〈2023〉”Nun Katsu” boom in Japan! 7 Strawberry Afternoon Teas in Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe

“Nun katsu” is a culture that has been spreading in Japan over the past few years. “Nun katsu” refers to enjoying afternoon tea service at hotels and cafes. In particular, the period from January to early May, when strawberries, a popular fruit among the Japanese, are in season, is the time of year when hotels and cafes focus their efforts the most. A gorgeous afternoon tea with the bright red color of strawberries will be served. Therefore, we have carefully selected a variety of strawberry afternoon tea to enjoy in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe!   *Please note that many spots require advance reservations.   1.【Osaka Umeda】The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka 　 Victoria’s Tea Room “Strawberry” 2.【Osaka Uehonmachi】Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka 　 Strawberry Afternoon Tea ~Flowery Field~ 3.【Osaka Nakanoshima】CONRAD OSAKA 　 “Chocolat Fraise” Strawberry Afternoon Tea 4.【Kyoto Arashiyama】CHAVATY ARASHIYAMA 　 Strawberry Afternoon Tea 5.【Kyoto Higashiyama】The Westin Miyako Kyoto 　 ROKUZA Strawberry Evening High Tea 6.【Kobe Harborland】Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland 　 Strawberry Afternoon Tea ～Pure White～ 7.【Kobe Sannomiya】PATISSERIE TOOTH TOOTH 　 Strawberry and Chocolat Afternoon Tea Set   The “Victoria’s Tea Room “Strawberry”” afternoon tea set is inspired by Queen Victoria, who is credited with introducing afternoon tea to 19th century England. It is based on a traditional style with a modern essence. Of particular note is the “Victoria Sponge Cake,” a sweet said to have been a favorite of Queen Victoria. In the sublime restaurant, which was designed in the image of an English aristocrat’s mansion, live piano and violin music is performed, offering a luxurious experience.   Period: Tuesday, December 27, 2022 – Thursday, March 30, 2023 As the name “Strawberry Afternoon Tea ~Flowery Field~” suggests, it is a gorgeous strawberry afternoon tea inspired by a flower garden. A wide variety of sweets and savories can be enjoyed, from the non-alcoholic welcome tea “Strawberry Winter Sangria” to “Phrase Pistache” decorated with edible flowers, strawberry macaroons, and roast beef sandwiches.   Period: Saturday, January 7, 2023 – Tuesday, February 28, 2023 The “Chocolat Flavors Strawberry Afternoon Tea” features six strawberry-based sweets and five savory dishes. The red color of the strawberries stands out against the pure white tea stand, which forms an arc like a spiral staircase. The sweets combine strawberries with chocolate, which is a perfect match, to create a rich variety of tastes, aromas, and textures. In addition, all savories are also made with strawberries. You can spend an elegant time with a view of the city from 200 meters above the ground.   Period: Monday, December 26, 2022 – Wednesday, February 22, 2023 Tea salon CHAVATY Arashiyama is located at the foot of Arashiyama Togetsu Bridge, a famous sightseeing spot in Kyoto. The winter-only strawberry afternoon tea, inspired by the snow-covered landscape of Arashiyama, is rich in variety and includes strawberry sweets made with hojicha (roasted green tea) and kinako (soybean flour), strawberry warabimochi, and other Japanese-style dishes. All-you-can-drink tea and all-you-can-eat freshly baked scones are also a nice touch!   Period: Friday, December 16, 2022 – mid-March (tentative) The Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto is located near Eikando, a famous sightseeing spot in Kyoto. ROKUZA Strawberry Evening High Tea” is served only after 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays at the hotel’s bar with a relaxed atmosphere.   A strawberry cocktail made by the bartender starts the slightly late tea time. Eight different strawberry sweets and savories will be available on a three-tier tea stand, changing daily. In addition, you can also enjoy five kinds of fresh brand-name strawberries.   Period: Saturday, January 7, 2023 – Sunday, March 26, 2023   (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only) “Strawberry Afternoon Tea ~Pure White~” is a strawberry afternoon tea with red strawberries in a clean white color. The set includes four kinds of pastry chef’s special sweets such as rose-flavored strawberry tart and pistachio mousse, four kinds of chef’s special savories, fresh strawberries from Hyogo Prefecture, and scones.   The lounge and bar overlook a garden full of water and greenery, and the view at sunset is just as spectacular!   Period: Sunday, January 1, 2023 – Sunday, April 30, 2023 PATISSERIE TOOTH TOOTH is a popular patisserie cafe that has been a favorite in Kobe for many years. The afternoon tea set offered year-round will be an afternoon tea set with strawberries and chocolates until mid-February 2023. The two-tiered tea stand with seven kinds of strawberry sweets, including the popular Japanese strawberry fruit sandwiches, macaroons, tarts, brownies, and scones, has a stylish antique atmosphere! Orders can be placed without prior reservation.   Period: Thursday, November 24, 2022 – Thursday, February 16, 2023 (tentative) Just looking at the strawberry afternoon tea is exciting. Have you found something you like? If you come to Japan, please come and try our afternoon tea filled with the chef’s ideas and create wonderful memories.   *All photos are for reference only. *Menu items are subject to change.

6 Tadao Ando Buildings You Should Visit in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe

Tadao Ando is world-famous for his innovative buildings made of cast concrete. As his hometown is Osaka, there are many architectural works by Mr. Ando in the Kansai region. Here are some spots where you can experience culture and art while enjoying his distinctive architectural designs.   １．【KOBE】Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art ２．【KOBE】Chapel of the Wind ３．【OSAKA】Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest ４．【KYOTO】Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art ５．【KYOTO】Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto ６．【HIMEJI】Himeji City Museum of Literature Opened in 2002 as a symbol of “cultural recovery” from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Nicknamed the “Art Museum,” it houses approximately 10,000 works of art, including modern sculptures and prints from Japan and abroad. In addition to exhibiting these works of art, another highlight of the museum is the building designed by Mr. Ando, which is a simple but gigantic labyrinth-like structure that creates changes in light. Visitors can savor a complex and diverse spatial experience in a place of fusion of various art forms.   After passing through the entrance hall with its calm atmosphere, visitors are greeted by a glass-walled corridor surrounding the exhibition rooms, which are flooded with natural light, and other various parts of the building, each with a richly shaded expression. The “circular terrace,” the symbol of the museum, connects the first basement floor to the outdoor space on the second floor, linking the exhibition buildings, gallery buildings, and the sea and mountains. The cast concrete forms a beautiful spiral, creating shades of light and shadow. In 2019, a second exhibition building (Ando Gallery) opened to showcase Ando’s architecture. With exhibits of architectural models of his masterpieces such as “Sumiyoshi Row Houses” and “Church of Light,” as well as introductions to various projects in Japan and abroad, this is an unmissable spot for visitors to learn about Ando’s work. The “Sea Deck,” a viewing space on the third floor of the outdoor space, appears as if it extends out to sea. A large green apple sculpture, which Mr. Ando designed based on the poem “Youth” by the American poet Samuel Ullman, is placed here. The fourth floor also includes the “Mountain Deck” and the “Wind Deck”. On the other side of the first floor entrance, there is a large staircase leading up to the outdoor areas on the second and third floors, where visitors can sit with their backs to the museum and look out over the ocean spread out before them.   The greatest charm of this museum is that it changes its appearance in various ways depending on the time and season you visit, changing both in terms of getting lost and inconvenience. And the pleasure of finding this museum architectural gimmick! Why not visit to savor a spatial experience that can only be felt at any given moment? It is one of the “church trilogy” designed by Mr. Ando, and was the first church building for him, completed in 1986. Located on top of Mt. Rokko, it is called the “Church of the Wind” because of its refreshing natural surroundings. It was designed and operated as a wedding church for the hotel, but is now closed to the public. It is open to the public during the “ROKKO MEETS ART WALK,” a contemporary art event held every year from late summer to autumn.   The chapel has a rectangular solid tower mounted on a cast concrete frame, a characteristic of Ando’s architecture, and light streaming in through the gaps between the walls and ceiling creates a sacred and serene space. The design originates from the “Notre Dame de Senancq Abbey” in Provence, southern France, which was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was created after Ando visited the chapel and was impressed that the light shining through the small windows in the rough-hewn stone walls was the star of the spatial presentation. One of the most distinctive features of the building is the “Colonnade,” a 40-meter colonnaded corridor leading to the chapel. It is made of celadon-colored frosted glass. The colonnade was developed from the colonnade surrounding the courtyard of the “Notre-Dame de Senancq Abbey” in the form of a straight line. The wind blowing through, the surrounding greenery, and the building are fused together to create a fantastic space. The Church of the Wind is tucked away in the forest on Mt.Rokko. The shadows of the light create a beautiful space, a special spot where an extraordinary time flows. Spend your time listening to the tones of nature and feeling the wind blowing through the air. From the top of Mt. Rokko, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Kobe and Osaka.   The church is normally closed to the public and will be open only during the “ROKKO MEETS ART WALK” event. For more details about the event, please check the website. Don’t miss this rare opportunity! “I want children to pick up a variety of books and develop unlimited creativity and curiosity. I want them to spontaneously come into contact with the words, feelings, and ideas in books and learn that there are people and lifestyles in the world that are different from their own”.  With this in mind, architect Tadao Ando designed the building himself, donated it to the City of Osaka, and it was born in Nakanoshima in 2020. Its daily operation is supported by donations from citizens and companies. The giant blue apple sculpture that stands out on the entrance terrace. The motif is based on the poem “Youth” by the American poet Samuel Ullman, and represents Mr. Ando’s wish that many people will be touched by this symbol of youth full of challenging spirit. In designing the building, Mr. Ando placed importance on making full use of its location in Nakanoshima, where Osaka’s history and culture are still alive, and on ensuring that children would play a leading role. The building along the Dojima River is made of fair-faced concrete, a characteristic of Ando’s architecture. To the west are the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, the Osaka Central Public Hall, and other cultural and artistic facilities. The museum is a three-story atrium with staircases and bridge passageways, like a three-dimensional maze. All the walls are covered with wooden bookshelves, creating an exciting atmosphere as if one were to wander into a “forest of books” and search for books. In the “rest room,” a cylindrical space with no concrete floor, video works are shown to arouse children’s interest in books. The same books displayed on the top shelves are also placed on the lower shelves for browsing. The books are placed on the lower shelves for browsing. All the furniture is made of wood, creating a relaxed atmosphere. Sculptures of words” are displayed here and there on the bookshelves. Impressive short sentences extracted from books appear in three-dimensional letters in the space. Although a book must be picked up and its pages turned in order to experience its world, children often pass by the bookshelf. We wanted to create an opportunity for children to start reading a book with the charm of a single sentence by slipping a word into their field of vision. This was the idea behind the production. “Children’s Book Forest” is a place where children and adults alike can immerse themselves in the fascination of books. The facility is a fusion of Ando’s architecture and the riverside scenery of Osaka, the city of water, where visitors can fully enjoy the world of books. (Advance reservation required for use of facilities. Check the official website of Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest for information on how to enter.) It was built by businessman Shotaro Kaga as a villa from the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the early Showa era (1926-1989). Over time, the villa was on the verge of falling into disrepair, but in 1996, in response to calls to preserve the precious architecture and surrounding nature, it was restored to its original state and reopened as an art museum with a new wing designed by Tadao Ando. The main building portion, designed by Shotaro Kaga, was constructed of wood in the Taisho era and substantially expanded in the early Showa era. The main building incorporates an eclectic mix of techniques, including carved beams and columns. The upper section of the main building incorporates a half-timber system showing the wood frame characteristic of the English Tudor Gothic style, and is constructed of reinforced concrete with a steel frame for the roof section. The terrace on the second floor offers a magnificent view of the three rivers flowing through Kizu, Uji, and Katsura, unchanged since its construction. Designed by Ando, the Jichu-kan addition is connected to the main building by a passageway. The passageway is made of fair-faced concrete with glass walls on the upper four sides and the front. The surrounding seasonal scenery is visible to the eye, creating a sense of harmony between the building and nature. A small pond with water lilies blooms beside the stairs leading to the Chichu-kan “Chichu-no-Jewel Box. From the window at the end of the long flight of stairs, you can see the pond at the same height as your eye level. Since the building is located on a slope, it is important to be able to enjoy the view from inside the building as well. The Chichu-kan, named the “Underground Jewel Box” by Mr. Ando, is designed in a cylindrical semi-underground structure to harmonize with the surrounding landscape. The roof above the exhibition space is planted with trees to blend in with the surrounding greenery. In 2012, a new building, Yamatekan “Box of Dreams,” designed by Ando, was completed. The new building is a box-shaped structure, in contrast to the “Chichu Jewel Box. The straight concrete building is placed so that it is buried in the trees, and like the Chichu-kan, the upper portion is planted to create a sense of unity with nature.   The old and new buildings and the surrounding environment coexist in perfect balance, and you can feel the “rebirth” of the Ando style in this newly revitalized villa. Opened in 1994 as the world’s first painting garden that can be viewed outdoors. Designed by Mr. Ando, this facility exhibits outdoors sturdy ceramic board paintings that reproduce the beauty of masterpieces in their original form. The garden features a waterside setting with large and small waterfalls and ponds, and the atmosphere of the works changes depending on the viewing location, viewpoint, and weather conditions.   The building is on three levels, with a gentle slope leading down from the ground to the second basement level, where visitors view the exhibits in order from the bottom. On display are a total of eight masterpieces from around the world. Four of them were created for the “International Garden and Greenery Exposition” held in 1990 and displayed in the “Garden of Masterpieces,” a pavilion designed by Mr. Ando. The other four were created for this facility.   Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment,” which is almost full-size and over 13 meters high, can be viewed from all floors of the corridor. Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” sandwiched between the sky and the water. The painting is designed to be reflected in the water, and it is also interesting to see how differently the painting looks on the surface of the water. A doubly enlarged version of the National Treasure, Caricatures of Birds, Beasts, and Humans. The long scroll, read from the right, is displayed so that visitors can appreciate it in a natural flow along the direction of travel.   The works of Van Gogh and Renoir, viewed through windows in the concrete walls, offer a different atmosphere from the paintings. Monet’s “Waterlilies, Morning” is displayed underwater to give visitors an impression of his worldview, and viewing it as if peering into the painting from above is a unique experience. The unique way to enjoy the paintings along with the changes in light and the shimmering surface of the water is only possible with ceramic board paintings.   Designed by Ando, this space takes advantage of the outdoor environment and is a recommended place to experience art in a different way than an indoor museum. Located northwest of the World Cultural Heritage and National Treasure Himeji Castle, the museum was established in 1991 as a base for all kinds of literary activities, including the collection and study of materials by writers and scholars associated with Himeji and other parts of Harima. Ando’s unique building design, “designed as a space for circulation and dialogue with literature with the castle in the background,” blends in with the old townscape and creates a new landscape. As the design concept suggests, Himeji Castle, nicknamed “Shirasagijo Castle,” can be viewed from inside the building, making it a special place where visitors can feel Himeji from both inside and outside the building.   The facility consists of the three-story North Wing and the two-story South Wing. The grounds also include the Bokkeitei, a Taisho period Japanese house with a 40-mat Japanese-style room and a tea ceremony room. The “Himeji Castle Historical Story Corridor” on the first floor of the North Wing introduces the stories and history of Himeji Castle and the region through video and graphics. A total of 26 episodes are displayed in a long arc-shaped corridor, which visitors can appreciate by following the curve. On the same floor is the “Forest of Words” exhibition room, where visitors can come into contact with the impressive words left by literary figures associated with Harima and their lives, and on the second floor is a corner dedicated to Watsuji Tetsuro, a philosopher born in Himeji City. The South Wing includes the “Ryotaro Shiba Memorial Room” and a café where visitors can relax. This glass-walled space seen from the outside is a “yoiko no heya” for parents and children to enjoy together. It is a bright and colorful space like a sunroom. Here, visitors can take off their shoes, read picture books, and play with toys while relaxing. The tapestries and mobiles are inspired by the stories in “Harimakuni Fudoki,” which is also the origin of the name of Himeji. The landscape where the building stands in harmony with the surrounding nature, blending straight lines and curves, light and shadow, is like a beautiful work of art. The buildings are like beautiful art, blending lines, curves, light, and shadow in harmony with the surrounding nature. How was it? When discussing architecture, Tadao Ando is a must-see. If you travel to Japan, why not experience the world-renowned architecture of Tadao Ando along with sightseeing?

Let’s go to shrines and temples in Kansai for New Year’s “Hatsumode”!

The first visit to a shrine or temple in the year is called “Hatsumode(New Year’s visit)”. Avoid crowds by taking into consideration the period and time of your visit. Shrines and temples each have their own “benefits”. This article will introduce you to Hatsumode spots in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara, according to their benefits. Dharma is popular as a good luck charm because it gets up after falling. Famous as a temple of luck, Katsuoji Temple has Dharma statues placed all over the temple grounds. Use the Dharma fortune to tell your fortune in various areas such as entrance exams, love, and sports. The shrine has been in existence since before 794, and is known as “Gion-san”. The headquarters of Yasaka Shrine and other shrines dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto throughout Japan. In addition to the main shrine, which is designated as a national treasure, there are many other deities enshrined within the precincts, including the Pestilence Shrine, which is dedicated to dispelling plague and evil. Shimogamo Shrine is known as a power spot for love knot. Here, you can draw a kimono-shaped fortune, called “Enmimusubi-mikuji. You will receive instructions on how to fall in love based on a waka poem from the Tale of Genji. The “Himemamori,” with its gorgeous chirimen fabric, is also gorgeous. If you want to be beautiful, go to Kawai Shrine! This is a small shrine inside Shimogamo Shrine, where the god who protects women is enshrined. Kawai Shrine offers a special ema (votive picture tablet) to pray for beauty. Use the cosmetics you normally use to apply beautiful makeup to your ema and make a wish. You will definitely become more beautiful, not only on the outside but also on the inside. Ikuta Shrine is located in the middle of the city of Kobe. The red and divine main shrine is fantastic, and the solemn atmosphere will cleanse your body and soul. Behind the main shrine is the Ikuta Forest, where you can do “water divination for marriage”. Also, the ema (votive tablet) at Ikuta Shrine is in the shape of a very cute heart. Say a prayer for a good match! Nishinomiya Shrine is the headquarters of all the Ebisu Shrines in Japan, which worship the god of good fortune, Ebisu-sama, and is known locally as “Ebessan of Nishinomiya. It is famous as the god of prosperity in business. The “Tai-mikuji”, which is given only during the New Year period, is very popular. In a long life, there are milestones at key points, and breaks due to various physical and social changes. In order to prepare for this milestone, the old people came up with the tradition of “bad luck years”. Yakujin Myoo is said to ward off all kinds of evil. Mondo Yakujin Tokoji Temple is one of the three Yakujin Myoo in Japan. Let’s pray for good luck to ward off bad luck so that we can have a peaceful new year. Nakayamadera Temple, the first Kannon sacred site in Japan, was founded by Prince Shotoku. Many pregnant women from all over Japan visit this temple, which is known as the “Temple of Safe Childbirth”. Nakayama Temple has an escalator so that pregnant women do not have to climb up the stone steps. This is a kind gesture that only a temple dedicated to praying for safe childbirth can make. Don’t miss the five-story pagoda, which was rebuilt in 2017 for the first time in about 400 years. The deep blue color is very impressive. Yakushiji Temple, a World Heritage Site, was built in 680 by Emperor Tenmu to pray for the healing of his empress’ illness. The main deity of the temple, Yakushiji Nyorai, is the Buddha of medicine. He removes people’s illnesses and misfortunes and gives them health and happiness. It is said to have the blessing of removing not only physical illnesses but also people’s grumbling hearts. Let’s visit a temple in ancient Nara and get power from it. I hope that the new year will be a good one for you.

3 Best Ramen in Osaka Umeda! How to Order, The Side Menu and More!

Osaka’s Umeda area is home to many ramen restaurants. Among them, we picked up the “super” famous and popular ramen restaurants that you should definitely try here! Don’t miss the special side dishes that are the perfect accompaniment to ramen.   1. 　ICHIRAN Umeda Shibata 2.　Kyoto Menya TAKEI Hankyu Umeda 3.　KADOYASYOKUDO Hanshin Umeda https://en.ichiran.com/shop/kinki/umeda-shibata/   Ichiran, a famous tonkotsu ramen restaurant, was established in Fukuoka in 1960 and currently has 86 restaurants in Japan and abroad. Ichiran is a tonkotsu ramen specialty restaurant that does not diversify its menu, but instead focuses on a single item of “natural tonkotsu ramen” in its pursuit of deliciousness. The Umeda Shibata branch is located near Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station. The red sign is a landmark! Ichiran is famous for its “Taste Concentration Counter” where you can enjoy your ramen without worrying about being seen. The counter is separated by a partition one seat at a time, allowing you to concentrate on the flavor of the ramen and making it easy for a woman to enter alone. Once seated, fill out an order form to order ramen to your liking, indicating the intensity of flavor, noodle consistency, amount of garlic, type of green onions, and so on. The order form is available in Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese. Ichiran’s tonkotsu ramen soup is rich, thick, and full of flavor, removing any extra peculiarities such as odor and maximizing the taste of tonkotsu. The noodles are made of special fresh noodles that are designed to be the best match for the tonkotsu soup. The original “red secret sauce” is the symbol of Ichiran’s ramen, made by mixing and aging more than 30 ingredients based on chili peppers. Not only is it spicy, but when the umami-rich sauce is mixed with the soup, it gives it an even deeper flavor! It is recommended to taste the noodles and soup gently from the corner first, and then dissolve the “red secret sauce” little by little as you eat. If you mix the noodles with the pork bone broth thoroughly, you can enjoy the exquisite harmony as much as you like. Why not try kaedama, a unique Hakata food culture? Kaedama means to refill only the noodles, leaving the soup. From the first bowl, you can change the hardness of the noodles and add toppings to enjoy the different flavors. To order kaedama, simply place the kaedama tag on the button at the back of the table. You can order without speaking, so you can order another bowl without worrying about those around you. If you order it when you are halfway through your first bowl of noodles, it will be brought to you just as you run out of your first bowl. A must order along with ramen is the “Stewed Roast Pork Platter”. This exquisite dish is made from carefully selected, high-quality pork loin that has been slow-cooked. The sweet and spicy soy sauce-based sauce combined with smoked seasoning is a perfect match with the grilled pork. Goes great with rice or beer! Last but not least, we must not forget the closing dessert. Refresh your palate with “Matcha Annin Tofu” topped with matcha sauce made from Fukuoka Prefecture’s Yamecha green tea.   At Ichiran, enjoy not only the natural tonkotsu ramen, but also the popular grilled pork and the closing dessert, just like a course! https://menya-takei.com/   Kyoto Menya TAKEI is located inside the 2nd floor central ticket gate of Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station. The main store is located in Kyoto, and since its opening in 2016 as the third store, the first in Osaka and the first in a train station, it has been extremely popular with a long line of customers. Menya TAKEI is the first name that comes to mind when talking about tsukemen in the Umeda area, and many people come from far and wide to visit this restaurant. Even if they do not take the train, there are even people who visit Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station just to try the signature tsukemen! There is often a long line of people waiting in line. *If you do not use the train, an admission ticket is required. Purchase a meal ticket from the ticket machine in front of the restaurant and enter the restaurant. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere, with counter seats lined up in a row. The extra-thick noodles, made using only carefully selected wheat and a proprietary process, are firm, elastic, and chewy! The soup is made by simmering pork bones and seafood for a long time to concentrate the umami flavor. The more the noodles are chewed, the sweeter they become, and they are firmly entwined in the rich, thick soup, making them addictive once you try them. The fish meal topping enhances the slight sweetness of the pork bones, and the yuzu peel adds a refreshing accent. The “special tsukemen” is topped with three kinds of chashu pork (chicken thigh, pork belly, and pork loin) and a seasoned egg, which covers the noodles.   After finishing the noodles, you can add the warm seafood broth in a pot on the table to the soup and enjoy every last drop. Another popular topping is “Mito straw natto,” which is wrapped in traditional straw. When added to the dipping sauce and tossed with the noodles, the natto’s gooey flavor is mildly blended into the sauce, making it thick and smooth. It has a unique flavor that is sure to make people become addicted to it. Try it for yourself! The restaurant is famous for its tsukemen, but its limited edition “special ramen” is also excellent. The clear pork bone broth with floating back fat is paired with thin, straight noodles. This Kyoto-style ramen is topped with rare chashu pork, thick-sliced chicken chashu pork with skin, flavored eggs, and plenty of green onions. Another recommended dish is the reasonably priced and satisfying “pork spicy rice bowl”. It is a bowl of thick slices of pork topped with green onions, nori (seaweed), and egg yolk. The sweet and spicy pork with the egg yolk will keep your chopsticks going even after eating tsukemen or ramen noodles.   The moment you are immersed in the deliciousness of tsukemen noodles, you will forget that you are in a train station. If you visit Umeda, this is a must-visit restaurant. https://catalog.hankyu-hanshin-dept.co.jp/hankyu/brand/?bd=hsb_kadoya&btm=0&cp=snack15   Kadoya Shokudo, with its main branch in Nishinagahori, Osaka, was founded in 1957 as a popular diner and was renovated in 2001 as a Chinese noodle specialty restaurant. It is one of Osaka’s representative ramen restaurants, having won a Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide. The Umeda branch is located on the basement floor of the Hanshin Umeda Main Store in the “Snack Park,” an all-standing-style food court based on the concept of “fast, cheap, and delicious! The secret of its popularity is, without a doubt, its very reasonable prices for ramen noodles. Here you can enjoy the restaurant’s unique Chinese noodles, arranged based on the flavors of the main restaurant.   The custom-made noodles, made exclusively for ramen noodles using 100% domestic “rakuraku” wheat, are chewy yet crisp, with a rich flavor. The thin noodles are well mixed with the light broth that contains the umami of chicken and pork bones, giving the noodles a smooth texture. The chashu pork made from Satsuma Chami pork is tender and melts in your mouth. The only toppings for ” Chinese noodle ” are chashu pork, nori, and menma (pickled bamboo shoots). The simplicity of the toppings allows you to directly feel the umami of the noodles and soup. “Wonton noodle” is a combination of “Chinese noodle” and chewy and slippery wontons. Each wonton is carefully wrapped by hand in the restaurant. This is “Deluxe chinese noodle”, which is “Chinese noodle” with an added flavored egg.   Other items on the lineup include “Chashu-noodle” with a generous portion of chashu pork, “Deluxe chinese noodle” with an additional flavored egg, and “Special chinese noodle” with an even more generous portion of chashu pork. The “Panda noodle” with sweet and spicy juicy fried tofu curd on top is a hidden menu item from the days of the popular diner, which was introduced on the 20th anniversary in 2021, and has many fans. A side menu item to be enjoyed with ramen is the bowl of rice topped with mayonnaise. We recommend the “Cha Mayo-don ,” a bowl of rice topped with a generous amount of mayonnaise on top of the savory chopped chashu pork used in Chinese noodles. If you want to enjoy the meaty flavor, choose the “Chashu-don” which is a perfect match between the sweet and spicy flavor of the tender char siu pork and the rice. For those who want to taste the full flavor of the meat, try the “Pork-don,” a sumptuous bowl of rice topped with Satsuma Chami Pork slowly simmered in a special white wine-based sauce.   Of course, the rice bowls are also very reasonable. It is nice to know that even if you order a set of Chinese noodles and a bowl of rice, the damage to your wallet will not be too great.   Only at this restaurant located in “Snack Park” can you easily order authentic Chinese noodles and rice bowls as if you were at a food stall, and enjoy them right away. There is also Sakunomi set that allows you to enjoy chashu pork and pickled bamboo shoots with beer. This is the place to end a day spent in Umeda! How was it? There are many ramen shops in Umeda, Osaka. Enjoy the signature dishes of famous stores, and be sure to check out the side dishes unique to each store.

【OSAKA】A beautiful spot for plum blossoms

Plum blossoms bloom in February and March when the weather is still cold, heralding the arrival of spring. Here are some of the best plum blossom viewing spots in the Osaka area. →Click here for plum blossom viewing spots in the Kyoto area. →Click here for plum blossom viewing spots in the Kobe area. Osaka Castle Park Plum Grove is one of the most famous plum blossom viewing spots in Kansai. About 1,270 plum trees are planted in an area of about 1.7 hectares on the east side of the inner moat of Osaka Castle. Please take your time to enjoy the castle, the plum blossoms, and the scenic beauty. Osaka Temmangu Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, and is popularly known as “Tenjin-san of Temma”. When the plum blossoms are at their best, the Plum Blossom Festival is held. Around the Hoshiai Pond on the north side of the temple grounds, there are about 100 white and red plum trees, which are very vivid. There are two plum gardens in the vast expanse of Expo Park. There are about 600 plum trees of 120 varieties in the Natural and Cultural Garden and about 80 plum trees of 40 varieties in the Japanese Garden. Enjoy the fragrance that spreads all over the area as you gaze at the Tower of the Sun floating in a sea of plum blossoms. Senri-Minami Park is the largest park in the Senri area, with stylish cafes and restaurants. It has become a place of relaxation for local people. Enjoy the early spring while looking at the 150 plum trees that color the area around the pond in the center of the park. The park is loved by locals, from children to the elderly, for its seasonal flowers. The best time to see the early spring cold plum blossoms is around the end of February, when there are about 250 red, white, and weeping plum trees. Enjoy an early spring picnic around the white, red, and pink plum blossoms. →Click here for plum blossom viewing spots in the Kyoto area. →Click here for plum blossom viewing spots in the Kobe area.

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