Restaurants, Bars and Cafés Beauty & Health Points of Interest

Downtown charm and century-old businesses Ueno (上野), Asakusa (浅草) and Ningyocho (人形町) are older, Edo-era areas of the city. Perhaps one of the most photographed scenes in Tokyo, the big red lantern under the Kaminarimon (雷門, “thunder gate”) in Asakusa is the start of a long walkway down to Sensoji temple (浅草寺), both sides lined with small shops selling souvenirs, handmade sweets and snacks. Ueno is the site of Tokyo’s proud zoo with animals from around the globe, and Ningyocho is full of old Japanese charm (and traditional delicacies) and is a perfect place to splurge on a nice lunch or dinner, pick up a few souvenirs or get a few great photos ops.

Bar Depo bar A stylish bar with reasonable party rates. On weekdays, the "Skip Course" (￥3,500) gets you a decent dinner and an open bar for three hours (two on weekends). Dimmed lights and wooden counters gives the bar an intimate feel. Pronounced 'day-po'. Drinks from ￥700 (plus a ￥300 table charge). Menu in Japanese. B1, 2-12-11 Ueno, Taito-ku 03-3837-3085 Station: Ueno-Hirokoji (metro exit 3) more information...

Bengal (ベンガル) Indian curry Authentic Indian curry, most dishes served with a large plate of rice and a curry gravy boat. Over 20 spices blended by a former spice-girl; that is, the owner used to work for a spice company. This secret-recipe curry powder is available for purchase at the store. Recommended: to soothe that spicy roux, try the masala tea, a zesty cup of Indian comfort. To-go curry and naan available. Beef curry from ￥880. Menu in English and Japanese. 3-10-12 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku 03-3255-4410 Station: Suehirocho (metro exit 3) more information...

Bon (梵) Fucha (Japanese Fucha ryori（普茶料理） is the all-vegetarian cuisine that Zen Buddhist monks of China and Japan have been eating for centuries. Dishes are beautifully presented, often with half a dozen morsels of seasonal roots, leaves, fruits and flowers decorating one plate. You'll forget that there is no meat involved. Recommended: last orders are taken early, so get in accordingly. Dinner from around ￥7,350. “Fucha Bento” special lunch from ￥3,990. Menu in English and Japanese. 1-2-11 Ryusen, Taito-ku 03-3872-0375 Station: Iriya (metro exit 3) more information...

Habutae Honten (羽二重団子本店) Japanese cafe Housed in an old-fashioned building with a beautiful enclosed Japanese garden viewable from the main caf_ room. The rice cakes are made every morning and many claim the yakidango (焼き団子, lightly grilled with a soy-based sauce) here are the best in Tokyo. There is also a newer branch with the same name closer to the station, with a patisserie-like interior (“Habutae 日暮里駅前”, or Habutate Nippori Ekimae, at 03-5850-3451) . One skewer from ￥200. Menu in Japanese. 5-54-3 Higashi-Nippori, Arakawa-ku 03-3891-2924 Station: Nippori (JR south exit) more information...

Hard Rock Café Ueno-Eki (ハードロックカフェ　上野駅店) American "Love All Serve All" is the motto of this haven for music lovers around the world. On the menu: American goodness like burgers and sandwiches, starters, pasta and salad. As with all other Hard Rocks, the walls are filled with pictures and gold disks of your favorite rock n' roll legends. Original Tokyo merchandise available. Dinner from about ￥2,500, plus a 10% service charge after 16:00. Menu in English and Japanese. Atre Ueno 1F, 7-1-1 Ueno, Taito-ku 03-5826-5821 Station: Ueno (JR, metro) more information...

Khroopkhrua Thai, Vietnamese The owner-chef loves Southeast Asia wholeheartedly, which he recreates in this part of the world by importing fresh herbs and spices twice a week by air. Recommended: the Thai-style sukiyaki serves up a healthy dose of vegetables and seafood for ￥2,100. Dinner from about ￥3,000. Menu in English and Japanese. Saito Bldg. 2F, 1-33-4 Asakusa, Taito-ku 03-3847-3461 Station: Asakusa (metro exit 1; Tobu line Matsuya exit) more information...

Otafuku (大多福) oden (Japanese) Oden is winter comfort food of various fish and vegetable dumplings in a fish or kelp broth. Western Japan tends to have a stronger, saltier flavor than eastern Japan's version, and some foodies consider the less in-your-face western, or Kansai, version to be the better one. As you can probably guess, Otafuku serves the Kansai kind in a relaxed, shitamachi (downtown) atmosphere. Over 40 types of dumplings, including Kansai specialties like yuba (soymilk skin) and whale. Dinner from around ￥4,000. Menu in Japanese. To reserve a seat, you must specify either a oden-only course (￥3,500) or a full dinner course (￥5,250). 1-6-2 Chizuka, Taito-ku 03-3871-2521 Station: Asakusa (metro exit A2, about a 15-minute walk) more information...

Sasa No Yuki (笹乃雪) tofu (Japanese) Silky tofu manifests itself in countless ways. The restaurant has been in operation for over 300 years, and is reportedly the first to have sold kinugoshidofu (絹ごし豆腐, silky tofu) in Edo, or Old Tokyo. Using fresh spring water, the kitchen crew makes the day's tofu supply every morning. Dinner from around ￥3,700. Menu in English and Japanese. 2-15-10 Negishi, Taito-ku 03-3873-1145 Station: Uguisudani (JR north exit) more information...