Eating Locally

Have you heard of the 100 Mile Diet? In 2005, a Canadian couple decided that, for one year, they would only eat food grown within 100 miles of home. They had some great challenges finding foods they craved and staying within their budget, but over time, they learned how to manage a local diet.
Why eat a local [...]

Food Anomalies in Kashiwa

Kashiwa is full of surprises. Take for instance, The Ogori Cafe, as reported by Cabel.
Last weekend, we went to The Big Winner, an American diner caught in time. On the old Mitsukaido, just a 5 minute walk from the east exit of Kashiwa Station, you’ll see the front end of a Cadillac on the building [...]

すし勢 Gourmet Sushi Hazumi

Last night, we rented bikes from Kashiwa’s east exit bike depot, whooped all the way out to the Teganuma Ohashi Bridge to the east, over the bridge, through Teganuma Park on the Abiko side, and stopped for dinner at グルメ回転すし勢 Gourmet Kaiten Sushi Hazumi right across the road from Teganuma.
The wait was about 15 minutes to [...]

Hondoji and Bamboo shoots

Last weekend, The Dreamer, who is new to Nagareyama, and I went on a field trip to see 本土時 Hondoji, the Nichiren Buddhist temple famous for its four-season garden.
When you walk out of the north exit of 北小金 Kitakogane Station on the Joban local line, it is less than a ten minute walk to the temple. [...]

International west side…

There’s a Coco Ichiban on the west side of Kashiwa Station! I’m a perpetual East Side girl, and rarely venture to the right side of the tracks. Vancouver, Glasgow, Uwajima City, Kashiwa City, it doesn’t seem to matter which town I’m in, my personal feng shui always places me east of center. Mel the Roommie [...]

Kashiwa World Spice

A Kashiwa resident friend I bumped into in the front street took me out to see World Spice, Kashiwa’s halal foods store. The shelves are stocked with dried beans of all descriptions, canned curry fixings that are otherwise hard to come by, and the prices are reasonable. To get there, walk five minutes south along [...]

Midnight Ramen at めん吉 Menkichi

Last night, post pub, we were hungry. Ychan suggested Menkichi near Minami Kashiwa Station. She said that Menkichi won the Ramen Fight last year. We got there at quarter to one in the morning. Menkichi is located on the road on the south side of the Joban Line tracks, next to an overpass just east [...]

ラーメン Ramen on the Joban Line

Kashiwa City has so many good ramen joints. Last night’s repast was a big bowl of 味噌オロチョン Miso Orochon at Himuro Ramen. Kashiwa Plus is a blog by a serious local foodie, and has some awesome photos of Himuro’s food and atmosphere here.
So, what’s ramen, you ask? It’s a bowl full of noodles in broth with any [...]

Gyoza Goya vs. Animal Hamaguchi! Live on TV!

Last week, I dropped by Gyoza Goya in Kashiwa for a late dinner. You know what a gyoza is? It’s a dumpling, something like a perogy, filled with just about anything you want, and either boiled or pan fried.  Gyoza Goya has an eclectic (eccentric?!) menu, including chocolate banana gyoza, apple pie gyoza, and The [...]

Otomachi Kashiwa

The Kashiwa Jimoto Project is hosting a free concert this Sunday, October 5th, on the banks of the Oborigawa River. Some of the performers were at The Tone River Jam a few months ago.
Like the Tone Rive Jam, this concert is free and kicks off at midday and runs until 5pm. There is a free bus [...]