Visit: May ６, 2025
A day of visiting museums is not only about time spent in the galleries.
What you eat between visits, and how you take a break, can change the whole experience.
For lunch that day,
I chose Hagoromo Terrace,
a café and restaurant area inside the station building,
directly connected to Hagoromo Station and Higashi-Hagoromo Station.
■ A Quiet Place to Eat in the Station Building
Hagoromo Terrace is a café and restaurant area
located on the second floor of the station building Icone Hagoromo,
directly connected to the station.
There is some foot traffic,
but it does not feel rushed like a tourist spot.
It has a calm atmosphere where you can eat in peace.
It’s an easy place to stop by
on the way to a museum.
That alone makes it a place to appreciate.
“I was tempted by the ‘adult kids’ meal,’
but I’ll save it for next time.”
■ A Japanese Bento Lunch (Limited to 20 Meals)
The goal was a Japanese bento lunch limited to 20 meals per day.
Regular customers had already ordered,
and for a moment I felt a little nervous—
Would I make it in time?
But I managed to order just in time.
These small moments of tension
can be part of the fun of traveling.
■ Gentle Flavors That Calm the Mind
The bento was not flashy,
but each item was carefully prepared.
Salad, fried dishes, tamagoyaki, and roast beef.
Nothing was overpowering,
and it was easy to keep eating.
What stood out most was the kiriboshi daikon,
dried shredded daikon dressed with mayonnaise.
A familiar Japanese side dish,
presented with a small twist
that made me think, “That’s a nice idea.”
“Is the roast beef playing hide-and-seek? Can you find it?”
■ Not Luxurious, but Comforting
It wasn’t especially luxurious.
But as I ate,
my mind slowly settled.
As a lunch before visiting museums,
it felt just right.
I didn’t feel rushed.
But I also didn’t feel the need to stay long.
Finding this kind of comfort
inside a station building
was a pleasant surprise.
■ Beauty and Taste Are Connected
Taking a moment to calm yourself
before seeing the exhibitions
can change how you experience the art.
The Japanese bento at Hagoromo Terrace
quietly supported
a full day of museum visits.
In Short
It wasn’t flashy,
but it was a lunch that felt comforting.
Just having a moment like this
gently sets the rhythm for the rest of the day.
👉 Related article:
🚉 Stopover Journey (Osaka – Art Museum Days) ②/③Hagoromo — A Limited Lunch Box & a Stroll Through Shinsekai
Today’s bonus capsule!
✨ Gateway to the Showa Era―Shinsekai
— A Town That Never Learned to Hurry
The Showa era (1926–1989) was a time when modern technology and ideas began to transform everyday life in Japan.
Shinsekai developed before and after the war as a place that supported everyday entertainment and life for ordinary people.
It was not elegant or refined, but eating, laughing, and gathering were always close at hand, woven into daily life.
Walking through the area even today,
the bright signs and crowds still carry a strong energy.
No matter how many times I visit, I never quite feel settled.
Its liveliness can feel a little overwhelming,
making me instinctively take a step back.
This time, I thought about stopping at a shop.
But I couldn’t quite find the courage to walk in alone,
so I ended up just wandering the streets.
Even without drinking or having a clear purpose,
that quiet time of simply walking stayed with me.
In today’s world, we are expected to move efficiently and stick to our schedules.
Shinsekai, by contrast, still holds onto a Showa-era sense of time —
a time when it was okay not to hurry.
For someone like me, who prefers quieter moments,
its energy can feel a bit too strong.
Keeping a gentle distance and walking without forcing myself —
that, for now, felt like the most comfortable way to be in Shinsekai.