Between the continued state of emergency and strict travel restrictions, dining out in Tokyo hasn’t been easy this year. Nonetheless, Tokyo has a world-class gastronomic reputation to uphold, with more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world. The Tokyo 2022 Michelin Guide video reveal on November 30 gave …
Read More »Japanese restaurants see slow recovery two weeks after COVID-19 restrictions lifted
Two weeks after five prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, lifted their requests for dining establishments to shorten opening hours, customers are still not returning in large numbers to restaurants and bars. Customer numbers “remain below levels before new coronavirus infections began to spread,” an industry official said. Still, there are …
Read More »Japan’s restaurants and hotels hail life after state of emergency
TOKYO – As Japan slowly opens its economy after a lengthy declaration of emergency, the restaurant and tourism industries are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. “We can finally stay open until late at night,” said Kazunari Maguchi, owner of Rockfish bar in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza …
Read More »Tokyo to lift early closure rules for bars and restaurants on Monday
Although Tokyo officially ended its multi-month state of emergency on October 1, some rules have been maintained as the metropolitan government announced a plan to carefully ease restrictions over a period of several weeks. The roadmap provided for the resumption of alcohol sales in bars and restaurants as well as …
Read More »Tokyo to re-allow alcohol service in restaurants and bars
It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to order a bottle of wine with dinner or sit in a bar, but with the state of emergency expiring on Thursday, September 30, it looks like the alcohol restrictions in Tokyo will also be relaxed. According to Mainichi, the government …
Read More »6 Best Restaurants in Toranomon Yokocho
When day falls to dusk, Tokyo yokocho the alleys are lit by paper lanterns and filled with the chatter of office workers who end a long day with a pint of beer and a bite to eat. These clusters of street-side food stalls are long-standing features of neighborhoods like Ebisu, …
Read More »Japan withdraws controversial policy to pressure restaurants to stop serving alcohol
The central government announced on Friday that it would withdraw its intention to ask financial institutions to ensure that restaurants comply with the ban on serving alcohol during the state of emergency, just one day after presenting the initiative as a means of strengthening its anti-coronavirus response. Yasutoshi Nishimura, the …
Read More »Tokyo restaurants outraged by new alcohol ban
Owners of some restaurants and bars in Tokyo are outraged as they will be forced to suspend alcohol service again amid a new COVID-19 state of emergency. The owners are complaining about what they see as government-imposed double standards in banning alcohol while allowing the Tokyo Olympics to go ahead …
Read More »New York City ends take-out cocktails and leaves restaurants in shock
Take-out cocktails are now priced for travel. A financial lifeline for many restaurants during the pandemic, take-out cocktails are no longer on Friday, after Governor Andrew M. Cuomo abruptly ended New York’s coronavirus emergency order and the State liquor board closed off-premises rights. In the past year, the drinks have …
Read More »These Tokyo Vegan Restaurants Offer Take-Out Food
With social distancing being the norm these days, and as restaurants are now closing earlier due to the state of emergency, eating in is the new restaurant out there – that’s why we’re all taking take out more. than ever. While Tokyo is full of restaurants serving beef bowls, katsu …
Read More »Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba call on restaurants and bars to stop alcohol sales
Three prefectures neighboring Tokyo have decided to ask restaurants and bars in areas subject to near-emergency measures linked to the coronavirus to refrain from serving alcoholic drinks. The demands are aimed at preventing an influx of people to the three prefectures – Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama – during the Golden …
Read More »Bars and restaurants urged to stop serving alcohol in an emergency
The government plans to ask Tokyo and three prefectures in western Japan to demand that bars and restaurants stop serving alcohol in the planned third state of emergency, sources said. At the same time, some government officials fear that such a move could lead residents of affected prefectures to cross …
Read More »Covid leaves Japan’s restaurants with few appetizing options
Noritsugu Saida opened a lavish seafood restaurant on Yokohama’s waterfront in late 2019, just in time for its clientele to be quarantined as Covid-19 tore up their cruise ship, the Diamond princess. After a year of the pandemic, however, cruise ships pose only a minor problem. Government restrictions make it …
Read More »The government is reviewing its policy of helping guest restaurants to reduce their hours
The government on Thursday decided on a new policy of providing different amounts of aid to catering establishments that accept requests for reduced opening hours in areas under a state of emergency related to COVID-19, or new disease countermeasures, depending on the size of their operations. This decision is designed …
Read More »Tokyo seeks virus-related fine for restaurants as Osaka considers tougher measures
As the country prepares for a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, Osaka Prefecture plans to ask the central government to designate the prefecture as an area requiring stricter anti-virus measures, while the Tokyo Metropolitan Government initiated legal proceedings to impose fines. restaurants that failed to comply with an early closing …
Read More »Japanese competitive eater Max Suzuki oversees new delivery restaurant chain with mega portions
Our very own Mr. Sato was thrilled to get his hands on their 1.8 kilogram (3.97 lb) yakisoba dish. Never one to shy away from a gigantic food challenge, our Japanese correspondent Mr Sato has seen its fair share of absolutely ridiculous portions in its time. That’s why he immediately …
Read More »Tokyo hotels offer rooms for remote working at just 500 per day
A year after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many companies are still adapting to the concept of remote working. It was previously rare in Japan but, as the second state of emergency is prolonged, telecommuting is strongly encouraged by the Tokyo government, which declared February as an Emergency Telework …
Read More »Desperate restaurants challenge Japan’s virus brakes to stay open late
A sprawling restaurant in Tokyo’s upscale Nishi-Azabu district, Gonpachi is perhaps best known for inspiring the location of Quentin Tarantino’s most daring fight scene in “Kill Bill”. Now he’s at the center of a different kind of battle: one between authorities calling on restaurants to close early to stem the …
Read More »Tokyo urges bars and restaurants to close, people to stay at home from 8 p.m.
On January 4, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that he was considering declaring a state of emergency for Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures. But the governors of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba have decided to pursue their own coordinated emergency measures without waiting for the central government’s decision. NHK …
Read More »Tokyo urges restaurants and bars to close early, people to stay home amid Covid-19 wave
According to The Mainichi Shimbun, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has called for sites to shorten their opening hours to a three-week period as the metropolis continues to register a high number of new Covid-19 case. This applies to restaurants that serve alcohol, bars, and nightlife businesses such as karaoke lounges. …
Read More »Restaurants try drive-thru amid virus in Japan’s largest Chinatown
Yokohama – A group of about 20 restaurants in Yokohama’s Chinatown launched a drive-thru Wednesday as part of efforts to retain customers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Customers who order by phone in advance can purchase hot meals at restaurants in a nearby parking lot, according to the Yokohama Chinatown Development …
Read More »Yokohama’s Chinatown Restaurants Launch Drive-thru Amid Virus
A group of about 20 restaurants in Yokohama’s Chinatown launched a drive-thru on Wednesday as part of efforts to retain customers amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Customers who order by phone in advance can pick up hot meals from restaurants in a nearby parking lot, according to the Yokohama Chinatown …
Read More »Hotels open their doors to healthcare workers and coronavirus patients
TOKYO – As hotels and house rental companies face huge challenges for their businesses due to travel restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus, some hoteliers and landlords in the Asia-Pacific region are helping to fight against the epidemic by providing rooms for medical workers or patients with …
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