Keika Ramen's Soy Sauce-Based Shoyo in Shinjuku (Tokyo)

Just beside Tokyu Stay, my hotel in Shinjuku Suehiro, was a ramen shop offering no-frills dining in this metropolitan corner. Keika Ramen originated from Kumamoto - home of tonkotsu ramen, thus you see the prefecture's icon Kumamon somewhere in their shop. It's been in business for 30 years.

Keika is a small ramen bar with affordable dishes on their menu. Upon entry, they will offer you an English menu (if you need it). Once you've picked your choice, you order it from a vendo machine just beside the door. The process can get intimidating because the vendo isn't in English, but you can ask for assistance from the waiter. Then you hand your order's receipt to the cook. In a short while, your ramen is served steaming before you. The seating is on a bar. The joint is too small for proper tables. Turnover is fast as most clients don't linger too long.

Classes of Ramen

I ordered Shoyo (syoyo) Ramen which is soy sauce based. Other major classess of ramen include Shio (shiyo) Ramen which is salt based; Miso Ramen has fermented bean paste; and Tonkotsu Ramen is pork broth based. My bowl includes 2 soft-boiled eggs, and cabbage strips. It is a sizable serving at 980 yen. 

This area in Shinjuku Suehiro is littered with shops that stay open til the wee hours. Further on are night clubs, adult venues and go-go bars so it can get interesting. In spite of this, the place doesn't feel seedy or shady. There's an entrance to the Shinjuku station nearby (through an underground tunnel), although it's easy to get disoriented. I kept getting lost; I had to always "find" my way back to the hotel. 

Rebateki Liver Steak in Shinjuku Sanchome (Tokyo)

Sometimes, I just hop inside a restaurant that looks interesting. Like when I saw "liver steak" done Japanese style called Rebateki Liver with Green Onion for 680 yen. 

Most rebatekis I know are grilled on a stick, but this one was served on a sizzling plate, and seasoned accordingly. The meal included a cup of rice. This liver steak was plump, tasty and tender. I wanted more.

This was in a restaurant at the 2nd floor of a building with no English signs. I was just walking around one night and couldn't decide what to eat. I must have walked the narrow streets twice before finally deciding on this one. 

The interiors were filled with lanterns, wooden tables and shelves filled with different Japanese beverages. I stayed in the quiet corner. When my order arrived, it took me awhile to eat my liver steak. It looked so beautifully cooked I just wanted to document it. 

But the glory of dining is in the tasting, and it was...

Sinfully delicious. 

Tokyo Here and There - Japan Through My Eyes part 3

At first glance, Tokyo can be an intimidating city. There is the discomobobulating density of people, the frenetic movement all around, and the overwhelming disregard to the English language. After all, this is their city, why bother with English, right?

Once you get through the initial shock of how everything looks so modern and high-tech; of how clean and expensive it is, you will appreciate the discipline and politeness of the Tokyo urbanites. And you will understand why there’s hardly a Tokyo edition of the Lonely Planet available in your nearest Power Books or National Bookstore! Considered to be the 5^th most expensive city in the world, this is strictly not for the budget traveler! (Update as of April 2010: I saw 2 different versions of the Lonely Planet's series on Japan at National Bookstore in Robinson's Pioneer - Inside Japan and Japan - at PhP1,300+. For the most part, I'd still reiterate that Japan isn't a budget traveler's paradise. It's a budget-busting country for the backpacking subculture.)

In this 3^rd part, I am posting more images that depict the look, the smell and the feel of vibrant Tokyo.

DVD shop in Roponggi.

On a tight budget? Head to the nearest 100 Yen Shop for your pasalubongs (gifts).

Where is King Kong?

Universal gastronomy

AM PM - the 24-hour convenience store.

A typical Japanese sari-sari store.

Vortex is an internet gaming arcade (left). Children's clothes at a department store (right).

Bored out of your wits? Reading materials by the roadside - unfortunately, they're in nihonggo.

At a Tokyo flower shop

Check out the previous posts on Tokyo:

Part 1 - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/02/spellbinding-tokyo-japan-through-my.html

Part 2 - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/03/everyday-tokyo-japan-through-my-eyes.html

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Everyday Tokyo - Japan Through My Eyes part 2

Tokyo was once called Edo, a small fishing village, way back when Kyoto was capital. Once a castle was built in Edo, the small prefecture experienced growth that eventually had to be renamed as Tokyo in 1628. This city had a history of constant rebuilding: during the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 where 143,000 perished from an 8.3 richter scale earhquake, and then again during the World War II bombings.

In Japan, 99% of the population observe principles of Buddhism or Shinto Religion. The remaining 1% are Christians, who are mostly expats - a mixture of Koreans, Chinese and Filipinos. Islam and Sikhism are also present in a smattering of the population.

Each day, some 10 million people congest the Tokyo trains.

Most mobiles and Blackberrys do not work with the Japanese system and those that use local phones find it expensive – both local and international calls are charged the same. iPhones are a safe and functional bet in Tokyo, but texting with your ordinary Nokia phones will be frustrating.

If you don’t have much time, you can try those “Gray Line” tours that will take you around to the requisite spots.

Here are some of the important areas to visit in Tokyo:

• Roppongi. Shopping centers and embassies populate this area. Nightlife abuzz with frenetic area in this district. Tokyo Tower, a subject of several movies and several sentimentalist novels, can be found here – Japan’s version of Paris’ Eiffel Tower. Tokyo tower is a 332.5 meter (1,091 ft) telecommunications and observation tower located in Shiba Park. Roponggi Hills is also home to high end restaurants, the tastiest, but priciest meals to be had in the city.
• Shibuya. Large neons sine brightly in Tokyo’s version of Leicester Square. Young urban souls find their vibe here. Huge screens playing ads and music videos grace this district. For those who love their DVDs and CDs, a huge Tower Records is here. This is Japanese consumerism on fine display.
• Yokohama. The Chinatown that dates back1859 is located here.

An Overview on Tokyo (Part 1) - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/02/spellbinding-tokyo-japan-through-my.html

Where fixing a tie can be a solitary sacred ritual.

A taxi queue.

Head to your nearest Starbucks coffee. Teahouses are as rare here as they are in Manila or in the US. This is most noticeable as you look across the city’s horizon you can easily spot many coffee shop signs, including a popular and fashionable café called Starbucks.

The cuddliest locals.

Remember that Jacky Chan action-drama movie - "The Shinjuku Incident"?

Shinjuku Station serves as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines. Considered to be the busiest train station in the world in terms of number of passengers, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007. It is registered with Guinness World Records.

This is the Eye in the Sky!