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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Late Night Eats at Ebisu Yokocho
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Healthy Vegan Dining at Restaurant 8ablish, Omotesando
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A Circuit Through Shimokitazawa
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Join in the Japanese tradition of eating KFC for Christmas
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Matsuya, The Blue And Yellow Beef Bowl Place
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An Unforgettable White Christmas In Japan: Destination Sapporo
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Exclusive Beers and A History Lesson at Sapporo Beer Museum
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Bib Gourmand Zen Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine: Shigetsu in Arashiyama
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Fabulous Kyoto-style Okonomiyaki at Oagari in Gion
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Motsuyaki Ban, Tokyo’s original Lemon Sour Bar
We head to the birthplace of the Lemon Sour, ‘Motsuyaki Ban’
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Matcha Pancakes at ‘A Happy Pancake’ Kyoto
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Perfect Egg Sandwiches at Smart Coffee in Kyoto
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Japanese Craft Beer By The River: Hitachino Brewing Lab, Akihabara
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Iwasa Sushi, Toyosu Market
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Exploring Local Nightlife at a Japanese Yokocho
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Yes, Book and Beer Cafes Exist: Here are Two of Tokyo’s Best
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The best Jingisukan in Sapporo: Daruma
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Gearing Up at the Final Fantasy XIV-Themed Eorzea Cafe in Akihabara
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Pre-war nostalgia at Asakusa Okonomiyaki restaurant ‘Sometaro’
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Beat The Heat With These Three Kawadoko River Dining Spots in Kyoto
Summers in Kyoto can be surprisingly hot and humid. Luckily, the pragmatic ancient...
Best Yakitori in Nakameguro: Kushiwakamaru. The Stick Factory.
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Tokyo Craft Beer at Far Yeast Brewing in Shibuya
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California Cuisine from a San Francisco punk rock veteran in Shibuya
*Note: This restaurant is no longer operating*
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JK For A Day: Embracing Your Inner Teen In Tokyo
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Unlimited Fun at Kabukicho’s Okinawa Paradise
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The Healing Waters of Hitoyoshi: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 11
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Exploring Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki at Okonomimura
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Goto Udon: One Heavenly Hell Pot
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Bib Gourmand Ramen at Kyoto’s Menya Inoichi Hanare
Walking past long queues in front of shops and restaurants, my herd mentality...
Gloriously Decadent Sukiyaki at Ningyocho Imahan
If you want a meal that’s guaranteed to...
Tokyo Sake Bar in Ebisu: Frozen Sake Bar Buri
Head west of Ebisu Station into the backstreets...
An Intimate Guide to Kabukicho
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Delicious Tempura Soba at Nozawa Onsen’s Sobadokoro Daimon
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Roppongi Tour: Soaring Heights and Night Life
Full of bustling shoppers and businesspeople by day and partygoers by night, Roppongi...
Suiba – A Standing Izakaya in Kyoto for Solo Diners
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What To Eat While Watching Sumo: Kokugikan Yakitori
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Soup Curry Ganesha—A Salaryman Favorite in Shinbashi
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Mori Mori Sushi: Classy Kaitenzushi in Kanazawa
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Where to Catch Tokyo’s Food Trucks: Lunch at the International Forum
I'd committed the cardinal sin of time-strapped travellers everywhere: I'd slept in. And...
Onden’s Japanese Curry Rice—a Taste of Home in the Heart of Harajuku
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Between Shibuya and Shinjuku is the sprawling greenery of Yoyogi Park that dominates...
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Finding Good Fortune on an Ebisu Tour
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The Opposite of Chaos at Khaos Spice Diner in Kyoto
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All Day Breakfast in Tokyo at Tractor, Nakameguro
Laid back, tattooed staff, grungy design, avocado on toast and cold drip coffee....
Superb Slurps at street pasta company
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Nagatoro: An Outdoorsy Day Trip From Tokyo
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Explore Osaka’s Shinsaibashisuji shopping street
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Dashi Chazuke En: Comfort Food Before A Flight at Narita
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Akihabara to Ueno Part 2: An Ueno Tour
Unlike Akihabara, which comprises the first part of this tour, Ueno offers a...
Skating the Art Rink at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse: Fun Winter Activities in Tokyo
Toddlers giggle, adults fall flat on their back, and a select few swoop...
Grab an exquisite lunch at Hayama Ramen, Shinjuku
Hayama Ramen, Shinjuku. Some of the best ramen in Tokyo.
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...
Teatime Treats and Summery Sweets: Tea at Miyoshi-ya in Narita
Narita isn’t an obvious day trip destination for most visitors to Tokyo. But...
Kurogi’s Killer Kinako Kakigori – A Shaved Ice Dessert to Die For
Kinako, or roasted soybean flour, might be a difficult sell if you’ve never...
Tokyo Day Trip: Koedo, Kawagoe’s Breath of Edo
We hear music in the distance. Drums beat and flutes whistle a traditional...
A $500 Sandwich At Nakameguro’s Wagyu Mafia
In Tokyo, you can totally get by eating on a dime. But when...
A Curry To Remember At Joto Curry Shibuya Honten
Shibuya can feel more like a nightlife and shopping area than a culinary...
A Leisurely Yokohama Seashore Tour
After Japan opened to foreign trade in the middle of the 19th century,...
Catch your own meal at Zauo Fishing Restaurant Tokyo
Japan is synonymous with sushi. Every day, thousands of fisherman take to the...
Japanese Hot Pot Guide – Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu
Many types of nabemono 鍋物 or hot pot dishes exist as part of...
The Best Tantanmen in Tokyo: Bazoku
Japan, 1977. The economy was booming, black-and-white television was a distant memory and baseball legend...
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...
Where to watch the AFL Grand Final in Japan
Traveling around Japan this finals season? Missing the echo of the siren, the...
Head To Toriyoshi For Some Juicy, Smoky, High-Quality Yakitori
Many cultures have something similar to yakitori in their cuisine—meat or vegetables threaded...
Learning A Thing Or Two At A Japanese Cooking Class
Food is an important part of travel for me. When I’m exploring a...
Myojinmaru’s Famous Salted Bonito Tataki
The word bonito would, for most, evoke the common visual of little flakes...
Gomaya Kuki – World’s Richest Black Sesame Ice Cream?
If you have a sweet tooth and you’re visiting Japan, green tea-flavoured desserts...
Nakameguro Tour – A Taste of Trendiness
If you’re looking to get a taste of cozy bistros and trendy cafés,...
Shopping on Miyajima: What to Buy
Miyajima Island, with its sacred shrines and pristine nature, makes a wonderful day...
All about Shojin Ryori: Zen Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine
Shojin Ryori is the traditional fare of Zen Buddhist monks in Japan. This...
Japanese Food for Fussy Eaters
While Japanese cuisine is largely unbeatable, there are still many dishes that fussy...
Tobusakana—A Local Seafood Izakaya in Shimokitazawa
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Togakushi Soba: One Of Nagano’s Unique Varieties
From a prehistoric paste to the modern noodle,...
Cook your own dinner at Sakura Tei Okonomiyaki
The artistic interior of Harajuku Okonomiyaki purveyors 'Sakura Tei'.
Magurodake Bono Shirakawa’s Tuna Donburi Keeps Lunch Sweet and Simple
Roppongi isn’t all swanky clubs and expensive restaurants. As with most areas in...
Fukuoka’s Hakata Ramen Packs Rich, Porky Goodness
A bowl of ramen is a wonderfully comforting...