Honolulu’s newest food center blends spiritual refuge with Japanese cuisine
Honolulu’s newest food court blends dining and tranquility with Japanese flair. The $35-million venture is created with the vibe of monzenmachi, ancient Japanese towns built beside shrines and temples.
With traditional drummers providing entertainment, the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk opened in late June at the sprawling Ala Moana Center.
The development’s soul is the Guardian Spirits Sanctuary, which includes eight Buddhas and 12 animals of the Japanese zodiac.
According to the Shirokiya website, the sanctuary is designed to bring luck to visitors.
In addition to the spiritual boost, six boutique restaurants in Waygu Plaza serve Japanese cuisine. Eight bistros are found at the Seafood Plaza, and 32 kiosks offer everything from curries to ramen to sushi.
Diners can grab a bite and then grab a table among the more than 900 seats beneath a floral trellis.
You can buy $1 drafts at Beer Station and/or wine, sake and shochu too.
Japanese artisans display their crafts in five exhibition rooms at Zeppin Plaza.
Former visitors to Waikiki may know the Shirokiya name as the Japanese department store that opened in 1959. It closed earlier this year to make way for the new center. The original Shirokiya store opened in what’s now Toyko in 1662.
The Japan Village Walk is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Info: Shirokiya Japan Village Walk
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