I came to Tokyo on a business trip, but pretty much all I remember is the eating. I’m thinking of posting it bit by bit. The first place I went on day one was Hatsushima, a small izakaya in Shinbashi. It’s tucked away in a back alley, so it was really hard to find. I’d originally planned to go somewhere famous if I got there earlier, but I missed my timing and arrived at noon, so I went to a quiet place without a crowd.
Tea
There’s only a narrow counter, so it’s a bit awkward to eat at, but I guess that’s part of the charm. Above all, the food is good.
Soup
It’s packed with fish, so the flavor is rich.
Rice
Rice is rice ^_^
Simmered ginmutsu (Patagonian toothfish), half portion
It was simmered until it turned soft and gelatinous, and just as the person who recommended the place said, it melted in my mouth. The sauce was rich too, so it was great mixed into the rice. A piece of grilled mackerel came out as well, but I didn’t take a photo of it. I felt it again this time: good places serve tasty fish even when it’s out of season. It’s like some kind of superpower.
A bit of sashimi comes on the side too.
I wasn’t expecting much, so it was a little surprising that it came out so fresh. It made me think, so this is what a great Tokyo restaurant is like…
Next we moved to a nearby coffee shop called Miyakoshiya Coffee for a quick cup.
Blend coffee
As soon as we ordered, they brewed it right away. The way they poured had real form to it. The cups seem to be high-end too.
I went with mango juice…
It’s a bit on the pricey side, but I have no complaints about the taste or the atmosphere. The only thing is that there’s no separate smoking area, so it might not be the best place to bring women.