We miss Japan so much. While we can't wait to get back to Japan, the reality is that we live halfway around the world in Canada and we aren't sure when we'll be able to go there next. Thankfully, there are many ways to experience Japan in Toronto that will tide us over until our next trip.
While nothing can truly match these travel memories we hold onto dearly, this is a great way to relieve some of our favourite adventures in Japan. And if you've never been to Japan, perhaps this Japanese-influenced Toronto itinerary will be even more appealing!
From lunch at a Buddhist temple and Japanese-style pastries to fun times at karaoke and arcades, here's how to spend an amazing day in Toronto, Japan style.
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How to Experience Japan in Toronto and the GTA
Ready to go to Japan...I mean, Toronto? If you'd like to see a great summary of our day, watch the short video below.
Justin and I enjoyed a jam-packed day of fun...and we actually did all of this on Valentine's Day! It was a really special way to spend this romantic holiday together.
While you certainly don' t need to wait until Valentine's Day to go for a date in Toronto, this is an excellent plan for a couples day in the city. You can also steal these plans for a girls day or friends day, too!
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Water Drop Teahouse at Fo Guang Shan Temple
When we traveled to Japan, we had the opportunity to have lunch inside a Buddhist temple. Justin and I enjoyed shojin ryori, traditional plant-based dining in a private tatami mat room.
While we haven't been able to find this exact experience in Canada, there is a unique temple dining experience in the GTA featuring vegetarian cuisine in a relaxing setting.
As part of the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto in Mississauga, the Water Drop Teahouse is a delightful place to enjoy a healthy and tasty meal. There are a variety of noodle dishes and soups, made completely from plants (entirely vegan). There's also some of the best fresh fruit tea.
You will need to purchase a membership to visit the teahouse. It's $30 a year. Then, you can buy a ticket ($12) for each meal or pot of tea. It's quite inexpensive, even with the membership fee added (especially if you return several times throughout the year).
Kariya Park
If it's the spring, summer or fall, I suggest stopping at Kariya Park in Mississauga on your way into Toronto. In the winter, the pathways aren't cleared and there won't be any flowers in bloom (I'm sure it's quiet and serene though).
Kariya Park is a peaceful Japanese garden that pays tribute to Kariya City in Japan, the twinned sister city to Mississauga. There's a beautiful Japanese garden, a pavilion and a friendship bell.
In the springtime, it's a fantastic place to view the cherry blossoms. While High Park in Toronto is another great choice, Kariya Park is a little less busy.
Sparetime Bandai Gashapon
Let's just say that I'm a big fan of trinkets. In Japan, we seemed to find ourselves inside a gashapon store at least once per day. Some of these shops were massive with rows upon rows of machines.
If you aren't familiar with gachapon or gashapon, these are machines filled with little toys or trinkets. There's a display on the front of each demonstrating which toy you might get. Insert coins, turn the handle, and a random toy in a plastic capsule comes out below.
In Toronto, we have one store at Union Station called Sparetime Bandai Gashapon. This is owned by Bandai and the gasha machines and toys are shipped directly from Japan. It's about as authentic as you can get outside of Japan.
The gachapon here are considerably more expensive than in Japan. For instance, gacha are typically between 300 and 500 yen. At Sparetime Bandai Gashapon, the toys start at $8 and go all the way up to $36.
Justin and I each picked out one gacha. It's pretty fun to include this activity on our "Japan in Toronto" itinerary since it was a big part of our trip to Japan. Considering the price difference, we'll likely wait until we go back to Japan for our next gacha.
Tsuchi Cafe
Located in Little Italy, Tsuchi Cafe is a Japanese plant-based cafe focusing on food, desserts and drinks straight out of Japan. While they serve hot dishes for lunch, Justin and I visited for some sweet treats and coffee.
It's a good idea to get here earlier in the day if you can. Many of the cakes and pastries were already sold out when we arrived mid-afternoon. We ordered an Earl Grey hazelnut cake slice and a brownie, plus an iced coffee.
I don't think I would have normally ordered an Earl Grey tea cake if there were other options, but I'm so glad I tried this one. It was so delicious and the whipped topping was very light and fluffy.
Another perk of visiting Tsuchi Cafe is the Japanese toilet. If you know, you know. Japanese toilets are supreme. They are everywhere in Japan (even public restrooms, which are impeccably clean!). It's rare to find one in North America.
So, visit Tsuchi Cafe, try the cakes and sweets, try the coffee and matcha, and don't forget to use the Japanese toilet.
Wahoo Arcade Mart
Japan also has many fun arcades, some of which extend up several floors of a building. Some of the best ones we visited were in Akihabara, Tokyo. For a Japanese-influenced day in Toronto, we had to try our luck on a claw machine.
There are several claw machine arcades in Toronto and the GTA. Justin and I chose to visit Wahoo Arcade Mart as it was really close to our following stop, the karaoke bar.
Much like in Japan, some of these claws are loose (see our video above!). We did luck out and manage to win a toy. It's fun to play, though let's admit it, it's more exciting to win!
Wahoo Arcade Mart also has a great selection of products from Asia, blind boy toys, trinkets and more. These are available for purchase in their shop.
Bar Zunko for Karaoke
It's time for another activity that we really enjoyed in Japan. Justin and I booked a private karaoke room twice (once in Kyoto and once in Tokyo) and belted out songs for hours.
I find it difficult to get up in front of a room of people to do karaoke, but it's totally different when you're in a private room with just each other (or even a small group of friends).
Bar Zunko in Toronto has private karaoke rooms for small and large groups. We chose a small room that was perfect for the two of us. Their rooms have state of the art sound systems, neon lights, and a huge selection of songs through YouTube.
Aburi Tora Sushi
Last, our day finding Japan in Toronto was made complete after dining at a sushi restaurant. One of our most memorable sushi dining experinces in Japan was the conveyor belt sushi restaurant. And we have one here in Toronto!
While there aren't any conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Toronto with a selection of pre-made sushi rolls that you can grab from the conveyor belt, the experience at Aburi Tora Sushi is as close as you can get to the restaurants you see in Japan.
Everything is made to order, and you order what you like from the iPad at your table. Before long, your dishes come flying down the laneway stopping precisely at your table.
The chefs at Aburi Tora Sushi make innovative and delicious sushi, nigiri, Japanese tapas and more. There's an excellent selection of vegetarian and vegan sushi. Justin and I also ordered highballs, a drink that we discovered in Kyoto on a whiskey and cocktail tour, and don't find very often back at home.
Please note that you can't make reservations here. Only walk-ins are accepted. Obviously, it was so busy here on Valentine's Day that we could not get in. We returned a few days later and there were no issues getting a table on a weeknight.
More Toronto Guides
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Don't forget travel insurance!
Heading out of the country? Don't forget to get travel insurance. It's best to be covered in case of an emergency, cancellation or accident.
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