¥¥¥¥Prix : cher • Kushikatsu • Nippori / Yanaka / Nezu / Sendagi
Kushiage [deep-fried skewers] restaurant Hantei preserves the structure of its ancestors. There was a decision around the beginning of the century to widen a road which involved removing the frontage of the original building. The new structure is a blend of past and present: a large metal fence covers the scars from the construction and through the gaps in that fence the shape of the old building can still be seen. Three-story structures built from Japanese zelkova wood are rare and difficult to find in Japan - built during the Meiji era, it even withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake. The building was also designated as part of the tangible Cultural Properties by Japan's Agency of Cultural Affairs. The second and third floor offer a gorgeous view of the beautifully aligned roof tiles that give it a pleasant downtown charm.