Sit down at any Japanese restaurant and you’ll almost always find a small wooden box or shaker filled with a fragrant spice mix. This unique mixture is called shichimi togarashi, a delicious blend of seven ingredients. Depending on the region, there are many variations of shichimi, but you can get the original Tokyo version at Yagenbori in Asakusa. This shichimi mix contains sansho (Japanese pepper) powder, dried orange peel, black sesame, hemp seeds, poppy seeds and two kinds of chilli pepper.
At Yagenbori, you can purchase different blends including the original medium-spicy mix as well as a mild and an extra spicy version. The shop even lets you create a custom blend based on your preference. You can also pick up other condiments and mix-ins for rice, including pickles, ochazuke toppings and even a special shichimi for Western food. There are two Yagenbori locations in Asakusa, but bear in mind that the metro location is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.