I buy my favorite rice crackers (Sembei) in the small shops lining the street that goes towards Yanaka from Nishi-Nippori station (Yamanote or Keihin Tohoku line).

Florence:

How could I forget the biggest, juiciest strawberries on a stick that I ever had....thanks for reminding me. Oishi desu!

Aloha!

I'm curious -- is there anyone here from So California? Specifically around the LA area?

The reason I ask is that one of the things that my BF and I commented on while in Japan was that we were already familiar with almost everything we saw. I grew up going to Little Tokyo in Downtown LA and the Torrance/Gardena area (where my grandparents used to live and my BF now works) has a heavy Japanese population. Since coming back home, my BF has been going to the Japanese markets near his work to buy some of the soft drinks that he liked while in Japan and we went downtown to satisfy a late night (well, actually early morning) ramen urge in a little place that reminded us a lot of being in Japan.

judy, you are lucky to have little Tokyo in L.A. We have a Chinatown here in D.C., but no Japanese area. I miss those good fresh "right off the coals" rice crackers.

It would have to be the Wagashi (sweets) along the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto!

I'm in Seal Beach. Haven't been to L.T. in LA yet. Maybe you could give me some tips? Would appreciate an e-mail to my account at yahoo.com.

mrwunrfl, you've got mail.

Judy

I 've uploaded some Dango pictures as Kimjapan and Japanfreak mention to my website. Dango is a grilled rice dumpling with sweet soya sauce smear on it. I hope I can get the Takoyaki ( Grilled Octopus balls) picture soon.

Cheers,
Chuck
http://www.travelbyfood.com
My Travel and Food website

> grilled rice dumpling with sweet soya sauce smear on it ...

That's a descrption specifically of Mitarashi dango. There are non grilled dangos (more usual than grilled ones, and with different sauces that get hence different names, .... Dango.

Anything black sesame-- especially black sesame soft serve ice cream. The melon soft serve was good also.

Fresh raw oysters, lightly roasted in their shells from a street vendor in Miyajima! Best oysters!

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

Love the different flavored mochi samples everywhere! Azuki and fruit flavors best. Black sesame again, too!

Don't recommend rotating sushi- hard to tell what's most fresh unless you're really paying attention.

Takoyaki was just ok for me.

Rotating sushi is fresh unless you happen upon a really bad place. When it is busy, they are very good about keeping plates rotating, and you will see them tossing plates from time to time. When it is slow (like not meal time) you can and should order what you'd like.