Ginza is not just a shopper’s paradise, it’s also a foodie’s haven with a multitude of cuisines from around the world. From historical eateries to bustling izakaya, here are five places you can bookmark for your next Tokyo trip.
Category: Explore
When in Tokyo: Bistro Fukumimi Corridor @ Ginza, Chuo City – Bustling and Modern Izakaya Open Till 11.30pm
I was determined to eat as many different local dishes as possible, and yakitori seemed like the best way to conclude my Tokyo trip.
It was by pure chance that I found myself back at Bistro Fukumimi Corridor, the very same yakitori bar that my colleagues and I had visited during our last work trip.
Located along Ginza Corridor, which runs around and under the Yamanote Line, its main premises is actually located underground, with a steep staircase leading to it. As with most other dining places situated in touristy Ginza, Bistro Fukumimi Corridor is foreigner-friendly, with items listed in both English and Japanese.
When in Tokyo: Ginza Kimuraya @ Chuo City, Ginza – The Birthplace of Anpan
Many of us have fond memories of munching on a warm an pan for a quick breakfast or after-school snack. But did you know that this bite-sized comfort food was supposedly born in the heart of Ginza, Tokyo?
Ginza Kimuraya is a heritage bakery of almost two centuries, having opened its doors in 1869. Situated on the same road as the iconic Seiko House Ginza Clock Tower, it is widely regarded as the oldest and first Western-style bakery in Japan.
When in Ibaraki: COLK @ Mito, Ibaraki – Sophisticated Chef’s Menu Boasting Local Ingredients
The beauty of the seasons is in their ephemeral nature, which makes experiencing them before they are swept away by the winds of change even more precious. The same can be said of the dishes inspired and crafted from each season’s ingredients.
COLK is an intimate Japanese-French restaurant that strives for culinary creativity using the best and freshest ingredients from Ibaraki.
Its menu changes three times a year, in line with the four seasons, and whenever the restaurant can acquire exceptionally good-quality components that warrant a special change.
Image Source: COLK
When in Tokyo: 9th Keisuke @ Ginza, Chuo City – Duck Ramen Located Five Minutes from Uniqlo Flagship Store
I stumbled upon 9th Keisuke on my first night in Ginza, when an extended shopping trip at the Uniqlo Flagship Store led me in search of food places that were open past 9pm, when most other joints would have closed shop. Little did I know that this was actually the ninth branch of Chef Keisuke Takeda, the founder of the ubiquitous Keisuke Ramen chain in Singapore.
Tucked away at the back of Ginza Six and close to Higashi-Ginza Station, 9th Keisuke is in the company of numerous other ramen chains, such as the hugely popular Kyushu Jangara Ramen. In fact, the street has come to be known as the ramen street of Ginza.
If you’re not up for braving the crazy long queue time at 9th Keisuke’s prolific neighbours, especially after traversing shop after shop in Tokyo’s ritziest district, this is a pretty decent spot to satiate ramen cravings. True to the Keisuke Ramen chain, 9th Keisuke has its own specialty and it is duck ramen.
When in Tochigi: Exploring Nasu Highlands, Tochigi’s Picturesque Mountain Town
Nasu turned out to be one of the unexpected highlights of my Tokyo trip, with its mountainous locales, forest trails, and quiet serenity.
Spanning from Nasu Shiobara and Nasu Kogen, it’s an expansive, remote region that’s also home to numerous onsens and holiday villas of the rich and famous. Here are nine spots where you can check out Nasu’s natural beauty and enjoy an idyllic getaway from the city.
When in Tokyo: Gyoza Hohei @ Ryushin Buiding, Ginza – Gyoza Bar Open Till Late; Try Their Ginger Gyoza
I love me a good gyoza, whether as a hearty dinner dish or a sinful snack to pair with beer. There are few experiences as comforting as biting into a thin gyoza skin and sinking your teeth into greasy minced meat that is bursting with flavour.
I stumbled upon Gyoza Hohei while searching for a late dinner near my hotel in Ginza. Turns out, this unassuming establishment is actually the sister location to the legendary Kyoto-based eatery of the same name!
Chue On It 