Asakusa Kaguwa

Actually I’m not exactly the kind of person who can sit through a performance unless it is really good and catches my attention throughout. So I’m not sure of what to expect when going for a show at Asakusa Kaguwa.

I am totally astounded by how good the show is, where I enjoy every second of it. Most engaging performance I have ever seen? Yes!

This is a must-see show in Japan, featuring a glorious mix of traditional Japanese dance and modern dance. The show is incredibly entertaining, filled with spellbinding dances, sword playing and melodramas of different eras of Japan amid the grand backdrops. In order to tell the various stories, the dancers need to express their emotions, and they sure do very well at it. The use of lights during the performance is genius and beautiful. Gorgeous costumes are also featured to accentuate the grandness of the performance.

The performers also make the effort to interact with show goers, making it even better.

Thoughts: Best show!

1 Chome-12-10 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan

舟和本店 Funawa

Shopping at Asakusa is such a delightful experience since this place is so full of character. The low-rise buildings of structure unique to Japan, the cute, stylish lamps and meticulously furnished, aesthetically pleasing interiors. And 舟和本店, Funawa, catches my attention due to the rickshaw guy’s recommendation and the specialisation in sweet potato snacks, a rarity for Japanese finds in Singapore.

From right: Sugu Lemon, Oimo Pie, Ningyouyaki: Koshian, Ningyouyaki: Imoan

After looking around, I cannot resist buying a box of assorted manju since a lemon-based manju and a manju with sweet potato filling are so rare. And it’s a good thing hat I buy them because they are delicious!

Cute Sugu Lemon has a nice sweet lemony taste with a good balance between the sweetness and tangy flavour. There is a lovely hidden secret in this manju in the form of a layer of lemon jam within the bean paste, thus introducing a hint of moisture to the bean paste and extra lemony goodness to the taste. Best to savour this on clean palates. I absolutely love this on 2nd try without eating something else with a strong taste beforehand.

Oimo Pie is my second favourite of the quartet because the sweet potato filling is slightly savoury with the right amount of sweetness. The skin is like thin soft millefeuille, making this cake unique in texture and pairing really with the slightly buttery filling. I’m really surprised by how good it is.

人形焼 aka Ningyouyaki with Koshian aka red bean filling also impresses me with its moist filling and supper fluffy manju skin.

人形焼 with Imoan aka sweet potato filling is also delicious, with its light earthy moist core. In fact, I slightly prefer this version due its slightly lighter taste.

Thoughts: I wish I have tried more of this shop’s products!

1 Chome-22-10 Asakusa

Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032 Japan

雷一荼 Kaminari Issa

One of my best finds in Asakusa got to be Kaminari Issa. Actually I go into to take a look only, only find the lots of goodies in here. I walk into this shop because I like the zen and soothing green tones of the place to fit the matcha theme of the shop. The stone mill at the entrance catches my attention too. And I end up getting some of my Japan Trip’s best buys from here!

While looking around and just enjoying the vibe here, not really looking for anything to buy, a guy sales assistant, full of smiles, comes up to us to offer samples of the shop’s matcha chocolate, which is お濃荼とほうじ荼チョコレ—ト. This is where I turn from a window shopper to big buyer, sort of.

I’m not a chocolate person actually, but since the sales assistant is so friendly and polite, I decide to give it a try. At first taste, it is distinctively chocolate and then the magic happens. Amazingly, the clean clear taste of matcha start to develop, inciting a wow from me. This is so incredibly good that I immediately get a box.

With coincidence greatly gained in the products of this shop, I decide to also get the financier to try. And it’s one of the best decisions I make in this trip because this is the best Financier I ever have. It is so moist and incredibly buttery. In fact, the taste of butter develops to be more pronounced I bite more into it. The aroma of matcha is so distinct, juxtaposing perfectly with the sweetness of baked wheat. Perfect!

Since I trigger buying impulse, I decide to get some light snacks for my colleagues. And 雷門 上磯部4種ミックス, a kind of puffed rice snack, is my choice. I didn’t think puffed rice snack will be exceptional but this snack totally change my mind. It is surprisingly and awesomely good! It is super crunchy. At first, the taste is of that of light puff rice, and then it develops into a sweetness plus a hint of umami that I go, Wow!” The matcha one amazes me with that hint of refreshing astringent vegetal clear taste that lifts up the taste of the earthy flavour of puffed rice. And the seaweed one is full of umami.

The First Flush Tea is so amazingly good too, being fragrant, absolutely clean and pure in taste.

Thoughts: Lovely Surprises

1 Chome-15-9 Hanakawado, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0033, Japan

Wagyu Sukiyaki 極~ Goku~ 浅草 Asakusa Sensoji Temple - Awesome, Unique Experience

When I think of Sukiyaki, I immediately think of hot pot due to the common practice of grouping Sukiyaki with Shabu Shabu together in Singapore. My bad. So I’m so glad to dine at Goku to truly experience the real deal because it is an awesome experience.

I’m totally blown away by how good Sukiyaki can taste and how different the taste is from other types of Japanese cuisine. This is a must-try experience.

The ingredients are cooked in a shallow pot, half-filled with sweet soy-based sauce. So the cooking method is like simmering with a bit grilling, bringing on a new dimension in the taste of the food. The vegetables are so fresh and carry their own natural sweetness, and after cooked to slightly softer texture and soaked in the goodness of the sauce, they are so good that I finish them up 

I love the unique sukiyaki experience where the thin slices of premium meat are being grilled in front of patrons and then mix with raw egg for savouring. The result is a lovely medley of creaminess and meatiness. The beef is so incredibly creamy and delicious that I go "wow" at first bite.

Rice mixed with truffle (freshly shaved by the staff right in front of us 👍) and raw egg is absolutely a delight to savour. Earthy, creamy, perfect.

Thoughts: Creamily Awesome Wagyu!

Japan, 〒111-0032 Tokyo, Taito City, Asakusa, 1 Chome−18−12 ＪＳビル 雷門 1F

Ebisuya Rickshaw at Asakusa

One of the huge highlights of my Japan trip is actually the rickshaw ride through the streets of Asakusa. Who could have thought that a rickshaw ride can be so fun and interactive. This is definitely a must-try experience.

Our rickshaw guy of the day, Toshi of Ebisuya is energetic, friendly, thoughtful, knowledgeable and candid in introductions of various landmarks and noteworthy shops. He makes very good recommendations along the way and interesting conversations to keep the journey fun and engaging.

 

To cruise along the streets of Asakusa, admire the quaint heritage buildings and just feel the unique vibe of the place is such a wonderful experience. Especially with such an awesome host like Toshi.

I also enjoy the energetic vibe of the entire team, who is also very friendly to us, thus I request to take a photo of them. And the team is very spontaneous to take a candid group photo 👍

Highly recommend. I definitely take the rickshaw ride again when back in Japan.

1 Chome-34-2 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan