Hareza Ikebukuro is a distinctive cultural and entertainment hub in Ikebukuro. As soon as you enter the area, you can easily feel its strong youthful and subculture vibe. It's more than just a commercial complex—it combines theaters, a movie theater, arts and cultural spaces, and a plaza, and you can often come across various performances or limited-time events. Naka-Ikebukuro Park is also nearby, along with many anime- and manga-related stores, making it a great place for anyone who enjoys Japanese anime culture.
Hareza Ikebukuro | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Mukashi no Yabaton (Osu)
Known for its pork cutlets with a secret miso sauce, including the famous "Teppan Tonkatsu" and "Waraji Tonkatsu," Yabaton opened a new concept store called "Mukashi no Yabaton" in 2020 near Osu Kannon Temple (Shinpukuji Hoshoin), at the entrance of Osu Kannon-dori Shopping Street. True to its name, this location recreates the original Yabaton of 1947 (Showa 22), with a retro building and a large sign featuring the store's mascot, "Boo-chan."
After trying the familiar Yabaton pork cutlets, consider changing things up and visiting Mukashi no Yabaton for a different style of Nagoya cuisine. The menu here is a little different from the usual signature pork cutlets, focusing on dishes such as deep-fried skewers and oden. The skewers are fried until crisp and fragrant, with different ingredients and special sauces that make them crunchy and hard to stop eating. The oden is slowly simmered in broth, allowing the ingredients to absorb the soup for a mellow flavor. The seasoning isn't too heavy, so you can still taste the ingredients themselves. If you've already visited Yabaton, I highly recommend checking out this location too for a different taste of Nagoya's casual local cuisine!
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Yabaton Yaba-cho Main store
It is a famous store of Nagoya's well known "Miso-katsu" founded in 1947. The Tonkatsu is covered with sauce made from naturally brewed bean miso from Aichi prefecture that has been aged for a year and a half.
Yabaton is one of Nagoya's classic foods not to miss. It's very popular, and there is often a line during peak hours. This time, I specifically ordered their signature pork cutlet, and when it arrived, I realized it was very different from the tonkatsu I was used to! The coating was crispy without being too dry or hard. Covered with plenty of their special miso sauce, it was savory and rich with a hint of sweetness. The sauce soaked into the crispy breading, and together with the tender, juicy pork, it went perfectly with rice. Yabaton's most iconic dish is Nagoya-style miso katsu. The sauce incorporates Hatcho miso, a specialty of Aichi Prefecture, creating a uniquely rich flavor. It's a local Nagoya dish that's worth trying for yourself〜
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Youme Town Izumo
A large shopping center located in downtown Izumo, Approx. 15 minutes by car from Izumo Taisha Shrine. In addition to everyday shopping, this multi-use commercial complex offers fashion, dining, movies, and amusement, making it easy to stop by between sightseeing spots.
I stopped by Youme Town while waiting. Since I didn't have much time, I just wandered around, but then my travel companion spotted a Winnie the Pooh cushion in one of the arcade claw machines and couldn't resist trying their luck!
Of course, claw machines aren't as easy as they look, and in the end, we couldn't take the Winnie the Pooh cushion home. We had to leave feeling a little disappointed (lol
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