In the Area

• Vegetable Salad Buffet in Ginza

  Chuo-ku

  Japan's local vegetables are delicious, most of them are carefully grow by some local farmers.In this shop, I don't think the staff can speak English but the menu has some pictures for each course that you can choose from. I didn't go for the course because it is a little bit expensive, the cheapest course is around 5000 yen include 9 appetizers, salad bar, main course and soup.Since I am on a diet, I just order the salad bar and eating non-stop for an hour until I get tired from vegetables. At the end, I am not hungry but feel empty.http://yasai-no-ohsama.com

  

• Come for the fantasy, not for the food

  Chuo-ku

  I had an amazing night in the Alice in Wonderland Fantasy Dining Restaurant in Ginza. I will never forget it. However, it wasn't for the quality of the restaurant, but rather the company I was in. Sure, it was fun, but for what you pay it would be nice if there was some quality, and not just aesthetics, to the food. There are some great points though and if you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland or if you are crazy about theme restaurants, it is well worth the visit. However, for me, I walked away feeling that it is all smoke and mirrors as we say in English. The fun feel, the funky decor, the staff in costumes, the elaborately presented food distract you from all that is wrong with this dining experience. The food is at the very best mediocre, in fact I would go so far to say that my main course, a pasta dressed up as the Chesire Cat was worse than anything I'd make myself. And that is saying a lot as I am very culinary challenged. It was dry, bland, basic and frankly I found it hard to finish. The salad wasn't much better. The saving grace was the desserts, which are as good to eat as they are as delightful to look at. I also found our table terribly cramped. We were in a booth that was too narrow to pull your chair back. It was a bit of an acrobatic act to get from one end of the table to the other. The lighting was also too dark especially as the decor is quite dark too.However, having said all that, I am glad I went, saw and experienced. I wouldn't rush back, but it was a fun place to visit. 

  

• These are the best pancakes I've tasted in Tokyo.

  Chuo-ku

  The best things in life often appear when you aren’t even looking for them, and this could well be the case here with what, I think, are the best pancakes I’ve tasted in Tokyo. I was actually looking for a toilet when I ended up pouring over the menu of Ramo Frutas Cafe on the 3rd floor of Ginza Place (above the ‘Nissan Gallery’  at Nissan Crossing - What a pointless waste of expensive real estate that is, by the way). It’s quite staggering really, that a cafe specializing in fruit should have itself a prime view of one of the world’s most expensive street corners, but here it is, and we should all be happy about it. Ramo Frutas Cafe is a welcome break from the ‘designer brand’ contest that is going on outside. The space of Ramo Frutas Cafe is light, airy, and natural. There’s a small, sheltered terrace overlooking Ginza’s central crossroads. Otherwise, it’s all fairly simple in appearance. Orders are made at the counter before getting seated. The menu at Ramo Frutas Cafe is fairly simple, with nearly everything on it being based around fruit, even the ‘meal plates’ - fruit curry, fruit pasta, fruit taco rice …, all between 1,600 - 1,800 yen with salad, seasonal fruit, and drink. ‘Sweets’ at the cafe come under three headings; pancakes, parfait, and ‘showcase’ (largely cakes and tartes). We went with the pancakes at 1,350 yen (including a drink); me, the ‘banana and cacao’, the partner, ‘berry and sour’. Both are what pancakes should be (the come served in the hot pan for a start); thin, eggy, hot, messy, and generously / randomly adorned with toppings. The arrive on your table looking like an Instagram pic. Highly recommended, and possibly the best pancakes I’ve had in Tokyo (or anywhere in Japan, for that matter). Another touch I liked about Ramo Frutas Cafe was that the fruit theme continues with the free water - ‘Fruit Water’ and ‘Fruit Vinegar’. Don’t be put off by the name of the latter, it really just tastes like weak apple juice. I’m having a hard time finding fault with this cafe. I mean, it specializes in fruit, but isn’t so expensive (take note Sembikiya). OK, there is one thing that bothered; the couple who occupied one of the tables on the terrace with their books and laptop getting more attention than the single parfait they ordered (which remain untouched throughout). Ramo Frutas Cafe isn’t really a place to be doing work on Sunday afternoon, especially when half of Ginza is looking for a place to eat. I would have liked to see the staff move them on. I’m a bit of a killjoy like that.Take exit A3 from the Ginza Metro Station.

  

• Like a convenience store for records

  Minato-ku

  Rumour has it that Japan is one of the world's last bastions for the humble record store.  If this Tower Records is anything to go by, the future isn't looking too bright.TOWER Mini (as is written on the front of the store) is perhaps a little larger than your average convenience store.  In terms of CDs, it's maybe split 50/50 between local recordings and those from overseas artists.Prices for new CDs are mostly in the 1500 - 2000 yen range.  At the time of visiting, I spotted a 1000 yen bargain bin.  There are listening stations here where you can preview whatever CDs have been selected at the time of visiting.There are shelves of DVDs here, too.  That said, at 3000 yen +, shopping for DVDs in Japan is an expensive business.TOWER Mini has a limited selection of reading materials, all of which were in Japanese.  Also, don't come here to pick up your free English-language mags and news rags.  There aren't any.Still, any Tower Records is always a good resource to get an idea of what's going on in the world of music; there are flyers for various music events here, as well as free listing magazines to keep you in touch with what concerts are coming up, and the lasted albums to come out (again, all in Japanese).This TOWER Mini has a selection of novelty gifts, trinkets, and t-shirts.To be honest, you'd be far better off biding you time until you get the chance to go to Shibuya and visit the massive store then.  Still, if you're in Shiodome and simply must by a CD (for whatever reason), then perhaps this small store can come to your aid.It's located just outside the Nippon TV building and the Taco Bell.

  

• Ghibli Clock Shiodome Station

  Chuo-ku

  If you are a big fan of the animation studio ghibli you should visit Shiodome Station in the center of Tokyo. Outside of the station in front of Nittere Plaza  you will find a huge clock desgined by the Studio Ghibli. The clock is really amazing big and have many cute details.At 3pm, 6pm and 8pm you can also enjoy a litle show of the clock.