More commonly known as shoyu ramen in the west, Tokyo-style ramen consists of a dark brown broth made from one or more of chicken, pork, dried bonito, and kombu seaweed. Its base flavor comes from the addition of soy sauce, and often features such toppings as sliced pork (chashu), bamboo shoots, seaweed, hardboiled eggs, and spinach. This style of ramen traces its origins all the way back to 1910 at an Asakusa restaurant called Rai Rai Ken, and it quickly became the preferred style of ramen throughout Tokyo. Older Tokyoites sometime refer to it as Chinese soba, due to its influence from more classic Chinese-style noodle dishes (with “soba” being a specific type of noodle). You might be surprised to learn that there are over 3,000 ramen shops in Tokyo alone, which goes to show just how much metropolitan diners love the traditional dish.
This is a classic Japanese dessert made from sweet potatoes. First the potatoes are steamed, then mashed and combined with sugar until it reaches a silky-smooth texture. This paste is then poured into a rectangular mold to give it shape and chilled until it achieves a semi-solid form similar to cheesecake. This dessert dates all the way back to the late 19th and early 20th century.
Japan’s first ever amusement park opened all the way back in 1853, which was still part of Japan’s Edo period. Hanayashiki eventually closed and was ultimately destroyed during World War II, but managed to reopen in 1947. It currently contains Japan’s longest running roller coaster, which was built in 1953. It’s within walking distance of Sensoji Temple, making it a great spot to check out for tourists visiting the Asakusa area of Tokyo. And after you’re done there you can head down to Hoppy Street, home to a wide variety of old-school izakaya bars, to finish out the day!
