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Cha Cha Hana is a traditional Japanese restaurant in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho. You would never guess that there is such a cool restaurant in this area. The food is essentialy Kyoto-style, a lot of emphasis on preserving the original taste of the food (ie not too many fancy sauses). They always have a nice selection of sashimi, and their salad is also quite excellent! Presenting foods with seasonal ingredients is their goal.

The decor is a Kyoto-style inn, with quite a few rooms for small groups of people. On the first floor, there are a few seats overlooking a rock-garden, but I like to sit at the counter. A reservation is a MUST. Although if you go early (or late) enough, there may be an opening, don’t count on it.

The funnest part is getting there. Next to Ward Office Street (Kuyakusho Dori ), there is a diagonal road (Shiki no Michi). This is close to Hanazono Shrine. Take this diagonal road almost to the end. Cha Cha Hana is on your right. (If you reach the love hotels, turn back, you went too far!)

Address: Shinjuku Kabukicho 1-1-1. (03-5292-2933) 10 minute walk from Shinjuku East Exit.