After a rest, we looked at the internet and identified a vegan cafe in Yotsuya called "Loving Cup." A website informed us it was near Yotsuya 3 Chome station which was not far away. We headed off into the warm evening and walked up the main street and located the station. Once there we couldn't see the restaurant and couldn't work out the Japanese house number system. Eventually we saw a police office and called in. We asked in Japanese where the restaurant was. The police officer pulled out a huge atlas of Tokyo and we could see all the blocks were numbered in handwritten red pencil. He consulted several files and books, and then pointed out in general where the restaurant was. It was only about a minute's walk away. We found the block he indicated but there was no sign of a restaurant.
We then asked a lady by a gate where the restaurant was. She didn't know but got her assistant to do a web search. We were then given a map and she explained in Japanese where it was. Again it was about a minute's walk. We found the restaurant easily, but we thought but it was more like a wine bar. When we asked if it was a restaurant and showed the barman the name, he told us it was upstairs. There were outside stairs which we climbed but the restaurant was shut.
We were disappointed as we had bravely tried our Japanese successfully but to no avail. Plan scuppered we walked back down the main street, squinting at menus written in Japanese but not reading a word. Outside the restaurants there are often pictures of the food or plastic reconstructions. We found a traditional looking place that looked like it had vegetable dishes. We went in and the waitress showed us pictures of vegetable food but we couldn't confirm what the stock was made of. We decided to leave.
Walking down the street we had a conversation about being vegetarian in Japan where one can't read the menu. Joan said it was quite limiting as you had to ensure what was in food before you ate, whereas meat eaters could just point at anything and hope it was OK. Kevin argued conversely that meat eaters might end up ordering something like minced pig's intenstines if they did this.
Almost back at the inn, we saw an English Pub, the Three Threads, that boasted it served pub food. Inside it was a Japanese take on an English Pub, and served fish and chips. We went for Fuller's London Pride, a Caprese salad and chips. Interestingly no one spoke English! I think locating food might be a central theme of this blog!