• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

  • Photowalks
  • Portfolio
  • Book and Prints
  • Newsletter
  • About/Contact
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • RSS

Food and Drink

Oct 01 2007 3 Comments

Japanese can compulsion

The prodigious number of vending machines in Japan amply proves the country’s craving for convenience, but it could be argued that the current fad of forcing anything and everything into a can is a considerable cause for concern, especially when the newly tinned treat is then transferred to the aforementioned roadside dispenser. Which, if nothing else, leaves less space for essentials such as cigarettes and alcohol.

Social habits aside however, Oden in a can was sort of fun for a while, and the far from freshly baked bread is strangely fascinating. Tinned ramen on the other hand seems like a step too far, and the newly introduced Udon definitely is. No two ways about it.

Japanese udon in a can

Ok, the can looks nice and colourful, and there’s a choice of of either kitsune or curry. But pop the little beauty open, and suddenly McDonalds merits a mention in the Michelin Guide.

Japanese udon in a can

Almost.

Should you really want to try some though, it’ll cost you either 300 or 350 yen. The curry version is more expensive for some reason.

Japanese udon in a can

Still tempted?

(images via Akiba PC Hotline)

Categorized: Food and Drink

Sep 28 2007 Leave a Comment

Average Tokyo tucker

As far as decent restaurants go, Tokyo is definitely not lacking, with more than enough diversity to keep the most avid foodie frothing at the mouth for as long his or her chubby little chops could wish for.

Yet for the diner more concerned with cost rather than culinary credentials, it’s fortunately not all expensive eateries and mouth-watering meals — not by a long shot. In fact, one or two Tokyo restaurants are actually happy to openly advertise the sheer averageness of their offerings.

Japanese restaurant

Categorized: Food and Drink, Language

Sep 21 2007 3 Comments

Sushi service

The constraints of space and increasingly time in Tokyo make the notion of ‘convenience’ the norm rather than something noteworthy; however given the added option of either cut-price cost or comfort, the former always seems to be favourite.

Tokyo standing sushi

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Sep 19 2007 18 Comments

Tokyo tinned treats

As far as convenient food to go with a cup of coffee is concerned, the Japanese introduction of bread in a can a few years ago seemed to cover all bases, being little, light and long-lasting.

Japanese canned bread

Yet believe it or not even this has been bettered by the arrival of bread, in a can,

Japanese bread vending machine

in a vending machine.

Japanese bread vending machine

Lunch and light snacks may never be the same again.

Update: Now available in a limited edition anime version. Yes, I kid you not.

Categorized: Food and Drink

Sep 18 2007 4 Comments

Japanese grape growers

Tokyo, it has to be said, is not exactly blessed with greenery, but in neighbouring Yamanashi Prefecture, they have a veritable glut of the stuff.

Yamanashi Japan

Although thankfully for the purist, there is a generous enough smattering of concrete accommodation to give it at least a hint of that traditional Tokyo-like topography.

Yamanashi Japan

Somewhat surprising however is that a large amount of the colouring comes from grapes, with this part of Yamanashi in particular positively bursting with them. A crop that, considering the Japanese love affair with packaging, thankfully comes complete with wrapping — or at least a preliminary part of it.

Yamanashi grapes and wine

Such an abundance also means that the region is blessed with wineries, making the thought of a trip all the more worthwhile. But despite the use of foreign names,

Japanese winery

and complicatedly carved barrels,

Japanese winery

the end product could be politely described as poor, unpalatable even. The labelling of one particular tipple as すごい ワイン (great wine) arguably taking optimism to previously uncharted territory.

Japanese winery

And then some.

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Footer

Copyright © 2026 · Tokyo Times