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Yokohama Dining: Top 5 Foods to Enjoy While Watching a Rugby Union Match

Yokohama Dining: Top 5 Foods to Enjoy While Watching a Rugby Union Match

Last updated: 6 April 2020

The International Stadium Yokohama (Nissan Stadium) is one of the venues of an international rugby union tournament that will be held in Japan in 2019. This accessible stadium is located in the Shin-Yokohama area, which is also served by the Tokaido Shinkansen.

The area is known to be business-centric, although plenty of international sports and major events like concerts are regularly held here as well. As such, the place is often full of local and international visitors and abuzz with activity.

Now, there's one thing businessmen and tourists have in common - they all need to eat! So here are some food recommendations that will appeal to people from all walks of life. From Japanese cuisine to Western cuisine, local gourmet food, and Japanese-style izakaya bars serving great alcohol, we've handpicked five delicious foods that will satisfy every rugby fan's tummy whether during lunch or dinner.

Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum: Where the Best Ramen Come Together

Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum: Where the Best Ramen Come Together

The museum is an amusement facility that ramen fans will love to bits. It reproduces the streetscape of a Japanese town during 1958. Popular ramen stores from all over the world set up shop here, and each store serve up ramen with different soups, flavors, and noodle thickness. On especially busy days, you may even have to queue for a while!

Order a full bowl from your favorite stall or mini-ramen from different stores if you're feeling like variety. Opening hours are long, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., so it's a convenient place to drop by both before or after a rugby match!

The rich tonkotsu, or pork bone broth ramen (750 yen, tax included) from Hakata's Yacchan Ramen
The rich tonkotsu, or pork bone broth ramen (750 yen, tax included) from Hakata's Yacchan Ramen

Ramen isn't the only thing you'll find here. The place is also packed with interesting things to see, like candy stores featuring toys and traditional Japanese candy and a souvenir corner with limited edition museum merchandise.

At the plaza in the second floor basement, events that anyone can participate in are held on a daily basis. Whatever your age or station in life, there's bound to be something for you to see, eat, or have fun with here!

Smile Table: Feast Like a Healthy Athlete!

Smile Table: Feast Like a Healthy Athlete!

This is a restaurant within the premises of Nissan Stadium itself. The dishes are made with locally-sourced fresh ingredients. Each item - from side dishes to lunch sets - is prepared with good nutritional balance in mind for optimal health benefits.

The athletes eating area is separated from the common area by a wall, but because they are just side by side, you may see professional soccer players stopping by from time to time when you eat here!

Smile Lunch - Meat (1,200 yen, tax included)
Smile Lunch - Meat (1,200 yen, tax included)

Choose from a total of six mains on the lunch menu: Meat (1,200 yen), fish (1,200 yen), meat and fish (1,600 yen), pasta (1,200 yen), or two types of curry (900 yen and 1,300 yen). Each main comes with a salad, soup, and free flow service drink bar - a wholesome meal enough to satisfy most bellies!

The mellow seasonings on the food will bring out the full taste of the ingredients and warm the cockles of your heart. Although the menu is only available in Japanese, there are clear photographs for reference.

The best part about the eatery is that the managerial dietician of Yokohama F. Marinos, one of Japan's professional soccer clubs oversees the menu, which means you're eating the same food as professional athletes! To reach the restaurant, walk through Tricolore One, the shop selling official Yokohama F. Marinos merchandise.

  • sMiLe table
    sMiLe table
    • Address 3302-5 Kozukue-cho, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0036
    • Nearest Station 15 minutes walk from Shin-Yokohama Station on the JR and Yokohama Municipal Subway Lines
    • Phone Number 050-3476-1896
    • Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (hours may change from time to time, check with homepage)
      Closed: Check homepage for business days

Oriental Table: Long-Time Sports Bar Serving Multicultural Food

Oriental Table: Long-Time Sports Bar Serving Multicultural Food

This sports bar offers a multicultural fare that has been localized with a distinctly Japanese flavor. Having been in the business for 23 years, the bar is a hot favorite among businessmen and tourists alike, amongst a crowd of regulars from other demographics as well. Sometimes, you may find athletes from the rugby union national team sneaking into the bar for some down time. The entire place is also occasionally chartered by the national team. Their homepage supports multiple languages.

Left: Oriental Roll, Right: Thai-Style Green Curry
Left: Oriental Roll, Right: Thai-Style Green Curry

Lunch is served as an all-you-can-eat buffet, and takeout is available as well. The menu at night is nothing to be sniffed at either. Check out the "Oriental Roll (800 yen, tax excluded)", a tortilla with avocado and steamed chicken that's been accentuated with plum, shiso leaves, and salsa sauce, or enjoy the rich fragrance of a bowl of "Thai-Style Green Curry (850 yen, tax excluded)" with a generous amount of coconut milk. Both are popular items for good reasons!

(*During events, finger food items that can be eaten using just one hand are also available.)

As for the drink menu, entertain yourself with a wide variety of beers from all over the world. Or if that's not your cup of alcohol, look through the whiskey, bourbon, or cocktail sections on the menu as well, for even more options. Having a sip of each type of drink for comparison doesn't sound like a bad idea, either! The bar provides the ideal environment for those looking for a conducive place to have animated conversations about their favorite sports.

  • Oriental Table
    オリエンタルテーブル
    • Address 2-chōme-6-15-1F Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0033
    • Nearest Station 3 minutes walk from Shin-Yokohama Station on the JR and Yokohama Municipal Subway Lines (1 minute walk from exit 8 of Yokohama Municipal Subway)
    • Phone Number 045-476-4884
    • Hours: Lunch - 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Mon to Fri), 5:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (Mon to Thu), 5:30 p.m. – 4:00 a.m. (Fri, Sat)
      Closed: Sundays

Kiyoken: The Place to Be for Yokohama's Specialty Shumai

Kiyoken: The Place to Be for Yokohama's Specialty Shumai

Kiyoken's shumai, or traditional Chinese dumpling is a signature Yokohama specialty. Ever since it was introduced in the year 1928, this juicy dumpling treat has found its way into the hearts of plenty a local resident. Kiyoken - Cubic Plaza Shin-Yokohama is where you can find shumai with that same and good old taste. The cool and delicious bite-sized dumplings have been around since the first owner set up stall here, before Yokohama's port had even opened its doors!

Ye Good Ol' Shumai (15 pieces, 620 yen, tax included)
Ye Good Ol' Shumai (15 pieces, 620 yen, tax included)

"Ye Good Ol' Shumai" contains 15 pieces of shumai with pork and dried scallop eyes filling, because one of this tasty treat is never going to be enough! Even local tourists who visit Yokohama crave for its nostalgic taste. This perennial favorite also goes very well with alcoholic beverages.

Shumai Bento (860 yen, tax included)
Shumai Bento (860 yen, tax included)

The Shumai Bento, or shumai lunchbox appeared in 1954 as a sibling item to the original shumai. The main mode of transport during that period was train, so this lunchbox quickly became a regular item at Yokohama Station. Besides sumptuous pieces of "Ye Good Ol' Shumai", the lunchbox is jam-packed with a variety of mixed foods not unlike a traditional makunouchi bento (rice with meat and vegetables). A most suitable dish for re-energizing yourself right before a rugby union match!

  • Kiyoken Cubicplaza Shin-Yokohama
    崎陽軒 キュービックプラザ新横浜店
    • Address 2-chōme-100-45-2F Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0033
    • Nearest Station Directly accessible from Shin-Yokohama Station on the JR and Yokohama Municipal Subway Lines
    • Phone Number 045-474-1474
    • Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
      Closed: New Year's Day

Con Caffé: Casual Consumption of Authentic Curry

Con Caffé: Casual Consumption of Authentic Curry

Drop in for an authentic curry dish produced by Shin-Yokohama Kokusai Hotel's grand chef and other Western lunch fare, all at a reasonable rate. The restaurant's wood-grain decor is warm and inviting, and this popular eating spot is usually fully booked after noon. As the place is only open during lunch hours, feel free to make a reservation beforehand to ensure a table and skip the queue!

Freshly Deep-Fried Crispy Meat Curry (1,000 yen, tax included)
Freshly Deep-Fried Crispy Meat Curry (1,000 yen, tax included)
Butter Bone-In Chicken Curry (1,000 yen, tax included)
Butter Bone-In Chicken Curry (1,000 yen, tax included)

Choose from white rice, saffron rice, or wholegrain rice to go with the curry. Two of the more popular items are the "Freshly Deep-Fried Crispy Meat Curry" that comes with a juicy meat cutlet deep-fried in flavorful batter, and "Butter Bone-In Chicken Curry", featuring a thick and tender piece of bone-in chicken that will delight your taste buds.

All mains come with a free flow service salad bar, which is one of the secrets to the restaurant's popularity. The bar is well-stocked with an abundant of colorful vegetables of all types and a wide range of dressings to go along with. We feel it may be proper to include a warning here that you may very well end up overeating on the salad alone, so remember to leave some space in your stomach for the mains!

  • Con Caffé
    コン カフェ
    • Address 3-chōme-7-8 Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0033
    • Nearest Station 3 minutes walk from Shin-Yokohama Station on the JR and Yokohama Municipal Subway Lines (1 minute walk from exit 7 of Yokohama Municipal Subway)
    • Phone Number 045-474-0136
    • Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
      Closed: Saturdays and Sundays

Supporting a thrilling match takes a lot of energy as well, so it's important to fill yourself up with enough food fuel to cheer for your chosen team to your heart's content. Kill two birds with one stone by incorporating food tourism into your Yokohama rugby spectating trip as well, and enhance your enjoyment. Who knows? Maybe you'll find something or someone new through your love of rugby. One thing's for sure: Having a great time with your buddies while being surrounded by good food and drinks will be a fond memory that stays with you for many years to come!

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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