’Tis the start of spring in Tokyo, and your friends will once again flood your timeline with their pictures of the sakura season. Stuck at your office desk with no vacation leave? Your Internet went wonky at the last seat sale? Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, let’s make do with what we have here. Here’s how to fake that Japanese experience without having to fly out of the country.
1. Have merienda at Family Mart.
The Japanese konbini culture is unbelievable. They have an expansive range of snacks and drinks, some of which even change every season. The snacks always have little cartoon drawings, making them even more difficult to resist. Unfortunately, most of the convenience stores in the country haven’t caught up with the authentic Japanese konbini cuteness. Except for Family Mart. Though a bit pricier than other convenience stores, Family Mart is worth a weekly visit. They really went out of their way to bring the Japanese konbini experience to Manila. We recommend their twirl-all-you-can ice cream, but if you want something heavy, their sausages are pretty good. GF/ UP Town Center, Quezon City with other branches around Metro Manila, most are open 24 hours.
2. Shop til you drop at Uniqlo.
At first glance, Uniqlo clothes seem too plain, too simple, but it is a brand which perfectly captures the Japanese love for comfortable things. You should go to Uniqlo to shop for your basics, then accessorize accordingly to give your outfit a more personalized touch. Here’s a little tip: Don’t ever visit Uniqlo without checking out the metal racks usually found at the end of every shelf, that’s where the marked down clothes are hidden (you may also follow this tip when you do decide to visit their shops in Japan). SM Megamall Bldg B and D, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong; +63 2 6311942, Daily 10am-9pm
3. Buy bread from the Yamato bakery.
Japanese bread isn’t getting the attention it deserves, and let’s hope that the Yamato bakery can help change that. The breads at Yamato are at par with what they sell at bakeries in Japan. Whether you’re craving s savory treat or a sweet pasty, there is surely something here you can enjoy. The best time to go bread shopping? Around 8:30pm, when they start selling items at 50% off. I went there last week and bought 5 mini chocolate croissants at only PHP11 each. I happily finished them off with zero regrets. Bel-Air 22 Jupiter St Bel-Air, Makati, Jupiter, Makati; +02 5111390, Daily 7am-10pm
4. Eat at Little Tokyo.
Of course you’ve heard of Little Tokyo! It’s everyone’s go-to place for authentic Japanese food. Even the true blue Nihonggos in the country go to restaurants in this area to feel a bit closer to home. We can’t recommend a specific place because it all depends on what particular dish you want to have (okonomiyaki? ramen? sushi? chirashi bowl?). What we suggest is for you to go restaurant hopping with a big group to maximize the experience. 2277 Chino Roces Ave, Pasong Tamo Corner Amorsolo Street, Makati, Legazpi Village, Makati; +63 2 8195008, store hours vary per restaurant
5. Take Japanese lessons from the Nihongo Center Foundation.
What better way to experience Japanese culture when you can’t actually be in the Land of the Rising Sun? Language classes are fun and they could come in handy when you do finally decide to purseue your trip. Plus continuous learning is always a good thing. You might even find the classes useful in your career. 3rd Floor, Dominion Building 833 A. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati; +63 2 8924916 to 19, schedule available at their website
6. Indulge in green tea dessert at Kissako.
When it comes to matcha green tea, it’s either you like it too much or you don’t like it at all. If you’re like me who’s in love with green tea anything, then Kissako is a must-visit restaurant. For drinks, we reccomend the matcha latte (PHP150). The matcha parfait (PHP195) is good if you want something sweeter and heavier. Pioneer Center, Pioneer Street cor. Brixton Street, United Avenue, Pasig; +63 2 7303356, Daily 10am-10pm.
7. Study bento making.
A lunch is never just lunch for Japanese students. Their food is usually transformed into cute pieces of art that are too kawaii to eat. You don’t actually need to take classes to get into bento making. Simply look for inspiration on the Internet and try things out for yourself. You might need to invest in a couple of kitchen items, but they’re not expensive at all (yay Daiso!). However, you might want to Facebook follow someone who can help you jumpstart this new hobby. Check out bento mamas.
8. Go shopping for household items at Muji.
They sell everything at Muji – from clothes to notebooks to travel gear to kitchen items. They even have make up! Why do we love the brand? Though a bit pricey, the products are useful, sleek-looking and generally of high quality. We particularly love their office supplies. You can purchase a plain-looking notebook and use their stamps to decorate it. R3 Level, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center Makati; Daily 11am-9pm.
9. Have a box of Royce.
Nama chocolate is a legendary Japanese treat made famous by the Royce company. The smooth and rich chocolate squares will melt in your mouth. Surprisingly, just a couple of squares are good enough. It’s so good that you don’t need to devour the whole box to get your chocolate fix. Their chocolate covered potato chips, however, is another story. This sweet and salty goodness something that can easily be wiped out in one seating. Stall 318A R3 Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati; +63 2 9848698, Daily 11am-9pm.
10. Eat at a Japanese carinderia.
Remember Erra’s Ramen with their PHP80 tantanmen? Well, if you have a really tight budget but still want to enjoy something Japanese, this makeshift ramen house is the place to go. The place is popular among students, backpackers and even professionals, and for a good reason. Where else can you get a good bowl of ramen for less than a hundred? Erra’s Ramen, Adriatico cor J Nakpil Sts, Malate, Manila; www.facebook.com/erramen, +63 2 3549509, +63 928 3474233. Daily 12pm-6am.
