miniロイ
My reliable friend, who is still a career woman and a foodie, moved to Yanaka a few years ago. I was wondering why she chose to live in a place far from her workplace, even though she works remotely. I had been wanting to visit Yanaka for a while, so I asked my friend to take me on my first stroll in Yanaka. It turned out to be a packed day with exploring Yanaka, watching a favorite game streamer's tournament, tasting Japanese sake (Chiebijin), learning how to reserve limited edition local products, and discussing the latest travel destinations, among other things. After safely returning home from Oita, I visited my friend with the requested souvenirs, "Agootoshi" products, and a limited edition sake of "Chiebijin." The plan was loosely set - to have a delicious lunch in Yanaka and explore the area. The visit was for two days. I was curious about what kind of town Yanaka was and why it was so popular. I wanted to explore it a bit. Yanaka turned out to be completely different from places like Iriya, Ueno, Asakusa, and Inaricho, where I often visited. It had a very nice atmosphere, with friendly and polite shopkeepers who had a welcoming and approachable demeanor. It felt like a warm and cozy town, which left a lasting impression on me. Going back to the story, my friend gave me an exciting presentation on which restaurants to visit in advance. One of the restaurants I immediately chose was "Tomijiya." This restaurant is known for its delicious fish, as there is a fish shop with the same name next to it. In response to popular demand, they opened a lunch restaurant, which quickly became popular. Even on weekdays after 1 pm, more than 10 groups were lining up, and the queue kept growing. The procedure for entering the restaurant was to write your name on a waiting board inside before lining up outside, and then you could enter when called. If you didn't do this, you couldn't get in. The waiting time was about 30 minutes (we forgot to write our names, so the actual wait time was shorter). The restaurant had around 20 seats, operating at about 2/3 capacity due to COVID-19. Of course, we dined with masks on, as some people are sensitive about it. The orders included: - "Gindara set meal" - "Sashimi three-item set meal" Both were perfect. The sashimi was satisfying, the rice was fluffy and delicious, and the miso soup was particularly tasty. The "Gindara" that my regular customer friend chose was excellent! The fish was thick and juicy, with a crispy exterior and a rich umami flavor. It's no wonder why people visit this place frequently. The quality of the fish is exceptional. On the way back, we stopped by the fish shop and bought "Pacific saury and ark shell sashimi." It was surprisingly expensive, but it seems to be the market price for this season. I also decided to get the "ark shell" as I love shellfish. We enjoyed it with the "wasabi vinegar" we bought from a vinegar shop during our stroll. It was delicious! I will definitely come back for another set meal and to buy more fish.