Tokyo and Surroundings

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Dream Guide to Tokyo’s Top 10 Super Fluffy Pancake Shops

Harajuku Other Cafes and Sweets

Tokyo’s pancake boom has brought an amazing variety of taste in innovation to some of the city’s most sought-after sweets. Part of the attraction is not only the pancakes themselves, but also the opportunity for great food photos. Here are LIVE JAPAN's carefully selected top 10 high-value and super-delicious pancakes. If you’re hoping to become the envy of your friends with your Instagram and Facebook pancake posts, check out our list!

Tokyo Sales Secrets: Best Shops for Bargains & 'Fukubukuro 2020' Lucky Bags

Ikebukuro Department Stores
Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market Has Closed Down, But Its Restaurants are Still Amazing!

Tsukiji Other Restaurants
'Soak' in 1.2 Million Sakura Petals?! Top 3 Gourmet Events to Enjoy During Tokyo 2020 Cherry Blossom Season

Shibuya
The Pollen Came Early This Year! Read How Foreign Residents Were Surprised By Hay Fever in Japan

Tokyo Station Spring
'That's Hard For a Chinese Person!' 5 Things That Shocked Chinese Women After Marrying Japanese Men

Tokyo Station Other Sightseeing
Tokyo 1 Day Itinerary: Best Sightseeing Spots the Guidebooks Won't Tell You!

Tokyo Station Other Townscapes

So Fluffy! Japan’s Best Pancakes at the Top 3 Cafés in Harajuku and Omotesando!

Harajuku Other Cafes and Sweets

If there’s one universal truth, it’s that everybody loves pancakes. That’s why every country and culture has its very own version of the delicious dish – sometimes sweet, sometimes savory, fluffy and thick or crispy and thin. Japan, known for its sweet tooth, is no exception to this rule. Actually, the world of Japanese pancakes brings forth new and tasty creations year by year, with numerous pancake specialty stores all over Japan and Tokyo ready to satisfy any pancake craving, no matter the season! Japan has undergone a real pancake boom, initially triggered by breakfast and brunch specialty stores. Now, however, pancakes are an integral part of the menu of all sorts of Japanese cafés and restaurants, incorporating the unique tastes and characteristics of the different chefs. While some places win our hearts with their amazingly tasty varieties, others draw us in with their exceptionally beautiful pancakes, so photogenic that it’s hard to take the first bite. Among this colorful pancake variety, one certain characteristic has stood out and is now known as the “Japanese style:” fluffiness. Especially the trendy area of Harajuku and Omotesando has become a hot spot for anyone wanting to try authentic Japanese pancakes! Whether you like it with thick macadamia sauce or matcha powder and azuki beans, we know just where to go.

Calling All Japanese Curry Lovers! Nails Almost Good Enough to Eat

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Other Shopping
18 of The Best, Super-Japanese Gift Ideas to Look Forward to in Tokyo!

Asakusa Other Shopping
Tokyo Brunch: 4 of our Favorite Spots for a Japanese-style Brunch in Asakusa!

Asakusa Japanese cuisine
Loft Japan Announces Masks and Hay Fever Products for 2020

Tokyo Station Household Goods Stores
Shimokitazawa Guide: Fashion Walk Around Tokyo’s Artsy Neighborhood!

Shimokitazawa Old Towns (Shitamachi)
Famous 100-Yen Store: Top 5 Weirdly Useful Kitchen Goods at Daiso!

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas 100 Yen Shops

[MOVIE] Navigating Virtual Airspace with Skyart JAPAN

Shinagawa Adventure Activities

Have you always wanted to fly through the skies while controlling a jet? You now have the chance to make your dream a reality! Skyart JAPAN offers hyper-realistic flight simulation for everyone from beginners to professional pilots. Take a closer look at SkyArt’s state of the art headquarters located in Shinagawa, Tokyo and see how I fared in the cockpit for my very own private lesson!

Learn the Art of Flower Arrangement at Ohara School of Ikebana

Harajuku Other Traditional Arts
[MOVIE] Achieve Your Cosplay Dreams at Cosplay Studio Crown!

Akihabara Culture Experience
Say Hello to Kitty and Friends at Tokyo’s Cutest Train Station!

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Pop Culture
Stringraphy at Studio EVE: A Striking and Unique Musical Experience

Shibuya Other Contemporary Arts
[MOVIE] A Japanese Drum Experience at TAIKO-LAB

Shibuya Other Sightseeing
[MOVIE] DRUM TAO’S MANGEKYO – a Kaleidoscope of Taiko Drums

Shinagawa Shows

Sweet Delights: Tokyo’s Top 5 All-You-Can-Eat Dessert Buffets

Shinjuku Other Cafes and Sweets

Japan has the curious tradition of eating cake on Christmas Eve or Day, so the image of a “Japanese Christmas” is strongly tied to delicious sweets. If you’re spending the holiday season in Tokyo, why not try this curious custom for yourself? Instead of lining up at one of the many famous bakeries and pastry shops, spend a leisurely Christmas Cake all-you-can-eat buffet! We’ve found Tokyo’s five best restaurants that’ll tickle your taste buds with wintery sweet creations ‘til you drop!

Tokyo Solo Travel Guide: 5 Gourmet Spots in Shibuya for Tourists Traveling Alone

Shibuya
Tokyo's Secret to Quality Hotels on a Budget: Top Local Hotel Chains!

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Hotels
Day Trip Around Nikko! Get the Most out of Nikko's Famous Sightseeing Spots and World Heritage Site on the Hato Bus!

Nikko Cultural Heritage Sites
Taking a Break in Shinjuku: Four Secret Spots to Rest, Relax, and Refresh Yourself

Shinjuku Discount Stores
Touring Tokyo's Asakusa Area with Kids: Essential Guide, Tips & Recommended Food Spots!

Asakusa Old Towns (Shitamachi)
Tokyo Station’s Souvenir Sales Ranking – Most Popular Items Under $10!

Tokyo Station Other Shopping

'So Much Freedom!' Locals Recommend Tokyo's Best Neighborhoods & Hidden Gems

Harajuku Other Townscapes

The metropolis of Tokyo is always popular with visitors of Japan, with most of them visiting because it’s the capital of Japan. Though the whole place is often simply referred to as Tokyo, it actually consists of 23 special burroughs ('wards') (77 areas) and 39 municipalities (including outlying islands). Tokyo is not necessarily a massive, densely packed city in many way - but it does have sprawl, and with over 100 interconnected areas it certainly is complex. Most guidebooks barely begin to scratch the surface of Japan's glittering gem. Areas made popular by guidebooks, movies and TV shows - Shinjuku, Shibuya and Asakusa - are the usual fare for most foreign tourists. So which areas are truly popular among the Japanese? On that note, we interviewed 5 Japanese citizens on which is their favorite town in Tokyo. From this, we will get to see how Tokyo is reflected in the eyes of the locals.

Filipinos Recommend: 4 Best spots around Tokyo for shopping!

Shibuya Department Stores
The Tanabata Festival - Experience the Magic of Japan’s Star-Crossed Lovers

Kanagawa Suburbs Summer
The 'Obligatory Chocolate' of Japan: The Quirks of Valentine's Day and Other Adopted Western Celebrations

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas
Why Are There So Many Standing Bars in Japan?

Ueno Lifestyle
Visiting a Japanese Shinto Shrine – Everything You Need to Know, Step by Step! (Video)

Ueno Shrines
Beyond the Guidebook - 5 Expats Share Their Favorite Secret Spots in Tokyo!

Tokyo Station Other Townscapes

Prices in Japan: All You Need to Know About Renting a Short-Term Apartment!

Tokyo Station

Japan has a reputation for being notoriously expensive. When you’re looking for a short-term rental while on vacation or an extended business trip, you’ll want to know how to maximize your budget. Especially rent is often named as being somewhat unaffordable, eating up a large deal of one’s monthly paycheck. If you’ve still set your eyes on living renting in Tokyo, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about finding an apartment, as well as tips, tricks, and helpful knowledge all about rent in Japan!