News On Japan

Eating and Drinking at a Luxury Drinking Alley on Top of Tokyo!

TOKYO, Sep 05 (Japan by Food) - Shizuka heads to Minato City in Tokyo to check out a yokocho of a different kind. Yokocho, meaning “alleyway” or “side street”, are a network of narrow alleyways lined with various eateries and bars.

Yokocho are a fascinating part of Japan’s urban dining culture, but today, we’re checking out a new interpretation of this timely social dining concept: a sky-high themed indoor yokocho!

Shizuka makes her way up to the 38th floor of the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Minato City (Tokyo) to Ajikaido Gojusantsug: a high-end indoor yokocho where the restaurants are named after the 53 stations (or rest areas) along the Tokaido Road, which connected Kyoto to Edo (otherwise known as modern Tokyo).

First stop on our indoor yokocho journey, Sanjo–a teppanyaki restaurant serving Japanese wagyu beef. Shizuka sits and indulges in a luxurious course meal starring pancakes with caviar, Japanese black beef sirloin, and more. Next stop on our Tokaido-themed yokocho pilgrimage is Odawara, where Shizuka savors fresh seafood and vegetable tempura. Full but with room for more, Shizuka walks to her final stop, Nihonbashi–a premium sushi restaurant with a breathtaking view of the Tokyo skyline. The chef prepares fresh sushi using the finest local seafood, ensuring our host ends the journey on a delectable high.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has decided to raise its policy interest rate from an annualized 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent. This marks the first rate hike in six months and appears aimed at correcting the historically weak yen.

Japan is facing an unprecedented rice shortage, with recent data highlighting alarming supply-demand imbalances in the domestic market. The Agricultural Newspaper reported on January 10 that the DI (Demand-Supply Index), a measure of rice market balance, reached a record high of 80. This figure indicates a critical shortfall in rice availability, surpassing even last year's levels when supermarket shelves were emptied.

The resignation of popular television personality Masahiro Nakai has sent shockwaves through the Japanese entertainment industry. Announced through his agency’s website, Nakai apologized, stating, “I’m truly sorry for this sudden farewell.” His decision to retire has sparked debates over whether this marks the conclusion of ongoing controversies surrounding him and the television networks involved.

Former executives of the Sunshine Aquarium in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, including a former director and three others, have been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of fraudulently receiving management fees by misreporting the number of endangered turtles in their care.

Three people were attacked near JR Nagano Station at around 8 p.m., leaving a man in his 40s in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest and two others hospitalized.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Food NEWS

Concerns are growing over the potential for further increases in egg prices as mass culling due to avian influenza continues to affect supplies. This situation has shifted attention toward egg alternatives.

Tokyo Skytree is well worth a visit, and not just for the views. Home to a unique food scene, this is a great place to experience both traditional and modern Japanese food. (Japan by Food)

Join us on a delicious journey as we explore the iconic Seico Mart, the most popular convenience store chain in Hokkaido, Sapporo! In this video, we challenge ourselves to eat only Seico Mart meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the day. (TabiEats)

Last month, Chef Kei Kobayashi, the first Asian to earn three Michelin stars in Paris, supervised dishes for the film "Grand Maison Paris." His restaurant in Paris, as well as five branded establishments in Japan, was featured in a special interview. Kobayashi proposed 20 to 30 menu items for the movie, with several dishes now being offered in Japan for a limited time, including a 5,500-yen course at his Gotemba restaurant.

Known for its marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture, wagyu, or Japanese premium meat, is one of the most luxurious in the world. This means wagyu is typically expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. (Japan by Food)

No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to a local izakaya. There, you'll find office workers gathering to refresh after a long workday with a cold glass of beer, groups of friends cheering to celebrate a special event, and travelers looking to make friends. (Japan by Food)

Naples, Rome, New York, Chicago and… Tokyo? Little do many people know, several Tokyo pizza shops are ranked among the best not only in Asia, but in the world! (Japan by Food)

In this episode on Tekniq, we witness the massive operation of catching yellowtail fish, followed by the process of slicing banana trees for fish food. (TEKNIQ)