Summary
This time, we visited Sugamo, often referred to as the Harajuku for older people. Much like Harajuku is a trendy hub and good place for shopping for younger people, Sugamo has a similar vibe but caters to older people.
The shopping street in Sugamo is filled with many people, and we were deeply impressed by how lively and well-loved it is. ☺️ We also had fun talking with local people of the town!
*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.
Travel Itinerary
11:30am Sugamo station
We meet up at Sugamo station.
Let’s start our trip!
Spot Outline
Located at 1-16 Sugamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Sugamo Station is a station of East Japan Railway Company and Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau. The Yamanote Line is convenient for travel to regional areas, as major terminal stations such as Shinagawa and Tokyo can be reached without transfers.
12:00pm Fight Gyoza
First, we headed to Fight Gyoza (dumplings), a place rumored to always have a long line of customers. 🥟
We were able to get in more smoothly than we expected. Following us, a diverse crowd of customers, including businessmen and college students, filled the place!
The popular dish of the restaurant is, of course, gyoza🥟.
The unique dumpling is fried in a generous amount of oil, resulting in a delicious, bread-like sticky crust. 😋
The filling is lightly seasoned, so you eat it more and more, regardless of the quantity of each individual piece.
Interior
The restaurant has a counter seat and about 20 table seats. It gets crowded quickly.
Gyoza can be ordered from 8 pieces per person.
Even one and a half servings can be finished👌
We orderd fried rice and dumplings
The fried rice we ordered was a type with an egg on top! It was also gently seasoned and easy to eat.
Spot Outline
Fight Gyoza is a Chinese restaurant located in Sugamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, where gyoza are popular. The restaurant attracts customers of all ages. The garlic-free filling has a refreshing taste, and the gyoza skin is known for its delicious sticky texture. The “Fight” in the restaurant’s name means “Be energetic,” and many customers have commented, “I can be energetic both in my stomach and in my mind,” and “Gyoza is great! The prices are reasonable and the food is delicious. 10 gyoza starting at 450 yen.
12:55pm Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street
The shopping street is one of the most popular places to visit in Sugamo! After lunch, head to Togenuki Jizo, located in the center of the shopping street!
A store specializing in red pants, which is often seen on TV as bringing good luck, and a food stall selling Shichimi (seven flavor chili pepper) are all speciality of Sugamo.
We’ll eat around shopping street later!
This is the Sugamo!
It’s my favorite shichimi shop~!
Spot Outline
The Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street is a 780-meter-long shopping street in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, with approximately 200 stores. There are many stores that are speciality of Sugamo, such as a store specializing in red pants for good luck and a food stall selling shichimi (seven flavor chill pepper), making it an enjoyable place to eat and walk around. The people and scenery of the shopping street are warm and inviting, making it an enjoyable place just to stroll around.
1:00pm Kogan Temple (Togenuki Jizo)
Also known as Sugamo’s power spot, this place seems to be beneficial for your health✨.
Wishing be in good health🤲
We saw the Arai Kannon (Arai means washing), and it’s believed that pouring water on the part of the body you wish to improve and cure, and wiping it with a towel can bring positive effects.
When we entered the temple, we saw something like a stalls…
Various lucky charms with different benefits were available for purchase!
Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy
Pouring water on the part of the body and wiping
Spot Outline
Kogan Temple (Togenuki Jizo) is located in Toshima-ku, Tokyo. It is also known as a power spot in Sugamo and is believed to be beneficial for health. There is a Arai Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), and it is believed to bring good luck if you pour water on the part of the body you want to cure or improve and wipe it off. There are many visitors. Visitors can also enjoy eating “kofuku dango” (Happiness dumplings).
1:30pm Original Salted Daifuku, Mizuno
Walking down Jizo Street, we spotted a line! 👀
We looked the shop closely and it was ‘original salted daifuku (mochi filled with beans)’.
Got one Daifuku for 130 yen and a Mitarashi dango (coated with a soy and sugar syrup) for 110 yen.
The cute salted Daifuku is chewy and has a slightly salty taste 😋.
Japanese sweets displayed in front of the store
Just the right size for eating around ✨
Spot Outline
Located in Sugamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Mizuno is a Japanese confectionery established in 1937. The shop is especially famous for its original salted daifuku, is loved for its chewy, slightly salty flavor that is neither too sweet nor too salty. Mitarashi dumplings, a perfect food for walking around the town, are also available.
2:00pm Maruten Sugamo
The next stop was a fried fish cake store!
We had seen them at various tourist attractions, but We had never had one, so we were curious 👀.
It was hard to choose what to eat but we eventually got the shrimp mayonnaise one and the red ginger one.
The one is full of plump prawns and the other is full of red ginger, very good 🥰.
Give it a try!
Some food may be discounted depending on the day!
The portion is great ✨
Spot Outline
Maruten Sugamo is a seafood paste product store located in Sugamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo. Fish paste is delicious and good for walking and eating.
2:30pm Toyo Bunko Museum
After leaving the shopping street, we headed to this museum 💁♀️
Many museums and art galleries don’t allow photography, but this Toyo Bunko Museum has a photospot where allowing you to capture!
Morrison Library
There are 24,000 books on the bookshelves that stretch all the way to the ceiling! We were overwhelmed by the sheer number of books.
Exhibition of picture scrolls
We were mesmerized by these precious works ✨
Spot Outline
The Toyo Bunko Museum, located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, is a museum that exhibits rare books, including national treasures and important cultural properties. The Morrison Collection, with bookshelves that stretch all the way to the ceiling, is a must-see spot. They also have a restaurant where visitors can enjoy a meal with a view of the courtyard.This is a great place for a family outing, even on a rainy day.
4:00pm Sennari
The last destination is a izakaya near Sugamo station 🍺
The inside of the atmospheric restaurant was very spacious and comfortable, with tables, a counter, and a tatami room.
We heard that this place is famous for stewed offal, so we ordered it. It goes well with beer.
Interior
They also have seating upstairs!
Menu
Handwritten menu
make a toast with a beer🍺
Beef Motsu Stew(stewed beef offal): 600 yen / Set of 5 grilled-motsu: 600 yen
Spot Outline
Located in Sugamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, is izakaya shop. Located near Sugamo Station, the shop has a spacious and comfortable atmosphere with tables, counter and tatami rooms. This shop is especially famous for its stewed dishes, and stewed motsu (beef offal) is highly recommended. The motsu is said to be plump and goes well with beer. Please visit this izakaya when you want to have a quick drink in Sugamo.
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