Are you looking for an exotic and fun dining experience in Tokyo? Then you should definitely visit Akira Dining Namahage Ginza, a namahage restaurant with roaming demons that scare you while you eat! Enjoy delicious regional food from northern Japan, like Akita nabe hotpot and miso-glazed mochi on a stick, all while surrounded by the traditional festivities of Akita Prefecture. Let's see what Shizuka and Issei thought of the experience!
Dine with Demons at Akita Dining Namahage Ginza
At Akita Dining Namahage Ginza, spooky namahage play traditional Japanese taiko drums and prowl through the hallways, making for a truly novel dining experience!
In traditional Japanese folklore, namahage are trolls or demon-like creatures dressed in huge oni (demon) masks and draped in straw capes. During New Year's, watch out—namahage are said to raid and terrorize villages, demanding mochi rice cakes from their inhabitants! In northern Japan, young men play the part of these demons and roar into local houses, playfully looking to frighten any lazy slackers into studying and working hard.
In this video, Shizuka and her friend Issei experience some of this thrilling terror of Akita Prefecture, as well as enjoying some impressive Tohoku food! The manager, Hatayama-san, introduces this restaurant as an initiative to attract more tourists to Akita Prefecture, while also showing the people of Tokyo what rich cultural and culinary gems Akita has to offer.
As Shizuka and Issei enter, they're greeted by intricate carvings of namahage demons as they're slowly transported into a traditional Akita atmosphere. They even learn some surprising facts about which famous celebrities have visited this intriguing spot—watch the video to find out who!
Shizuka and Issei are then presented with a spread of unique Akita delicacies, such as a sweet-cooked fish appetizer, shirataki konnyaku noodles, exquisite Akita nabe, miso kiritanpo (grilled mochi sticks), and beautifully-plated fish eggs eaten from inside the fish itself! Laugh along with Shizuka and Issei as they gamely taste each dish for the first time in this truly novel and delicious cultural encounter.
Finally, just as they're enjoying their Akita sake, Shizuka and Issei are visited by none other than the namahage himself, barging into their private room to ask, "Are there any lazy people here?!" Check out the video to witness their reaction to this devilish beast!
Visit the Akita Dining Namahage Ginza Restaurant
Itching to get spooked by the namahage yourself? The Akita Dining Namahage Ginza restaurant is located in the Nakajima Shoji Building, a 2-minute walk from Shimbashi Station and a 5-minute walk from Ginza Station.
If you're looking for a traditional experience in the middle of modern Tokyo, don't miss out on this namahage restaurant! Just remember, if you do something bad, the namahage will come for you!
To taste the cuisine in the prefecture where it originated, browse food experiences in Akita!
For more of Shizuka's Japanese food adventures, watch as she attempts amezaiku (Japanese candy sculpting) and tries cute sweets at wagashi shops during sakura season!
