Koyama Ramen Shop visit
Oct. 28th, 2008 12:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rakkoThis evening my friends and I ventured to Sobudai-mae for dinner at the Koyama family ramen shop. Not only was the food great, but everyone was really friendly even before they discovered we were News and Koyama fans. So this is a brief report and some pics about our evening.
Today we went on a trip to Mt Fuji and Hakone. The weather even cooperated mostly because once we got to Mt Fuji the clouds cleared and we could see the top of the mountain. We left the tour group in Odawara having decided to come back to Tokyo via the ramen shop. I'd read quite a few reports from other fans on their experiences and how to get there. And of course, some good food never goes astray.
It was even easier to find than I'd imagined. All we had to do was walk down the stairs from the north gate of the station and there was the yellow sign surrounded by flashing lights a very short block away. So we ventured in.
As others have reported it's a pretty small space, four tables and some counter seating. You can certainly tell you're in the right place by the interior decorations.
And there were some interesting things in at the front door.
There were lots of yummy things on the menu and we found it difficult to make a choice.
We had gyoza, a few different types of ramen and I had the yakisoba.
The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered a second round of gyoza and I think we did a pretty good job of getting most of it eaten.
The atmosphere was very relaxed and Mrs Koyama was very kind, smiling and friendly as we tried to sort out our drinks order. She even gave us a free tasting glass of one mixed drink when they didn't have supplies to make the one we'd ordered. The family resemblance is very strong, not just because they look alike, but they say things in very similar ways too.
Many other fans had reported the map on the wall with phone straps and other danglies obviously left by fans.
When we were talking about making the trip there for dinner, we'd agreed that we shouldn't turn up empty handed. So when Mrs Koyama came to give us the bill, we explained that we were from Australia and presented her with a couple of phone straps featuring a koala and a kangaroo. She was quite surprised that we were all the way from Australia, but very interested in the koala and kangaroo.
We joked that Australia was a bit further off the bottom of their map and she said that it was okay because she had a map of the world and she'd get that out.
While we'd been eating two girls came in, obviously very close with everyone there and chatting animatedly with everyone about all sorts of things. They sat at the table behind us and when we were talking about being from Australia they noticed that we had souviners from Mt Fuji and commented on it. We explained that we'd spent the day at Mt Fuji and Hakone and had then come there on the train.
Mrs Koyama asked us how we'd heard about their restaurant. We replied honestly, on the internet and she seem quite pleasantly surprised by that. The other girls summed the situation up quickly and said, 'so, you're News fans?' We replied that we definitely were and that Koyama was a favourite.
His mother was very impressed that people in Australia knew who he was and she asked if we were planning to go to a concert. When we said we were going to Fukui, one of the girls spoke up saying she lived in Fukui and she was also going to the concerts on the weekend. She confirmed that we were talking about the Sun Dome and asked what day we were going.
Mrs Koyama then asked us how we got our tickets. We explained that we had a friend in the fan club, and they were curious to know whether or not it was a Japanese person.
She asked how long we'be been in Japan, and the Japanese are always surprised when you're anywhere for more than a few days. She then asked where we'd been and where we were staying. We told her we were staying in Shinagawa and she guessed our hotel immediately and said it was a good choice.
When we mentioned that one of the places we'd been was Sendai, she asked if we'd been to a News concert already. We said that we'd been there only yesterday, and one of the other girls immedately asked what we thought of Ginza Rhapsody. We spent a few moments discussing how much we liked it, how good they looked etc etc. And how we were looking forward to seeing it again on the weekend.
I eventually managed to hand over the money to Mrs Koyama for the bill, and when she went to get the change, and feeling a lot braver, I showed the girls my Koyama keychain hanging on my handbag. They thought it was great and told me I had to show it to Mrs Koyama.
This is where it gets a bit hazy for me.
When she came back with the change I showed her my keychain. She was absolutely delighted and grabbed my hands, thanking me again and saying it made her very happy. She seemed so happy that she needed to pause and take a deep breath to find her English again. She said that she was very interested in Australia and hoped to be able to visit someday.
I was thanking her, she was thanking me, we smiled at each other a lot and she kept squeezing my hands. Then it was time to go. We'd been there almost two hours. We said our goodbyes, the girls said they'd look out for us on Saturday in Fukui, and Mrs Koyama walked us to the door and waved us goodbye.
What can I say - it made me very happy too.
Today we went on a trip to Mt Fuji and Hakone. The weather even cooperated mostly because once we got to Mt Fuji the clouds cleared and we could see the top of the mountain. We left the tour group in Odawara having decided to come back to Tokyo via the ramen shop. I'd read quite a few reports from other fans on their experiences and how to get there. And of course, some good food never goes astray.
It was even easier to find than I'd imagined. All we had to do was walk down the stairs from the north gate of the station and there was the yellow sign surrounded by flashing lights a very short block away. So we ventured in.
As others have reported it's a pretty small space, four tables and some counter seating. You can certainly tell you're in the right place by the interior decorations.
And there were some interesting things in at the front door.
There were lots of yummy things on the menu and we found it difficult to make a choice.
We had gyoza, a few different types of ramen and I had the yakisoba.
The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered a second round of gyoza and I think we did a pretty good job of getting most of it eaten.
The atmosphere was very relaxed and Mrs Koyama was very kind, smiling and friendly as we tried to sort out our drinks order. She even gave us a free tasting glass of one mixed drink when they didn't have supplies to make the one we'd ordered. The family resemblance is very strong, not just because they look alike, but they say things in very similar ways too.
Many other fans had reported the map on the wall with phone straps and other danglies obviously left by fans.
When we were talking about making the trip there for dinner, we'd agreed that we shouldn't turn up empty handed. So when Mrs Koyama came to give us the bill, we explained that we were from Australia and presented her with a couple of phone straps featuring a koala and a kangaroo. She was quite surprised that we were all the way from Australia, but very interested in the koala and kangaroo.
We joked that Australia was a bit further off the bottom of their map and she said that it was okay because she had a map of the world and she'd get that out.
While we'd been eating two girls came in, obviously very close with everyone there and chatting animatedly with everyone about all sorts of things. They sat at the table behind us and when we were talking about being from Australia they noticed that we had souviners from Mt Fuji and commented on it. We explained that we'd spent the day at Mt Fuji and Hakone and had then come there on the train.
Mrs Koyama asked us how we'd heard about their restaurant. We replied honestly, on the internet and she seem quite pleasantly surprised by that. The other girls summed the situation up quickly and said, 'so, you're News fans?' We replied that we definitely were and that Koyama was a favourite.
His mother was very impressed that people in Australia knew who he was and she asked if we were planning to go to a concert. When we said we were going to Fukui, one of the girls spoke up saying she lived in Fukui and she was also going to the concerts on the weekend. She confirmed that we were talking about the Sun Dome and asked what day we were going.
Mrs Koyama then asked us how we got our tickets. We explained that we had a friend in the fan club, and they were curious to know whether or not it was a Japanese person.
She asked how long we'be been in Japan, and the Japanese are always surprised when you're anywhere for more than a few days. She then asked where we'd been and where we were staying. We told her we were staying in Shinagawa and she guessed our hotel immediately and said it was a good choice.
When we mentioned that one of the places we'd been was Sendai, she asked if we'd been to a News concert already. We said that we'd been there only yesterday, and one of the other girls immedately asked what we thought of Ginza Rhapsody. We spent a few moments discussing how much we liked it, how good they looked etc etc. And how we were looking forward to seeing it again on the weekend.
I eventually managed to hand over the money to Mrs Koyama for the bill, and when she went to get the change, and feeling a lot braver, I showed the girls my Koyama keychain hanging on my handbag. They thought it was great and told me I had to show it to Mrs Koyama.
This is where it gets a bit hazy for me.
When she came back with the change I showed her my keychain. She was absolutely delighted and grabbed my hands, thanking me again and saying it made her very happy. She seemed so happy that she needed to pause and take a deep breath to find her English again. She said that she was very interested in Australia and hoped to be able to visit someday.
I was thanking her, she was thanking me, we smiled at each other a lot and she kept squeezing my hands. Then it was time to go. We'd been there almost two hours. We said our goodbyes, the girls said they'd look out for us on Saturday in Fukui, and Mrs Koyama walked us to the door and waved us goodbye.
What can I say - it made me very happy too.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-10-29 04:17 am (UTC)Thank you so much for that account you wrote and the pics you posted. I totally enjoyed reading yr post, hugs you (if you don't mind).
no subject
Date: 2008-11-10 07:50 am (UTC)Yes, there's a very strong family resemblance between them, and no, I didn't ask for a photo with her. I was quite comfortable doing that, maybe she would have agreed, but I didn't ask.
The thing that struck me though, when I went to the concert afterwards, that I thought they looked quite alike in profile because in person, for some reason, maybe just my fangirl haze, Kei-chan seemed even more attractive - pretty almost.
hugs back
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-10-29 09:08 am (UTC)And Koyamama sounds so nice~!
no subject
Date: 2008-10-29 09:20 am (UTC)You are so lucky
Koyama'mom so cute!!!!!
no subject
Date: 2008-10-29 01:46 pm (UTC)my gahd ><
Im getting excited! ><
Koyama's mom talked to you!! OMG! >< WAAH
I wish i was a japanese :((
YOU-ARE-SO-LUCKY!! >
my gahd ><
Im getting excited! ><
Koyama's mom talked to you!! OMG! >< WAAH
I wish i was a japanese :((
YOU-ARE-SO-LUCKY!! ><b
i really wish i can go to the concert! ><
Thnx btw for the report :D
no subject
Date: 2008-10-29 01:59 pm (UTC)it seems like really nice experience,
and d restaurant looks really homey and d food seems super nice!
did you learn Japanese?
I'm planning to go Japan next summer, seems like I have to start learning how to converse in Japanese
no subject
Date: 2008-11-10 07:52 am (UTC)Yes, we did speak to her in Japanese and having even basic Japanese is a really useful thing when you're in Japan. It's rare to find people with much English at all, and it's so much easier to make yourself understood, even in broken Japanese.
I'd definitely recommend taking a course before you go. Start now XD
no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 12:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-30 01:29 pm (UTC)OMG!!!! so luckyyyyyyy!!!!
T_T ... i hope one day, somehow... go... to Japan and visit so many places >___< .... but anyway it's a little complicated from here (Chile) ..
anyway, you get all the time reading, very nice experience, and i'm sure that's ll'be one of yoy treasure's moment ...
very nice... very .. nice *o*
(sorry abut my english >.<)
:hugs:
oh mi gwad
Date: 2008-11-02 10:04 pm (UTC)i ussually dont use live journal but i jsut might make one because of u!
koyamas mi fave<33
how'd you find the adress?
do you still know it??
aww can you please email it to me
f0bbyaznchick@yahoo.com
please tell me :)
Date: 2008-11-03 03:03 am (UTC)many thanks for sharing
ur report made me so happy
i wanna visit there too
so would u mind to tell me the ramen's telephone no.
and also the map.
many thanks in advance
Re: please tell me :)
Date: 2008-11-10 07:53 am (UTC)Re: please tell me :)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-11-13 03:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-16 04:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:Kei-mom ^^
Date: 2008-11-13 10:58 pm (UTC)Re: Kei-mom ^^
Date: 2008-11-13 11:08 pm (UTC)http://www.crunchyroll.com/user/QChau0325/pages/japan_2
and this is the link for the directions to the ramen shop in detail if this will save you the time ^^ (hope i was some help):
http://www.crunchyroll.com/user/QChau0325/pages/page_6
Re: Kei-mom ^^
From:no subject
Date: 2008-11-14 08:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-27 02:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-19 12:11 am (UTC)You can find it here:
http://inala.livejournal.com/10287.html
no subject
Date: 2008-12-04 12:13 pm (UTC)When I get the chance to go Japan, I definitely want to go there as well. Funny how she was surprised Kei-chan had Aussie fans. OMG, who wouldn't be in love with Kei-chan?<3333
Thank you for sharing such a detailed experience. I felt I was there myself.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-18 10:02 pm (UTC)email me if u can at f0bbyaznchick@yahoo.com
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:42 pm (UTC)omg cool!
i am sure to visit it
no subject
Date: 2009-01-03 02:37 pm (UTC)this is definitely going to my memories in case i ever get the chance to go to japan :D
no subject
Date: 2009-02-07 09:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-07 10:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-08 06:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 01:22 am (UTC)I had so much fun reading!
Is it okay if I add it t my memories?
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 11:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 08:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 12:09 pm (UTC)informations
Date: 2009-03-19 02:41 pm (UTC)could you give the adress please or is it easy to find it in Tokyo ?
arigato waiting for your response
my adress is kyachan77@hotmail.com, ja !
no subject
Date: 2009-04-20 09:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-20 09:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-20 10:07 am (UTC)you sure have a nice and super great experience!