::: JK Fun ::: Delicious and interesting local food in Sugamo! An area that is famous for "red underwear"!!

Picture credited to Japan Guide

Sugamo is famous for the "Red Underwear"!!?

Your local food guide in this interesting area

Picture credited to iStock by Getty Images

Just two stations away from Ikebukuro, on the same Yamanote Line, you can find this interesting area "Sugamo" who is famous for the population of older Japanese and.....shops selling red underwear!!

Picture credited to Guide To Tokyo

It is believed that wearing red color, like underwear and clothes, can give you good luck and prosperity! Don't be surprised when you see many shops selling these red items in Sugamo!! You may even get some for your friends too!

Other than shops, you can find famous temples in Sugamo too. For example the "Kogan-Ji Temple"where it is famous for the "Arai Kannon". People line up and pour water on and wash the Kannon statue to the same parts that they are ill. It is said that in doing so, your illness will go away! 

(Above) Just not too far from "Kogan-ji Temple", there is another temple you can see a big "Jizo" statue sitting in front of the temple.

Local Food Guide in Sugamo

There are over 200 shops and restaurants on the Jizo-dori (Jizo Street) in Sugamo. There are shops selling souvenirs, desserts, snacks etc. Today, I will show you a few delicious local food here!

01. Sweet Potato Shop

This sweet potato shop was founded 140 years ago. Their famous candied sweet potato and other desserts like sweet potato cakes and ice cream are hot items for both locals and visitors.

This time, I tried their ice cream and candied sweet potato set. It is so yummy!!

Oimoyasan Koshin

Address: 3-38-1 Sugamo, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo

Tel.: 03-3916-2839

Hours: 10:00-19:00

Homepage (Jap): http://www.oimoyasan.com/

Google Map

02. Special Fried Japanese Dumplings 

You may not be able to guess what it is!! Actually it is a famous gyoza (Japanese dumplings) shop in Tokyo! Even many Japanese come to Sugamo and try this special gyoza. It is very crispy on the outside, but it is juicy and soft inside! It is said that the shop sells more than 5000 gyoza everyday. So you better visit the shop earlier in case the gyoza is sold out!!

ファイト餃子 (Fight Gyoza)

Address: 4-23-6 Sugamo, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo

Tel.: 03-3917-6261
Hours: 11:30-14:00 and 17:00-20:00 (Mon to Fri)
11:30-20:00 (Sat, Sun and Holidays)
Homepage (Jap): http://white-gyouza.co.jp/branch/sugamo.html
Google Map

03. First Michelin 1-Star ranked Ramen Shop

Ramen Tsuta is located on the other side of Sugamo Station. Just 2 minutes walk, you can find this first Michelin ranked raman shop. Since it is famous, you may expect to get a long waiting time here. 

The waiting system of Ramen Tsuta is a little bit different. First you line up for the pass "整理券 seiriken" and make a 1000 yen deposit to the shop (It will be returned to you when you enter the shop), then the staff will tell you what time to come back. Just come back at the specific time, then buy your preferred ramen from the ticket machine. Then you are all set.

They have Shoyu (Soy sauce) and Shio (Salt) soup for you to choose. You can add extra toppings like flavored egg, meats etc too!

This time I ordered the Shoyu ramen. Comparing to other shoyu ramen, their soup is not that salty, and I like the mushroom taste in the soup. The meat is soft and nice too. Overall I think this ramen is good and I think foreign visitors will like it too. 

Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta

Address: 1F Plateau-Saka, 1-14-1 Sugamo, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo

Tel.: 03-3943-1007
Hours: 11:00-16:00 (Seiriken is distributed from 07:00)
18:00-21:00 (Seiriken is distributed from 17:00)
Google Map

Next time when you come to Tokyo, you may want to visit the interesting Sugamo and taste the local food here! You will be surprised by this small town!!

Just next to Sugamo, there is another small town "Otsuka" you may interest in visiting too. Check out our earlier sharing here:

#Shopping♪Rustic Streetcars & Bustling Retro Shopping Streets in the Most Modern City in the World- A Sanoya Shopping Escape!

# Shopping ♪ 24th - 26th June 2016 "Ikebukuro Pawnshop Festival in Sunshine City Ikebukuro"

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