Hi, I’m Dina, and I’m addicted to Tokyo, Japan!!
People who know me know I’m a big fan of Japan. I love their culture, their cities, their shrines, their temples, their art, their subways, their Shinkansen (high-speed trains), and especially, their cuisine. I lived in Tokyo for three years and I could never get enough!
Many people think of Sushi when they talk about Japanese food. “Oh no, I don’t like raw fish,” they say! Or, “I only eat Tuna and Salmon”! Japanese cuisine is much more than that. It’s an endless variety of foods, ingredients, and atmospheres. I could go on for hours about it, but for now, I’ll focus on the restaurant I had a chance to go to during my last trip to Tokyo.
My Japanese friend Natsu, who is a very elegant and sophisticated person, knows many very nice restaurants in Tokyo and its neighboring areas. She took me, along with my other lovely Japanese friend, Hiromi, to a place you could simply call a GEM!
Yakumo Saryo (八雲茶寮) is a place where all your senses will be involved…. an unexpected, magical experience deep in the Meguro Ward of Tokyo. Very selective for dinner but open to the public for lunch.
When I arrive on the sidewalk of the restaurant, I am in front of the stairs, unsure if I’ve arrived at the correct place or if my friends wanted to show me a temple. I climb the stairs and find myself in a very cute and elegant garden, still not sure I’ve arrived.
Naturally, I take out my camera and I start taking pictures of my friends in front of this peaceful place. When Natsu pushes the door, I finally realize that I have indeed arrived at my destination. But, I still have a little hesitation when I see the entrance; it looks like a Japanese sweets store. The décor is very pure and uncluttered, a combination of wood, metal, and stone. Beautiful potteries and sweets are exposed.
When the waiter leads us to our table on the other side of the door, I am astounded by the place. The floor is made of stone, the tables of light wood, and everything else is white. The room is surrounded by large bay windows with a fabulous view of the garden. Even your bag can have a privileged place to rest.
Yakumo Saryo is a Kaiseki-style restaurant with a set menu (omakase). We went from one surprise to another; the fish, the meat, the chicken, the vegetables…everything just melted in the mouth. A delicious meal, beautiful presentation, and elegant service.
After the rice and the soup were served, they led us to another room, the tea ceremony room. A big thick wooden table was in the middle with a fireplace for the teapot. It was a very interesting mix of traditional and contemporary styles.
Japanese sweets, called Wagashi, were served with green tea. I’m not exactly a fan of Japanese sweets, but these were excellent. My trip to Japan was during the Sakura season, so the sweets were a reminder of the season, and they were wrapped up with sakura leaves. The combination of the three elements was a treat for the palate.
Yakumo Saryo is definitely an unforgettable experience where the traditional and the modern combine in perfect harmony.
Yakumo Saryo
3-4-7 Yakumo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
📞+81 3-5731-1620
Price: $$$$
Lunch menu: ¥8000 ($75 – €60)
Special Hiru Kaiseki lunch: ¥12,000 ($115 – €90)
Open Monday to Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm
