A place with great taste and atmosphere where you can enjoy the local atmosphere
Carlos Alonso (Mexico City)
I love wandering the backstreets of Tokyo. During one of those walks, I came across Hatos Outside, a delicious curry and craft beer restaurant. It's always crowded with cool young people, and it's unique in that it has a DJ booth inside. You can have a great time chatting about music with the staff and get pleasantly drunk. Even though it's in a residential area in the city center, it has a beach-like openness. I love the Showa-era atmosphere of Tonkatsu Taiho. I always order the "Special Pork Loin Cutlet Set Meal." The meat is cooked perfectly, and even the fluffy cabbage that comes with it is perfectly cooked.
Hatos Outside
The spicy curry, which highlights the umami and sweetness of vegetables, also has a menu that is suitable for vegans and children.
Address: Akamatsu Building 1F, 4-22-5 Akatsutsumi, Setagaya-ku | map
TEL: 03-6265-8351
Opening hours: 11:30am - 3pm, 5:30pm - 11pm
(Sundays and holidays 11:30am - 10pm). Closed on Mondays.
Tonkatsu Daiho
You can also enjoy "TOKYO X" pork from Tokyo, which has a very fine texture and a clean, fatty flavor. As it is limited in quantity, it will end once sold out.
Address: 1F, 1-6-15 Meguro, Meguro-ku | map
TEL: 03-3491-9470
Opening hours: 11:30am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm. Irregular holidays.
A never-ending "playground" that always gives you stimulation and inspiration
Anupong Kutikul (Bangkok)
Sneaker Shop SKIT, where you can find rare historical items, is a must-visit spot. I was thrilled when I found the original Nike SB Dunk Low Paris from the early 2000s there. Super Potato Akihabara, filled with retro games, is a place that takes me back to my childhood, as I grew up playing Japanese games. Sneakers, fashion, games, food, music... Tokyo is like a playground where you can find everything you love. The exquisite balance of a futuristic atmosphere while still preserving traditional culture is also appealing.
Sneaker Shop SKIT Kichijoji, Tokyo
Whether new, used, new releases, or older models, the store handles a wide range of sneakers, carefully selected by its staff. You may even find items that have not yet been released in Japan.
Address: 1-18-1 Kichijoji Minamimachi, Musashino City, D-ASSET Kichijoji 1F | map
TEL: 0422-47-6671
Hours: 11:00-19:00. Open every day.
Super Potato Akihabara store
This retro game specialty store boasts one of the best selections in Japan. On the 5th floor of the building, there is also a game center where you can play a variety of nostalgic arcade games.
Address: Kitabayashi Building 3rd to 5th floors, 1-11-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku | map
TEL: 03-5289-9933
Hours: 11:00-20:00. Open daily.
Two special spots to experience Tokyo with all your senses
Lotta Meier (Helsinki)
Perhaps because I come from a country famous for saunas, I love Japanese bath culture and have created my own personal public bath map. Of the more than 20 I've visited, my favorite is the contemporary Koganeyu. The feeling of being relaxed and enveloped in hot water is amazing! A dear Japanese friend of mine told me about the long-established rice cracker shop Daikokuya, a wonderful, old-fashioned place that contrasts beautifully with the modern, hectic city center. I savor each cracker, appreciating the handiwork that goes into carefully baking them one by one. I always choose the sweet rice crackers with sugar.
Koganeyu
You can enjoy the sauna, cold bath, loyly, and outdoor bathing. There is also a "Bandai Beer Bar" where you can drink homemade craft beer.
Address: 4-14-6 Taihei, Sumida-ku | map
TEL: 03-3622-5009
Hours: 6:00-9:00, 11:00-24:30 (Saturdays: 6:00-9:00, 15:00-24:30). Closed on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
Daikokuya
This long-established rice cracker shop uses carefully selected rice and brewed soy sauce, and carefully hand-bakes each cracker over Kishu Binchotan charcoal.The classic storefront, located in a downtown shopping district, is also irresistible.
Address: 1-3-4 Yanaka, Taito-ku | map
TEL: 03-3821-7000
Hours: 10:30am - 6:30pm. Closed on Thursdays.
