What kicked off as an adventure through Japan ended in a travel nightmare for a group of 31 high school students, teachers, and parents.
30.07.2023 - 20:27 / forbes.com / Star
When you think of a culinary-fuelled trip in Tokyo, what comes to mind? Sushi from Masuda? Ramen from Fu-unji? Maybe. And while we don’t recommend skipping the classics, it’s your moral imperative to make some space for a new wave of Japanese fare: Neapolitan-style pizza.
Some of the most obsessive pizza makers have crafted a new type of Neapolitan pizza — one that’s unique to Japan, while paying respect to the Italian pie. This new wave of Japanese pizza arguably rivals some of the best you can get in Italy. From the eight-seat Savoy in Roppongi, to Seirinkan, widely regarded as a Japanese pizza institution, here’s where to get the absolute best pizza in Japan (and perhaps the world).
Nestled into an unassuming corner building in Roppongi, Savoy is a neighborhood pizza institution, that, at any given day, is flooded with locals and visitors alike.
“Italian flavor and tradition meets Japanese precision and dedication in this Tokyo pizzeria where they only do two types of pies, Marinara and Margherita. I’ve lived in Italy and while things sounds blasphemous the best pizza I’ve had in my life was here,” Aziz Ansari told CNTraveler.
The small pizza shop may only tout two types of pizza, but, true to Japanese form, does both of them flawlessly. Upon entering the tiny shop, guests will sit around the wood oven, which is arguably the star of the show, and watch the pizza master churn out pie after pie with precision and know-how.
The godfather of Japanese-style Neapolitan pizza, Seirinkan has been on the same block on the south side of Nakameguro Station for the past 22 years. While “Seirinkan” literally translates into “the house of holy or sacred wood,” owner and chef Susumu Kakinuma doesn’t credit his pizza awakening to a holy experience, in fact, his inspiration came from watching American films as a teenager, specifically Saturday Night Fever.
“The first time I thought pizza looked amazing was in the scene where John Travolta is walking around. I mean, I know pizza is from Italy, but damn, that looked good.” Kakinuma told Eater in an interview.
Despite getting his initial inspiration from American movies, Kakinuma is adamant that his pizzas are not American or Italian-style, they’re Japanese.
“Look, Japanese people are really free. What I mean by that is, Japanese pray on New Year's Day at a Shinto shrine, get married in a Christian church, and hold their funerals at a Buddhist temple,” Kakinuma said, “They're beholden to no single point of view. What's wonderful about pizza is that it really is a bit like sushi. You don't touch the base ingredients. Your goal is to pull the richest inherent flavor from the ingredients at hand.”
Run by Kengo Inoue, a former employee of Kakinuma, Pizza Dada is nestled
What kicked off as an adventure through Japan ended in a travel nightmare for a group of 31 high school students, teachers, and parents.
While there’s no shortage of culinary festivals, many are overshadowed by lackluster ticketed events, standoffish talent, and mobs of hungry guests—which is why celebrated chef Michael Mina launched Georgetown Wine & Dine last year. Since the event was received with such a positive response, it’s returning this fall on November 2 and 3 at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, with proceeds benefitting the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital.
While summer vacations may still be underway, travelers planning for a Labor Day Weekend end of the season may want to take new data into account. The holiday weekend, which traditionally marks the end of the summer travel season, will see travelers explore popular travel hotspots both in the United States and around the world. Friday, Sept. 1 and Monday, Sept. 4 will be the busiest days for airport traffic as flyers jet to and from their destinations around the world, according to new data from Chase Travel shared with Travel + Leisure this week.
I felt an instant pang of regret on my most recent Target shopping spree.
You finally made it to Paris, but instead of running up the Eiffel Tower, you’re passing out in your soufflé. Blame jet lag, when your body’s circadian rhythm — its expected sleep and wake times — is out of sync with your new location, leaving you with brain fog at midday or insomnia in the wee hours. Not everyone has the same body clock, of course, and no two trips are exactly the same, but there are some tricks that could help you get your zip back quicker.
This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Justin Miller, a Tokyo-based DJ and English teacher. He shares what he's learned about Tokyo after living in Japan for 15 years. It's been edited for length and clarity.
When visiting Tokyo, it’s key to book a luxurious hotel that feels like a serene retreat removed from the crowds. After all, Japan’s sprawling capital is populated by 37 million people, making it the single largest city in the world.
The Peninsula Tokyo is synonymous with impeccable service, spacious rooms and tasteful luxury, however in addition to this elegant guest experience, there are also many one-of-a-kind amenities and experiences that might surprise you. You’ll turn the corner in your hallway to see something unexpected or find a nook in your room that offers more than the eye perceives at first glance. For gourmets, there’s also a room service experience that gets a modern update for the discerning culinary traveler. Here are five things to experience at The Peninsula Tokyo that you won’t find elsewhere.
Travel website, Trippy, has put together an awesome infographic showing prices for food, beer, taxis, and hotels in the most and least expensive countries. And the best part is that it updates daily, so you can see the average price of something when you’re planning a trip or once you’re in the destination.
Just when you thought the Boston vs. New York City rivalry couldn’t get any more heated, TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) released a controversial study stating that Regina Pizzeria, located in Boston’s Little Italy neighborhood, is the best pizza restaurant in the U.S.
The novel coronavirus pandemic may very well be the biggest shock of the decade. Frequent travelers are finding themselves at home due to mandatory lockdowns. Instead of booking your next world trip, you may try donating part of your travel budget to help others in need.
Tucked away on a quiet corner in Shinjuku, a stone’s throw from the venerable Park Hyatt Hotel, lies Tokyo’s most unlikely 5-star property. More Manhattan than Tokyo, the Kimpton Shinjuku Hotel is nothing like most traditional Japanese luxury hotels. Inspired by New York’s art and fashion scene, and housed behind an art deco-style façade reminiscent of the skyscrapers of the Big Apple, the Kimpton is a breath of fresh air in a mostly staid luxury market – modern, youthful, stylish, whimsical, and edgy. It is everything a New York boutique hotel would want to be, only it is located in the heart of one of Tokyo’s most popular areas.