Tsukishima Monja Street

Monja Street is filled with numerous shops, so why not visit several and enjoy a food tour? For those visiting Tsukishima Monja Street for the first time or trying monjayaki for the first time, we recommend savoring the taste of a long-standing shop first. For example, "Yoshimiya," established in 1954, is the oldest shop on Monja Street. Many people feel nostalgic for the sauce-flavored monjayaki with its old-fashioned taste. Similarly, "Monja Oshio," another long-standing shop, offers monjayaki made with carefully selected broth and original ingredients. Some of the long-standing shops have opened second or third branches or new shops, so you can visit without hesitation even during busy weekends.

For those who say "I've eaten monjayaki many times," "I want to try a new flavor," or "I want to take an Instagram-worthy photo while I'm here," we recommend a restaurant with Instagram-worthy monjayaki menus. At "Makoto," which relatively recently opened, there is a menu item called "sirloin sukiyaki monjayaki," which is topped with plenty of domestic beef and is sure to whet your appetite. At the restaurant "Darumaiki na Mise," there are over 50 different monjayaki menus available. They also have unique dessert options, making it a surefire hit for Instagram.

When you enter a Monja-yaki restaurant, be sure to check out the menu items other than Monja-yaki. Each restaurant may offer a recommended grilled dish. For example, "Kiroku-ya," which opened in August 2020, offers a large-sized Kajiki-maguro (swordfish) as its recommended menu item. It's refreshing and can be eaten in one bite despite its size. At "Ebisuya," where you can enjoy an izakaya atmosphere, there is a butter-grilled ray fin that goes well with both Monja-yaki and alcohol. For those who want to enjoy meat like yakiniku, there's "Bambi," which has multiple locations despite being a long-established restaurant. The menu items such as beef tongue and nan-kotsu are just like those of a yakiniku restaurant. You can enjoy a variety of menu items at any time of day at all of these restaurants.

Near Monja Street in Tsukishima, there are noteworthy shops that aren't just about monja. "Tsukishima Kyuei" is a famous melon bread shop with long lines. You can always enjoy freshly baked melon bread. The outside is crispy, while the inside is fluffy. Other products besides melon bread are also delicious and very popular. On sunny days, it's nice to take a walk with a melon bread in hand. "Genki Kissa," which opened after renovating an old private house, is a warm and cozy place where even one person can casually drop in. You can enjoy a menu centered on koji drinks, which are also good for your health! It's not just a cafe, as gallery exhibitions are also held. Why not stop by in between eating monja?

The area around Tsukishima, which was born as the first reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, has many rivers and natural features, making it an ideal location for walking. After filling up on monjayaki, why not take a stroll around the area? The Asachio Canal, which flows through Harumi, which is close to Tsukishima, has a clean and well-maintained walkway, making it easy to take a pleasant walk while feeling the breeze. In addition, Tsukuda Park and Ishikawajima Park near Tsukishima are full of greenery. In Tsukuda Park, there is a monument to the retro Ishikawajima Lighthouse that once existed. In Ishikawajima Park, there is a stylish cobblestone walkway that was created as a symbol of friendship between Japan and France, as the Sumida River and the Seine River are friendly rivers. Take a walk and feel the history.