JW360° Opens Its Doors at Jewel Changi Airport – Discover Japan’s Way of Life Through Food and Retail

JW360° is a spanking new Japanese concept store ensconced in Jewel Changi Airport. Short for Japan Way Three Sixty, JW360° aims to establish a ‘gateway’ to Japan’s lifestyle and culture through the food and retail products in its restaurant, café and retail section.

Entering JW360° feels like stepping into a Japan town. The interior is not superfluous; instead the unpretentious vibe sets the stage for a cosy and intimate session.

The restaurant is operated by Suju Masayuki, a Japanese restaurant running seven stores in Japan and one in Orchard, Singapore. Following the Japanese methods of cooking, its menu boasts a four-season concept provided by Suju Restaurant. Patrons can definitely satisfy their sophisticated palates here.

The Gindara Misozuke Yaki is one of our favourite dishes at JW360°. The cod fish was soused in a homemade miso sauce, and grilled to perfection. The meat remains moist and tender, with a subtle smoky aroma. I took a bite and let the fatty fish melt slowly in the mouth. Wow, I could taste the sweetness and freshness of the cod! The slightly sweet miso glaze really accentuated the natural flavours of the fish.

The aesthetically-pleasing Torimomo Kurozu Itame featured a medley of eggplants, chilli, corn and chicken sautéed in a light but tangy black vinegar. The deep-fried chicken lent a delightful crunch and stole the show.

Hamburg Steak is another specialty of Suju. Seasoned with soy sauce and two kinds of miso paste, the hamburg steak was firm, springy and succulent. Sink your teeth into the steak and you’ll find that the juicy patty, which is drenched with cheese and demi-glace sauce, is extremely delicious.

The Chicken Sauté Cream is a hearty white stew loaded with three different types of mushroom. It’s surprisingly light, and packed with the umami of shellfish.

If you love fried food, the Mixed Katsu, which is a platter of pork, chicken, minced beef, and shrimp croquette will be right up your alley. I liked the pork the most because the meat was really juicy, and the thin batter was so crisp!

The Beef Steak has a smooth velvety texture, and its rich flavours lingered after every mouthful. Each main course comes with rice and miso soup.

Other noteworthy dishes available at Suju include Tempura, various types of Tonkatsu (Japanese style cutlets such as pork, chicken breast / chicken thigh cutlet, shrimp etc), Teishoku, Bento, and Donburi.

Do you know, Suju earns its stripes as an authentic Japanese restaurant because of this staple? This dish incorporates premium Koshihikari rice, which is specially sourced from Iizuka in Nagano. The Koshihikari rice is widely regarded as the caviar of Japanese short-grain rice. Interestingly, the chefs cook the rice in a copper pot, which gives it an incredible texture. Every glistening round pearl grain is moderately sticky and has an excellent bite. Make sure you drizzle the brown sauce from the beef steak onto the rice. One spoonful and you’ll be hooked for sure. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself asking for a second bowl of rice. JW360° is the closest that you can get to Japan, in Singapore.

You absolutely can’t leave JW360° without trying their desserts. You can pick your favourite gelato or a limited edition sakura cake from the JW360° café. Using Japanese ingredients such as matcha and wasanbon in their bakes, JW360° promises decadent sweet treats that will round off your meal on the sweetest note. JW360° is a great spot to enjoy a lovely tea while awaiting your next flight.

Nomono, which is the JW360° retail corner, procures tasty snacks and the best souvenirs from all over Japan. You can get your hands on a range of assorted Japanese sweets, snacks, popsicles, and sake with creative and unique packaging.

You can’t leave JW360° without their zesty Apple Chips. Raw apples are air-fried to retain its natural apple flavours. The crisp chips are exceptionally addictive. Other popular snacks include the soft and fluffy “Hagi no Tsuki Custard Cream Cake” and hand-baked “Mount Fuji Shape Rice Cracker Box” which comes in flavours of the four seasons — spring, summer, autumn and winter.

I am surprised to find Ema in JW360°! In a Japanese shrine, there is always a special area where visitors hang wooden tablets. The tablets are called “Ema (drawn horse)”, on which visitors dedicate their wishes.

At JW360°, you can write your wishes on the Ema and the staff will bring it back to the Shinto Shrines in Japan and dedicate them to God. Such a meaningful way to end my meal here! Needless to say, I’ll be back again!

This post is brought to you by JW360°.