Swallowtail Butler Cafe

Since I’m in Japan, of course I must visit the only butler cafe in Japan, and most probably in the world, Swallowtail Butler Cafe. It’s not easy to secure a reservation since tables are snapped up fast. Yes, this restaurant is that popular. And we managed to get a table! And time to get ready to enjoy the royal treatment.

The experience at Swallowtail Butler Cafe is simply out of this world. I feel like a royalty when dining here.

The service is top notch, with the service staff aka the butlers overseeing everything and attending to everything. Carrying the bags? They will handle it. Pouring tea? They will handle it. The cafe has that lovely English royal charm in the service crew’s etiquette and the interior of the restaurant.

On top of these, there is an air of mystique that makes the experience feel so exclusive. And the food here is delicious. This cafe is a definite must-visit.

Plush sofas with florid patterns on dark green background, heavy velvet dark red curtains layered with translucent curtains, wooden doors with ornate glass panels, lots of blue roses, large English porcelain vases, beautiful huge chandeliers, English teapot sets and wine glasses display, accessories adorned with pearls, motifs of rose and butterfly, the cafe is so meticulously set up to be a ultimate dining hall of the dreams. It is such a treat to immerse myself in this atmosphere.

The items featured in the high tea menu aka Anna Marie are delicious and unique. I’m so impressed. Best high tea on the basis of the food? Yes! Best high tea on the basis of service? Without a doubt!

Marinated Scallops and Mushrooms impresses me with its tastiness. The briny sweetness of scallops works so well together with the earthy taste of mushrooms.

Prosciutto and Mashed Potato Bruschetta surprises me by how good it tastes. Prosciutto ham has a lace of nutty aroma, soft taste profile with light taste of meat, going perfectly with the mashed potato and crunchiness of the bruschetta.

Salmon Shrimp Terrine is surprisingly good since I usually don’t think good of Salmon dishes due to the strong taste. The salmon is quite mellow in taste, tempered by the briny sweetness of shrimp, which actually works wonders.

Scorns here are softer, more moist, more buttery than usual scones. I totally love them. Especially Earl Grey scone, which carries the light floral spicy aroma that makes the scone taste even better. Sweet Potato one is nice too. There are unique creams to go with scones, like chestnut cream cheese that I opt for. It’s so good, exploring a different taste profile. I also go for the classic clotted cream since I miss this cream so much.

Sangria Jelly is soft and very refreshing, with a slight hint of alcohol. Nice! Perfect to have after the buttery rich scone

Since chocolate and blackcurrant are heavier in taste on their own, I’m pleasantly surprised by how light and well-balanced Chocolate Blackcurrant Mousse.

Parmesan and Basil Sable that tastes so unique and awesome, full of savoury goodness and pungency of herbs. Goes perfectly with the Rosé wine.

T2 sherbet is made right on spot by pouring in liquid nitrogen to freeze the fresh Kogyoku Apple Juice to make sorbet. Lots of mist flows out of the mixing bowl, drawing the “wow” from us. It is a treat for the eyes and the mouth since the apple sherbet is natural and delicious.

Thoughts: Amazing Experience

Japan, 〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 3 Chome−12−12 正和ビル B1F

Shops and Streets of Ikkeburo

Ikkeburo is like a world of anime, fantasy and all things cute and quirky.

Butter State’s Medium Rare Cheesecake

It is so tempting to splurge on the snacks and desserts when strolling through Daimaru. And the queue at Butter State’s catches my attention, so I start taking a closer look. And when I see the display of the snowy white Medium Rare Cheesecake with cheesecake core, I know I want to get one of this. I just have this feeling that it will taste awesome.

And my gut feeling is right!

The cake features different layers of different cheeses in different forms to yield this smooth mouthfeel and complex taste of cheese, cream, butter and wheat. One of the best!

The rare cheese adds the savoury goodness and light feel to the sweet lovely fluffy baked cheesecake while molten cheese amazes the palates with it’s texture and the buttery cookie base perfectly balances the rich taste of cheese. Every bite makes me swoon in delight.

Thoughtful: Cheesecake Heaven!

1 Chome-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-6701, Japan

Japan's Convenience Stores - Unexpected, Unsung Gems

Japan’s convenience stores is totally on another level, where there are reasons to visit it almost everyday. And frankly speaking, my trip will not be as enjoyable without these convenience stores since I buy so many things I need from there. From nail clippers, hair tie bands, detergent, beauty products, desserts to quick meals.

Talking about quick meals, there is a huge variety of food options offered, from Noodles, Natto, Ramen Eggs, Onigiri, Oden, Bento, Bread, Pastries to Buns. And they taste good.

Ebi Onigiri, which is mayonnaise prawn wrapped with sushi rice, is so tasty, and it feels so satisfying to eat this.

The soft boiled egg is also very tasty. These are so good that I have them again on another morning.

Oden is so yummy too. Just pop it into the microwave oven for 1 min and I get a plate of piping hot oden to enjoy.

I probably go to the convenience stores in Japan in these 11 days more times than the total number of times I go to convenience stores in Singapore 😆 

鳥升 流石屋 - Surprisingly Good

After a long day outside exploring Shinjuku, Shibuya and Harajuku, we are exhausted and decide to have our dinner somewhere near our hotel. But numerous choices of Izakayas actually makes it hard to choose. Then a young restaurant staff approaches us and recommends his restaurant, 鳥升 流石屋. Since we are at loss on where to eat, we follow him to his restaurant and secure the one last available private room.

Turns out that this Izakaya is one good surprise find. Located in a somewhat dingy place, this restaurant is of classic Izakaya set up with wooden furnishings, offering a variety of traditional Japanese Izakaya food options, such as yakitori, fried rice, salad, sashimi and, of course, beer. It definitely has the Izakaya vibe and the food here is hearty and delicious.

Service is kind of “not there” as compared to other Japanese restaurants.

Yakitori of Chicken Thigh and Tsukune (minced Chicken Meat) are both juicy, tender and well-seasoned. And brushed with yakitori sauce, we have delightful, flavourful treats to indulge. Highly recommend.

But Chicken Thigh and Tsukune can only be ordered through the “Assorted Yakitori” option, and so yakitori made with various chicken parts (not meat definitely) is also served. After a bite of other three kinds of yakitori, we ditch them because we are not used to that kind of texture and taste.

Luckily, Negima, which is chicken thigh with leek yakitori, can be ordered on its own. So one can choose this yakitori option if not wanting to get the assorted yakitori. Lightly seasoned with sea salt and lemon, the juicy meat tastes so delicious when paired with leek.

Compulsory Otoshi, in the form of pickled burdock root, is refreshing, crunchy, mildly sweet and slightly tangy, is thus great for whetting the appetite. Though note that this is chargeable.

We also get served with one of the most delicious fried rice. It is perfectly fried to retain the moisture, fluffy and starchy texture of the rice and coat each grain with oil, flavour and an iota of aroma of char. Best of all, pepper is mixed in for an extra oomph. I’m really impressed by how good the fried rice is. A must-order.

The salad is surprisingly very tasty, featuring fresh, crunchy vegetables soaked with tangy, earthy sesame sauce.

Thoughts: Dingy but Surprisingly Nice Izakaya

Japan, 〒103-0027 Tokyo, Chuo City, Nihonbashi, 2 Chome−2−15 テイトビル 6階

Japan Trip 2025

Restaurants

Hanayogomi (Tokyo)

Wagyu Sukiyaki 極~ Goku~ 浅草 Asakusa Sensoji Temple (Tokyo)

Monjayaki Chico (Tokyo)

Tamogo to Watashi (Tokyo)

Beef Cutlet AONA Seibu Shinjuku Station Store

鳥升 流石屋 (Tokyo)

Fun, Shows and Events

Ebisuya Asakusa Rickshaw Ride (Tokyo)

Asakusa Kaguwa (Tokyo)

Tokyo Skytree (Tokyo)

Symphony Tokyo Bay Cruise (Tokyo)

Psychic Fes Metal Concert (Tokyo)

Mipig (Tokyo)

Photography of Shops, Streets and Nature

Nihonbashi, Tokyo

Asakusa, Tokyo

Shinjuku, Tokyo

Shibuya, Tokyo

Hachiko, Tokyo

Ikkeburo, Tokyo

Snacks, Speciality Shops, Cafes

雷一荼 Kaminari Issa (Tokyo)

舟和本店 Funawa (Tokyo)

Brulee Merize (Tokyo)

La Noix Millefeuille (Tokyo)

Tokyo Tarte Corne Fleuri (Tokyo)

Shibuya Nishimura Fruit Parlor Dogenzaka Shop (Tokyo)

BONTEMPS (Tokyo)

Japan's Convenience Stores

Butter State's (Tokyo)

Hotels

Tokyo Ryumeikan Hotel (Tokyo)

Mipig - Pigs can be cute too!

With many animal cafes in Japan, we decide on visiting a pig cafe because we are really curious about how the interaction with pigs is like since it is not easy to get a chance to get up close to pet pigs.

The experience proves to be eye-opening, where I realise that pigs are so cute and smart.

First thing first, the pigs are actually pretty clean, with the older ones potty trained, and there is no strong smell at the place. Of course, there is a slight smell of animals, but I can still manage it. So I, being a clean freak, can actually feel quite okay at here.

One thing to note is that the pigs love to flock to warm laps and just rest or sleep there. So when we go into the cute enclosure and then sit down, and voila, pigs all rush to sleep on our laps, with some squeezing in between their friends to get a warm spot. Yes, I have about seven pigs on my lap and I see some falling asleep right on my lap!

It feels pretty heartwarming to have the pigs coming over like that. Though need to note is that we are one of the first few patrons to go in at the designated time slot, so we are the few people the pigs can flock. When more patrons come in, then each person has one or two pigs on the lap.

Beside looking cute due to their round, fat figures and round snouts, the pigs actually have personalities, some more feisty, some more gentle and some more clueless. They bond with each other and tend to stick with their favourite pig companions. They also love to huddle together, seeking for warmth and companionship.

By the way, there is complimentary chocolate coated donut for each patron, but it's more for filling the stomach rather than anything else.

I really enjoy the experience, where I can understand these cute creatures a little bit more.

Though it is also important to be realistic that the interaction with pigs will not be the same as with dogs since dogs are bred for thousands of years to behave like man's best friend. The pigs here already pleasantly surprise me by rushing up onto my lap, showing a certain level of friendliness and trust, which I think is amazing.

I hope all of them will continue to be happy and healthy!

Thoughts: Interaction with Pigs is quite an Amazing Experience

Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 1 Chome−15−4 Barbizon76 1階

BONTEMPS - A Cool, Relaxing Respite from the Crowd

Harajuku is so crowded. This place defines the cool, the unconventional, the fashionista, the daring and the subcultures. There are lots of shops selling apparels and accessories. And so many people flock to here in search of unique clothing and accessories, or just immerse in the vibe.

As mentioned in other post, I don’t really shop, but I still manage to find and buy a couple of apparel that I find great to give as gifts. After this, I can’t wait to get away from the crowd to just rest and relax.

And I find the perfect spot to do just that. It’s BONTEMPS. Located at a side road from the main busy street, this place is relatively more peaceful yet still carries that distinctive Harajuku vice. I need this place so much after a round of jostling with the massive crowd.

And the service is very helpful and friendly, so we feel totally at ease here.

The place has an awesome ambience for chilling due to the cool Muji setting and a nice selection of drinks and desserts available.

I opt for the Shine Muscat Soda and it is refreshingly good. The donuts look good too, but I feel kind of bloated at that time, so I make do with a drink only. Next time when I come here, I will definitely try the donuts.

Thoughts: Lovely Place that is worth a visit to Relax, Chill, Enjoy some drinks, food and get away from the crowd

Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 1 Chome−9−30 FLEG原宿 1階

Shibuya Nishimura Fruit Parlor Dogenzaka Shop

While I’m not shopping for anything in particular, the poster of Shine Muscat Soft Cream outside Shibuya Nishimura tempts me into the store. And since I have never try soft serve ice-cream of such flavour, I step in to try.

This store is stacked with premium Japanese fruits of all types and pretty cookies gift sets, and features beautiful, delicious looking fruit parfaits. I’m so tempted to try them all. But since I’m in a hurry actually, I just try the soft serve ice-cream.

The Shine Muscat Soft Cream here is so unique in taste, in a very good way, and is full of sweet floral aroma typical of Shine Muscat. I totally love it!

Thoughts: Fruit Paradise!

Japan, 〒150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya, Udagawacho, 22−2 １F

Shops and Streets of Shibuya

Shibuya is a shopping paradise for the unique, quaint, artisan, rare items. I like the unique indie vibe here where smalls shops rule the place along side the chain giants. I only intended to walk a bit just to see what the famous Shibuya is like, but I end up buying quite a number of stuff because of the uniqueness or great price of the items sold there. It is very crowded though.

Hachiko Statue

As a dog lover, I naturally want to get a glimpse of the famous Hachiko Statue and so Hachiko Square is the first place I head to when I arrive at Shibuya station. And I happen to see a political rally in progress. There is a long queue waiting to take picture with the statue. Not my kind of thing to queue to take picture with a statue. So I just stand nearby, trying to take the photo, without anyone beside it. Anyway, I take a nice photo of the statue, during the spilt second someone moves away from the statue, and then go on my way.

Beef Cutlet AONA Seibu Shinjuku Station Store

I’m actually in Shinjuku to just feel the vibe and not actually actively looking for any specific restaurant to dine in. Little did I know that I can uncover a gem here, in the form of Beef Cutlet AONA, the best gyukatsu with the best price.

Made with premium wagyu beef, gyukatsu, which is deep fried beef cutlet coated with breadcrumbs, is so good that it is worth multiple special visits. Not to mention the price is incredibly awesome too!

The gyukatsu here is the best for a good reason. The beautifully marbled meat is tender, juicy and amazingly tastes buttery when grilled a bit on the stove. The crispy deep fried exterior highlights the tenderness and juiciness of the meat.

And the gyukatsu is evenly cut to ensure awesome texture, even grilling and good mouthfeel from biting into it. I realise what huge difference an evenly cut gyukatsu makes in the texture and doneness after comparison with another Gyukatsu restaurant, a famous one, where the gyukatsu is unevenly cut. Yes, I prefer AONA’s gyukatsu.

The pepper oil goes so well with the meat, it is pungent and spicy, introducing the excitement to the taste. I actually go, “Wow!” at first bite with this sauce. After trying gyukatsu with different sauces, I say this is definitely the best sauce to pair with.

The dashi sauce is mild and nice, surprisingly going pretty well with the gyukatsu. For stronger taste, the katsu sauce is a good choice, since it is savoury, balanced by the refreshing spiciness of grated wasabi.

Recommend to get 霜降和牛かつセットset menu since the beef tastes the most buttery and is the most tender among the options.

Thoughts: Incredibly Delicious Gyukatsu, the Best!

Japan, 160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1 Chome-24-3, 新居ビル 1F