If you visit Asakusa, there’s one dish you absolutely must try: dojo (loach fish). My recommendation is a restaurant called “Komagata Dozeu.” Established in 1801, this place has been beloved by locals since the Edo period. By the way, Bandai’s headquarters are right next door, with statues of Goku and Doraemon along the roadside.
The first floor offers traditional tatami seating, while the basement and second floor have tables. I recommend the tatami seating for the authentic atmosphere. Don’t worry, you don’t have to sit in formal seiza style; sitting cross-legged is fine.
I often go there at the end of the year. I order a set meal with dojo nabe (loach hotpot) and sake. The hotpot is topped with plenty of green onions, and I enjoy sipping sake as I slowly savor the loach and green onions.
Once I finish the sake, I order rice. I end the meal — and the year — with rice, pickles, and a rich miso soup.
It’s a reward to myself for a year of hard work.
