🇯🇵 My Best Japan Tips
Plus, my conversation with James Carville
There are very few places I get asked where to eat more than Tokyo, and for some reason right now that is more true than ever. Maybe it’s the Yen, maybe it’s the Dodgers playing a game there, or maybe it is just something in the air. Regardless, every time I’m asked, I have the same reaction: a blank stare followed by a look of stress and then some version of failure.
The problem is there are just too many restaurants. To put it in perspective (and these numbers are just estimates), there are about 24,000 restaurants in London, approximately 28,000 in NYC, and only about 15,000 in Los Angeles. In Tokyo, there are over 137,000.
If you were to ask ten people for a list of their five best restaurants in Tokyo, you would almost always get 10 different answers. You would also then get the question: for what? Ramen? Yakitori? Sushi? Udon? Soba? Pizza? And on and on and on. So now when someone asks where I eat in Tokyo, my answer is always the same. Buy tickets to a baseball game.
Let me explain: when you go to Tokyo, you are never going to hit the “best” restaurants. It’s impossible, there are just too many. You also are never going to see all the sights, go to all the cool neighborhoods, hit all the cafes (the hedgehog cafe is pretty cool) – but what you can do is go to a baseball game and have an experience you will never forget (not to mention some wild food). This is advice equally meant for the person who “hates” baseball and for the die hard fan, just trust me.
So when planning a trip to Tokyo, the first thing you should do (even before buying the plane tickets) is grab tickets to a baseball game. Of all the things I have done in Japan, going to a baseball game was one of the most fun and unique experiences – but tickets are very hard to get, so planning in advance is key.
The second thing is to make sure you eat pizza. Everyone says “Pizza in Tokyo?” Yes. Pizza in Tokyo. It’s delicious.
Finally, my other big note is you don’t need to go to every temple, especially with young kids. I’m speaking from experience, dragging my kids to every temple was a fail on my part. Japan is a place that you have to spend a lot of time in or go back to in order to get the full experience. You can’t even scratch the surface on one trip, so don’t try and do it all. Enjoy the culture, the people, walking, the cat cafes, the clothing stores, the gardens. And most importantly, get your baseball tickets.
Having said all that, obviously the question of where to eat still reigns supreme. Naturally, I harassed the food crew to try and come up with a list of the ten best spots to eat in Tokyo. After lots of back and forth, infighting, disagreement, and acknowledgement that it’s impossible to determine Tokyo’s true “best”, we came up with a list. If there’s something missing (or something that you don’t agree with), feel free to let me know and send the ones you love so others can experience them.
Savoy – I told you – Tokyo pizza is elite. This casual spot is famous for their wood-fired pies.
Butagumi – Set in a traditional Japanese house, this spot is known for their pork (tonkatsu) – absolutely delicious and a variety of cuts.
Sushisho Masa – A finely crafted omakase experience with very limited seating. It’s an exclusive experience, so try to get a reservation far in advance.
Sushi Saito – Of course there was going to be more than one sushi spot on this list. This is one of Tokyo’s most prestigious sushi restaurants – for good reason.
Shima – This fine-dining steakhouse is known for their delicious steak sandwiches. Yum.
Serinikan – A no-frills spot known for their neapolitan style pizza – try the margherita or marinara pie – delicious.
Kondo – High-end tempura dining with seafood and seasonal vegetables. Crispy, fresh and delicious.
Toriyoshi Nishiazabu – Casual yakitori spot with skewers grilled to perfection.
Tempura Matsu – This spot is actually in Kyoto, but I had to share. It’s a family-run, creative omakase joint featuring tempura and seasonal Kyoto dishes.
Sakaba Ikura (Kyoto) – A casual izakaya (Japanese pub) with local specialties and seasonal dishes.
Bonus:
☕️ Coffee AOI – This coffee shop only seats 6 people at once, and the meticulous barista makes coffee you’ll dream about well after your trip.
🍸Gen Yamamoto – A cool concept in an intimate setting, this cocktail omakase bar is a must for those looking for a drink spot.
Mi Madre with Jeff Nichols; Franklin Barbecue and Big Chicken with Sawyer Patricof; Red Ash with Duncan Montgomery, Sawyer Patricof, and Rachel Fleitell; Mae Malai Thai House of Noodles with Joseph Varet; Hannosuke with Neal Moritz; Escuela and The Benjamin with Jordan Okun, Jeff Berman, Mark Feuerstein, and Chris Bender; Sushi Sonagi with Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo, Howard Altman, Ben Hundreds, Max Shapiro, Aaron Michaelson, Nick Grad, Jerrold Son and Arty Nelson; Nong La with Cash Warren; San Vicente Bungalows with Stephen Travierso; Hinoki and the Bird with Kevin Huvane; Henry’s Cuisine with David Nathanson, Matt Karatz, Ryan Fleck, Jon Buscemi, Kevin Iwashina, Tim Anderson, Alex Tse, Scott Campbell, and Howard Altman; San Vicente Bungalows with Ori Marmur; and Holy Basil Market with Taylor Shung and Rachel Halilej.
On yesterday’s LWJ, James Carville called Robert Drew’s 1963 documentary Crisis “the most compelling look inside a political crisis”. The film follows President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, as they work to get two Black students enrolled at the University of Alabama despite Gov. George Wallace's ban. It’s a powerful reminder of our nation’s history, as well as the fact that politics have always been a delicate game. And while you’re at it, check out the new documentary about Carville, Winning is Everything, Stupid.
Who: James Carville
Where: You can now watch/listen on Youtube, Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Podcasts
Why: It’s James Carville, stupid. Of course I had to have him on to discuss Trump, Democrat strategy, his recent NYT op-ed, and how to meaningfully communicate with Trump supporters.
Quote: “I always say: Carville’s first commandment of politics is thou shalt not make an ass out of thine self. And people ought to keep that in mind.”
📢 Action Items from James:
Stay informed: look for trusted sources and stick to the facts.
Play possum: but that doesn’t mean do nothing. It just means let them make mistakes and strike when they’re weakened.
Exercise unity and patience.
Do your part to help great candidates WIN ELECTIONS. The Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 1 is critical, as James mentioned.
📞 Phone banking and canvassing is a good option for how to get involved, so as always, check out Mobilize.us for more initiatives.
Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Chad Gutstein, David Geffen, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie Patricof, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joseph Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Lawrence Longo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Rosenthal, Marc Rose, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Neal Moritz, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Sarah Meyer, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.
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