About Kanda

Kanda has its very long history of being center of business, academy, and shops that follows.  Although Kanda is busy place of numerous businesses and colleges, we can still see full of natures with calmness in center of the megalopolis.  Also, because of its very competitive circumstances for all diners, the standard of restaurants is high, and at the same time, the price is not so expensive that expressed as a “B class gourmet”.

I used to live in this place for a while, and I want to show my favorite places of Kanda to Japan Two readers.

Areas we went through

Ochanomizu(Hilltop Hotel, Nicholai dou, Yushima Seidou)
Jimbo-cho (Maruka, Kura)
Ogawa-machi (Daruma, Tsujita)
Awaji-cho (Yamaichi, Tempei, Matsuya, Yabusoba, Kemuri, Takemura, Botan, Isegen)
Kanda Myojin (Kanda Myojin Shrine)
Akihabara (Mansei)

To have fun in Kanda

Unlike Ginza (place like 5^th Ave. in NY), Kanda is not fashionable place.  Here is where you would feel a breath of old days in Japan.  If you are a shopping-shopping person, this is where you should NOT visit.  You will have fun if you like traditional or old-fashioned Japan cultures.

Ochanomizu – Hilltop spot of beautiful site.  Tempura

The name it means “Tea water”.  From the station next to Ochanomizu, Suidobashi (Water line bridge), Kanda river flows through Ochanomizu, and had been very important for water supply to people in this region.  Let’s start a walk from here.

Viewing Kanda river, Hijiri-bashi bridge, and city of Akihabara. Orange train on the right is Chuo-line, and red striped silver train is Marunouchi-line.

Heading south to Jimbo-cho, taking Meidai-dori Street from West exit (Ochanomizu Exit) of Ochanomizu station, we can see a lot of music instruments shops, students, and business people. As you walk, you will see Meiji University, the one of the most famous university in Japan.

On the way down to Jimbo-cho, there is green signboard guidance to the “Hilltop Hotel”. The tempura restaurant in this hotel is superb. Service, food, atmosphere, and everything is just wonderful. If you have certain favorite ingredient, you can order it. Though I strongly recommend for chef’s choice, so that you can enjoy seasonal ingredients that only you can eat at the specific season. Price is not cheap but I’m sure that you will love this restaurant’s tempura.

Jimbo-cho – the Book lovers’ heaven. Udon(thick wheat noodles) and Coffee.
Once you have got all the way down the slope, you are now at Jimbo-cho, the city of the books. Many of publishing company in Japan have its headquarters in this city.

Images are classic book stores though they have new book stores of course. These old book stores have each trait. For example, as you can see on the pictures above, a store has very classic magazine in the window. They have ukiyoe (Edo period painting), scenarios of plays, music scores, history books, and lot more. Also, these classic book stores are placed on south side of the main street to avoid sun light which may hurt the books.

Not only the books, Jimbo-cho have great coffee shops and cheap but excellent gourmets that is compliment to books for readers. To have lunch here, I strongly recommend going to Maruka, the udon shop. It just tastes wonderful and so nice to your wallet.

After you have get full, now isn’t it good time for coffee break? Kura is one of the best coffee shops in the city. Once you get into the shop, you will be welcomed by excellent coffee aroma.

Ogawamachi- Sports shops street. Ramen noodle, Taiyaki (Snack of fish shaped crispy crust covers bean paste)
Take Yasukuni St. (main street) to the east from Jimbo-cho, there will be many sports shops such as the picture below.

At the place of those modernized shops, there is a taiyaki shop with a long history. Daruma, the taiyaki shop opened its place back in 1909. Even Daruma has more than a hundred years history, the shop’s external appearance is modernized.

It opens from 12:00, and there is already customer waiting for taiyaki.

People gathered on 12:00.

Fish shaped.

Warm, sweet bean paste is inside.

Let’s move to a ramen noodle shop next. This ramen shop is my most favorite shop that I used to go here 5 or 6 times a week.

Can you believe this? All these people are waiting for ramen. Its rotation is very quick, so you will not wait more than 20 minutes.

16 seats. Japanese fan and cold tea is available for people waiting line.

Snappy noodle and rich taste soup. Take some noodles and dump it into a soup.

Related Post
*The art of the walk for gastronome in Kanda Part2
*The art of the walk for gastronome in Kanda Part3
*The art of the walk for gastronome in Kanda Part4
*The Rabbit Hole Language Cafe