In the Area

• Long standing character theme cafe in Tokyo Dome City

  Bunkyo-ku

  One of the oldest character theme cafes in Tokyo. Moomin cafe and bakery opened for business in May 2003. It continues to be one of the most popular theme cafes in Tokyo for people with young children and / or Moomin fans and character cafe enthusiasts.The shop is split into a bakery on the left and restaurant on the right. You can order from the bakery and bring it to a table, if there is one free, and eat in. If you order a drink set with the bread you buy, they will serve the drink to you.  If you want to have lunch there I advise you arrive early as people started queuing up for lunch from before 11 am! The selection of bread is very good and they have some bread in the shape of Moomin characters. They have some Moomin books that you can borrow and they have giant sized stuffed toys of the Moomin character that you can have sit with you at your table. The cost is quite reasonable. A kid's plate is 670 yen, a kid's bread with one drink set is 350 yen. They have latte art of the Moomin characters. However, once the lunch time menu starts you can't do this. They have a cup dessert for 600 yen that comes in a Moomin designed cup which you can bring home with you.Moomin bakery and cafe opens from 8 am to 10.30 pm Monday to Saturdays and until 10 pm on Sunday. There is no parking specifically for the restaurant, it is shared with Laqua.

  

• Nice coffee/food break option in an area where there aren't many

  Chiyoda-ku

  The Ochanomizu area of Tokyo might be good for outdoor sports shops and massive hospitals, but it's pretty crap when it comes to sitting down over a coffee and a bite to eat.  Pleasing to see then a NEW YORKER's Cafe about half way between the outdoor sports shop street and Ochanomizu Station (the cafe is on your right as you go up the hill, before the Nikolai Church).This expat isn't from New York so can't verify the authenticity of the New York cheese cake here.  It is however, very nice.  On this occasion I went with the Cookies & Cream cake, and downed that with a large blend coffee.  A slice of cheese cake here is around 400 yen.  It's expensive given the small slice, but this doesn't detract from how delicious it is.As was mentioned in the title of this piece, this NEW YORKER's Cafe is welcome option for a sit down and a bite to eat in an area which doesn't have a great deal to offer in that field.  The interior is simple but comfortable and warm, and I find it hard to believe that you'd ever struggle for a seat here.  There's a smoking room and does a good job for both smokers and non smokers alike (i.e. the smokers will know it's there, the non smokers won't).NEW YORKER's Cafe is about 3 mins walk from Ochanomizu Station.

  

• Paradise for toddlers and preschoolers

  Bunkyo-ku

  Asobono in Tokyo Dome City is a children's fun center most suited to children under six years old. The center has a great choice of play for the little ones including physical activities, make-believe stimulation and creative outlets, as well as some board games and quiet activities.   All attractions are covered by the entrance price. The ball pool with the pirate's ship you can climb on is very popular. The have a great make-believe shopping center area and a doll's room. There are cars and train tracks in another room. They run some events and mini-events, the latter is usually some exercise to music with the staff. They have facilities for nursing mothers and a nappy changing area in the baby room. Asobono gets very crowded on weekends and sometimes you have to wait ages to get in. People line up from early morning. On weekdays it is not as bad, but there is sometimes a small queue. You can book in advance up until 70 minutes before the center opens.You can pay for an hours play or a day pass. The current rate for one hour is 930 yen per person; adult or child. Sometimes they have special offers for people with a Tokyo Dome City membership card. If you enter on a "day pass" you can come and go from the center as you please, you just have to let the staff know when you are leaving. The center is open seven days a week. On weekdays the hours are 10 am until 6 pm. ON weekends and public holidays it opens 9.30 am to 7 pm. Parking costs 400 yen for 30 minutes.

  

• 33 Banchi

  Chiyoda-ku

  I found this ‘hormone’ (intestine etc) restaurant, a bit of a distance from ‘otaku Mecca’, Akihbara. It’s super delicious! 33 Banchi. The ‘salt’ hormone is the best, but the other meats are good, too. With prices set between 300 - 800 yen, the cost-performance is also good. When it gets full here, it can get pretty smokey. The staff at 33 Banchi are cute. It can get pretty full, so I recommend making a reservation.

  

• A fun cooking class in an interesting part of Tokyo!

  Tokyo

  When I moved to Japan there was one thing that I was really enthusiastic about trying - and that was learning to cook some Japanese food. I think one of the best ways you can learn about a country is through their food (and hey - it's a good chance to indulge in some delicious eats!)Buddha Bellies Cooking School is held in the Tokyo Suburb of Jimbocho, which is conveniently accessed by way of the Tokyo Metro Subway system (either on the Shinjuku, Toei Mita or Hanzomon lines!)I chose to cook Okonomiyaki on the day that I attended the class, and it was great! There were 3 other participants in the group that day, so as well as learning to cook a dish we also got to interact with others. The class teacher, Aya, is friendly and knowledgeable, and did a great job explaining the history behind the food as well as how to make it (and how to easily recreate it at home).A fun hands on activity if you too want to learn about how to cook some Japanese cuisine.