In his great comedic play Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare calls music the food of love. Now, I’m not in the habit of contradicting the bard, however for me the food of love is, well, food. There is nothing better for the heart and the soul than having a wide selection of grub to get stuck into and for me, to paraphrase another great British literary William, variety is the spice of life.
Of course Nagoya doesn’t quite have the international culinary diversity of London, New York, or even Tokyo. However, if you know where to look you can find some really excellent international restaurants. And luckily for you, we at Japan Info Swap know precisely where to look.
Okay, not everyone will think of Canadian food when the topic of international cuisine comes up, but that’s because they probably haven’t tried poutine. Coat of arms in Fushimi has all sorts of different foods sourced from the nations that comprise of the British Commonwealth, as well as even further afield, but it is the poutine – french fries topped with aged cheddar cheese and a light gravy that originates in the French-Canadian district of Quebec that is the pick of the bunch. Why not make a Canadian day of it and finish off with a Maple Cheese Cake for dessert!
There are quite a few great Korean restaurants in Nagoya. The consensus in our office seems to be that Chottejiya in Sakae is one of the best Korean BBQ places around. Unfortunately I am yet to sample its delights. However I have been many times to Seoul Table in Meieki, and I find it difficult to imagine that it can be topped. They have a variety of BBQ pork dishes that they cook and prepare at your table, but the thing that sends it over the edge for me is the cheese chijimi. It’s pretty heavy, but none the worse for it.
Desperados in Shinsakae is widely considered the best Mexican place in Nagoya, though sometimes it is accused of being the best US style Mexican place in Nagoya. It isn’t the biggest of places, but once you have sampled from their extensive selection of tequila, you probably won’t mind getting cozy with other Mexican food lovers. Run by Mexican born and US raised Rudy, and his wife Takako (who speaks great English), at best it is Mexican food, and at worst US-Mex. Unless you are from Mexico you probably don’t know the difference anyway. Either way, it’s pretty fantastic.
Not only can Didi, the owner of this Shinsakae restaurant dance up a storm (and gentlemen, keep an eye on your ladies, for he may look like a kindly old gent, but he’s smoother than sanded silk) but he can also whip up a feast. I’d recommend going for the buffet where you can eat as much as you like as waiters deliver flame grilled chicken, pork, sausages and beef to your table carved directly from swords. Seriously tasty meat.
In the past we have told you about Higashi Sakura Pakuchi in Sakae, which does a great job of recreating the atmosphere of Thailand, but of you want really good upmarket Thai food, it’s to Siam Garden in Fushimi you should go. It’s a bit pricier than many of the other Thai restaurants, but it is very elegant, and the food is impressively authentic. The building itself is beautiful, and it has been said that it used to be the Thai Embassy. Whether or not this is true, I couldn’t say for sure.
The chef who owns the shop has over 20 years of experience cooking Vietnamese food, and was once the “Vice Chef,” at a five star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and has prepared food for world class VIPs like the British Royal Family, so it is probably acceptable to the likes of you. This is one of those places that ‘they’, the people who claim to know these sorts of things, claim to be particularly authentic.
By Mark Guthrie
Image: flickr.com "Grilled Shrimp, Fish, and Lobster Adobado" by Burnt Fat (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) – Modified
Photo: http://tabelog.com/en/aichi/A2301/A230103/23036905/?rvwid=3943094
Image: flickr.com "IMG_6767" by Jason Walsh (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) – Modified
Image: flickr.com "Bún Mắm" by Thy Khue Ly (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) – Modified
Image: flickr.com "Poutine" by Burnt Fat (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) – Modified
Image: flickr.com "Yongsusan food: bulgogi" by James Creegan (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) – Modified
As we have perhaps made abundantly clear in these pages over the years, Japan is very much a nation of foodies. I can honestly say, having visited dozens of countries around the world and having lived in five countries on four different continents, no nation that I know of is obsessed with food to such a degree.
However, one place in which it could be argued that the Japanese are letting themselves down is in the organic and natural foods department. Most of us have come from countries where each supoermarket has a large organic selection, and the only reason it may not is if said supermarket only sells organic goods. The same could not be said of Japan, unfortunately, and organic pickings are thin on the ground.
Albeit slowly, things are, thankfully changing and there are a few places that stock either organic (yuuki 有機, or yuuki saibai 有機栽培, which means organic farming) or pesticide free (munoyaku 無農薬) goods. The trick is in finding where you can get them.
Perhaps the biggest organic supermarket, Natural House specialize in all kinds of organic fresh produce. It also stocks many organic health and beauty products and vitamins and supplements.
As well as having two separate natural-food restaurants – Japanese food in ‘Hiroba’, and French cuisine in ‘Home’ – Crayon house in Kita-Aoyama has an imported and locally produced organic vegetable store stocking both western and eastern products.
JA is part of the Japan Agriculture cooperative that is run in direct conjunction with Japanese farmers. This means that everything comes direct from the farms to the store. Please be aware goods are seasonal meaning there isn’t always a huge variety to choose from.
Seijo Ishii is an international supermarket that can be found in many cities in or around central train stations. They often have natural and organic products from all over the world, including French cheese, Australian wine and American candy.
An international supermarket in Tokyo, National Azabu has many organic items including dairy, nuts and dried fruit, legumes, snack food, coffee and tea. Home delivery available for purchases from 10,000 JPY.
As the name suggests, Yuuki no Sato has all kinds of organic goods, including cosmetics and produce.
In Shinjuku you can find Waseda Natural. This place has it all, from fresh produce to cereal and grains, from cleaning products to health and beauty.
Apart from the supermarket, another great place to find natural and organic foods is at Farmers’ Markets. Of course they aren’t the cheapest places in the world, but they can be a bit more eyeopening to the variety on offer.
For more information on Farmers’ Markets in the area, check out the www.japanfarmersmarkets.com blog for up to the minute information.
If you have neither the time nor inclination to head out to the shops yourself there are some good online retailers selling organic and natural products.
This US based online store has the entire website in English. They have absolutely anything you can think of from the natural world of vitamins, supplements, all at relatively reasonable prices.
Food sourced locally in both Sapporo and Kyushu. It mostly focuses on fruit and veg selection boxes, but there are some meats and other products available.
As well as having its own line of organic food products and imported goods, Alishan also provides information on cafes and events. It is based in Japan, but run by expats and they even have their own cafe in Saitama.
By Mark Guthrie
Image: flickr.com "mother's bounty 母の収穫" by spinster cardigan (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) – Modified
For many people around the world, the month of March means St. Patrick’s Day and all of the fun celebrations that come along with it. These days, it’s not just Western countries or predominantly Irish populations of people who join in the cultural festivities. Many parts of the East, including Japan, are no strangers to the lucky Irish holiday, and different exciting events can be found in cities all over. In Japan, while the biggest celebratory festival occurs in Tokyo every year, Hiroshima also has its own lucky green events to enjoy.
To kick off the holiday month, Hiroshimans can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early with an Irish Festival and concert. On Friday, March 4th, head on over to Blue Live on the Moto Ujina waterfront for some Irish food, drinks, and great live music. Be sure to wear something green so you can enjoy the lively celebrations of this cultural event without the threat of getting pinched! The venue is always encouraging of dancing, and this is especially true of the Irish festival. At 7:00 p.m., things start off with Irish dancing practice, so you can dust off some of your old moves before the real show begins at 7:30 p.m. The stage lineup is stacked full of various musical entertainment that’s sure to keep you dancing all evening, including instruments such as the fiddle, tin whistle, guitar, harp, and keyboard.
For those who don’t fancy dancing, or who might need a break for refreshment every now and then, the venue also offers a traditional Irish set meal (which must be pre-ordered ahead of time) for ¥2,000. In addition to the food, there will be a promised assortment of traditional Irish drinks and of course the standard bar options to keep the spirits high.
Where: Blue Live on the Moto Ujina waterfront, 3-12-69 Ujina-kaigan, Minami Ward, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture 734-0011
Tel: 082-250-5522
When: Friday, March 4, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Admission: Advance ticket purchase – ¥3,000, at the door purchase – ¥3,500 *prices include one ¥500 drink*
Dinner Reservation Price: ¥2,000
Official Website (Japanese): You can make reservations online here: http://bluelive.jp/schedule/detail.php?id=941
Though any Irish-themed festival is bound to be a fun time, March would feel incomplete without some traditional, day-of, St. Patty’s Day celebrations. On March 17th, you can keep tradition alive by putting on something green and making your way to Molly Malone’s to celebrate the holiday. Famed as one of the most authentic pubs in the heart of downtown Hiroshima, Molly Malone’s is the best place in town to experience the richness of this cultural holiday. Grab a drink, meet some awesome international people and cool locals, enjoy the traditional music, and offer a toast to the good old luck o’ the Irish!
Where: Molly Malone’s Irish Pub, 4F Teigeki Building, 1-20 Shintenchi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture 730-0034
Tel: 082-244-2554
When: Thursday, March 17, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Admission: Free
Official Website (Japanese): http://www.mollymalones.jp/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mollymaloneshiroshima?fref=ts
By Kounosu (Own work (own picture)) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Russia has its caviar, Maine has its lobsters, and Kobe has its beef.
There are no Kobe beef cows. They are a breed of Wagyu cattle that are raised in Hyogo Prefecture. Cattle have been raised in Japan for 2000 years but because of the mountainous terrain of the island country, the herds tend to be bred in small pockets without much intermingling.
The Wagyu cattle in Hyogo have been selectively bred for intense marbling of fat. Modern tastes for beef have tended towards lean breeds of cattle which require less resources to raise. The Wagyu around Kobe are not just given the highest quality grain but are fattened for almost three years as opposed to an American cow that goes to slaughter at 18 months. And to be considered true Kobe beef cattle, the animals must be raised in strict adherence to rules enforced by the Kobe Beef Distribution and Promotion Council.
As a result, the Kobe beef herds number only about 3,000 animals. Since Japanese open land is scarce and expensive, cattle have begun to be shipped to Australia for raising. As long as the rules of Hyogo Prefecture are followed, the Australian-raised cattle can be labeled Kobe beef cows as well.
The superior marbling of Kobe beef is unlike any cattle breed in the world. The fat is evenly distributed and not present in thick bands. It has an absurdly low melting point of 65 degrees – it will literally melt in your hand or tongue. The sensory experience of eating Kobe beef is so rich that only small flavorful pieces are served rather than plate-filling steaks that most diners are used to eating.
Ever since the Kobe beef phenomenon began gripping the culinary world 15 to 20 years ago mislabeling has been rampant. Very little true Kobe beef is actually exported out of Japan and yet the name appears on menus worldwide. The fraud was especially pervasive in the United States where all beef, including Kobe beef, was banned from the country in 2009 due to a cattle disease outbreak. These days very small shipments are permitted into America. Yet names like “Kobe” and Kobe-like” and “Wagyu” are often attached to beef that is not the real deal.
The one place that consumers can find real Kobe beef is in Japan where every restaurant or meat market must display a 10-digit ID-number that can actually be traced back to the individual animal. Beef sleuths in Japan can track the meal on their plate back to the parents, birthdate, and slaughter date. The Kobe Beef Council even keeps a record of every carcass from the Prefecture on its website.
In Kobe, foodies head to Kobe Plaisir where the menu revolves around the “world-renowned” Kobe beef. Preparation of the steaks is key as mishandling will result in a bland, tasteless meat so on Kobe beef hunts it is important to stick to known quantities. At Kobe Plaisir, diners can enjoy Kobe beef by the slice or in 100-gram rump roasts and filets or 150-gram sirloins. That will set you back 11,400 yen or US$100.
HOTEL the b’ kobe 1F, 2-11-5 Shimoyamate St
Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0011 (Google Map)
078-571-0141
www.kobe-plaisir.jp
By Flickr user: Jiashiang Wang New Jersey, US [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
As spring starts to raise its oh-so welcome head, it’s time to abandon the confines of the indoors and embrace the glorious outside before that stifling summer heat reclaims the land. One great way to enjoy the fresh air whilst entertaining the family is to take them out to one of the city’s zoos. There are six – count that, six! – to choose from.
Let’s start at the start with Japan’s oldest – and probably most famous – Zoo. Established in 1882 and situated and land bequeathed to the city by the Imperial family slap-bang in the middle of the city, Ueno Zoo is as convenient as it is evidently popular. It is a world class zoo home to some 2,600 representations of over 460 species, some of the most popular being the western lowland gorilla and the Sumatran tiger (pictured). However the current stars of the show are most undoubtably Lily (リーリー) and Shin Shin (シンシン) the two Giant pandas for who, if reports are to believed, are currently in the mood for love, raising hopes of the cub-less pandas successfully breeding for the first time in 10 years. The zoo is split into 63 sections including the Gorilla Woods, Tiger’s Forest and a petting zoo. To navigate your way around the vast space you can ride on Japan’s first monorail.
The Tama Zoological Park, to give it its full name, was originally opened in 1953 as part of Ueno Zoo. However today the park, making the best of the topography of the luscious Tama Hills, stands at nearly four times that of its neighbour (52 ha, compared to the 14.3 ha), meaning that the animals have more freedom to roam about as if it were their natural environment. The grounds are split into three major ecological areas – the Asiatic Garden, the African Garden and the Australian Garden, – as well as a vast Insectarium. Amongst its stand out points must be the fact that it was the first zoo in Japan to not only raise koalas – always particularly popular in this country thanks to their evident cuteness – but having a Lion Bus, from which you can see the lions in safari-esque conditions.
But vast tracts of land and searching out big game may not be your family’s cup of tea – particularly if you have small children – then the Edogawa City Natural Zoo in Edogawa’s Gyosen Park may be more suitable to your family’s needs. Featuring smaller animals such as rabbits, hamsters, peregrine falcons and seals, it also has a display of aquatic animals that live locally in the Edo River, but their signature animal is the adorable red panda. On each animal there is detailed description of their lives and habitats to encourage learning for all ages, but best of all it is free to enter!
If your area of particular interest is the animals and wildlife of Japan, then Inokashira Park Zoo is worth checking out. Two zoo for the price of one it is separated into two sections, the first being a squirrel and duck sanctuary that specializes in breeding and releasing mandarin ducks into the wild. The second enclosure houses all the other animals such as red-crowned cranes, Amur cats, rhesus monkeys and Yaku deer, the latter of which range freely. One other draw is Hanako the first Asiatic elephant to come to Japan following WWII, although the conditions in which Hanako is kept have recently given the park some international notoriety.
A zoo with a goal “to nurture affection for nature by introducing children to animals,” Hamura Zoological Park is a pleasant though smallish zoo that you can find your way around in as little as two hours. Like the zoo in Edogawa, it is ideal for small children: to the left of the entrance there is a petting zoo in which children can hold chicks and guinea pigs and there is a large playground and picnic area in which you can sit and eat your lunch. On the animal front small is very much the way forward with lynx, red foxes, wolves, prairie dogs, and wallabies, while there are a few giraffes, zebras and emus.
Okay, so Ōshima Park Zoo isn’t strictly in Tokyo, but instead is on the (relatively) close island of, you guessed it, Ōshima. Home to 50 species of animal it is a zoo that does a wonderful job of encompassing its natural environment. The walk through Flying Cage is home to 15 species of bird and using the island’s camellias and Ōshima Cherry trees, is the largest of its kind in Japan. Perhaps the jewel in the zoo’s crown is the 300m Monkey Hill, made of naturally formed volcanic lava rock and through which a bridge bisects giving visitors various angles from which to view the primates.
By Mark Guthrie
Image: flickr.com "Khunde - Sumatran Tiger" by Harimau Kayu (AKA Sumatra-Tiger) (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) – Modified
While relocating to another country often turns out to be a wonderful, life-changing experience, there are always traumatic obstacles and challenges standing in the way of gaining that experience. The good news is you do not have to overcome them all by yourself. Everyone who comes to Japan goes through it, and getting to know other expats living in Nagoya is a great way to learn the best ways to overcome, or better yet avoid, obstacles to that wonderful, life-changing experience in Japan.
Spouses who are recent arrivals to Nagoya will find these social groups especially valuable, and there is no better source for news, views and helpful information about life here in Nagoya, Japan than other members of the expat community! While these groups are most commonly sought out by women, most have no specific limitations in that regard. If it sounds like fun, contact them directly regardless of your gender.
The Nagoya Meet and Greet is a monthly lunch where 40+ women of various nationalities, interests, and ages gather to meet, eat, and greet. The event is great for new arrivals and those seeking new friends. Mothers can take advantage of the Children’s play area available. English is the language of communication.
Nagoyameetandgreet(at)gmail.com
JIS Article (with latest event info)
The Cross-Cultural Exchange Association, or the “CCEA,”is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cultural exchange, international understanding and friendships among women of all nationalities living in the Nagoya Area. Social activities, general meetings and special interest groups are some ways in which members develop friendships, discover the local community, and learn about the rich cultural heritage of Japan and other countries.
www.cceanagoya.com
nagoyaccea(at)gmail.com
“Noriko’s Events” are exclusively offered for non-Japanese to enjoy and learn about Japanese culture and traditional crafts. Activities include hand sewing “yukatas”, making “kimekomi” ornaments, drawing calligraphy, “ikebana” flower arrangement, and the Japanese tea ceremony. Noriko will also guide participants on occasional fun and educational excursions.
www.facebook.com/groups/cosmoscommunications
Relo Japan is proud to bring you our “Destination Guide”, series of special digital guides that incorporate inside knowledge of Kobe, Hiroshima, Nagoya, and Osaka from the view of an expatriate. These invaluable resources have everything you need to know about living and working in Japan, including:
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You can download each as either an interactive multimedia iBook for viewing on an iPad, or as a PDF for viewing on a PC or other devices.
Living in Japan can be difficult, but the internet has many resources to make things a bit easier and an iPhone or other smart phone can put those resources at your fingertips wherever you find yourself in Japan through a wide variety of standard or easily downloadable applications. The H&R Group recommends to its clients getting an iPhone or iPad to put those resources at your disposal!
To start we will out line some basics. The handset and monthly subscription (service) plans are both provided by the carrier. This means that when a mobile phone is purchased, a service plan is also provided. In order to proceed with an application, you must provide:
iPhone monthly subscription plans normally consist of :
In most cases, the cost of the handset is paid in installments over the course of the standard 24-month subscriber contract.
With their multilingual support, app selection, and usability, most foreigners in Japan have iPhones and pay a hefty sum every month to use them. Around 2014 there was more than a bit of consternation caused by Softbank’s retirement of their long popular “White Plan.” Other carriers followed suit, removing their unlimited data plans and unveiling newer plans with data limits and unlimited calling.
The good news is that for many people, these new plans are comparable in price to the old ones and, for many may actually save them money. Here is a breakdown of the new data plans among the major carriers.
Softbank is the most popular carrier among foreign residents of Japan because of its English support line, for reliably providing English-speaking staff in areas popular with foreigner residents. As the original iPhone carrier in Japan, Softbank also has the most experience with the handset and the shop staff tends to be the most knowledgeable about the handset.
Pros:
+ Best English customer support
+ More efficient coverage under platinum band network
+ Free Calls between subscribers from 1:00 to 21:00
Cons:
– Platinum band not available in all areas
– All handsets tied to 24-month contract
Softbank iPhone Plans
Softbank | 2GB Limit | 5GB Limit | 8GB Limit | 10GB Limit | 15GB Limit | 20GB Limit | 30GB Limit |
Calling (unlimited) | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 |
Data | 3,500 | 5,000 | 6,700 | 9,500 | 12,500 | 16,000 | 22,500 |
Network access | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
Monthly Total | 6,500円 | 8,000円 | 9,700円 | 12,500円 | 15,500円 | 19,000円 | 25,500円 |
Au offers the most competitive pricing on iPhone service using seasonal pricing schemes . They tend to be the cheaper option for service, but disadvantages include far less experience with the handset, and the biggest disadvantage is that the reception with au is somewhat marginal.
Pros:
+ Competitive iPhone pricing schemes
+ Free Domestic Calls between subscribers from 1:00 and 21:00
Cons:
– Limited English support
– Marginal network coverage
– All handsets tied to 24-month contract
AU iPhone Plans
AU | 2GB Limit | 3GB Limit | 5GB Limit | 8GB Limit | 10GB Limit | 13GB Limit |
Calling (unlimited) | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 |
Data | 3,500 | 4,200 | 5,000 | 6,700 | 8,000 | 9,800 |
Network access | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
Monthly Total | 6,500円 | 7,200円 | 8,000円 | 9,700円 | 11,000円 | 12,800円 |
NTT Docomo is the original mobile carrier in Japan . This long term brand recognition combined with an extremely reliability network make the company popular among the Japanese market. iPhone service, however, began only in the fall of 2013, and doccomo is still behind compared to other carriers in terms of the iPhone specifically. They are doing their best to make up for their lack of experience with competitive pricing plans, however. Besides competitive pricing and best overall network, another big advantage for some users is an affordable, standalone SIM card plan for “unlocked” iPhone handsets purchased overseas, a service not offered by other providers (please be aware that not all overseas iPhones are compatible with the docomo network and there may be other restrictions).
– All handsets tied to 24-month contract
NTT Docomo iPhone Plans
Docomo | 2GB Limit | 5GB Limit | 8GB Limit | 10GB Limit(Shared) | 15GB Limit(Shared) | 20GB Limit(Shared) | 30GB Limit(Shared) |
Calling (unlimited) | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 |
Data | 3,500 | 5,000 | 6,700 | 9,500 | 12,500 | 16,000 | 22,500 |
Network access | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
Share plan fee | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |||
Monthly Total | 6,500円 | 8,000円 | 9,700円 | 13,000円 | 16,000円 | 19,500円 | 26,000円 |
Additional Contract (Shared data) |
3,500円 | 3,500円 | 3,500円 | 3,500円 |