Manpo万宝 Himono ひもの
When Japanese people travel to the sea they naturally want to eat fish. It makes sense, what’s local and in season, is tastiest! Overseas a great majority of Japanese restaurants serve sushi but within Japan, the percentage of sushi shops compared to other washoku (Japanese food) restaurants is actually quite low. Sushi shops tend to […]
Vegetarian in Shimoda (and travel advice for vegans in Japan)
When I first came to Japan 20 years ago, it was a real challenge to remain vegetarian. There were very few restaurants that catered to non-meat eaters and very few servers understood when I asked for something without meat, “niku nashi”. Some places would ask, “do you have an allergy”, other places thought I was […]
Maru Cafe
Maru Cafe is set in a quaint old Japanese house just steps from Maiso Beach to get there you need to cross the river. We recommend taking the wooden board-walk along the river then use the overhanging bridge, Maru Cafe is behind a tall hedge just a little to the right. They have built their […]
Happy Buddha Smoothies
Happy Buddha Smoothies is a little hard to find but totally worth the extra effort. To get there take the main road and turn at the entrance for Irita Beach (between Re-mix and the Chinese restaurant). Instead of following the road to the left to the beach, turn right into the residential area. Once their […]
On the Beach
On the Beach is not actually on the beach but their BBQ sets are all wrapped up to go so you can certainly take it to the beach, or to the boardwalk, or back to your room, or anywhere else you would like to enjoy a fresh and delicious BBQed lunch set. They have a […]
Naocacoan Vegan Lunch Box Delivery
If you have been in Japan a while and are trying to maintain a plant-based diet, you know that your options can be pretty limited if you want to eat out. I was a fairly strict vegetarian when I came to Japan, a few exceptions I made were for katsuo-dashi (fish broth) so I could […]
wabi-sabi Cafe and Chill Space
We have come to accept and even embrace the idea that we will never ever finish renovating, growing, developing, designing, and creating. We have grown yet again and still have lots of ideas and plans in the works. Please come and check out our latest project, the new wabi-sabi cafe and chill space. We hope you […]
Cafe Mellow
For those of you who have been visiting the Kisami area for sometime, you may have noticed that Paradise has been lost and in it’s place Cafe Mellow has set up shop. Although some of the changes will take some getting used to, we were impressed with the food, service, and reasonable prices. Despite the […]
cubstar
If you love a good sandwich, like I love a good sandwich, you have got to check out cubstar in Shimoda. They have a Panini lunch special to please everyone. A veggie version with mozzarella and cheese, the pescetarian special (as above) is filled with cream cheese and lox (smoked salmon), and for lovers of […]
Shimoda Burger
At the Ra-Maru Diner in Michi-no-Eki they serve a fish burger made with Shimoda’s most popular fish, kin-me-dai (aka splendid alfonsino). ¥1000 may seem a little pricey for a fish burger and some chips, but it’s a tasty change from its beef and bun cousin. Open:10:00 – 17:00 Save
Bingo!
Just a short stroll from Guesthouse tabi-tabi a Jerk Chicken Shop has opened up. Their cozy nook, Bingo, is situated right next to Kisami’s shrine so on late evenings in September you can listen to live taiko drumming, shamisen, and bamboo flutes while filling up on their Jamaican Style BBQed bird, and draft beer. UPDATE: […]
Kaiten Zushi
Kaitenzushi is a sushi shop where nigirizushi rolls up to you on a conveyer belt and you get to take your pick of Japan’s most celebrated culinary tradition. Sakanadonya is on the 2nd floor of Shimoda’s Michi-no-eki (road station), right next to the ocean. It doesn’t get any fresher than this! The cuts of fish […]
Fontaine’s Restaurant and Bakery Cafe
I think most foreigners living in Japan would agree that there are not enough breakfast places around. So I am happy to have discovered a great new spot with fluffy omelettes, toast, Italian coffee and freshly squeezed OJ. UPDATE: I’m sad to say, Fontaine doesn’t have fluffy eggs and toast on the menu anymore. They […]
Tobi Ishi
Tobi Ishi is our favorite Japanese breakfast spot. For 600 yen you get a perfectly grilled aji, rice, pickles, miso soup, an egg, and some nori (dried seaweed) and natto. If you don’t like your egg raw, the friendly obasan is happy to cook it for you. She’s stays open late (weekends until 11 pm) […]
Our Daily Bread
Shimoda’s other wood-burning-oven bakery is set in the heavens above. The scenic drive through the country side, then a hair-raising thrill ride up a steep and narrow mountain road is so worth your test of faith (and brakes!). Once you are there, plan to stay a while as you share in the love for bread […]
Re-Mix
Another short jaunt from Guesthouse tabi-tabi (it’s still walkable from Retreat wabi-sabi but we recommend taking one of our rental bikes) is one of our other favorite late night dinner and drinks spots. The friendly owner Hiro, used to live in New York, where he spun hip-hop for skaters. Now he’s not only mixing vinyl, […]
South Cafe
I have been meaning to write about South Cafe for a long time. And so I bring my camera with me every time I go but then as soon as the food arrives, my mouth waters and I dig in without capturing any of the deliciousness. This place is a favorite among tourists and locals […]
Nikuzuki in Kawazu
Nikuzuki means “meatmoon” but they also serve fish and noodles to feed the vegetarians and semi-vegetarians alike. The food is delicious and the location is amazing. We have decided this will go on the list of “What to do on a rainy day”. I suspect the sound of the falling rain and the views of […]
Gorosaya
Shimoda is jam-packed with restaurants, cafes, and bars which can make it really difficult to choose. Well at least that is what happened to me a few years past when I really wanted to try some good local seafood. Eventually I turned to my trusty lonely planet which read, “Gorosaya. Elegant understated ambience and fantastic […]