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Celebrating Japan’s Unique Tea Brews and Blends! | Arigato Travel
Japanese tea is not merely just a beverage but the emblem and heart of Japanese culture, often known for its rich flavours and tons of health benefits. Tracing its roots back over a millennium, Buddhist monks introduced tea to Japan from China, which was quickly popularised amongst the Japanese elites of the time. Court nobility to the Samurai class was deeply enamoured by the aromatics and flavours of these delicious leaves that subsequently led to the birth of some of the most beautifully illustrious traditions known as
Taste of Jimbocho: Tokyo’s Second-Hand Book Capital | Arigato Travel
Throughout our lives, books have always been a great source of information and inspiration. Digital books have recently gained popularity as they are lighter and better for the environment and your pocket. However, a digital book will never have the same feeling as a paper book. The town of Jimbocho in Tokyo is where these paper books are grouped. Jimbocho, which is in the center of Tokyo, is the ideal location for book lovers and offers much joy for bibliophiles everywhere. This post will go deeper into this neighborhood, the sacred home of paper books. History of Jimbocho Jimbocho once housed a huge number of universities, and as a result, plenty of cafes and bookstores dedicated to students and faculty members were opened in the area. Since the majority of these colleges specialized in law during the Meiji period, a large number of used and antiquarian bookshops primarily focusing on legal literature, but also featuring other prominent genres, appeared nearby. Building the area around these educational institutes was the primary foundation for the neighborhood's development as an antique book district. Even though the neighborhood was almost completely destroyed by fire after the war, Jimbocho still managed to keep the tradition of being the main destination for book lovers or the town of bookstores alive. Our Bookstore Recommendation List For You Jimbocho is filled with new and secondhand bookstores, and we'd like to highlight four of the top ones for you here. Bookstore in Kitazawa One of Jimbocho's oldest bookshops, Kitazawa Bookstore has been in operation for more than 120 years. It boasts a big range of vintage novels and is well known as a store that specializes in Western literature, which constantly draws in a lot of people. The business also focuses on stage settings, exhibitions, store interior design, and other interior design projects. It also provides appealing interior design suggestions made from used books. Kitazawa Bookstore's official website Google Maps Link Bookstore Isseido Isseido Bookstore, which has been around for more than 115 years and offers a large selection of books on Japan, including Japanese literature, poetry, ethnic books, and historical books. This wide selection makes it the best place to go if you're seeking books specializing in Japan as a whole. Another bonus to this store is that customers can also buy books online without having to go to the store thanks to the official website's online store. Bookstore Isseido’s official website Google Maps Link Our Selection of Book Cafes in Jimbocho Cafés and coffee shops are the perfect places to go if you want to take a break while reading your brand-new book. Jimbocho has a wide variety of cafés for people who wish to disconnect from the real world through the perfect cup of coffee and a little bit of reading. We'll introduce five of Jimbocho's top cafés for you. Sabouru Jimbocho's Sabouru has been a popular cafe for more than 60 years. A special ambiance covers the inside thanks to the wooden ornaments and other collection items that are typically found in tropical countries. Pizza toast is the top suggestion on the menu. The chef tops a large slice of bread with pizza sauce and tasty melted cheese. You can't go wrong with this delicious dish Official Website: Sabouru Google Maps Link Bumpodo Gallery cafe On the third floor of Bumpodo Gallery, there is a cafe that is connected to a long-standing art supplies store. Numerous exhibitions are held in the gallery space, allowing guests to admire art whilst enjoying delicious sweets and amazing drinks. Visitors can savor their rich coffee and pastries in the café’s corner vintage western setting. Official Website: Bumpodo Gallery Cafe Glitch Coffee Roasters The owner of Glitch Coffee & Roasters runs a well-lit cafe where the best coffee is served. The proprietor is very careful about not offering any blended coffees and only serving his preferred roasted coffees. Coffee beans come in a variety of jars at the store, and the owner is very proud to offer freshly ground coffee to you. Official Website: GLITCH COFFEE & ROASTERS Our selection of Curry restaurants in Jimbocho In this same area loved by writers and novelists we find a variety of delicious curry restaurants that you should stop by while you are there, we will recommend you a few below: Curry specialty Ethiopia Curry Ethiopia Curry is definitely one of the best by merit. When you eat their smooth curry, which is cooked with a variety of veggies by simmering them with 12 different kinds of spices, your body will begin to heat up. Although chicken curry is the most popular option, there are other beef, chicken, and bean curries on the menu. You should go there because it is one of the only restaurants to offer 70 different levels of spiciness choices for your tongue’s tolerance. Sumatra Curry Kyoeido The curry served in this restaurant is originally from the island of Sumatra and has been specially prepared for Japanese clients. This is the oldest curry restaurant in Jimbocho. It has a huge variety of Curry that you can try, including beef, chicken, or even ox tongue. The potage soup that is served alongside the curry complements the hot curry quite well. Udon Maruka Maruka Udon took part in this list specifically because it is special of its kind. Curry pairs well with other foods besides just rice! This restaurant decided to couple it with a bowl of Udon noodles. This restaurant is considered to be the most famous in Jimbocho for its chewy and substantial Udon noodles well combined with the curry sauce. We also advise adding tempura or a poached egg as topping. The combination of curry and udon noodles is the best to bear with the cold weather. Gavial Curry restaurant: Gavial Curry is famous for being cozy and comfy in style. The Japanese beef used in GAVIAL's curry foundation is cooked over the course of more than a full day. You can taste the high quality of the ingredients that were carefully chosen and prepared to make this delicious curry. Grated cheese is put on top of the rice before serving to complete the taste alongside their excellent side dishes selection. It's a cozy restaurant! And because Jimbocho is home to many delicious cuisines, we can not finish without talking about... Jimbōchō Kurosu This restaurant is famous as the hidden gem of the curry district, it is famous even among people who are not fans of Ramen. The noodles are made with a special Hokkaido-grown flour called “Haru yo Koi”. which gives it an earthiness, in addition to the perfectly measured portions of salt and alkaline “Kansui” which gives it a bounciness pairing with its refined sauce. You can choose from a big selection of classic toppings available. Give it a try on your next trip to Japan. It definitely deserves it. Sagatani Jimbocho: Japanese people love this restaurant and you can notice it when visiting the long line forming in front of it, it serves one of the best Soba noodles in Tokyo at competitive prices. Don’t worry even if the line forms quickly, it also moves quickly. The restaurant offers Soba full of taste by itself, adding the sauce to it makes it juicy and tender, they also offer a variety of fried toppings that can only add to the taste. In short, a taste out of this world. Are you a lover of books or cafes? Jimbocho, with its huge book volumes stacked at every corner, offers you a moment surrounded by books in a wonderful old-fashioned coffee shop with the warmth of its curry restaurants. You will definitely feel at home. Do not forget to add it to your list for your next trip to Japan. Feature photo credits: gltjp.com Looking for hidden gem restaurants in Tokyo during your trip? Book your local guide and create delicious memories together!
SAIJO’S 2024 SAKE MATSURI: THIS OCTOBER | Arigato Travel
Sake. Smooth, simple, elegant. With its notoriety and worldwide acclaim, this sophisticated fermented rice wine can be argued as Japan’s national alcohol. For all those who’ve given it a try and now proudly call themselves fans of this delicious beverage, we have something in store for you today! Touted as one of the largest sake festivals in the country, the Sake Matsuri, as the name implies, is no less than sake heaven! With over 100,000 to 200,000 people gathering together to celebrate their love and interest in the drink, it creates a contagious atmosphere of pure excitement. But hey, don’t worry. Even if you’ve never taken so much as a sip, this is more than the perfect opportunity to take a crack at it! The festival is held annually for two days (Saturday and Sunday) during the month of October. This year, it will be taking place on the 12th from 10:00 A.M. to 8 P.M. and the 13th from 10:00 A.M. to 5 P.M. The hosting town, Higashi-hiroshima’s quiet and quaint Saijo, has long since been renowned for its sake, being home to seven breweries. Where it gets really interesting, though, is the fact that they all happen to be concentrated in a single area! Dubbed “Sakagura-dori” literally “Sake Brewery Street,” you would probably guess that when festivities start, it sees a lot of activity. You’d be 100% right! While normally as calm as the rest of sleepy Saijo, the festival turns things upside down. As people flood the streets, the breweries open their doors to foot traffic while local businesses set up stalls. If you can, be sure to hop in on a brewery tour–interesting tidbits of history aside, being able to do some taste testing is sure to be a highlight! After all that walking it’s understandable if you're a little spent. Maybe you want to sit down and refill the tank before venturing out again. Well, this is your chance to dig into Saijo’s own bishu nabe, which is said to have originated here. A simple hot pot, it’s a dish commonly eaten by sake brewers to give them the energy needed for such a back-breaking job. Rather than being cooked in water, however, the meat and vegetables are all boiled in sake! Yep, that’s right. But no worries, it won’t get you the slightest bit drunk since the alcohol evaporates while cooking, meaning anyone of any age can enjoy this hearty meal. It’s ¥14,300 per 4-person serving and includes two bottles of local sake. Bottoms up! The main draw of the Sake Matsuri, though—what really gets everyone and their grandma to come rushing over to Hiroshima in October is the aptly named Sake Square. In this venue, over 800 varieties of sake hailing from all across Japan are for the tasting! It’s samples galore and will have your tongue smiling by the time you’ve had your fill. Tickets for designated time slots can be bought in advance at ¥3,300 or at the door for ¥3,800. You’re definitely getting your bang for your buck since a ticket covers 8 drinks, 2 snacks, a bottle of yawaragi-mizu water, a free sake cup, and a list of the different wines being served. Tickets are available for sale at 7/11’s Ticket Pia machines. For those who don’t consider themselves drinkers or don’t particularly rock with sake, don’t fear there’s still a barrel full of fun to be had. Yes, though themed around alcohol, the festival has plenty of activities that can be enjoyed by all. Live music, parades, and even numerous karaoke contests offer themselves as opportunities to have an absolute blast! On Saturday morning, you can watch a group of men coming from Matsuo Shrine carrying a heavy mikoshi (portable shrine) on their shoulders. At 2 P.M. that same day it’s the women’s turn, and they can be seen doing the same in their Hime Mikoshi procession, hustling over from mitate shrine. The Sake Matsuri is astounding for the sheer fact that the shared enjoyment of a single drink can bring together so many people. It’s a lively, heart-pounding romp that's a fun ride with friends, family, or even just yourself. There’s much to explore, much to do, and tons, tons to drink. For the folks who are planning on coming to Japan in October, the Sake Matsuri is a delightful way to spend a weekend and a chance to make memories that shine as brightly as a freshly poured cup of sake. EVENT DETAILS: Dates: October 12th from 10:00 A.M. to 8 P.M. and October 13th from 10:00 A.M. to 5 P.M Website: https://sakematsuri.com/ Fees: Advanced Tickets ¥3,300 & Tickets at the door ¥3,800 Location: There are several different venues, so please check the website for information about them. The website is also available in several different languages! Featured Photo Credit: Johnny Coming to Hiroshima for the Sake Festival? Reach out to our Specialists Team to plan your WHOLE trip and properly explore this fantastic prefecture!
Everyday Meals In The Japanese Countryside: Food I Love Eating! | Arigato Travel
The Japanese countryside offers unique culinary experiences. Read on to learn about natural farming in Shikoku, see delicious daily meals from an Ehime prefecture homestead, and consider the outlook for local foods of rural Japan. Make sure you bring along some snacks because believe me when I say you’ll be leaving hungry! Local and Home-Grown Foods in Rural Japan Hi! Bitsii here. My husband and I live deep in the mountains of the Japanese Countryside in rural Shikoku. We've been building a permaculture homestead here. That means growing fruit and vegetables, but it also means learning more about the local foods of Japan. We've been tending to the kiwi fields, growing vegetables from seeds, and teaching ourselves how to not only eat better but self-sufficiently as well. That means prioritizing foods we can grow, forage, hunt, and fish from right here in the countryside. A Noteworthy History of Sustainable Farming in Ehime Prefecture Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer from Ehime Prefecture known for his natural farming methods. He is easily considered the forefather of natural farming, having literally written the book, “The One-Straw Revolution.” Visitors to the prefecture can even still visit his farm, which is now run by his descendants today. Although Japanese tradition is heavily connected to nature, natural farming practices have mostly been replaced by plastic weed barriers, chemical fertilizers, and mono-culture crops. Fukuoka’s approach on the other hand was far more organic, natural, and a bit wild. He would scatter a mix of seeds, sometimes in clay balls, across fields and mountainsides without weeding, watering, or using pesticides. Following his developed practices, we have created incredible vegetable fields on our property that are diverse, weed-filled, and completely chemical-free. While our farm is more structured than Fukuoka's