Category Archives: Japan

Jul 20 2024
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Food, Japan, Tokyo, Travel

5 Hidden Café Gems in Tokyo for Coffee, Tea and Desserts

  1. Butter Coffee Stand
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Famed for its instagram-worthy seasonal lattes, caneles and cheesecakes, Butter Coffee Stand is a small cafe in the Nakano area. With just 3 small tables for indoor seating, it is recommended to visit on weekdays to avoid queueing outside. 

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Since I was in Tokyo in spring, the sakura-themed drinks and desserts were on the menu. Out of which, I had the Beets Latte with Espresso (JPY700, +JPY100 for oat milk). It was an interesting pick, made with homemade beet syrup made from raw, pesticide-free beets and combined with several spices. Overall, the elements blended well and I enjoyed the subtle spices. 

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I also had the Sakura Canele (JPY500, JPY450 with drink) made by kneading sakura-an (sweet bean paste) and sakura powder into the dough and using cherry liqueur. Though the outer layer was overly hard, the insides had a sakura mochi-like texture with a moderate sweetness. 

From the regular menu, I had the Matcha Latte (JPY650, +JPY100 for oat milk) which had a good balance of umami and sweetness, and the normal Canele which I felt could be skipped. 

Tip: Check their instagram to find out about their seasonal offerings and time of availability.  

2 Chome-1-1 Arai, Nakano City, Tokyo 165-0026, Japan 

Mon to Fri 8am – 8pm 

Sat, Sun and holidays 10am – 8pm  

2. Kasiki 

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If you are looking for quality ice cream after lunch or dinner in Shibuya, Kasiki is my recommendation. On the menu is a list of interesting flavours, from which I chose 2 after an internal battle with dilemma. I had the Lemon and Saffron and Black Sesame, Sea Salt and Maple Syrup (JPY850 for double scoop) – the former was refreshing with hints of saffron that I could detect, and not overly sour, while the latter was rich with both savoury and sweet tastes.  

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On top of being an ice cream parlour, Kasiki also serves a selection of wines, coffees, and teas. I found it cute that my Norm Tea House Ocha Japanese Tea (JPY500) was served in a wine glass – it made me reminisce the days before I banned alcohol from my life.  

1 Chome-13-2 Nishihara, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0066, Japan 

1pm – 9pm, closed on Wed and Thursday 

3. Saten Japanese Tea 

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Slightly off the beaten path is this quaint Japanese tea house in Suginami City. The tea house specializes in single origin Japanese tea, matcha, hojicha and an (red bean paste) butter toast. Sitting relaxedly at the terrace seat which is right by a small street, I thoroughly enjoyed the Matcha Latte (JPY640, +JPY150 for oat milk) which was full of umami and slight bitter tones.

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I also got the seasonal Sakura Mascarpone Toast (JPY600) to pair with my drink. The mild cherry blossom-scented sakura-an and mascarpone were topped on white toast and made for a simple breakfast snack.

Japan, 〒167-0054 Tokyo, Suginami City, Shoan, 3 Chome−25−9 ロアジール松庵 

10am – 7pm daily 

4. Like 

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Like restaurant is located above the BioTop boutique clothing store in the same building. The atmosphere was lovely – with high ceilings, full glass windows, and even a dedicated area for live band performances. As I went in the late afternoon, their full-fledged lunch and dinner menu were not being served, so I had coffee and dessert instead.

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The Café Latte (JPY630) was just normal, but if there was one thing to order here, it would be their signature Peanut Cream Puff (JPY660). Made as a choux pastry, the outer layer was thin and crisp. Hidden beneath is a generous filling of peanut cream that was both light and fragrant without that heaviness or dense texture of peanut butter.

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The good thing about coming at mid to late afternoon timing was that the café was barely filled, with no need for reservation, so you get to enjoy the laidback vibes without the crowd and noise.

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11.30am – 10pm  

Closed on Mon and Thurs  

4-6-44 3F, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 108-0071 

5. Chigaya Kuramae 

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The Kuramae area, what used to be an industrial district, is getting popular for the many modern stylish cafes that have taken their places in the neighbourhood amongst the older units (factories, tanneries, manufacturers, etc.).

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Chigaya bakery is one of them, with an outstanding décor and theme which took inspiration from classic American bakeries in New York. The red and white gingham curtains are a key feature, paired with wooden tables and chairs, open displays of sweet and savoury bakes and whitewashed walls and cabinets.

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I visited right on time when their signature light and fluffy Cream Donuts (JPY470) were freshly fried and out on display, and snagged it together with a Strawberry Danish (JPY450), Maple Cream Bread (JPY450)  – homemade maple cream cheese, walnuts, figs and Iced Latte (JPY650).

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While most patrons came to takeaway the bread and pastries, I recommend easing into the seats with a book to soak in the ambiance of this cutesy bakery while nibbing into their quality bakes.

8am – 6.30pm daily 

2 Chome-8-11 Torigoe, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0054, Japan 

Jul 07 2024
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Food, Japan, Kamakura

Kamakura Day Trip – 10 Things to Do in Kamakura

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Within my weeklong vacation in Tokyo, I did a day trip to Kamakura which is about 1.5 hours away by local trains. It turned out to be an unforgettable highlight of the entire trip.

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I was warned by my Japanese acquaintance to avoid the weekend crowd, but as weather and fate intervened, I had no choice but to fix it on a Saturday. Thankfully, I went early and reached Kamakura around 8am – there were few people in sight at that hour.

1. Breakfast at Breeze Bird Café & Bakery

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Most of the itinerary was already planned, including my breakfast spot at Breeze Bird Café & Bakery (3 Chome-4-5 Yuigahama, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0014, Japan). The full review can be found in my previous blog post, but to summarise, I had arguably the best brunch experience in Japan (so far) here.

2. Bread and Pastries at Bread, Espresso &

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    A 2-3 mins walk away was my second café stop of the day – Bread, Espresso, & (1 Chome-10-5 Yuigahama, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0014, Japan). This is a popular chain bakery with several branches all over Japan, with the branch in Kamakura being a relatively recent addition. The café took over an old liquor and daily necessities store and maintained some of the elements of its predecessor such as the tobacco sales corner and red mailbox at the storefront. I highly recommend their French Toast, which was fluffy and moist especially in the middle.

    3. Sightseeing at Yukinoshita

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    After 2 full solo breakfasts, I needed a long walk to aid digestion, so I took a 40mins walk, passing by the Yukinoshita area with ponds, shrines, museums, and a popular path with cherry blossoms. At late morning, lots of people, both tourists and locals alike, were already arriving via the main train station and pouring out into the streets.

    4. Sightseeing at Hokai-ji Temple

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    Pictured above was another scenic cherry blossom spot I passed, which is also the entrance to Hokai-ji Buddhist Temple.

    5. More Bread and Pastries at Okashi Nikaido

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    I then came to my third food stop of the day, Okashi Nikaido (27-10 Nikaidō, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0002, Japan). Serving homemade muffins, cookies, pound cakes and granola, this minimally designed, takeout bakery was a hidden gem. I got the seasonal Kumquat muffin and had it right outside while it was still warm. The muffin was fluffy and had chunks of kumquat within, with a good balance of sweet and citrus flavours. Honestly one of the best muffins I’ve had.

    6. Shopping and Eating at Komachi-dori Street

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    I made my way back to Komachi-dori Street, the main shopping area of Kamkura with a huge stretch of street food souvenir stores. Surprisingly, I found no queue for Kamakura Warabimochi (1 Chome-6-8 Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0005, Japan), so I quickly took the chance to finally try the warabimochi cup. Despite being extremely stuffed at that point in time, I was still impressed by the soft and silky mochi. I had to agree that the warabi mochi was higher in quality than the average one out there.

    7. Taking the Enoden line train

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    Being a passenger on the decorated Enoden line trains is key to the entire experience in Kamakura – I got on board and went to Enoshima station, where I alighted and headed up to Enoshima Island. I also made a pit stop at Kamakurakokomae Station to have a look at the famous scene from Slam Dunk, but the throngs of tourists going against the traffic controller and disturbing the peace of the surrounding residential area really put me off and I left very soon.

    8. Sightseeing, Shopping and Eating at Enoshima Island

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    The views of the sea from Enoshima Island were breathtaking, and well worth the long walk and climb up. Not just that, but there were also activities suited for different people – be it shopping at souvenir stores, trying shirasu dishes (popular delicacy here), praying at the temple or simply admiring the flowers and cherry blossoms.

    9. Tea Break at Bills

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    In the later part of the day, I had a late lunch at Bills (Japan, 〒248-0026 Kanagawa, Kamakura, Shichirigahama, 1 Chome−1−1, Weekend House Alley, ２F), located along the coast of Shichirigahama Beach. With a direct view overlooking the beach from most seats, the restaurant was constantly packed and bookings are recommended.

    Having already tried the signature ricotta hotcakes from the branch in Seoul, I went for a savoury dish instead – the Chilli Miso Salmon with Hot and Sour Aubergine which lived up to my standards.

    10. Sunset at Shichirigahama Beach

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      I timed my meal such that I could catch the sunset just by the beach below the restaurant right after eating. Though the sky was not clear enough to get a view of Mount Fuji, I was contented to have caught a beautiful sunset before heading back to Tokyo. Minus the rowdy tourists (will not state their nationality), the Kamakura day trip was my kind of an idyllic and healing experience.

      Jun 30 2024
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      Cafe, Food, Japan, Kamakura

      Breeze Bird Café & Bakery, Japan – Best Breakfast and Brunch Spot in Kamakura

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      For my day trip to Kamakura from Tokyo, I had planned to have breakfast at Breeze Bird Café & Bakery, neatly hidden behind the Wadazuka station along the Enoden line. While being a popular spot among the locals, it seemed to be less well known among tourists and so I wanted to take the chance to review it.

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      Being the first customer to arrive at their opening hour of 8am, no less, I went straight for the outdoor terrace seats. There were 3 wooden tables with beige white sofa seats overlooking a well-kept backyard/garden, and the best part was the overhead tarp for shade and shelter from the direct sun. Since it was spring, the weather was moderate and breezy especially in the morning, making the terrace the ideal spot for breakfast.

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      In addition to a daily range of bread and pastries available at the counter, the breakfast menu has 2 morning sets to pick from. I had the Morning Set A (JPY2,250), which came with 2 plates. The bigger plate was a colourful Miura and Kamakura vegetable salad with homemade sausage, slices of raw fish, and a small soup on the side, while the smaller plate was akin to an eggs benedict, with poached egg and mushrooms topped on homemade bread.

      I also ordered coffee, but unfortunately there were no non-dairy milk options here.

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      The morning set was amazing, in terms of both portion and quality, for its price point. Unlike American or Greek salads overly doused with fat-laden sauces, the salad tasted fresh, organic and delectable without much dressing. I was also surprised to find slices of quality raw fish, together with the juicy homemade sausage in the salad. For someone who avoids processed food including hot dogs, this was one of the healthiest yet good tasting sausage I had.

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      As for the egg dish, it was equally or even better. The bread used was fluffy and soaked up a good amount of the mushroom sauce such that it felt like a savoury brioche French toast. I can’t point out what exactly the sauce was made of, but it was many times better than the usual hollandaise sauce we get with an eggs benedict.

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      I was stuffed but could not bring myself to skip their seasonal spring-only dessert. This aesthetically pleasing Sakura-themed dessert was essentially milk ice cream wrapped in a chewy layer of mochi, topped with peach sauce and amaretto infused milk sauce. The mochi was very soft, while the ice cream was light enough for breakfast.

      Thanks to the fresh, quality ingredients of the dishes, huge portions, a relaxed and lovely ambiance and homely service, this was my favourite breakfast/brunch café in this trip.

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      3 Chome-4-5 Yuigahama, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0014, Japan (神奈川県 鎌倉市由比ガ浜三丁目4-5)

      Nearest station: JR Yokosuka Line, Enoden Wadazuka Station, Fujisawa Exit. Or 12 min walk from Kamakura Station

      Breakfast 8am – 10am, Lunch 11am – 3.30pm, Dinner 5.30pm – 11pm

      Closed on Tues, 2nd and 4th Weds, and other irregular holidays

      May 17 2024
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      Cafe, Food, Japan, Tokyo, Travel

      Ogawa Coffee Laboratory, Tokyo – Specialty Coffee and Breakfast from Kyoto

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      Hailing from Kyoto, the long-established coffee roaster expanded to Tokyo with its first flagship in Sakurashinmachi 4 years ago. Being one of the few cafes in Tokyo which open as early as 7am, I visited the café for an early morning breakfast and coffee fix.

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      I loved how the spacious café boasted a modern concrete industrial look with muted tones, with floor to ceiling windows permitting lots of exposure to natural light. The interior design also featured details such as old paving stones that were used in Kyoto’s tramways.

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      Before settling down, orders must first be placed at the counter.

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      From the morning menu (served 7 – 11am), I had the Charcoal Grilled Toast with Avocado and Lime (JPY1,600, SGD13.8). It came with a choice of Pain de Mie or Whole Grain bread for the toast – I would typically have whole grain as a healthier choice but with the excuse of being on vacation, I went for the pain de mie. After being charcoal grilled, it had a crisp outer layer while retaining its soft, fluffy inner layer. As simple as a dish it was (what some people will claim to be something they can easily whip out at home but never do so), the avocado toast was satisfying.

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      The toast set included a choice of drink, so I had a hot oat milk Latte made from the House Blend Kyoto. It was a well-balanced coffee with a smooth mouthfeel with tasting notes of dried fruit – a daily coffee that was very drinkable.

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      Their list of signature coffees (created by their baristas) was tempting, so I added on another drink – the Bright Sense (JPY1,100, SGD9.5). The barista served the single origin coffee in a fancy glass to my table, where she then delicately added the fluffy milk foam. The milk foam made a good balance with the passion fruit-like acidity characteristic of the Kenya Gatuyaini beans.

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      As a sweet treat, I had the Whole Grain Scone with Seasonal Confiture and Tonka Bean-Flavoured Buttercream (JPY1,400, SGD12.1) which was a relatively new item on the menu. Being whole grain in nature, the scone felt less doughy and buttery than the usual scone – in a good way.

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      With over 21 variety of coffee beans on hand and separate lunch and dinner menus with extensive food choices, I would love to pay another visit.

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      3 Chome-23-8 Sakurashinmachi, Escalier 1F, Shinmachi Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0014, Japan

      7am – 10pm daily

      Nearest station: Sakura-shimmachi North Exit (~4 mins walk)