DINING
DINING
Dining in Japan is, to many, a hobby. With a UNESCO listed National cuisine (washoku) and home to some of the best bars and restaurants in the world, this is a mecca for foodies. Here, you can experience seasonal kaiseki paired with locally made sake. If you’re looking for something a little more casual, go for the humble grilled yakitori and draft beer. Regardless of preference, there’s plenty on the food scene to delight you. In fact, to some the selection may seem endless. The following articles can help make dining in Japan a smooth and enjoyable experience. Read on for some of the best restaurants, cafes and bars in Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond.
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Perfect Egg Sandwiches at Smart Coffee in Kyoto
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Cool Down With Green Tea Soba, Perched Over A Flowing River
Uji is all about green tea; it's past, present and future are deeply...
Menya Saimi, one of the best ramen in Sapporo
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Matsuya, The Blue And Yellow Beef Bowl Place
When you first come to Japan, either as a tourist or a new...
Spicy, Soupy, Sublime: That’s Soup Curry at Yellow Company
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Commune 2nd, Omotesando’s Food Truck Park Paradise
Tokyo food trucks at Commune 2nd, Omotesando.
Commune 2nd...
The Retro Post-War Izakaya of Hoppy Dori, Asakusa
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Torimero yakitori: A cheap chain restaurant with many locations in Tokyo
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Suiba – A Standing Izakaya in Kyoto for Solo Diners
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Standing Yakiniku Restaurant Jiromaru: a great place for A5 Wagyu Beef
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Where to watch the AFL Grand Final in Japan
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An Unforgettable White Christmas In Japan: Destination Sapporo
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Tokyo Tower and a Tour through Surrounding Areas
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Japanese Country Town Profile: One Day In Kiso Fukushima
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A Brooklyn Brunch that’s Beyonce approved, right in Harajuku
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A Charming Kyoto Lunch Course at Tsuburano in Higashiyama
The rickshaw driver pants as he passes by, breathlessly regaling the couple in...
Dashi Chazuke En: Comfort Food Before A Flight at Narita
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Matcha Pancakes at ‘A Happy Pancake’ Kyoto
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The Culinary Delights of Kobe Chinatown Nankinmachi
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Mori Mori Sushi: Classy Kaitenzushi in Kanazawa
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Japanese Hot Pot Guide – Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu
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Canal City: A Shopping Oasis in Central Fukuoka
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All You Can Eat Candy at Tokyo’s Dagashi Bars
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Shibuya’s Underbelly: A Walk Through Love Hotel Hill and Dogenzaka
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Japanese Food for Fussy Eaters
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Superb Slurps at street pasta company
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Goto Udon: One Heavenly Hell Pot
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First Avenue: Characters, Ramen and Sweets
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Chinzao: Taiwanese Tea House in Ine Village
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Gallivanting around Ginza – A Tour Through Old Tokyo Part 1
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Tokyo Station Bars: Top-shelf Drinking In The Urban Hub
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Delicious Yakiniku at Hiro Beef, Pontocho
The Pontocho area is one of Kyoto’s go-to spots for food, drink and...
Nagatoro: An Outdoorsy Day Trip From Tokyo
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Tokyo Day Trip: Koedo, Kawagoe’s Breath of Edo
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Views and Booze at The Peak Lounge and Bar at Park Hyatt
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The 10 Best Foods to Eat at Nishiki Market, Kyoto
Food lovers rejoice, the Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto is a mecca for...
Ichikawaya Coffee is A Stylish Machiya Cafe in Kyoto
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Forest Bathing in Japan’s First National Forest: Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest
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Motsunabe: Nothing Offal About It
One of my favourite regional dishes of Fukuoka.
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All Shook Up at Osaka’s Elvis-themed Bar USAGI
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Take a Refreshing Pause at Shizuoka’s ‘Tea Room in the Sky’
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Soup Curry Ganesha—A Salaryman Favorite in Shinbashi
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Onden’s Japanese Curry Rice—a Taste of Home in the Heart of Harajuku
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Gearing Up at the Final Fantasy XIV-Themed Eorzea Cafe in Akihabara
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Spice Chamber Serves Keema Curry with a Kick in Kyoto
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Things To See And Do In Nozawa Onsen (That Don’t Involve Snow!)
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Catch your own meal at Zauo Fishing Restaurant Tokyo
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The best Jingisukan in Sapporo: Daruma
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The Char-Grilled Chicken Wonderland: Ukai Toriyama
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Head to the Coast of Toyama to try Tara-jiru
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A Leisurely Yokohama Seashore Tour
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What To Eat While Watching Sumo: Kokugikan Yakitori
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Healthy Vegan Dining at Restaurant 8ablish, Omotesando
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Sara Udon: Nagasaki’s OTHER Famous Regional Dish
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All about Shojin Ryori: Zen Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine
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Natural Ice Kakigori in Saitama: Asami Reizou
One of the best ways to cool down in the Japanese summer is...
Ambling Asakusa Tour: A Tour of Old Tokyo Part 3
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A Curry To Remember At Joto Curry Shibuya Honten
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World’s Biggest Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Nakameguro
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JK For A Day: Embracing Your Inner Teen In Tokyo
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Roppongi Tour: Soaring Heights and Night Life
Full of bustling shoppers and businesspeople by day and partygoers by night, Roppongi...
Meat-ya Asagaya: Tokyo’s Best Spaghetti House
Do one thing, and do it well. Many restaurants in Japan subscribe to...
Togakushi Soba: One Of Nagano’s Unique Varieties
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Serene Gardens, Exquisite Kaiseki and Feudal History at Fugetsuro, Shizuoka
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Sampling Local Sake at Niigata’s Ponshukan Sake Museum
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All Rise for Kikuya’s Standing Tempura in Ebisu
A standing restaurant is the epitome of Japanese efficiency. No seats means more...
Bib Gourmand Zen Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine: Shigetsu in Arashiyama
As I swept aside Shigetsu’s entrance curtain an hour ahead of my reservation,...
A Perfect Layover Lunch near Narita Airport: Grilled Unagi Rice Bowls at Kawatoyo
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Kyoto After Dark: An Evening Stroll through Pontocho and Gion
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Sampling, Shopping and Snacking at Tokyu Food Show
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A Tuna Extravaganza at Maguro Mart in Nakano
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Healthy Vegan Lunches at Brown Rice Canteen in Omotesando
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Pizza Toast and Kombucha at Café Benisica
Yurakucho's long standing Café Benisica launched the Japanese pizza toast craze
Many wouldn’t immediately associate Japan...
Magurodake Bono Shirakawa’s Tuna Donburi Keeps Lunch Sweet and Simple
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Vegan Food in Tokyo: A Complete Guide
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Gomaya Kuki – World’s Richest Black Sesame Ice Cream?
If you have a sweet tooth and you’re visiting Japan, green tea-flavoured desserts...
Explore Osaka’s Shinsaibashisuji shopping street
The Shinsaibashi area of Osaka is well-known for its shopping options and is...
All-You-Can-Eat Tuna Bowl at Kashi no Ichi Fish Market
Tuna, or ‘maguro’ in Japanese, is a heavyweight of the sushi and sashimi...
Isezushi: Michelin Star Sushi in Otaru, Hokkaido
The town of Otaru is a port town in Hokkaido, not too far from Sapporo....
Ikebukuro Tour: Sunshine City and Beyond
Of all the major transit and shopping hubs in Tokyo, Ikebukuro seems to...
Healthy Fast Food at Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku
The idea of healthy fast food may seem...
A Fancy Cocktail (Or Two) At Finlandia Bar, Kyoto
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Hot Pies, Cold Drinks: A Taste of Australia at Punk Doily
Biting into my classic steak pie, I relished a flavour profile I hadn’t...
Nagasaki Champon: The City’s Most Famous Regional Dish
Also known as Chanpon (with an ‘n’), this is a local Nagasaki dish...
Yanaka Beer Hall: Craft Beer In A Traditional Setting
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Where to get an afternoon drink in Harajuku, Tokyo
OK, so you’re on vacation and you’ve been sightseeing or shopping all day....
The Best Narita Airport Sushi Bar: Standing Sushi Bar in Terminal 3
Narita International Airport is one of Japan’s major air gateways, serving millions of travellers each...
Prime Chicken and Flaming Charcoal at Ganchan Roppongi
Yakitori has to be one of my favourite meals in Japan. It’s an...
Yes, Book and Beer Cafes Exist: Here are Two of Tokyo’s Best
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Omicho Market, Where Kanazawa Does Its Shopping
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International Food in Tokyo: Injera, Poutine, and Pasta
Travelers visiting Tokyo are spoiled for options when it comes to Japanese food....
Arashiyama’s Luxury Tofu Kaiseki at Shoraian
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Where to Eat and Drink on Naoshima: The good, the quirky and the delicious!
I don’t know about you, but I travel with my stomach. I always...
Ponipirika Soup Curry Is A Perfect Late Lunch in Shimokitazawa
Besides seafood, Hokkaido’s best export must be soup curry. This is exactly as...
Hearty Tsukemen in Akihabara: Menya Musashi Bujin
These days, ramen is a household name. But have you ever heard of...