Tokyo Finale: Ueno Park, Roppongi, and Monjayaki Experience
Our 8 Days in Tokyo series comes to a close with with Ueno and Roppongi – some of the more artsy areas of Tokyo. I surprised my parents, who have never been to Tokyo, with this trip to share some of my past adventures with them. We explore Ueno Park, one of Japan’s biggest public parks, as well as the trendy Roppongi Hills. I’ve planned a unique Monjayaki dining experience for our last dinner, an experience I’m SO EXCITED to share with you as well!
A Traditional Soba Experience: Ueno Yabu Soba
We were all craving something comforting but filling today before our walk in Ueno Park. We opted for some cold beers and hot soba noodles Ueno Yabu Soba. My mom and I went for the smoked duck soup soba, and my dad tried out the special seasonal oyster soup soba.
Before visiting Japan, I’d only ever had soba noodles cold. Boy, I didn’t know what I was missing. The broth was clean and had this light Yuzu flavor that was just right, not too overpowering. The noodles? Perfectly chewy. The duck was something else – smoked yet incredibly tender!
We barely talked during the meal; we were too busy enjoying every slurp and sip. It was THAT GOOD. After stuffing ourselves, we DEFINITELY had enough energy to check out more temples. You will too, so DEFINITELY come visit Ueno Yabu Soba if you’re a noodle-lover!
Ueno Park: The Central Park of Tokyo
Ueno is my favorite area in Tokyo! It’s has a wide variety of amazing food options, as well as many art and science museums. My favorite spot? Ueno Park! This 133-acre park contains an astounding amount of attractions: 4 temples, 5 museums, and a zoo! It’s also one of the TOP SPOTS to see sakura blossoms in the spring. You can DEFINITELY spend a whole day here!
We came to Ueno Park after lunch to walk off our very satisfying soba meal, and explore what the park has to offer. The park is a little oasis in the middle of the busy metropolis of Tokyo. Birds were chirping everywhere, and the lake in the middle was filled with fun activities and little boats. We took a look around every temple, and ended up with SO MANY great pictures of our family together.
Ueno Park is a central spot for all transportation, from JR to buses, so it’s incredibly easy to get to. If you’re in Tokyo, especially during cherry blossom season, don’t miss Ueno!
Roppongi Hills
My mom, Dom, and I set out to explore the vibrant streets of Roppongi, an arts and entertainment district offering a variety of options for all demographics.. The breathtaking views from Roppongi Hills left us absolutely speechless. We found ourselves rooted to the spot for a good half hour, just soaking in the beauty of it all. It’s moments like these that remind you to appreciate the simple things in life.
Now, for a little fun fact about me: I’m a huge Crayon Shin-chan fan. Imagine my excitement when I found an exhibit dedicated to not only Crayon Shin-chan but also Doraemon at the TV Asahi Building. It was like a childhood dream COME TO LIFE. Seeing all the memorabilia and art from these shows brought back so many memories. I fan-girled hard, not gonna lie. The exhibit was a delightful walk down memory lane and a highlight of our Roppongi adventure.
THE BEST Unagi-don at Unagi no Naruse Roppongi
We stumble upon an incredible unagi spot, Unagi no Naruse Eel Restaurant Roppongi that totally blew us away with both its quality and affordability. Typically a pricier meal at average of ¥3000+, not even for a full size, unagi is considered a “fancier” meal. So, finding a whole unagi dish for just ¥2600, is SUCH A GOOD DEAL!
The unagi had an amazing grilled aroma, covered in a sweet-salty sauce. It was fatty and meaty at the same time…SO SATISFYING. The set comes with crunchy and bright pickles, a bowl of soup, and some extra unagi sauce for you to drizzle over.
We made plans to revisit this place in Roppongi on our last day, just to bring my dad along. He was equally impressed, declaring it not just good, but “so, so, so worth it.” It’s moments like these—finding a gem of a meal that’s both delicious and budget-friendly to share with your family —that make food adventures so rewarding.
Nakamuraya: A Humble Hot Pot Paradise
Before starting out our adventure again in Roppongi on our last day, we decided to fuel up at Nakamuraya. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Tsukiji, near our hotel area, is unassuming, but it has AMAZING individual hot pot sets and bento boxes! They have a normal a-la-carte menu as well, but their sets are SUPER WORTH!
We ordered the Seafood Chanko Nabe, Sukiyaki, and the Beef Shabushabu sets. Each hotpot was FULL of fresh ingredients, cooking in a clean dashi broth. It come sitting over a little heating unit to keep it BOILING HOT! With a hotpot, rice, miso soup, and some sides in the set, we left the restaurant SO FULL. For around ¥1100 per set, this was SUCH A BARGAIN!
A Quick Takoyaki Refuel at Takobo Miyasaka Shop
Drawn in by the smells, we stopped by Takobo Miyasaka Shop for a quick takoyaki snack. Going for ¥600-800 an order of 6 pieces, this humble little takoyaki shop offers so many different topping flavors. We opted for the CLASSIC takoyaki, and it DID NOT disappoint.
Drizzled generously over the golden orbs is the iconic takoyaki sauce, a sweet and tangy concoction that perfectly complements the savory pancake batter. Then, there’s the mayonnaise, creamy and rich, adding a luxurious texture and a slight tanginess that makes it SO GOOD. Sprinkled over this saucy delight are seaweed powder and bonito flakes, which packs another umami punch.
Each bite was a delicious mix of savory flavors, a hint of sweetness, and a dash of that IRRESISTABLE takoyaki sauce. It’s PERFECT as a snack after a day of exploring.
Traditional Wagashi Craftmenship at Mahorodou Sougetsu
We took another snack break at Mahorodou Sougetsu, drawn in by their cute little desserts. This quaint little shop specializes in traditional Japanese wagashi desserts made from bean paste at around ￥150-300 each. Wagashi chefs take many years of training and skills to create these creative, delightful shapes. With a hot cup of tea, these desserts sooth your sweet tooth so gently! It’s a great way to experience traditional Japanese sweets in a casual way.
High Tea in A Garden: Aoyama Flower Market Green House
After a long stroll, we took a tea break at Aoyama Flower Market Green House. This beautiful flower shop and cafe feels like having tea in a greenhouse! With a flower shop up front, there’s no surprise that the cafe is COVERED in flowers as well. Every angle looks amazing in pictures!
The tea shop offers a large variety of herb and flower tea on rotation at around ￥750 a pot. Not a fan of tea? They also offer some house-made sodas and juices. Their food menu includes desserts, breakfast, and some savory options. We ordered a tea, cookies, and some of their french toast. They were all BEAUTIFULLY plated, and garnished with various edible flowers.
Aoyama Flower Market Green House has gotten really popular recently, so always expect a line! It’s a great spot to visit, but a little on the pricier side. I would suggest visiting outside of meal time to minimize your wait time!
Perfect Last Meal: Monjayaki at Tsukishima Monja Moheji
Whenever someone asks me for a must-try dish in Japan, my go-to answer is always Monjayaki. With our time in Tokyo winding down, I knew exactly where I wanted to take my parents for our final meal: Tsukishima Monja Moheiji.
what Is Monjayaki?
If you’ve never had Monjayaki before, you’re in for a treat. It’s a unique Japanese dish that’s made from a flour-based batter with a mix of ingredients, cooked right on a hot iron plate. The cool part? The cooking happens right in front of you, turning mealtime into a bit of a show!
The process starts with the chef stir-frying vegetables until they’re sizzling and delicious. Then, they make a doughnut-shaped well with the veggies and pour in the broth, mixing it into the batter until it thickens. As it cooks, other toppings are added, and the mixture is stirred until it reaches the PERFECT consistency. You eat the Monjayaki straight from the iron plate, scraping off bite-sized pieces with little spatulas. It might not win any beauty contests, but trust me, the taste is unforgettable.
We also dove into a Black Squid Ink Monjayaki, bursting with flavor. Monjayaki is all about the experience—chatting, drinking, and enjoying the dish over 10 to 20 minutes. They even prepare a second course right at your table, including a version with rice that turns into a creamy, risotto-like delight. As it cooks, the edges get a bit crispy, adding a wonderful texture to the dish.
The dining experience was rounded out with Okonomiyaki, a savory pancake that’s another crowd-pleaser. Covered in delicious mayo and tart okonomiyaki sauce, this pancake was filled with sweet cabbage and fatty bacon. Upon seeing our neighbors order grilled squid, we couldn’t resist adding that to our feast. Best decision ever—it was the best squid I’ve ever tasted.
We ended up ordering three Monjayakis, one Okonomiyaki, fried rice, and that unforgettable grilled squid. This meal was the perfect way to cap off our first trip together to Tokyo, blending delicious flavors with unique dining experiences. I’m so glad I brought my parents here, because they had SUCH FUN!
Don’t Miss Out On The Rest Of My Tokyo Journey!
I had such a good time taking my parents around Tokyo, from the temples of Asakusa to the luxury shopping of Ginza, and more! For a deep dive into our Tokyo journey, make sure to catch the COMPLETE TOKYO VLOG! Don’t miss my 8 day through Tokyo series, where I go into details for each place we visit. It has truly been a unforgettable experience taking my parents on an adventure around Tokyo!
Looking for more TRAVEL EATS? Check out some of my FOOD ADVENTURES!
