Little Tokyo

Let's just say that this is the best precursor to a real Tokyo visit. Heh.

Little Tokyo's quite the institution in Makati, having been there probably even longer than when my parents started working in the city, and is still the most authentic place to go to when you want real Japanese food in Manila. Based on other blogs, it's most alive at night, but when we went there, we came for lunch, and while most restaurants and stalls were closed at that time (maybe that day being New Year's Eve was to blame), there were still some that remained open to customers dropping by. 

It's not just the food that you have to go there for, I think, but the quaint charm that the whole alleyway has. It's got the red paper lanterns with kanji in black ink, plastic sakura, the old street-like features that make me think of Rurouni Kenshin, the tininess of the restaurant and wooden sliding doors, the bonsai and the zen gardens, and, well, the fact that so many Japanese people frequent that place that probably remind them  most of home. 

Little Tokyo is located in Pasong Tamo, Makati City. 

You can't miss it; it's got this imperial arch in red with embossed silver letters that say Little Tokyo. 

Heh. Worth a visit indeed!