Jeremy Jacobowitz in Japan: 5 Spots

Researched by Varedelo

Planning notes for Chuo City

Must-try foods in Chuo City

• Halal-Certified Gyudon Bento
  Halal-Certified Gyudon BentoAvailable at specialized kiosks like 'Ekiben-ya Matsuri' near the Yaesu gates, these certified bento boxes feature tender slices of halal beef simmered in a sweet and savory sauce (made without mirin or sake) over fluffy Japanese rice. It is the perfect 'ekiben' experience for the Shinkansen.
• Musk Melon Parfait
  Musk Melon ParfaitFound at the legendary Nihonbashi Sembikiya near Yaesu, this luxury dessert features Japan’s famous crown melons. The fruit is meticulously grown for perfect sweetness and served with fresh cream and sorbet. It’s an iconic Tokyo high-end fruit experience that is naturally halal.
• Shirayaki Unagi (Salt-Grilled Eel)
  Shirayaki Unagi (Salt-Grilled Eel)Unlike the common 'Kabayaki' which uses a sauce containing mirin, 'Shirayaki' is grilled without glaze, seasoned only with salt to highlight the eel’s natural richness. Top unagi houses in Yaesu offer this version, which is safe for halal diets and prized by gourmets.
• Freshly Pounded Warabimochi
  Freshly Pounded WarabimochiA cooling, jelly-like confection made from bracken starch, often served at the 'Hoppy' street-style stalls in Yaesu’s underground. It is tossed in toasted soybean powder (kinako) and served with black sugar syrup (kuromitsu), offering a traditional vegan and halal-safe dessert.
• Mitarashi Dango
  Mitarashi DangoSkewered rice flour dumplings grilled over charcoal and glazed with a thick, sweet-savory soy sauce. Found at traditional confectionery shops in the Yaesu underground, these are a classic Japanese street food that is naturally plant-based and halal-friendly.

Trip guide

• About Chuo City
  About Chuo CityYaesu is a district in Chuo City, Tokyo, situated on the eastern side of Tokyo Station. As of 2026, the area is defined by a combination of Edo-period historical foundations and contemporary urban redevelopment. Historical Heritage The district's name is a phonetic derivation of "Yayosu," the Japanese name for Jan Joosten van Lodensteyn, a Dutch navigator who arrived in Japan in 1600 aboard the ship *De Liefde*.
• When to go
  When to goThe best months to visit Yaesu are late March to April for cherry blossoms and October to November for mild, dry weather and autumn foliage. While spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures (15°C–23°C / 60°F–73°F), summer (July–August) is intensely hot and humid, and June brings the rainy season. Peak timing coincides with the cherry blossoms and the Golden Week holiday (late April to early May), leading to high prices and crowds.
• Getting around
  Getting around Chuo City

  • JR Lines and Shinkansen Access the district directly via the Yaesu North, Central, or South exits of Tokyo Station, which serves major JR lines like the Yamanote, Chuo, and Keihin-Tohoku, as well as high-speed Shinkansen bullet trains.
  • Tokyo Metro Subway Use the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line to Tokyo Station and follow underground passages to the Yaesu side, or arrive via the Ginza or Tozai Lines at nearby Nihonbashi Station, which is a short walk from northern Yaesu.
  • Highway and Local Buses Utilize the extensive 'Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu' located underground at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu for long-distance highway coaches, or board local Toei buses from the street-level terminal for transit within Chuo City.
• Local tips
  Local tips

  • Navigate the massive Yaesu Underground Mall (Yaechika) to reach nearby Nihonbashi or Ginza while avoiding street-level traffic and weather.
  • Stand on the left side of escalators and move your backpack to your front when boarding crowded trains to maintain local flow and etiquette.
  • Head to the fifth-floor terrace of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu for a free, quiet outdoor view of the Shinkansen platforms and station architecture.
• What’s new
  What’s new in Chuo City

  • Opening of TOFROM YAESU, a 51-story landmark featuring a tiered-floor theater, high-end medical facilities, and a major expansion of the Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu.
  • The 'Hello, Spring! 2026' festival at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, featuring a 3.5-meter 'Flower Shower' art installation and sustainable workshops using rescued blooms.
• Tokyo Chuo City Tourist Information Center↗
  Tokyo Chuo City Tourist Information CenterThe official tourism portal for Chuo City, Tokyo, providing information on Ginza, Nihonbashi, and Tsukiji, managed by the Chuo City Tourism Association.