There is a statue of Kusunoki Masashige in front of Nijubashi at Edo Castle. I had lunch at the calm atmosphere of the restaurant there. The menu mainly consists of dishes using local ingredients from Tokyo. I felt like a feudal lord while dining there. (Apparently, if you make a reservation, you can enjoy even more special dishes...) There were plenty of seats, and by timing it right, I was able to relax and enjoy my meal at my own pace! The prices were also reasonable for this area, which was much appreciated. (Happy)

I was brought here by my daughter who is collecting stamps from different castles. This place is not a restaurant but a rest house, where you can bring your own food. They also have a menu you can order from. I thought just bringing bread wouldn't be enough, so I ordered curry which arrived in less than 10 minutes. The curry sauce seemed like it was from a retort pouch, but the vegetables were freshly cooked and there was a decent amount of food. The drink bar was also crowded. Considering all this for less than 1000 yen, it was quite cost-effective. However, the portion was so big that I struggled to finish it... it was a bit of a painful memory.

I had lunch at the Nanakou Rest House! After buying some souvenirs with the Imperial chrysanthemum crest at the store, I decided to have lunch around 12:20. I ordered the "One Soup Three Side Dishes Set" for 1100 yen at the register and was shown to my seat. It was a hot day and I was thirsty, so I was relieved to see that there was a drink bar available. The tourist seating area was located towards the back, so it was quiet and relaxing. The set meal included chicken breast piccata, which was delicious. The students next to me were eating the Daimyo Donburi and curry, which also looked appetizing. I would like to try the donburi or curry next time. If you're interested, be sure to check it out!

It is a restaurant for tourists, but the dishes are made by someone who has clearly trained in Japanese cuisine. The presentation, including the bowls and trays, is elaborate and visually appealing. It's fun that you can take the chopsticks home at the end. Thank you for the meal.

I have used the Nanmoku Rest House several times, but this was my first time dining there due to the COVID-19 situation. I made a reservation for the San-no-ju (set meal with three dishes) at 11:00 am and the meal was delicious! The San-no-ju was surprisingly light in flavor and very elegant. The miso soup was especially delicious, with a rich dashi flavor. The soft and chewy oboro daikon (shredded radish) was also tasty. I saved the Kiku (chrysanthemum) family crest-branded thick omelette and tempura for last because they were too good to finish quickly. As a special service, they included a drink bar. The staff was very friendly and provided excellent hospitality. They also offered the Kiku family crest-branded chopsticks as a souvenir. I would love to come back and try the Yon-no-ju (set meal with four dishes) if I have the chance. I'm looking forward to trying other menu items next time!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, this restaurant had been closed or had a limited menu for a long time. Gradually, school trip students are returning and it seems like normal operations have finally resumed. This time, they had the Daimyo Don, a luxurious beef bowl. It includes high-quality Wagyu beef, scrambled eggs, Mitsuba, all seasoned nicely with a sauce that includes roasted sake. The miso soup had chopped green onions and two pieces of wheat gluten. I tried the wheat gluten, it was delicious.

I visited Nanko restaurant without any prior research, so I mistakenly thought it was called "Kuko." It was raining and not crowded, so we ordered at the register, paid, and then sat at a table. We ordered the Edo Eco picnic box for 1980 yen including tax! Normally, you need a reservation to eat this, so we were lucky. The food was all delicious, especially the pumpkin and bamboo shoot stew which was impressive. Everything was carefully prepared and looked beautiful. The booklet we received had explanations which made the experience enjoyable. We were also able to take home the chopsticks and enjoy the drink bar. There were souvenirs from the Imperial Palace in the shop, including confectionery. They were selling chopsticks for 400 yen. Outside, there was the impressive statue of Masashige Kusunoki from the Tokyo Three Great Statues, which was really cool. The head was made by the artist Komyo Koson.

After walking around the Imperial Palace, my friend had made a reservation for us at Kusunoki Public Restaurant. The spacious interior has a calming atmosphere with a modern Japanese design. The menu focuses on Tokyo-produced food, with unique blends of "natural dashi", a recreation of ancient sweetness with "rice malt syrup", "mature vinegar" stored and aged in the Outer Gardens of the Imperial Palace, "roasted sake" that was consumed by Edo commoners, and a special "Japanese rice" made with traditional seasonings, all served in a "one soup, three dishes" format. We tried the "Edo Eco Picnic Juu" set menu, priced at 2,860 yen (including tax), which recreates Edo flavors using modern ingredients. The restaurant incorporates eco-cooking techniques inspired by Edo-era cookbooks, focusing on energy efficiency and waste reduction, cooking ingredients whole with their skins, and avoiding the use of frozen foods by making everything from scratch. We enjoyed the "San no Juu" set menu priced at 1,980 yen (including tax), which included a variety of dishes such as the famous "Goshiki no Tadaku" tofu, Edo-style tempura, and a castella cake with chrysanthemum crest, traditionally eaten during flower-viewing and celebratory occasions in the Edo period. We also indulged in the all-you-can-drink drink bar (380 yen) with carbonated drinks, coffee, and tea. Surprisingly, we could take home the chrysanthemum-crested chopsticks used during the meal. I definitely want to visit again.

I had dorayaki and a drink bar at the Kusunoki Public Restaurant in the Imperial Palace. After a 2-hour workout near the Imperial Palace, I felt incredibly soothed by the view from the window, the dorayaki, and coffee. I arrived at around 2:30 pm. When I unwrapped the dorayaki, I saw the chrysanthemum crest baked on it. It was so touching. The dorayaki was delicious with a mild sweetness. I had hot coffee and cafe latte from the drink bar. There was a beautiful bonsai-like arrangement next to the shop. I took a photo and shared it. I also bought chrysanthemum crest jelly, Imperial Palace honey, and red chopsticks with the chrysanthemum crest as souvenirs from the shop. The honey comes in three flavors: mandarin orange, lily, and cherry blossom. The jelly tasted like traditional Japanese sweets, very elegant and delicious.

I ordered ice cream and a drink at the Kusunoki Public House restaurant in the Imperial Palace. I arrived around 3 pm as they close at 4 pm. The staff were very kind and explained everything to me. The ice cream had matcha and vanilla flavors with black honey on top, and it tasted really good. I also had a cafe latte and tea from the drink bar, both were delicious. I sat by the window and enjoyed the view of the beautiful garden. The flowers near the register were arranged beautifully, showing great hospitality. They had hand sanitizers and plastic gloves at the drink bar for COVID-19 prevention. They took many precautions, which was impressive. I hope the pandemic ends soon.

Asakusa Sightseeing in October 2020 Part 5 While sightseeing in Asakusa, it was surprisingly empty compared to two years ago. The impact of the coronavirus is evident. The lunch menu was also reduced today to one soup and three side dishes - fish (grilled saury with sea urchin miso) and meat (Kusunoki's special fried chicken), each priced at 1,200 yen. Both dishes were delicious as always. We were able to enjoy the drink bar, but it's limited to one drink only. In June 2018, the cost performance was excellent, although not outstanding. A gentle lunch was served, but there was no explanation about the drink bar...

On Saturday around 2:30 PM, I went for a walk at the Imperial Palace and on the way back, I found a beautiful rest house and decided to check it out. Due to the pandemic, they were only offering a drink bar service. The total cost for two drink bar orders was 760 yen. We couldn't get a seat by the window as it was popular. The restaurant has a Foodlog rating of 3.46 as of June 2020.

I went sightseeing in Tokyo with my friend. I'm bad with directions, so even though we left home early, I was surprised to find that we had already walked over 7000 steps by the time we reached the souvenir shop we were looking for, which is located on a hill near the Imperial Palace. I had never set foot in the Imperial Palace before, even though I've lived in the Kanto region for 20 years. I had read online the night before that the only food available in the morning was "sudon" (cold udon noodles), so I was a bit disappointed. But when we arrived, I found that the menu had expanded. The food options were udon and curry. I debated whether to wait for lunch, but since our time in Japan was limited, I decided to try the "roasted sake udon" (600 yen with a drink bar). When it arrived, I was surprised to see the udon served in a large red lacquered bowl with delicious broth. My friend and I joked that it looked like something a lord would eat, and it really lifted our spirits. The person who wrote that it was just "sudon" must not have actually tried it. This dish was quite impressive. I realized that no matter what the reviews say, it's important to try things for yourself. My friend also brought in some "Edo Nori Sasamaki Assortment" from the souvenir shop, and we were amazed by the fragrance of the bamboo leaves used in the sushi. It was delicious. The staff were friendly and provided excellent service, making our breakfast enjoyable. Despite the hectic morning, eating delicious food made me feel relieved.

The Kusunoki Public Restaurant in the Outer Gardens of the Imperial Palace. Normally a hidden gem of a restaurant. On this day, they had daily specials (Japanese-style hamburger for 1100 yen) and miso-marinated red snapper (1280 yen), salt koji marinated mackerel (1280 yen), and purple shiso-fried yellowtail from Hachijo Island (1200 yen). The dishes were beautifully presented in red lacquerware. They focus on promoting Japanese cuisine here, using local ingredients whenever possible. Most of the dishes are apparently homemade. They even offer a drink server and chopsticks with a chrysanthemum crest to take home (a special benefit for those in the know). It's a great deal. However, on this day, there was a long line due to the general public opening of the Daijokyu Halls coinciding with the Kyudori Street parade. It seemed like they mainly cater to group tours, and weren't quite used to serving individual customers. While there was a long line waiting for a table, several tables remained empty after people finished eating. The coffee server also had a long line. It's a shame to see such delicious food go to waste like this. I'll make sure to avoid busy days next time and come to savor the food at a more leisurely pace.

I visited the Daisho-in Palace for a general tour and it was not too crowded, probably because it was a weekday around 2:30 pm. After the tour, I went to the shop to buy souvenirs. It was around 3:50 pm and they were already preparing to close. I hurried in and managed to buy some items, although most of the products were already sold out. I bought some dorayaki with a chrysanthemum seal, which was a nice touch. The dorayaki had a fluffy texture with a hint of alcohol in the skin, and the sweet bean paste inside was delicious. The box was also lovely and made for a great souvenir. It's recommended to go early to have more options to choose from.

I went on a 2-day tour to Tokyo with meals included. For lunch on the second day of the tour, we had the bento box "Edo Eco Recreation Ju San no Juu". It was a bento box that reproduced dishes from the Edo period, including healthy dishes like colorful Tadaku, simmered dishes, two types of Edo tempura, and bird manju. It also included desserts like steamed yokan and kasuteratamago. After finishing everything, I was quite full. The restaurant is located near the Imperial Palace, and after the meal, we had free time so I went to visit the Daijingu Shrine. Unfortunately, it was raining lightly, but since it was a rare opportunity, there were quite a few people visiting.

I visited with a group of 20 people to a luxurious and high-ceilinged restaurant located in the Outer Gardens of the Imperial Palace. The main dish was a bento box with four tiers. We enjoyed tasting it while feeling the traditions of the past. Chopsticks were available for taking home. On the way back, we bought some mochi with gold leaf from a souvenir shop nearby. Thank you for the delicious meal.

At the Nagusammi Rest House, I had the daily lunch set with one soup and three side dishes, which on that day included fried horse mackerel. The restaurant is located next to a parking lot where large tour buses can park, catering to groups of tourists. I arrived around 11:30 and was seated quickly, but the restaurant soon became full. The lunch set also came with a drink bar. It's a nice place to take a break and have a meal after walking around the Imperial Palace. I even took home the chopsticks with a chrysanthemum crest as a souvenir. They also sold some souvenirs, including a fancy bottle of green tea. I might try it next time!

I visited the restaurant after visiting the Imperial Palace's Kita-no-maru Park during the open day for the public. I arrived early at 11 am to avoid the expected crowd due to the number of visitors. The restaurant was spacious with many empty seats, but upon closer inspection, I realized that most of the seats were reserved for group tours. There were only about 30 seats available for regular customers. Although there were hardly any customers waiting, a "full house" sign was put up. The staff offered to share a table, so we were seated immediately. We chose our lunch sets - I had the "Muroaji Menchi Katsu" and my wife had the "Karaage". The lunch set came with rice, soup, and side dishes, and we could choose an additional dish. We also had access to a drink bar, so I enjoyed a cold Oolong tea and coffee before the meal. The shared dishes arrived first, followed by our main dishes. The total cost was only 1000 yen, which felt like a good deal. We were even allowed to take home the chopsticks with the Imperial crest, which were being sold for 400 yen at the nearby shop. It made us feel like we got a good deal.

I stopped by on a tour and had to choose from a set menu selected by the tour, so I couldn't pick what I wanted. The food wasn't very tasty. It was made with traditional Japanese ingredients and presented in a lunch box. I understand the use of traditional ingredients and cooking methods, but it didn't suit my taste.