Koreatown in Okubo
| North of the Kabukicho area (Tokyo's biggest entertainment district)
in Shinjuku lies Okubo, where a Koreatown has grown up. Tokyoites in the know
have recently caught on to Koreatown as a shopping and dining spot, and this
neighborhood's popularity is on the rise. Just as fresh fish represents Tokyo's
traditional side, Koreatown represents its ethnic side. Korean restaurants began
sprouting up in this part of town about a decade ago, and now there are 70 or
80 such establishments in the area. Almost all the signs are in Hangul (Korean
Script), and many of the people walking by are speaking Korean. Shops and supermarkets
carry a variety of Korean foods, everyday necessities, magazines, videos, and
CDs. There are bookstores, churches, and hotels catering to the Korean population.
Korean newspapers are available here as well: More than half a dozen Korean dailies
arrive on their date of issue. Visitors to this part of town might well forget
they are in Tokyo.
When most people think of Korean restaurants, they think of Korean barbecue. But the restaurants in Koreatown serve up a variety of home-style cooking as well. One taste of chige (any of a variety of Korean stews, the most popular being kimchi chige) or chijimi (a savory pancake with such ingredients as green onion and seafood) is enough to get most people hooked. This part of town is also a good place to sample other Asian cuisines; there are restaurants serving food from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Myanmar, and elsewhere. |
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