Tsukishima is an island (Yeah, it is) a few minutes from Ginza by train. I went there this evening to have some Monja-yaki which is what Tsukishima is famous for. There are around 100 or so Monja-yaki shops along the main street and also down the narrow side streets. If you live around Tsukishima, I’m sure you would have trouble finding something else besides Monja to eat. I took pictures of some of the shops and created a separate album in my photo gallery.

The area is considered Shitamachi and there are still some old retro shops around that bring back nostalgic images of post-war Japan.

We settled on a obscure shop called “Joushuuya” down a hidden alley. It’s famous cause the Obasan there yells at you if you don’t make the Monja correctly.


Mentaiko, Mochi and Cheese is the popular Monja at this shop. Monja starts off as cabbage, some Monja spices and whatever else you want to add. You pour everything on a grill and mix it around. It’s harder than it seems but the Obasan today did it for us, there is a methodology apparently. At most places you have to do it yourself. All Monja ends up looking the same (like barf) and tasting the same, at least to me.

You scrap a bit off the grill with a tiny spatula like thing and eat it.

If you wait too long, it starts to burn, delicious or disgusting?

Later the Obasan was yelling at the customers at another table cause they were doing it wrong.

Check out pictures of Monja-yaki Shops