My Journey is the Stars and the Sea: Afternoon Tea at Iserlohn Fortress
Iserlohn Fortress is a military fortress from the famous fictional novel 'Legend of the Galactic Heroes'. Yang Wenli, one of the male protagonists, and his 13th Fleet spent an unforgettable time there.
With the broadcast of the 2018 remake of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, DIE NEUE THESE, a Galactic Heroes themed café called Iserlohn Fortress (ISERLOHN FORTRESS) opened in Ueno, Tokyo. As a longtime fan of the series, I couldn't miss it.
The shop is located at Exit A3 of Ueno-Hirokoji Station. From Akihabara's SUEHIROCHO Station, take the Ginza Line just one stop to get there. You can find it by searching 'Iserlohn Fortress' on Google Maps. There's a 7-Eleven on the first floor; take the stairs next to it to reach the second floor.
Although the location is low-key, the café operates on a reservation system. Non-reserved guests are seated depending on the situation. From what I observed, it was almost full in the afternoon, so walk-ins might be turned away.
• Reservations can be made from the same day up to one month in advance.
• Each customer can only make one reservation per day. After dining, you can make another reservation.
• Each reservation is limited to two guests. For three guests, please use another person's phone number to make a separate reservation and note the first person's phone number and that you are part of the same group in the remarks. For group reservations, you can now use the first registrant's phone number and name to make the reservation.
• If no date is shown, it means fully booked and no other reservations are accepted. Thank you for your understanding.
• To cancel a reservation, please call the store to complete the cancellation process.
The reservation page is entirely in Japanese. Here's a brief overview of the process:
First, select the date and faction. Dates are available up to 30 days ahead. The factions are Empire, Alliance, and Iserlohn.
お名前をフルネーム（ひらがな）でご入力ください。 (Please enter your full name in hiragana.)
Recommended name: たなかゆき (Tanaka Yuki)
This pronunciation is simple. When I made my reservation, I used the name Daigo Michiko from the Japanese drama 'Doctor X'. The staff at the door was surprised and confirmed with me several times.
電話番号(ハイフンなし)
Everyone understands this: phone number, with the note 'no hyphens'. Many Japanese phone numbers start with 090 and are followed by 8 digits.
Recommended format: 090XXXXXXXX (fill in any numbers)
Each reservation is for up to 2 people. For 3-4 people, make two reservations and link them in the remarks.
For 5 or more people, you need to call.
The more times you visit this shop, the higher your rank. For your first visit, select '入隊' (Enlist).
予約時間をお選びください。
Select a suitable time. Weekdays: 17:00-22:30; Weekends: 11:00-21:30. Each dining session is limited to 2 hours.
Finally, click the reservation button below.
If you need to cancel after reserving, you must call. In principle, if you used a fake name and phone number, it's okay not to go, but it's recommended to be trustworthy and confirm your itinerary before booking.
Note: The above are the reservation rules as of 2019.
When I arrived, it wasn't yet opening time. Through the glass window, I saw a small merchandise area. The autograph of the author, Tanaka Sensei, was prominently displayed.
When I encountered the staff, they were enthusiastic and surprised to verify my reservation name (Daigo Michiko). They politely said they were still preparing, asked me to wait a moment, and handed me a Chinese menu.
The menu was very interesting, full of references to Legend of the Galactic Heroes. As an original fan, I was very satisfied.
Please excuse the poor photo quality taken hastily with my phone—focus on the content!
The Japanese menu had a splendid black-and-silver color scheme, very much in the style of the Empire. (Still poor photo quality.)
After entering the shop, there weren't many people at first—just a few tables scattered around.
The interior decoration featured old TV series stills and concept art from the original Legend of the Galactic Heroes along the walls, while the TV looped the new version.
After I sat down, the waitress mysteriously placed two coasters face down, indicating they were random blind boxes.
When I turned them over, I got Fleet Admiral Yang and Minister Oberstein—an odd combination.
Since we had already eaten lunch, we just ordered drinks and ice cream, as we were mainly there for the atmosphere.
The drink I ordered was 'Reinhardt's Cream Coffee'. Although I also wanted to try Julian's brewed black tea, as an Empire fan, I had to stay loyal to the Emperor.
As for the taste, it was an evil way to drink: stirring cream into American coffee.
This was 'Marika's Chocolate Ice Cream'.
The server was very theatrical when bringing the food, loudly announcing the full name of the dish.
For example, the table next to us ordered the flagship dish, Iserlohn's main cannon 'Thor's Hammer', which came with a flame effect and a line performance.
I was too embarrassed to take a photo at the time, but it looked like the scene in the picture below.
The restroom situation was a bit amusing—does this indirectly suggest that Empire fans outnumber Alliance fans?
Here is a display area. The two pictures at the bottom were created by author Yoshiki Tanaka and the two voice actors of Kircheis (old and new) for a program.
The lower left is a drawing by Yoshiki Tanaka—Kircheis' small bowl of soba noodles.
The lower right was created by the two voice actors together. Look closely, and you'll see Kircheis No. 1 and No. 2.
PS: There is a store exploration video on Bilibili; keywords: Encounter, Voice Actor and Yoshiki Tanaka Interview.
After eating and drinking our fill, we went to the merchandise area near the entrance. Lightening our wallets a little, we said goodbye with satisfaction.
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