Tokyo Shiba Toufuya Ukai

A stone’s throw from Tokyo Tower, this traditional Japanese restaurant is the place that you always pictured in your dreams of Japan. Stepping through the gate here is a truly transportive experience, as you enter a huge, beautiful courtyard garden complete with a long koi pond with a bridge, dozens of trees, and a spinning water wheel. The building is an old merchant’s house, and to this day it retains gorgeous original features, and paraphernalia from its days as a sake brewery. All of the private rooms look out onto the serene garden space. The meal itself is tofu-centric kaiseki dining. The tofu is made with Hokkaido soybeans, processed at the restaurant’s own artisan factory in Hachijo. This is then turned into dishes like tofu hotpot in a broth of soy milk, deep fried tofu, fresh fish sashimi, and tofu skin grilled and painted with a rich sauce. However, please be aware — the menu isn’t vegetarian by default, as meat products do feature. Vegetarian diners have to choose a specifically vegetarian set at the time of booking. Once you finish your meal, the staff will give you as much time as you desire to relax in the room and enjoy the beauty and silence of the scene, relishing the peacefulness. Rather than just a restaurant, this is a total rejuvenating experience for both stomach and soul.