw fish is a problem

Thick pieces of raw fish is a problem

Whether it is a cheap restaurant or a fine and famous place, sushi in Tokyo will be better than in Europe most of the times. At least the fish will be fresher and more various. How the fish is cut is another issue. I don’t think that thick pieces of…

23
Oct '09
Sushiko Honten

Sushiko Honten

Sushiko Honten

During this trip to Tokyo I started with Sushi Mizutani, then Sushi Kanesaka and ended up at Sushiko Honten (6-3-8 Ginza, tel. 03 3571 1968 ). Ironically, my favourite of all the three was the latter, the sushi place that has only one Michelin star, the least from all the…

20
Oct '09