The bright illuminations and festive cheer of Tokyo around the holidays are truly unforgettable, but even they can’t disguise one thing – the city can also get quite chilly. So finding ways to warm up enjoyably becomes a big priority during the colder months. Right now, it’s the perfect time to indulge in hot pots like oden, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu, as well as bottles of ambrosial hot sake – here are some of the best places to heat up the mind, body, and soul.
The Hottest Pots
There’s nothing better than a warming bowl of broth, and for some Tokyoites, it’s hard to beat the traditional hot pot known as oden. For the uninitiated, oden is a traditional one pot dish where a cornucopia of fish cakes, vegetables like daikon, tofu, konnyaku and other beloved Japanese ingredients are simmered in a dashi broth. An umami-rich bowl of oden at historical restaurants like the over century-old Owariya in Kanda are a must for locals during the winter months, as over 30 oden ingredients to choose from ensure diners get to eat their favorites. Otafuku in Asakusa is another longtime favorite for oden, with its unique items like rolled tofu skin and stuffed tofu; traditionally, Tokyo (and Kanto region) oden is known for its soy-based dark broth, but other regional styles from around the country are represented at places like Inagaki in Kojimachi, where diners can sample different styles of soups from the Osaka (Kansai region, which is light soy based), and Nagoya (miso based). The 16-seat Esaki in Kagurazaka will require making a reservation, but their light dashi-based Kyoto-style oden and famously perfect soft-boiled eggs are worth the extra effort. And their horigotatsu – recessed floor seating that allows one to stretch out their legs – adds even more authentic charm.
Simmering Succulence
In the US, sharing a pot of sukiyaki and shabu-shabu may be more familiar, with delectable pieces of thinly sliced beef or pork, along with a variety of vegetables, that are simmered to perfection in a sweet soy sukiyaki broth or deceptively simple konbu based shabu-shabu broth. Tokyo has no shortage of great sukiyaki restaurants, but places like Kobori in Akasaka and Imahan in Ningyocho, both of which serve some of the best wagyu available, push their offerings ahead of the pack. When it comes to shabu-shabu, Shabu Shabu Kintan Daikanyama – run by the famed yakiniku brand Kintan – is celebrated for its superlative wagyu cuts ranging from tongue to flank, sirloin, and more. Pork lovers will not be disappointed with the shabu-shabu at Butagumi Shabu-an in Roppongi, which forgoes beef to serve some of the best quality pork that the Japan has to offer. An interesting solo dining experience awaits at Yamawarau, with its locations in Shibuya, Omotesando and Ginza, offering settings that allow for individual diners to indulge in quality meats and veggies without having to fight off equally hungry friends or family.
Rediscovering Hot Sake
Hot sake vs. cold sake is a raging debate among enthusiasts, but we can probably all agree that on a cold day, there is no shame in getting warm with something you love. One of the most breathtaking places to do this is Iseto in Kagurazaka – this six-seat intimate izakaya, located in a charming historic townhome, serves only “Shirataka” sake with its dishes and no other alcohol. Sipping on warm sake within the dignified old-world ambience is something that both locals and visitors will find priceless. Nurukan Satoin Roppongi is another standout, offering 120 types of sake to choose from; each sake is then served at multiple temperatures so that customers can better understand its complexity and how heat can bring out different aspects of its flavor. Finally, Kan’agari in Shinjuku, whose name literally means ‘bringing out the deliciousness of sake through heating’, will dazzle both novices and experts with the knowledge of its talented sake masters. It’s also a great place to eat, with a robata (grilled) menu that presents both delicious food and hot. Whatever one’s preconceived notions of sake are, they will never be the same.
For more information on warming up in Tokyo during the winter, contact press@tokyo-nyc.com or call 917-200-4887. For general information on traveling in Tokyo, head to TokyoTokyo.jp and Gotokyo.org/en/
To visit the archives, visit: www.japansolutionusa.com/tokyobeat
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