Japan 03/24

One of few places with vegetarian versions of takoyaki. Their menu is fully vegetarian so I recommend this for anyone that wants to taste the Osakan speciality without eating octopus. Their drinks menu consists of a self-serve section, you pay for your beer or cocktail as usual but you make it yourself.

Expect a queue, but it moves fast. They only offer a single type of curry bread containing chicken and pork. Crispy, cheesy and delicious!

Great place for a more modern/western breakfast. They do great coffees and the location is quiet and tucked away from the bustle. The food we had was delicious and I wish we stayed closer to it so it could've been our main breakfast stop!

I only recommend visiting here if you're a coffee enthusiast. It has a queue outside and only lets one customer in to order at the time. The ordering process consists of sampling (sniffing) different types of beans they recommend for the type of coffee you want to order, and choosing your favourite. My latte tasted more like melon milk than coffee!

My personal favourite! When we visited there were only a few other visitors. The veranda that loops around the gardens at the temple are so serene and gorgeous. You'll see monks walking around the place and sermons taking place. I truly felt transported to a different world when visiting here.

Gotokuji is easy to miss as it's a bit out of the way, but definitely worth a visit. Perfect for a day where you need to have a break from bustling Tokyo. It's famous for being a birthplace of maneki-neko, with the temple being dedicated to it.

Must visit for Ghibli fans - I recommend coming early or in the weekday as they might sell out. You will find lots of Ghibli memoribilia such as signed artist's sketches. The cream puffs are delicious and the shop is run by a lovely lady.

They do soba noodles and have an English menu. We tried to visit during our Gotokuji visit but it was sadly shut for the day then!

Traditional sweets, we had matcha and daifuku which were both delicious.

Tucked away in a residential area, this curry place has a lovely calming library vibe going on. Great lunch spot if you're in the area.

We tried to get in here as it was recommended but it was full and we didn't have a reservation. It had a great vibe so I suggest checking it out if you're craving yakitori and in the area.

Good coffee with a great selection of beans . Their speciality is drip coffee but they also have other options available.

I recommend visiting this after dark, to see the lanterns illuminating the temple.

Great spot for yakitori. They also do a sake sampling set which I recommend. There is limited seating and they have a standing area at the bar/grill. Expect to smell delicious (like yakitori) after your visit.

A must visit! Lots of options on the menu with vegan options avaible, The restaurant consists of a bar opposite the kitchen and you'll be seated in a traditional setting on tatami mats, so shoes need to be stored away at entry. The food was delicious and the visit was a really memorable experience.

This is just a coffee chain, but the reason I've marked this is that their branches sell Cremia ice cream. It's the best ice cream I've ever tasted! It's a soft serve with a fresh and sweet milk flavour that's served in a cone made out of delicious shotbread. You must try it at least once when visiting Japan!

Mentioned in the Michelin guide, this ramen spot is a popular spot, so expect to see queues. They're famous for their rich and creamy chicken broth. The wait for the restaurant consists of two queues, the left one being for ordering and the right one for waiting for a seat with your ordering ticket. I really enjoyed their truffle ramen, but if you don't want to queue I suggest trying the tantanmen at Hashigo Ginza Hon-ten next door.

We ended up eating here one of the evenings we couldn't be bothered to queue for Ginza Kagari. Their sesame and hot chili broth was really flavourful while still feeling light and not very greasy.

Delicious tiny filled pastries for only ¥45. Perfect for when you’re craving a small treat!

Lots of different flavoured dango available, the strawberry one is delicious!