Hi again! This is Kurumi! Today, I introduce the Yoyogi Park area near Shibuya, Tokyo!
Yoyogi Park is a large park located in central Tokyo where people spend their time chilling and strolling. There are three stations to get to the park from; Yoyogi-koen Station (Koen means park in Japanese) and Yoyogi-Uehara Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, and Yoyogi-Hachiman Station on the Odakyu Odawara Line.
The park itself is a cozy place, and the areas around the stations are comfortable and quiet too. I fell in love with this place when I visited there for the first time. I felt that the time I spent there went by slowly and peacefully. This area is popular and often called “Oku-shibu,” which means the back-end of Shibuya. So, this place is calm but really close to the busy area too. I would like to introduce the area to people who have already done some sightseeing in the busy areas of Tokyo and are keen for a peaceful and quiet day.
CAMELBACK sandwich&espresso
I usually visit the area to chill with my friends over a cup of coffee. My favorite cafe is called CAMELBACK sandwich&espresso. This cafe only has takeaway drinks and meals, but there are a few benches outside for their customers. I highly recommend their cafe latte for its rich, creamy milk perfectly balanced with delicious espresso. The café staff there are really friendly. I have never queued up for more than five minutes to order, even though it is a popular shop. (Probably, I was just lucky, though.) It takes about 10 – 20 mins for them to serve sandwiches as they don’t pre-made their food. For the food menu, I recommend the Egg Omelet Sandwich. Their Egg Omelet is quite thick and juicy. A bit sweet, but it matches with the mustard in the sandwich. You can order just a drink, but you must order a drink if you want to order food. They have an English menu and take orders in English too.
DISHES (a tableware shop) & MEALS (a restaurant)
The other spot I always stop by is a tableware shop called DISHES. DISHES is a great place to find tableware, and I’m sure you will find a piece you would love to take home with. I feel like time rolls slowly and peacefully while gazing at their tableware, because the atmosphere of the shop is calming and cozy. I highly recommend this place to tableware lovers. I once bought their plates for my friends, and they totally loved them. There is a restaurant called MEALS on the second floor of the same building as DISHES. (DISHES is on the first floor, by the way.) MEALS are operated by the same company as DISHES, and serve their lunch with DISHES’ tableware. They have two set menus; the main is either meat or fish. The contents of the set menu change every month. I usually have a fish set menu, and they never disappoint me. The way they serve makes the tableware stand out and eye-pleasing. That makes me want to buy the tableware from DISHES again. This place is quite popular so it is generally crowded, but they only take reservations on the phone, and reservations can only be made starting at 11:30 am. So, I recommend you stop by for DISHES and check directly with MEALS to see if they have availability. They have an English menu!
SPICE POST (a curry shop)
Another recommended lunch spot is SPICE POST. Their curry is the best curry I have ever had. Their spice is tasty and really addictive. I crave their curry once in a while. You can either eat at the restaurant or do a takeaway. I once had curry inside and did a takeaway twice. I recommend getting a takeaway and having a picnic in Yoyogi Park if the weather is nice. I feel like curry tastes better when you can relax and enjoy it under a beautiful blue sky, rather than rushing through it in the restaurant. There is a separate checkout counter for takeaways. They have three types of curry; Pork Vindaloo, Chicken, and Keema. You can choose one, two, or all three curry types in a single serving. I’ve tried the combination of all three, and I recommend you have the same too! The Pork Vindaloo sauce tastes a bit spicy and sour, the Chicken is tender, and the sauce is quite soupy, the Keema matches with a raw egg yolk really well. They open at 8:00 am on weekends so you could have it for breakfast if you like. There are two things to note:
– They only accept cash.
– A raw egg yolk on Pork Vindaloo or Pork curry does not come with them when takeaway.
They only have a Japanese menu, but it is simple, so they will understand if you tell them you want either or both or all of the Pork Vindaloo, Chicken, and Keema.
The Yoyogi Park area does not have major tourist spots, but the area itself is worth visiting. The sophisticated but comfortable area welcomes you and makes you feel relaxed. Spending some time here can be a good break for travelers who are tired of visiting crowded places.