Sadaharu Aoki

Starting today through Tuesday, February 14th, Seibu Ikebukuro is hosting a Chocolate Paradise on the 7th floor of it’s south tower.

Many of the famous chocolatiers are showcasing their sweets here, including Payard, Pierre Herme, Pierre Marcolini, and Sadaharu Aoki (see photo above).

* Note that the event closes at 6 p.m. on February 14th.

Nihonkai no Sachi

Today through Tuesday, January 31, 2012, Shinjuku Keio department store is holding a Fukui Food Fair on the 7th floor. Highlights include seafood from the Sea of Japan including kanburi donburi, zuwaigani, saba oshizushi, uni, fugu sashimi, and the famous Echizen Gani.

Echizen Gani

*Note that the event closes at 5 p.m. on the final day, January 31.

For more information

Jean-Charles Rochoux has an interesting collection called “Tsukiji” that includes a sansho flavored praline. Alsatian Christine Ferber has ganaches filled with her signature confitures. As well there are the perennial favorites like Jean-Paul Hevin and Henri LeRoux.

Shinjuku Isetan, 6th floor

Wednesday, January 25 – Monday, January 30th.

The event closes at 6 p.m. on January 30th.

*Note that these events can become very packed so go early and try to avoid the weekends if you can.

For more information on Shinjuku Isetan and my other favorite depachika in the city, click here.

Broccoli –

Cabbage –

Cauliflower –

Celery –

Daikon –

Eringi – eringi mushroom

Gobo – burdock root

Hakusai – Napa cabbage

Hoursensou – spinach

Jagaimo – potatoes

Kabu – turnips

Komatsuna – Japanese green (sometimes called mustard spinach) in turnip family

Mekyabettsu – Brussel sprouts

Mizuna – Japanese green (sometimes called potherb mustard)

Nagaimo – Japanese mountain yam

Nanohana – rapeseed flowers

Negi – Japanese leeks

Ninjin – carrots

Nira – garlic chives

Parsley –

Renkon – lotus root

Saradana – salad greens

Satsumaimo – Satsuma sweet potato

Seri – Japanese celery

Shungiku – chrysanthemum leaves

Yamatoimo – Yamato potato, similar to nagaimo

Yurine – lily root

Daidai – a type of orange

Ichigo – strawberry

Kinkan – kumquat

Lemon –

Navel orange –

Ponkan – a type of tangerine

Ringo – apple

Yuzu –

Edo-Ko Pudding

This is hands down my favorite food fair of the year. Aji Hyakusen by Takashimaya features the best food purveyors and restaurants from around the country. This fair at Shinjuku Takashimaya on the 11th floor starts today and runs through next Wednesday, the 25th (ending early this day).

Highlights include Edo famous shops such as Ginza Sushiko Sushi, Kanda Matsuya Soba, Ningyocho Tamahide Oyakodon, and Asakusa Daikokuya Ebi Tempura.

Look for the Edo-Ko Pudding (photo above) from Nihonbashi Yukari’s Kimio Nonaga made with eggs from Tokyo. Pickles and wagashi from Kyoto, seafood products from all over Japan, and I like to stock up my pantry with mirin, sesame oil, and other staples.

This list includes the address for Takashimaya in Shinjuku and other popular depachika in the city.

Note that this is the Shinjuku Takashimaya and not the Nihonbashi Takashimaya (which will host the Aji Hyakusen later in the year).

Nagasaki Champon

Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi will host a Nagasaki Food Fair from Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 to Tuesday, January 23rd on the 7th floor. Highlights include an eat-in counter with Nagasaki Champon (see photo), as well as castella, suigyoza, himono, and shochu.

Here is my list of Tokyo’s top depachika, which includes the address for Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi.

Kinotoya Cheese Tart

Starting today through January 31 is Shinjuku Odakyu’s Hokkaido Food Fair. The event is on the 11th floor of Odakyu department store. It is broken up into two weeks so the event will close at 5 p.m. on the 24th and the 31st, otherwise until 8 p.m. all days.

Ikura, Kani, and Uni Donburi

Hokkaido is known for so many food products including ramen and sushi, both of which will be available at eat-in counters so go for lunch or dinner. Our favorite seafood such as uni, kani, and ikura as well as ika (squid) stuffed with rice and simmered in a soy broth (ikameshi). Other things to look for include sweets, such as the Kinotoya cheese tart (photo above), ROYCE chocolate covered potato chips, and Marusei Butter Sandwiches.

Ika Meshi

Here is a list of antenna shops in Ginza, the area with the most number of shops. I will follow up with other lists over the next week.

Osaka Hyakkaten

Over 600 items and an eat-in corner with takoyaki and butaman.

Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-10-1, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan 1F

03-5220-1333

10:00 – 22:00

Tokushima and Kagawa Tomoni Ichiba

Sanuki udon, somen, Tokushima ramen, sudachi, jizake, and more.

Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-10-1, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan 1F

03-6269-9688

10:30 – 19:30

Hyogo Waku Waku Kan

Tako no kamaage, oden packs, Higashimaru udon, vegetables, and more.

Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-10-1, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan B1

03-6273-4133

10:00 – 19:00

Iki Iki Toyama Kan

Over 800 items including masu sushi.

Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-10-1, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan B1

03-3231-5032

10:00 – 19:00

Wakayama Kishukan

Over 50 types of umeboshi, jizake, and fruit.

Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-10-1, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan B1

03-3216-1615

10:00 – 19:00

Iwate Ginka Plaza

Over 1,500 items, including a Koiwa soft cream corner.

Chuo-ku, Ginza 5-15-1, Nankai Tokyo Bldg. 1F

03-3254-8282

10:30 – 19:00

Gunma-chan Chi

Produce, sweets, and jizake with an event space on the 2^nd floor.

Chuo-ku, Ginza 5-13-19, Duplex Ginza Tower 5/13

03-3546-8511

10:00 – 19:00

Oishii Yamagata Plaza

Jizake, fruits, vegetables, and an Italian restaurant incorporating Yamagata’s produce by star chef Masayuki Okuda at San Dan Delo.

Chuo-ku, Ginza 1-5-10, Ginza First Five Bldg.

03-5250-1752

10:00 – 20:00

Kagoshima Yurakukan

A large selection of shochu, restaurant, and much more.

Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 1-6-4, Chiyoda Bldg. 1-3F

03-3580-8821

hours vary

Tottori Plaza

Rakkyo, nagaimo, seafood, Italian restaurant featuring Tottori products, and more than 1,500 items.

Minato-ku, Shinbashi 2-19-4 SNT Bldg.

03-5537-0575

10:00 – 21:00

Ginza Kumamoto Kan

Fruits and vegetable, seafood products, and more than 1,000 items. ASOBI Bar on the 2^nd floor featuring Kumamoto shochu, basashi (horsemeat sashimi), and karashi renkon.

Chuo-ku, Ginza 5-3-16

03-3572-1261

11:00 – 20:00

ASOBI Bar 17:00 – 20:00

Marugoto Kochi

Sweets, jizake, and a restaurant on the 2^nd floor.

Chuo-ku, Ginza 1-3-13, Ri-burekkusu Tower

03-3538-4351

hours vary

Okinawa Ginza Washita Shop

An impressive selection of awamori in the basement and fresh produce such as go-ya.

Chuo-ku, Ginza 1-3-9, Maruito Ginza Bldg.

03-3535-6991

10:30 – 20:00

Amaebi Donburi

Today starts three food fairs in Tokyo. Get this amaebi donburi at the Hokkaido Food Fair at Tobu Ikebukuro (8th floor event space) running through January 24th.

Select from over 200 ekiben at Shinjuku Keio’s event also through January 24th.

Shimane Food Fair

At Shibuya Tokyu Toyoko Ten on the 8th floor is a Shimane Food Fair running through January 18th.

For more information about the depachika at these department stores, please see my list of my favorite depachika in Tokyo.

Maguronald

With an awesome name like Maguronald, which sounds an awful like lot McDonald’s when pronounced in Japanese, this is definitely worth checking out. Maguro, or of course, tuna, is the specialty of this small 20 seat restaurant in Ginza. It is open for lunch and dinner and closed on Sunday and holidays. And affordable, budget about 1,000 or 2,000 JPY per person. Beer, shochu, and sake is served.

The menu is very simple, tuna zuke (sashimi marinated in soy) donburi (rice bowl), chutoro, sashimi, tatsuta-age (think fried chicken made from tuna), and tuna yakitori. There are some vegetable side dishes as well.

A lot of this is food we often eat at home, especially the sashimi and the tuna zuke donburi. It’s really comfort food and if you like tuna, you’ll love Maguronald.

No website yet, just a facebook page.

Maguronald

Chuo-ku, Ginza 4-13-3

Phone: 03-3546-0012