Visit Tokyo: Zauo Fishing Restaurant

While I waited for my friends to shop in Shinjuku (I'm an eater, not a shopper), I searched for nearby family-friendly restaurants.  I found that Zauo, the popular fishing restaurant, was a short walk away, so on a whim, we decided to go.

Upon arrival, shortly after they opened, we were told that they couldn't accommodate our party of 9, but the host made arrangements for us to dine in the tatami room, as long as we were out of there by a certain time.

Of course, the big draw at Zauo is that you can fish for your own dinner.  It's actually cheaper if you catch the fish yourself.

It costs 100 yen to use a fishing rod, and bait is free.

Bait

Once you catch your fish, you give it to a server, and depending on what type of fish you catch, you can ask for different preparations (up to two methods per fish). 

Our party caught 2 sea breams. 

Sea Bream Sashimi

Deep Fried Sea Bream

Grilled Sea Bream

If you don't feel like catching fish, there is still plenty to order off the menu!

Appetizers

Fried Chicken

French Fries

Deep Fried Cheese

Agedashi Tofu

Assorted Tempura

Shrimp Tempura

Udon

Zauo also offers a great kids menu, where they can get a choice of entrees, such as hamburger, sushi, or chicken karaage.

Chocolate Ice Cream

Honey Yogurt Parfait

It was a fun dining experience!

Zauo
3 Chome-2-9 Nishishinjuku

Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
+81 3-3343-6622

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Visit Tokyo: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Decks

For free views of Tokyo from above, visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku.

There are two Observation Decks - North and South, which offer views from the 45th floor at 202 meters high.

Prior to entering the elevators to go up to each observatory, bags go through a security check.

Once at the 45th floor, you are free to roam to take photos and learn about the area.

We went on a day that was gray and rainy, so visibility was poor, and clouds prevented us from seeing a lot of famous landmarks, like the Tokyo Tower and Tokyo SkyTree, but we still got to see a lot of other sights, like Yoyogi Park, and the cool Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower.

And it was still very neat to see hundreds and hundreds of buildings packed into the city, some with intriguing architecture; others with interesting colors.  The buildings seemed to just go on and on and on.

North Tower Views

South Tower Views

Can you see the North Tower observatory?

At each tower you'll find souvenir shops, as well as cafes.

Although the weather was gloomy and we didn't have the best views, the observation decks were free and a great place to spend indoors on a super cold and rainy day.


Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories
2 Chome-8-1 Nishishinjuku

Shinjuku, Tokyo 163-8001

+81 3-5321-1111

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Visit Tokyo: Ootoya

While in the Shinjuku area, we were looking for a place to eat when we stumbled across a menu for Ootoya, and saw that kids meals were offered, so we headed there.

Ootoya is a popular chain restaurant, with locations in Thailand, Taiwan, and New York.

It was very busy, and after a bit of a wait, our family was finally seated along a counter.

Unfortunately, when I began to order, I was told that that particular location doesn't offer kids meals. Luckily there were other items on the menu that I knew my kids would eat.

I ordered the Chicken Cutlet on Rice with Special Sauce + Warm Udon set to share with one of my kids.  The cutlet was served with a sauce using Hatcho Miso.  Thick pieces of chicken were perfectly fried, and the sauce was a nice combination of sweet and savory.

Chicken Cutlet on Rice with Special Sauce + Warm Udon

Chicken Cutlet

Warm Udon

The steak set was served with a daikon radish sauce, rice, miso soup, and steamed egg custard; the charcoal chicken set was served with miso soup and pickles; the fried chicken set was served with miso soup and rice.

Charcoal Grilled Sirloin Steak Set

Close-up of the Steak

Charcoal Grilled Chicken and Egg on Rice

Close-up of the Charcoal Grilled Chicken

The fried chicken was very delicious.  Its flavored with a special shoyu, and served with a spice mix.

Flavored Fried Chicken

Although I was bummed that there were no kids meals (after looking back at the menu we initially saw on display at the entrance of the building, we noticed the prices were blacked out - the entire photos of the kids meals should have been blocked out!), the food and service were both great.

Ootoya
Shinjuku center Building MB1
1-25-1, Nishishinjuku
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 163-0690
(〒163-0690 東京都新宿区西新宿1-25-1 新宿センタービルMB1)

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