I Tried Japan's Cheapest Restaurant | Feat. @CDawgVA

Drive two hours into remote Aomori to Shingo, a confusing but intriguing village. You'll have to walk up some stairs from the car park to reach the cross. Read the stone plaque that tells the local legend: Jesus came to Japan at 21, studied divinity for 12 years, returned to Judea, but his younger brother Isukiri took his place on the cross. Jesus then traveled back to Japan, settled in Herai Village (now Shingo), and died at 106. It's a ridiculous place that needs to be seen to be believed, maintained by a nearby yogurt factory. The museum, unfortunately, was closed during my visit, but it argues the case vigorously, citing local customs, toga-like robes, veils, and babies in woven baskets, along with dialects closer to Hebrew than Japanese. It's a fascinating, if unbelievable, story.

Step back in time to a 1960s Showa era izakaya called Humbe, tucked away down a back street in Hachinohe. Despite boasting among the cheapest food in Japan, the food is delicious. The retro atmosphere is packed with posters, memorabilia, and smoke from the nearby grill. You can tuck into yakitori skewers for as little as ¥60 each. Be prepared for a bizarre menu with questionable English, including 'boobs ice' and 'high quality cat food.' I tried the massive chuhai drink with three different flavors (melon, 'cow piss,' and a mystery flavor), which was like a Japanese vodka mixer. Don't miss the cheese wrapped in bacon, which I initially mistook for asparagus. The Nagoya chicken wings are also a signature dish, and the corn beef, served in plastic rather than the traditional tin, is a post-war rationing era dish that tastes a bit like high-quality cat food. It's a franchise, but each branch is subtly different.