Japan 2019 - Tokyo Day 1

2019/11/11

Harajuku - Takeshita Doori

Our first day in Japan and we are off shopping in Harajuku.

This is actually my first time walking down Takeshita Doori so everything was new and exciting!

off to go shopping!

We started off across the old Harajuku station building at Matsumoto Kiyoshi and literally got stuck there for a good hour or so LOL...

There were so many products and choices to make, also, it didn't help when the sales lady came over to advertise new products, it was impossible to leave the store!

On the way, we found a purikura store and had to go in for a session.

We totally underestimated the photoshop intensities of these machines, not gonna lie I think we both look like aliens on the photos..

sharp pointy chins...

ドナ　Dona

For an unknown reason, it was already 3pm and we've barely made our way down the street and could still see the entrance of Takeshita Doori! I guess time really does fly when you're having fun...

Way past lunch time, we stepped into an nearby Italian restaurant to satisfy our hunger.

Dona serves Japanese fusion pasta dishes using ingredients such as uni, ikura, and mentaiko.

Their lunch set is quite affordable offering a choice of one pasta dish, and choice of two sides (soup, salad, or drink).

The house special looked really delicious so I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese with a soup and a drink. My friend got the tarako/Ikura/Ika combination pasta.

Their bolognese sauce was really delicious, the meat was tender and the sauce didn't taste like ketchup as most asian Italian restaurants do.

With bubble milk tea a hit all across Japan, we also ordered a brown sugar tapioka panna cotta for dessert.

This was a great way to end our lunch, the soft panna cotta matches perfectly with the brown sugar sauce, I could have another serving right now!

ごまやくき　Gomaya Kuki

The next destination on our list is Gomaya Kuki, a quaint little shop in the backstreets of Harajuku. This is like the sesame version of Nanaya. They offer sesame ice cream from white to black and light to rich flavours.

The black sesame has more of a burnt bitter taste while white sesame boasts a lighter but more aromatic flavour.

There are also extra toppings (sesame seeds, sesame oil) by the counter if customers prefer to add additional flavour to their desserts!

Apart from ice cream, they have other menu items as well. Tempura ice cream, drinks, parfait, cakes, definitely need to try them all next time I visit!

Number Sugar

When I was doing research, this shop was all over Instagram and blogs showcasing their small but cute caramels.

Like most shops in this area, Number Sugar is a small store tucked away to the side of one of the alleys in Harajuku. The warm lighting and wooden tones creates a welcoming atmosphere for guests. An open glass kitchen gives customers a peek into the makings behind the scenes.

They offer a total of 12 flavours numbered on the wrapping, from vanilla to raspberry to ginger, this no doubt will be a hit as souvenirs or as a light snack to keep in one's purse!

so many choices!

I ended up choosing No. 5 (raspberry), 6 (orange peel), 7 (almond), 11 (mango), and 12 (brown sugar). It's best to put the caramels in the fridge as they do become soft in room temperature.

果実園リーベル　Kajitsuen Liber Shibuya

After visiting a few more stores, we needed to find a place to rest our feet (been busy shopping the whole day!).We stumbled upon this café I've been wanting to try out, Kajitsuen has a good variety of desserts made from an assortment of fresh fruits.

Surprisingly, we weren't that hungry but felt rather dehydrated, so we ordered a hojicha pudding fruit platter.

I really wanted to order one of the fruit cakes displayed in the glass case, but knowing we wouldn't be able to finish it, I dropped the idea :(

After taking a few bites, I immediately regretted my decision. Their fruits were so fresh and juicy, the muscat grapes were so sweet I could not get enough of it! 👌