Eat clean at Sakura Group’s eateries

A restaurant specialising in Osaka-style okonomiyaki and Tokyo's own monjayaki, Sakuratei is found in the Jingumae-Sanchome area near Cat Street, on the grounds of the Design Festa Gallery. This artsy influence is visible throughout the place, from the mural by the entrance all the way to the many vivid pieces on the walls. It's a strange but fascinating space that's sure to provide quite a few Instagram-worth photo ops. In addition to the aforementioned specialities, the menu lists appetisers and desserts throughout the day, but lunch is when Sakuratei really shines. This is when you can pay ¥1,500 for all-you-can-eat okonomiyaki and monja, available in a whopping 21 varieties. The reasonable prices add to the attraction, as do the interesting wild grass toppings and various international specials. The clientele is quite diverse – even more so than usually in Harajuku.

Only two minutes on foot from Jimbocho Station, this 24-hour café sits quietly among the area's office buildings. Attached to the Sakura Hotel, popular among tourists on a budget, it's a cosmopolitan spot with a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence to show for itself, and even caters to runners jogging around the nearby Imperial Palace – ¥550 gets you access to a full-fledged 'running station'. The menu is an international mixture of flavours, showing influences provided by many past guests of the hotel. Don't miss the vegetable-heavy food and drinks, made with pesticide-free veg from the Tohoku farm, or the cultural events taking place every month at all times of the day. These include language exchange, traditional handicrafts classes, and music events.

Found about a six-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, this spot boasts one of the biggest open-air terraces in the area. It's an international bistro-meets-café serving more than 60 kinds of imported beer and lunch from a different country every two weeks, giving you a reason to come back again and again. The mains are sure to satisfy even the biggest of eaters – try the popular 'parisegina', a huge burger combined with a rice gratin. This Sakura Café is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary with a special multi-course meal, which incorporates all of the eatery's many international favourites.

Conveniently located just a couple of minutes from Hatagaya Station on the Keio line but tucked away in a quiet residential street, Sakura Café Hatagaya feels like a hidden treasure. The international menu and ¥500 daily lunches are excellent, as are the monthly cultural events, which include language exchange, traditional handicrafts classes, and gigs. If you're looking to meet new friends in a cosmopolitan atmosphere, this is your spot.

Sitting pretty right by the hip Yanaka Ginza area, about eight minutes on foot from Nippori Station, this retro-style café is great for starting your exploration of the traditional Yanesen (Yanaka-Nezu-Sendagi) neighbourhood. From early November onwards, Sakura Café Nippori will be serving afternoon tea for ¥2,000. And this isn't your average cuppa-and-scones deal: the set comes courtesy of resident English chef Trevor, a veteran of several three-star restaurants, who conjures up colourful cakes for your snacking pleasure. Trevor also oversees the grand menu, which is constantly undergoing improvement but always incorporates healthy, completely organic vegetables from the Tohoku farm.

For a full taste of the Tohoku farm's all-organic vegetables and herbs, head to Fuchu, where this restaurant on the ground floor of the Continental Hotel's new building serves up an impressive selection of healthy and delicious dishes. You'll want to try the eggs, dubbed 'the safest in the world', as they come from chickens raised on the Aomori prefecture farm with only home-grown, organic feed. The Japanese-style breakfast centres on veg and those famous eggs, lunch is 'washoku' complete with a salad bar and drinks, and the buffet dinner sees a spread of about 50 Japanese, Western and Chinese dishes.

Found on the ground floor of the Continental Hotel in Fuchu, right by the Keio line station, Restaurant Filly features brick walls and a relaxed atmosphere, along with Western and Chinese cuisine conjured up by world-class chefs. The popular weekly lunch set includes an appetiser, main dish, salad, bread and soup, all for ¥1,200, and the prices stay very reasonable at night too: dinner deals start from ¥1,500, while the sets that cost ¥2,500 or more come with a three-layered plate carrying ten kinds of desserts.

Open from 4.30am, this café and bar inside the Fuchu Continental Hotel is popular among fans of Japanese horse racing. Fuchu is home to Tokyo's main racecourse, and that theme is reflected in the menu here: try the 'teki-katsu' (available between 11.30am and 9pm), a plate with fried cutlet and steak, arranged to look like a racetrack – even the rice is served in the shape of a horseshoe, while the accompanying soup mug is decorated with horses. Visit after 5pm to try the 'horse racing cocktails', named after successful stallions and famous races.

Walk down Ginza's Chuo-dori towards Shinbashi, turn left in front of the Ginza Six shopping complex, and take another left at the first traffic light to find the sign spelling out only '300'. Established in 1992, this is purportedly the oldest standing bar in Japan. Despite its seat in flashy Ginza, all drinks go for a paltry ¥300, making 300 Bar wildly popular among local office workers. It's a homely joint where anyone can feel safe, often hosts DJ events, and is perfect for meeting new people. Don't sleep on the mojitos – they're approved by the Cuban embassy, as per the 'mojito certificate' on the wall.

Spot the '300' sign on the right side of the Corridor street leading away from Shinbashi Station and descend the stairs into the basement to find a comfy space packed with local office workers and foreign tourists alike. 300 Bar's weekend nights, during which DJs fire up the crowd, are some of the wildest in usually reserved Ginza – not least because all drinks here cost a mere ¥300, despite being mixed up by skilled bartenders with imaginative titles such as 'tequila maestro' and 'rum concierge'. The international food is equally reasonably priced. No matter if you're going alone or with friends, you can always look forward to a good time and a diverse crowd at 300 Bar.

A café and bar attached to Sakuratei and the Design Festa Gallery, this spot adds to the quirky vibe at Harajuku's 'art village', which offers enough to see for almost an entire day. To find it, walk from Harajuku Station along Omotesando, and turn into the back streets of Ura-Harajuku. Navigating the narrow lanes, you'll soon come across a strange building supported by black metal pipes. You've reached Design Festa Gallery, which displays a fascinating jumble of art by anyone eager to express themselves. Found in the gallery's courtyard is this café and bar, which boasts a hidden garden terrace that'll make you forget all about your busy surroundings. Check out the pomegranate tree inside, admire art from the outside, or just strike up conversation about art and design over a ¥250 cup of coffee. You can also choose to savour some imported beer or light meals in the midst of all the art and greenery.