Only In Japan – Page 3 – Appetite For Japan

Saturday 29 October was the big night for Halloween in Japan 2016, and as always it was a huge event in Tokyo.

Only In Japan Places of interest Shopping Tokyo Weird Japan

July 9, 2016April 8, 2017 appetiteforjapan

Venus Fort: Tokyo’s quirkiest shopping centre

The man-made island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay is a great place for shopping. It has several large shopping centres which all offer something unique. Venus Fort, with its artificial sky and Venetian themed interior, is Odaiba’s most unusual shopping centre, and one of Japan’s quirkiest malls.

Culture & Events Only In Japan Other Places of interest Shrines and temples Tokyo Weird Japan

July 2, 2016 appetiteforjapan

Aqua City Odaiba Shrine: on top of a building in Tokyo

If there’s anywhere in the world where you’ll find a shrine on top of a large building, it’s Japan. Aqua City Odaiba Shrine creates a great juxtaposition between traditional and modern Japan, and has spectacular views of the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo Bay.

Cardloan Girls: using manga to promote credit cards

Cardloan Girls is a website that uses moe manga characters to promote credit cards to Japanese consumers. Yes, you read that correctly: cute manga characters are now promoting credit cards in Japan.

Food theme parks Food theme parks Namco Only In Japan Theme parks

May 21, 2016September 7, 2016 appetiteforjapan

Namco Namja Town: a theme park for cats, gyoza and ice-cream

Namco Namja Town is one of two indoor theme parks run by Namco in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City mall. We visited Namja Town where we ate at the Gyoza Stadium, sampled a few unusual ice-cream flavours (from a selection of 50!) and wandered through a haunted house.

April 10, 2016September 7, 2016 appetiteforjapan

AKB48 Cafe: the J-Pop themed restaurant in Akihabara

The AKB48 Cafe in Akihabara is a popular venue for fans of Japan’s famous J-Pop group. We recently stopped by to check it out.

Prison hospital restaurant Alcatraz ER nurse

Restaurants Theme cafes, restaurants and bars Theme dining Weird Japan

March 8, 2016August 13, 2016 appetiteforjapan

Alcatraz ER: Tokyo’s terrifying prison hospital restaurant

If you’re the kind of person who likes their cocktails stirred with sex toys then Alcatraz ER just might be the place for you. It’s one of Japan’s oldest – and scariest – themed restaurants, and it’s based on a medical prison. We checked it out for some food, cocktails and screams.

Restaurants Theme cafes, restaurants and bars Theme dining

February 28, 2016June 12, 2016 appetiteforjapan

The Lock-Up: Japan’s prison themed restaurant

The Lock-Up is one of two brands of prison themed restaurants in Japan, and it has several branches throughout Tokyo and beyond. We visited both of Shibuya’s prison themed izakayas in one night to compare them, starting with The Lock-Up.

Fast food Must eats Restaurants Weird Japan

January 31, 2016July 13, 2016 appetiteforjapan

Uobei Genki Sushi: lightning fast sushi in Japan

Uobei Sushi is part of a cheap but tasty chain of restaurants belonging to the Genki Sushi company and found around Japan. This is where sushi, ordered via touch-screen, costs 100 Yen per plate and appears in front of you at lightning speed. It’s not your traditional sushi train where the plates ride on a slow conveyor belt for hours on end – Uobei Sushi is futuristic. We recently ate at the Shibuya branch of Uobei Sushi in Tokyo.

Cafes Desserts Kawaii Popular Culture Sanrio Theme cafes, restaurants and bars Theme dining

December 26, 2015July 13, 2016 appetiteforjapan

Café de Miki with Hello Kitty: delicious and kawaii pancakes in Tokyo

Café de Miki with Hello Kitty is located in Diver City, one of several large shopping centres on the man-made island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. It specialises in a small but tasty range of Hello Kitty themed pancakes, lattes and other Hello Kitty treats.