The Sights, Sounds and Flavors of Japan Town in Glorietta 3 at Top of the Glo

A unique dining destination where the sun always rises, Japan Town at Top of the Glo brings a taste of Japan to the heart of Makati's busy commercial and business district with its diverse selection of Japanese restaurants. Head up to Japan Town and experience the rich flavors from the Land of the Rising Sun with no need for a plane ticket...

In one memorable weekend, the sights, sounds and flavors of Japan were showcased in an immersive two-day event featuring performances and activities at Japan Town Glorietta in Top of the Glo transporting you to the fabled land of the rising sun. A unique hidden gem, one can find all the usual Japanese cravings conveniently in one spot and then some from tempura to tonkatsu, ramen, curry, sushi and more. In addition to its wide range of culinary offerings, Japan Town Glorietta remains a vibrant hub celebrating everything Japanese with its impressive central square set up with large LED screens featuring the multi-faceted tapestry of Japan's rich culture. Read on for an insightful peek at the sights, sounds and flavors of Japan Town in Glorietta 3...

A whole world of uniquely Japanese flavors and experiences await at one of the metro's unique mall destinations. The innovative concept brings together a varied selection of popular Japanese restaurants to satisfy all your cravings. It's Japan in the city, just an escalator ride four levels up from Glorietta 3. At Japan Town high above Makati at Top of the Glo.  

Located at Level 4 of Glorietta 3, Japan Town boasts of a full calendar ahead with a series of events lined up for the year including live musical and DJ performances replicating the iconic sunset sessions in Shibuya and Tokyo. The indoor attraction, Omniverse Museum, showcasing a vast collection of authentic pop culture memorabilia from classic Japanese comic books, movies, novels and TV series is also one more reason to visit Japan Town. 

DJ's Senchi and Hideki Ito along with a live saxophone performance by Takumi laid the beats for a cool and festive vibe at Japan Town. That weekend, Japan Town presented a sneak preview of what mall goers can expect at the Japanese-themed hub at Top of the Glo with a variety of activities...

...from Origami workshops and Design Your Own Tote Bag sessions adding layers to an immersive experience embracing Japan's rich and diverse culture. Japan Town literally transports you to the streets of Tokyo with its flavors and sights completing the experience. 

Get into the Japan Town groove with kimonos for rent at the two-day event...

...and join other cosplayers and anime fans with their colorful costumes in a parade of Japanese pop culture. A well established sub-culture with legions of enthusiasts around the world, you'll find no other more hardcore group than fans of Japanese anime. 

At the central square of Japan Town, fans arrived in their best outfits with a chance to meet some of the country's leading cosplayers like Charesse & Kael, Lily Reeya & Ten Cosplay...

...enjoying every minute of their experience in a fun and memorable expression of Japan's cultural richness...

...transforming the central square into a Japanese streetscape. Lined with cherry blossoms and a live DJ performance, Japan Town comes alive with the sights and sounds of the Land of the Rising Sun right in the center of Makati. 

Japanese tea and matcha workshops added even more layers to the experience, teasing the palate with its distinctive richness. The sharp yet soothing notes opens up the palate for an epic feast...

...with the traditional and contemporary renditions of Japanese cuisines offered by several popular specialty restaurants. Step inside one of the many restaurants at Japan Town for a taste of the flavors high up on our list of cravings and begin your Japanese culinary journey. 

Offering classic and sumptuous Japanese dishes plus excellent value, Hakata Ton-Ichi offers a tasty preview of what to expect at Japan Town with its tempting variety of sushi rolls...

...and soft and delicately crisp on the bottom Gyoza (P 180), savory Japanese dumplings with its juicy pork filling. The delectable soft, chewy and crisp textural contrasts and the burst of rich notes from the juicy pork filling drapes the palate with lingering flavors with another bite soon on its way.

The Crab Salad (P 300) with its medley of garden fresh and crisp greens topped with thin slices of cucumber, sweet corn and succulent kani slathered in a creamy dressing hits all the right notes before your main course...

...with a bowl of ramen. Hakata Ton-Ichi offers several variations of the traditional ramen including the regional Fukuoka and Hokkaido styles like the Hokkaido Miso Ramen (P 398) with its mildly sharp yet soothing notes. The signature miso-infused Ton-Ichi broth adds a flavorful depth complementing the other components like sweet corn kernels, tamago, fresh bean sprouts and a fork-tender juicy thick slice of pork chashu. 

The creamy Ton-Ichi Ramen (P 298) is the signature specialty of Hakata Ton-Ichi with fresh spring onions, menma, tamago and tender slices of round pork chashu. The rich yet clean notes of the broth drapes the palate with its savory flavors made even richer with a bite of the chashu. Flavor and value combine for a satisfying taste of Japan at Hakata Ton-Ichi...

...but it's the aptly named Super Buta Ramen (P 458) with its silky smooth Ton-Ichi broth and a generous overload of smoked grilled pork belly slabs, fresh spring onions, tamago and menma that makes a serious case for a return visit to Hakata Ton-Ichi. The indulgent savory richness with each sip and bite makes the Super Buta Ramen one of my top personal picks at Japan Town.  

Musashi-Maru offers an extensive menu of popular Japanese specialties bannered by it's fresh sashimi and sushi with its focus on fresh and high quality ingredients and the day's best catch. Freshness is flavor, and Musashi-Maru takes pride in offering premium quality seafood for real, clean and uncluttered flavors...

...like the Uni Sashimi (P 360) or sea urchin roe with its pronounced briny sweetness. The smooth texture and buttery briny notes combine for pure indulgence with every bite. 

The Yude Ebi Nigiri (P 280) with succulent prawns brings a fresh flavorful burst with every bite announced by an audible snap laying a lingering sweetness on the palate...

...while the Salmon Nigiri (P 200) brings a decadent buttery richness to your all-seafood feast at Musashi-Maru. 

The Tekka Negitoro (P 300) or tuna roll topped with negitoro or minced fatty tuna delivers hearty and clean notes with a creamy finish. The extensive menu at Musashi-Maru include tonkatsu, ramen, donburi, tempura, udon, soba and many more but their sushi and sashimi selection is top-notch. 

The Osashimi 5 Shu Mori (P 900) with tuna, salmon, hamachi, squid and plump scallops offers diners a taste of their extensive seafood selection in one platter. For sushi and sashimi, make a stop at Musashi-Maru at Japan Town. 

Acclaimed as the world's best curry house, CoCo Ichibanya offers another layer in the rich weave of Japanese cuisine with its signature curry specialties. But first, a soothing beverage is in order. The new Strawberry Shine topped with cream cheese and tapioca pearls is a fruity start to your curry feast at CoCo Ichibanya. Other equally refreshing variants include Melon Dew Merry and Perky Peach. 

If you prefer a bold caffeine fix, the Iced Coffee (P 100) at CoCo Ichibanya works all the time. 

The popular Pork Cutlet Curry Omelette (P 420) of CoCo Ichibanya is a signature staple and a hearty meal in one plate. Imagine soft and fluffy steamed Japanese rice topped with silky omelette and a slab of their famous pork cutlet on rich curry sauce. One spoonful of the soft rice, omelette and pork cutlet with that thick curry just seals the deal with its lavish play on contrasting textures and flavors. 

The Shrimp Curry Rice Gratin (P 360) offers a fusion of indulgent cheesy notes with the briny sweetness of succulent shrimps on rice for another comforting meal at CoCo Ichibanya. Cheese, shrimps and rice, that's a winning combo right there. 

Japan Town is also home to one of the world's popular ramen chains with Ramen Nagi. The inventive Green King (P 495) is my usual pick with its blend of fresh basil, olive oil and Parmesan on their signature tonkotsu broth in a novel and creative rendition of a traditional Japanese staple. 

The slab of pork belly and bacon brings a double dose of savory goodness to every bowl of the specialty Green King, followed by the distinct flavors of olive oil, fresh basil and Parmesan for a unique ramen experience. 

And that's just the proverbial tip of the iceberg when it comes to dining options at Japan Town with so many more restaurants like Mitsuyado Sei-Men, Sharburi & Kintan and 102 Izakaya (see more on my post at Tokyo in the Metro: Highballs, Yakitori And More at 102 Izakaya in Top of the Glo) to satisfy your Japanese cravings. 

Japan Town remains one of the metro's unique hidden gems and mall dining destinations, and its relaunch brings a refreshed vibe to its many culinary offerings. It's a sign of even better things yet to come at Glorietta 3 in Ayala Center. A culinary and cultural haven of everything Japanese, Japan Town is your ticket to the authentic sights, sounds and flavors from the Land of the Rising Sun in the center of Makati. 

Japan Town is located at Level 4, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City.

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