Foodaholic!: Travel Guides

[9/18/2020] As a result of COVID-19, the borders remain closed, and Japan is currently not accepting any overseas tourists from Canada.

Ever since I was young, one of the destinations on my bucket list was Tokyo. I finally checked that off my list in December 2013, and I loved every moment of it. Since then, we have been fortunate to be able to go back to Japan a few more times. As of last year, J and I, have visited 19 cities and 4 prefectures in Japan. I know that some people prefer the main cities, but I also enjoy checking out less-known cities as well.

While it is impossible to see all of Tokyo in a 24 hours time-frame. You can still hit the top attractions even if you're only here for a day. Please note that this complete 24-hours itinerary is best only if you're jet-lagged and not sleepy. Otherwise, I'd just skip checking out the Toyosu Fish Market, and just sleep in until 9 am.

3:00 AM – Toyosu Fish Market

If you have a layover, an early bird, or can't sleep, then you definitely have to check out the Toyosu Fish Market. The wholesale market is located near Shijomae Station, on the Yurikamome Line - about 2km east of Tsukiji’s current location. It was closed during the COVID-19 outbreak but has re-opened June 8, 2020. The tuna auctions take place around 5:30 am to 6:30 am.

5:00 AM – Sushi Breakfast

The building complex that houses the Toyosu Fish Market has a small number of restaurants available, and an observation deck to view the auctions. The restaurants open around 6 am, so it's a great time to enjoy a nice sushi breakfast. The fish are ultra-fresh, and prices are affordable. I'd say that the fish at these restaurants are very comparable to the high-end sushi restaurants in Toronto.

7:00 AM - Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta

The Tokyo subway is a part of the extensive rapid transit system, and I believe that most trains do start around 5 am. So after your sushi breakfast, I'd hop on the train to Yoyogi-Uehara Station to get to Tsuta. Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta (ジャパニーズソバヌードル蔦) is a popular ramen shop located in Tokyo's Yoyogi-Uehara. They are the world’s first Michelin starred ramen restaurant, as Tsuta was awarded its first Michelin star in December 2015. Their signature ramen is the "Shoyu Soba", which is a soy sauce ramen, comprising of chicken and seafood stock base, and topped off with a slice of pork, and signature black truffle oil. Although it wasn't the top ramen that I have ever had, it's definitely one of the best ones I have had.

Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta operates a ticket system, and numbered tickets are handed out starting at 7 AM. For each ticket, you would hand the employee a 1,000 yen deposit (which will be used towards your ramen meal). You can choose from the following time slots: 11:00-12:00, 12:00-13:00, 13:00-14:00, and finally 14:00-15:00. We were able to grab two tickets that day for lunch slots at 12 pm (our desired time) and then went back to our hotel.

How To Get There: 2 mins walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station (代々木上原駅)

Address: 3–2–4 Frontier Yoyogi-Uehara B1F, Nishihara, Shibuya, Tokyo 151–0066

6:30 AM – Go Back To Hotel

To be honest, there wasn't a lot to see after the Toyosu Fish Market cause most attractions and shops open around 9 am. So, we ended up getting a taxi back to our hotel at the InterContinental Tokyo Bay (review here). Since neither of us was sleepy, I went to the gym for an hour, and then went to the room to shower. We left for the next attraction around 8:30 am. J and I took the hotel complimentary shuttle bus to Hamamatsucho Station and went from there to Sensoji Temple.

9:00 AM – Explore Sensoji Temple

One of my favorite temples in Tokyo is the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. It's one of the most-visited spots in Tokyo, so it gets super packed around afternoon to evening. Sensoji is Tokyo’s oldest temple, and you will definitely recognize it by its main landmark, the Kanimarimon gate.

10:00 AM - Explore Nakamise-dori

The shops on Nakamise-dori opens around 10 am. The decorated street is filled with shops offering souvenirs, food, snacks, and more. I was kept pretty occupied exploring it that 1.5 hours passed by pretty quickly. Nearby is a popular spot called Kagetsudo, where they sell their famous melon-pans.

It was super hot that afternoon, so we decided to drop by the nearby Suzukien Asakusa. It is an ice-cream shop boasting seven levels of matcha tea flavored gelato. I am not a fan of super bitter matcha, so I opted for Level 4.

11:30 AM - Explore Kappabashi Street

Kappabashi Street is a short walk from Sensoji Temple, approximately10 minutes. Here you find a variety of souvenir shops and is the home of plastic food models. There are a few shops offering Japanese knives for sale. Please note that the stores are closed on Sunday.

12:30 PM - Lunch Time @ Shibuya Station

If I had to choose one district where I should have lunch, then Shibuya is a hot spot. There are a plethora of options near Shibuya Station ranging from popular chains, independent restaurants, mom/pop shops, and so many delicious dessert places. There are plenty of delicious restaurants in the area, and it's really difficult to narrow it down.

For us, it was time for lunch at Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta. We were lucky enough to grab two spots for 12:30 pm, which was the perfect lunchtime. After lunch, we took a taxi to Shibuya to explore the area.

1:30 PM - See Hachiko Statue

Once you're done with lunch, then it's time to explore what Shibuya has to offer. The first stop is the Hachiko Statue at Shibuya Crossing. Hachiko was the most loyal dog in the world. He would show up at the train station every evening to meet his owner after work and continued to do so even after the owner’s death. The train station employees fed him, gave him water, and took good care of him. They even erected this statue for Hachiko after his own death. Say hello to Hachiko on your way to the Shibuya Crossing.

How To Get There: Oshiage Station → Hanzomon Line (Platform 3) → Shibuya Station

Address: 2-1, Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-1

2:00 PM - Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing is one of Japan's busiest crossings, and up to 2500 people cross this intersection at any given time. It was such a great sight to see, especially from high up. So if you're interested in people watching, then I highly recommend grabbing yourself a cup of coffee from the nearby Starbucks and find a seat to watch it all in action.

2:30 PM - Shopping Time

You can skip this if shopping isn't your thing. However, Shibuya has a lot of great malls and stores.

3:30 PM - Meiji Shrine @ Meiji Jingu

A short distance walks away from the Shibuya district is Meiji Jingu. We started off at Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. The shrine itself isn't too big, and the entire walk takes about 30 minutes.

4:30 PM - Harajuku / Takeshita Street

Next, you should make your way to Harajuku’s Takeshita Street for some shopping, and sight-seeing. I love this street! It's an incredibly bustling street lined up with many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, crepe stands, and fast food outlets geared towards the younger generation. I had a fun time shopping at Kiddy Land, Daiso, and We Go while I was there.

We also tried two of the crepe stands, Angels Heart and Santa Monica Crepes (pictured below).

6:00 PM - Akihabara

After indulging in some crepes, time to make your way to Akihabara. Akihabara is a popular district known for its electronics, otaku goods, and anime shops. Some of the main attractions are Sofmap, Yodobashi Camera, Maid Cafes, Don Quijote, and Mandarake. If you're into anime, then this is the place to have a nerdgasm.

7:30 PM – Shinjuku: Drinks in Golden Gai and Kabukicho

If you're looking to have a relaxing time, then I would check out Shinjuku. They have a little bit of everything - the LOVE sign, restaurants, robots, and even a red-light district area. You can wander the alleys of Kabukicho in search of some food, or grab a drink in the district’s famed Golden Gai.

8:30 PM – Dinner Time

We stayed in Shinjuku for dinner, as there were a lot of options. Some popular must-eats are Ichiran Ramen, Konjiki Hototogisu, Shin Udon, Funnji, and Tonkatsu Santa. If you're not in the mood for ramen, then there are plenty of other cuisines available.

9:30 PM – Tokyo Metropolitan Building

If you stuck around the Shinjuku district for dinner, then make your way to Tokyo Metropolitan Building. Going up Tokyo Skytree for a view of Tokyo's skyline is pretty expensive at ¥2,060 ($23) a person. A cheaper alternative (aka FREE) is from the two observation decks (North and South) on the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The building is open pretty late as well, so you can also get a night view of Tokyo.

Missing Japan! J and I actually booked another one-month trip to Japan/Taiwan for December 2020 prior to the world shutdown. Due to the current state of travel, and rumors of Japan not allowing tourists until mid next year, the trip is postponed until 2021 for us. Hopefully, things will slowly be back to normal sooner than later.

Over the summer, we were invited by the Port Hope Tourism Board to spend a weekend in Port Hope, ON. It's a small yet idyllic city about 1.5 hours away from Toronto. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County.

Check out my blog post on Port Hope from last year's visit here.

Photo Credit: https://visitporthope.ca/gallery/downtown-port-hope

Earlier this summer, we had the opportunity to explore Port Hope once again.

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EAT

Screaming Goat Café - Haute Goat

The farm, located at 1166 5th Line, is owned by Debbie Nightingale and Shain Jaffe. Earlier this year, they expanded their property to include a commercial kitchen and new cafe. After our Haute Goat experience, we had the opportunity to check out their newly opened cafe, the Screaming Goat Café, and had a quick bite.

The cafe is opened for lunch, snacks and special events from Wed to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. The menu is created by their Chefs in residence, Rob Hogg and Alicia Ricci of "Nosh + Nourish". They have created a small menu of fresh, playful dishes inspired by the city's seasons and local ingredients. The grilled cheese sandwich was absolutely great with the chorizo!

Harley Farms Chorizo + La Mancha Grilled Cheese - Burnham bread, rhubarb + apple ketchup

Roasted Free-Range Chicken Wrap - root vegetable slaw, smokey dijon, spring onions

Daily Soup

Address: 1166 5th Line, Port Hope, Ontario L0A 1J0

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The Social Bar + Table

After Haute Goat, we drove about 26 minutes to downtown Port Hope for dinner. Our dinner reservation was made at The Social Bar + Table, so our table was ready once we arrived. The Social Bar + Table is a farm-to-table establishment in a tavern environment.

Boyland Bottle ($3.50) - root beer

Mussels ($15) - fennel cream

Duck Confit ($23) - orange ginger glaze, fingerling potatoes

AAA Steak Frites ($29) - 10 oz strip loin steak, demi-glaze

Address: 26 Ontario Street, Port Hope, Ontario L1A 2T7 ‎

SEE

Haute Goat Shmurgle:

The Haute Goat Farm is a breathtaking 200-acre farm where you can discover the magic of their Nigerian Dwarf goats, Icelandic horses, alpacas, chickens, and Livestock Guardian Dogs and take a stroll through the shiitake forest! This place is a great family activity.

SHMURGLE Definition; snuggle, smooch, hug, cuddle ANY animal but particularly and with
emphasis – a Nigerian Dwarf Goat.

Read the FULL blog post here.

Address: 1166 5th Line, Port Hope, Ontario L0A 1J0

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Trickle Creek Farms:

On our second visit to Port Hope, we visited Trickle Creek Farms where we enjoyed a scenic trail ride adjacent to the beautiful Ganaraska Forest. I was a little hesitant at first, as my past experience with horses hasn't been that great. My horse got scared by a loud sound and ran wild, while I was riding one in Cuba. Each riding group was kept small with about 6-10 people for a more personal experience. We were given a quick lesson on how to control our horse and then went on our way to the trail.

My horse was really hungry, so it stopped a few times to munch on leaves. Overall, it was a lot of fun! It's an ideal family outing at a leisurely pace for everyone’s safety and comfort. One hour is $40 per person.

Port Hope Farmers' Market (May to October):

The Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from the beginning of May till the end of October, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, and is located at 56 Queen Street, directly behind Town Hall. Here you will find an array of farm-fresh produce and meats, home-made preserves and baking, as well as hand-made crafts and artwork.

SLEEP

Woodland Gardens Bed and Breakfast:

Nestled in the hills of Northumberland County sits Woodland Gardens Bed and Breakfast. It's where we stayed for our overnight trip to Port Hope. The spacious home is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Port Hope. The B&B is run by a lovely couple, Lea and Jack, and they really provided a very warming experience.

The two acres home is opened as a B&B and has several rooms for short-term rental. We stayed on the main floor level in the Spruce Suite, which was very spacious. It had a living room, bathroom, private hot sauna room, deck, and backyard.

Read the FULL blog post here.

Address: 8250 Woodland Ave, Campbellcroft, ON, L0A 1B0

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Port Hope is the perfect mini get-away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. The cuisine options are also excellent, as there's a little something for everyone. We thoroughly enjoyed our trips to Port Hope. It's such a charming heritage town with a lot to offer. Until next time!

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with the Municipality of Port Hope. Thank you for sponsoring the visit to Port Hope. All of the opinions expressed in this review are of my own.

Port Hope is a small yet idyllic city about 1.5 hours away from Toronto. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County. My first time in Port Hope was back in 2012, where we made a quick pit stop at Trattoria Gusto for lunch.

Photo Credit: https://visitporthope.ca/gallery/downtown-port-hope

Earlier this summer, we had the pleasure of exploring the city more extensively and got to really know what Port Hope is all about.

EAT

Olympus Burger:

After treetop trekking, we drove about 26 minutes to downtown Port Hope for lunch. Lunch reservation was made at Olympus Burger, so our table was ready once we arrived. Additionally, the burger joint was featured on an episode of The Food Network’s television show ‘You Gotta Eat Here’, and topped Canadian Living magazine's list of best burgers in Canada.

It's a very casual atmosphere, where customers would order the items and pay upfront at the counter. However, they provided table-service to us and our fellow bloggers that afternoon. The menu was a two-pager featuring a good selection of burgers. Given the branding, all the menu items are themed around Greek mythology. Psst ... they also have a secret menu, which is available for viewing online. I highly recommend that you try Olympus Burger if you're ever in Port Hope.

Read the FULL blog post here.

Address: 55 Mill St S, Port Hope, ON, L1A 2S7

Ares Burger ($9.95)

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Local No. 90 Bar + Kitchen:

Prior to making our way to Capitol Theater, we had dinner at Local No. 90 Bar + Kitchen. It's a new local joint on Mill Street and Ontario Street. We were greeted by Dana (the owner of Local No. 90) who serves a very hands-on role in her restaurant. She was helpful, and personable. The level of service reminded me of the hospitality that we received at Olympus Burgers.

Their menu changes daily, and all ingredients are all locally sourced. We started off with a few oysters from P.E.I, and steamed mussels. The appetizers were good, and I really liked the Steam Mussels. The mussels' natural juice came together with the help of white wine and garlic.

For my main course, I got the Pan Seared Duck Breast ($24). Comprised of current, red wine jus, sautéed with medley of potatoes, heirloom tomato, beans and kale. The duck was enjoyable, as the meat was tender and its skin crispy. Local No. 90 Bar + Kitchen would be a great place for casual dinner, dates and group dinners.

P.E.I. Oysters ($3.25 each)

Pan Seared Duck Breast ($24)

Seasonal Meatballs ($15)

Steamed Mussels ($13)

The LocalNo90 Bar + Kitchen is open Sunday – Thursday from 4 pm – 11 pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 4 pm – 11 pm.

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Nookie's Soul Kitchen & Bar:

On our second visit to Port Hope, we visited Nookie's Soul Kitchen & Bar for dinner. The restaurant is a cocktail bar offering a variety of dishes including bar food and Asian-fusion dishes. What stood out to me about the restaurant was the generous portion given its competitive pricing. I got the Rib & Wing Combo ($23), which was more than enough food for two people.

Seafood Linguine ($20)

Calamari Fritti ($11)

White Wine and Garlic Mussels ($12)

Rib & Wing Combo ($23)

The dinner didn't go extremely smoothly, as there were several kinks throughout the entire meal. Mine was a minor mistake compared to what some of the other bloggers personally experienced - as I received sweet potato fries instead of regular French fries. We are a larger group, so the waitress appeared a little flustered throughout the meal. Nookie's Soul Kitchen & Bar seems like a popular local joint, so I do recommend making a reservation during the busy dinner rush.

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Trattoria Gusto:

On the main floor of The Waddle Hotel is Trattoria Gusto, where they offer Italian cuisine in a beautiful historic setting. In the morning, they do offer breakfast for hotel guests (complimentary with some rooms). We actually dined at Trattoria Gusto back in 2012, but this was the first time we stayed overnight. They don't serve breakfast to the public, but it's open for brunch, lunch and dinner.

We didn't get a chance to dine in this time around, but we have enjoyed a delicious lunch a couple of years back. The lunch menu selection was fairly minimal, but it did offer the usual fare of Italian pasta. I wanted something filling so I ordered the penne rosé ($16.00). It is a dish of penne pasta with tomato sauce and mussels. Although the pasta was a simple dish, it was wonderfully made. They did not skimp on the mussels and it was fresh. I asked for some cheese and was given a full bowl of non-grated Parmesan cheese, which surprisingly blended very well with the pasta.

Read the FULL blog post here.

SEE

Annual Salmon Migration:

The Annual Salmon Migration occurs every year, along the Ganaraska river from the Lake Ontario. In the spring, between late March and early May, you can witness the annual rainbow trout (steelhead) migration. Up to 8,000 rainbow trout fish make their way up the Ganaraska River to spawn. In the fall, between late August and early October, you can watch the chinook and the silvery coho salmon migration.

Primitive Designs:

Primitive Designs is a popular tourist attraction in Port Hope. They import exotic & unusual antiques & crafts from around the world. There are also tons of giant metal rots on the property, which are great photo opportunities.

Barn Quilt Barn

The Barn Quilt Barn is a scenic trail of 23 heritage barns throughout urban and rural Port Hope.

Laveanne Lavender Fields

If you're planning on visiting Port Hope in July, then you must make a visit to the Laveanne Lavender Fields. July is when the lavender fields are in bloom. Here you can stroll through four acres of landscaped fields, and there is also an on-site boutique selling lavender inspired home accents and gourmet bakery items.

Haute Goat Farm

The Haute Goat Farm is a breathtaking 200 acre farm where you can discover the magic of their Nigerian Dwarf goats, Icelandic horses, alpacas, chickens and Livestock Guardian Dogs and take a stroll through the shiitake forest! This place is a great family activity.

Treetop Trekking Ganaraska:

While in Port Hope, why not spend a couple of hours enjoying tree top trekking at the Treetop Trekking Ganaraska? We started our morning partaking in the zip line and aerial game treks ($59.99 per person), which is one of their most popular activities. Guests have up to three hours to complete the treks. Treetop Trekking consist of fun games like suspended bridges, Tarzan swings, swinging logs, cable traverses, and zip lines. Don't fret if you're new to this - as the park has a variety of courses ranging from beginners to advanced.

Read the FULL blog post here.

Address: 10585 Cold Springs Camp Rd, Campbellcroft, ON, L0A 1B0

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The Capitol Theatre:

The Capitol Theatre was constructed in 1930, and is one of the last fully restored atmospheric movie theatres still in operation in Canada. It was designated as a National Historic Site in 2016, and still used for performances. Seating for approximately 380. We were invited to watch the production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (ran from August 14 to September 9, 2018). I was really looking forward to this production, as The Little Mermaid is my second favorite Disney film (after Cinderella), and it did not disappoint.

What's coming soon? The production of King Arthur The Panto will be playing at The Capitol Theatre from November 15 to December 23.

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Trickle Creek Farms:

On our second visit to Port Hope, we visited Trickle Creek Farms where we enjoyed a scenic trail ride adjacent to the beautiful Ganaraska Forest. I was a little hesitant at first, as my past experience with horses haven't been that great. My horse got scared by a loud sound and ran wild, while I was riding one in Cuba. Each riding group was kept small with about 6-10 people for a more personal experience. We were given a quick lesson on how to control our horse, and then went on our way to the trail.

My horse was really hungry, so it stopped a few times to munch on leaves. Overall, it was a lot of fun! It's an ideal family outing at a leisurely pace for everyone’s safety and comfort. One hour is $40 per person.

Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny:

The Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny is a 10 km race along the Ganaraska River to commemorate the 1980 flood that crippled Port Hopes downtown area. It happens around April. Visit www.floatyourfanny.ca for more details and exact date each year.

Port Hope Farmers' Market (May to October):

The Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from the beginning of May till the end of October, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, and is located at 56 Queen Street, directly behind Town Hall. Here you will find an array of farm-fresh produce and meats, home-made preserves and baking, as well as hand-made crafts and artwork.

Fishing:

The Port Hope Conservation Area is a popular fishing location. You can also fish (catch and release) in the shallow waters of the Ganaraska River.

SLEEP

The Waddell:

We stayed overnight at The Waddell in downtown Port Hope, ON. The hotel sits on the banks of the Ganaraska River in heritage-designated downtown area of the city. The Waddle is conveniently located a couple of minutes walk away from the Capitol Theatre, and overlook the Ganaraska River. The bedroom features a Queen sized bed, air conditioning, private bathrooms, complimentary high-speed internet, and in-room Keurig coffee.

We checked into the hotel around 8:30 pm, which was quick and pleasant. Luckily, we checked into the hotel on time. Since it's a smaller hotel with no 24-hour reception desk, they do lock the doors at around 9:45 pm. I am not sure if guests are allowed to leave/enter past that time though. Anyway, we took the elevator to the second floor, and was greeted with a cozy hotel room. The hotel was beautifully restored, and each room features custom-built cherry or mahogany furnishings, and period features such as high ceilings and large windows.

Read the FULL blog post here.

Address: 1 Walton St, Port Hope, ON, L1A 1M8

Other accommodations available around towns are Haute Goat Farm B&B, Moonlight and Pines Bed & Breakfast, Hotel Carlyle, and Summerhill Manor B&B.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trips to Port Hope. It's such a charming heritage town with a lot to offer. Until next time!

Social Media:

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Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with the Municipality of Port Hope. Thank you for sponsoring the visit to Port Hope. All of the opinions expressed in this review are of my own.

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