Orca Ginza Brewery

📍Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 8 Chome−11−12 正金ビル B1

We stumbled upon this brewery since it was right across from our hotel. Located in an alleyway, Orca is a hidden gem that serves craft beer, wine, and entrées such as Uruguayan sirloin. The beer is brewed onsite, and flights are available to sample the various flavors. We didn’t order any food, but our drinks came with a complimentary popcorn dish (which made me so happy because I love popcorn). The beer was cold and delicious, and our server was very friendly. Menus were also available in English. We went around 7 p.m. on a Friday, but it wasn’t busy at all. I recommend this spot for the craft beer, service, and relaxing ambiance.

Salon de Royal

📍Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 4 Chome−8−14

My husband requested only one thing to bring back from Japan, and that was chocolate. While searching for the best chocolate in Ginza, this store popped up in my internet results, and we were highly impressed. There is a large assortment of deluxe chocolates available, along with my favorite—chocolate-covered nuts. My sister and I bought a variety of packaged delicacies, including chocolate-covered macadamias, pecans, and almonds. Some even had unique flavorings such as coffee, sea salt, or matcha. If you are shopping for others or even for yourself, I recommend visiting this store for some delicious souvenirs.

Hokkaido Menkoi Kumachan Onsen Shibuya

📍150-0042 32-12 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Asolty Shibuya 3rd floor

If you are looking for a meal with a cute story and adorable vibes, then look no further than Hokkaido Menkoi Kumachan Onsen! The name itself can be loosely translated as “cute bear hot springs,” which refers to the bear-shaped soup base that comes with your meal. This restaurant serves Japanese shabu-shabu, a dish where you cook your own vegetables and protein in a sizzling pot of flavored broth. The broth is hot enough that everything cooks fairly quickly, including the thinly sliced meats. There are also a variety of dipping sauces, such as ponzu and creamy sesame, as well as sides like noodles, rice, and dumplings.

I highly recommend making reservations in advance since this is a popular spot with limited seating. We made ours through the official website, though I did need to translate the pages to English using my browser’s built-in translation feature. Check out my blog post here for more information on this adorable spot.

Mirai Nihonshuten Kubota Sake Bar

📍15-1 B1F Udagawacho, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Met. 150-0042

Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. If you are new to drinking sake or want to broaden your taste preferences, I suggest doing a sake tasting at Kubota Sake Bar. The experience is unique in that it uses AI to help you discover which types of sake you enjoy most. First, you are given 10 samples of sake (yes, you will be drinking a lot!) and rank them according to your preference on a tablet. Once you finish the tasting, AI will recommend different types, and the bartender will present you with additional sakes that you are likely to enjoy. I think we received around three to four large pours, and each one was delicious. We were also served snacks, including salmon sashimi and matcha-coated walnuts. The server did not speak much English, but he was very friendly and guided us throughout the experience.

After the session concluded, we received souvenir sake glasses to take home. We had a great time but just know that you will be drinking quite a bit! Luckily, the bar is located within a modern food court in a mall, so there are plenty of food options nearby if you need to soak up the alcohol. We made our reservation through Klook, a travel website that offers a variety of experiences in Japan.

Udon Shin

📍相馬ビル １F 2 Chome-20-16 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0053

Tempura udon is a classic Japanese noodle dish that combines thick, chewy noodles with lightly battered and fried vegetables and seafood. It is served with a savory broth typically made from dashi (umami soup stock), soy sauce, and mirin (rice wine). The broth can be served hot, cold, or on the side as a dipping sauce. This restaurant had it down, and I was impressed with the quality of all the dishes. I ordered the tempura kake udon, which came with hot soup broth and a side of tempura vegetables and shrimp. My sister had the tempura zaru udon, which came with chilled udon noodles and a dipping sauce. Both were amazing, and I would definitely order them again.

According to the restaurant's website, Udon Shin freshly prepares the noodles from scratch and fries all tempura only after it is ordered. This was a popular spot, so I recommend making reservations in advance. We made ours through their website, which redirects you to TableCheck—just use your browser’s translation feature to view it in English. Note that it is a cash-only business. Most customers ate quickly and didn’t linger so others waiting for a table could be seated. I highly recommend this spot for a great tempura udon meal.

PAUL NEWoMan Shinjuku

📍Japan, 〒151-0051 Tokyo, Shibuya, Sendagaya, 5 Chome−24−55 JR Shinjuku Station, 改札内 NEWoMan新宿2F エキナカ

PAUL is a franchise bakery that originated in France in 1889. There are multiple locations in Japan, but the one we visited was a smaller kiosk located in Shinjuku Station. There are many food options available in the station, but PAUL made it easy to grab a delicious croissant sandwich and a coffee before catching our train. They also offer a selection of fresh pastries.

Unfortunately, seating is fairly limited in the food court, and we ended up sitting on the edge of a water fountain. However, the food was delicious, so if you are traveling through this station, I would suggest stopping by this café for a quick bite.

FamilyMart & 7-Eleven

📍Various locations throughout Tokyo

Convenience stores in Japan, such as FamilyMart and 7-Eleven, are not like those found in the States. These stores are clean and offer a large variety of fresh items (like breakfast sandwiches) as well as inexpensive drinks and snacks. I purchased a limited-edition Sapporo beer at FamilyMart, and it was equivalent to about $1 in the US. My sister and I grabbed breakfast there often, which usually consisted of fruit yogurts, fruit cups, packaged breads (including strawberry bread), and fresh egg sandwiches. There are a ton of items to browse through, and you can even get bento boxes and instant ramen to heat up on site.

My favorite drink that I purchased was a Starbucks Macadamia Chocolate Merry Latte, which was available in November around the holidays. It was sweet, nutty, and creamy. If you are in Japan, be sure to stop by one of these convenience stores—even if it’s just for a quick snack!

Brewer's 2 Go

📍1 Chome-12-33 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan | Floor 2 - ANA InterContinental Tokyo by IHG

Located in the ANA InterContinental Hotel, this charming café was filled with baked sweets and fresh bread. We tried the strawberry croissant, which was flaky and had just the right amount of sweetness. We also got a fruit cake topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Paired with a hot cup of coffee, it was the perfect mid-day snack. In addition to homemade pastries, the café also sold sandwiches, paninis, salads, and smoothies.

Ginza Kagari Honten

📍6 Chome-4-12 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Hands down, this was the best ramen I had in Japan. Ginza Kagari Honten is known for its tori paitan soba, a chicken ramen with a rich and creamy broth. The broth is made by simmering chicken bones for long hours, and the result is absolutely phenomenal. Aside from the creamy, umami-filled broth, the thin noodles soaked up all of the flavor perfectly. A separate dish of toppings was also provided, which included seasonal vegetables (such as pumpkin and bell pepper), slices of tender chicken breast, and a soft-boiled egg.

The overall experience was amazing due to the delicious food, friendly atmosphere, and fun R&B beats playing in the background. I highly recommend checking this spot out if you are in the Ginza area during your trip! Just note that you cannot make reservations, so seating is first come, first served. If you want to learn more about this restaurant, check out my ramen post here.

Teppanyaki Akasaka

📍1 Chome-12-33 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan | Floor 37 - ANA InterContinental Tokyo by IHG

If you are looking for luxury, you can find it at Teppanyaki Akasaka. Located on the 37th floor of the ANA InterContinental Hotel, this restaurant provides stunning city views and your own personal chef. The menu includes multiple appetizers (such as miso soup, vegetable salad, and sashimi), your choice of seared protein (including Kobe beef or Wagyu tenderloin), grilled vegetables, garlic rice, and a festive dessert. The entrée is prepared right in front of you to your liking and paired with a variety of dipping sauces.

The beef was tender, juicy, and top quality. Our chef had impressive knife skills, and the service was superb. Think Benihana on steroids. This is a great place to celebrate a special occasion or to splurge on a delicious meal. You can make reservations for lunch or dinner through the hotel’s website. I would note that you should come hungry, because you will definitely be eating a lot of food as part of the set meal.

MIXX Bar & Lounge

📍1 Chome-12-33 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan | Floor 36- ANA InterContinental Tokyo by IHG

The MIXX Bar & Lounge is a swanky bar situated high on the 36th floor of the ANA InterContinental Hotel. It offers beautiful views of the city, complemented by smooth music. Each cocktail is crafted with care and packs a punch with generous pours. I ordered the Silken Ruby, a lavender-colored drink made with berry-infused gin, Chambord, cranberry juice, lemon juice, Champagne syrup, and egg white. It was even topped with a beautiful pink garnish.

My sister ordered a fresh fruit martini in the passionfruit flavor, though they also offered kiwi, strawberry, pineapple, and raspberry. Other top-shelf spirits were available, and small snacks were served on the side. Overall, this was a great way to end the night.