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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Beat The Heat With These Three Kawadoko River Dining Spots in Kyoto
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Cook your own dinner at Sakura Tei Okonomiyaki
The artistic interior of Harajuku Okonomiyaki purveyors 'Sakura Tei'.
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Healthy Vegan Dining at Restaurant 8ablish, Omotesando
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All Shook Up at Osaka’s Elvis-themed Bar USAGI
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A Tuna Extravaganza at Maguro Mart in Nakano
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Freshly Fried Seafood At The New Toyosu Market
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Housekibako – A Shaved Ice Experience in Nara to Treasure
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Aoyama Trek: A Nature and Architecture Walk
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Motsuyaki Ban, Tokyo’s original Lemon Sour Bar
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Isezushi: Michelin Star Sushi in Otaru, Hokkaido
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All Rise for Kikuya’s Standing Tempura in Ebisu
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Healthy Fast Food at Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku
The idea of healthy fast food may seem...
International Food in Tokyo: Injera, Poutine, and Pasta
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The Char-Grilled Chicken Wonderland: Ukai Toriyama
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Nagasaki Champon: The City’s Most Famous Regional Dish
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Perfect Egg Sandwiches at Smart Coffee in Kyoto
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Japanese Table Manners: A Full Guide
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Menya Saimi, one of the best ramen in Sapporo
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Toyosu Market Sushi Restaurant: Iso Sushi
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An Intimate Guide to Kabukicho
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Could ‘American’ Be The Biggest Sandwich In Tokyo?
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Tokyo Craft Beer at Far Yeast Brewing in Shibuya
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Liquid Tiramisu in a Cup: Vietnamese Egg Coffee at Cafe Giang in Yokohama
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Meat-ya Asagaya: Tokyo’s Best Spaghetti House
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All-You-Can-Eat Tuna Bowl at Kashi no Ichi Fish Market
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Dashi Chazuke En: Comfort Food Before A Flight at Narita
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Strolling Arashiyama’s Shopping Strip Like a Pro
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Matsuya, The Blue And Yellow Beef Bowl Place
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Onomichi Cat Alley is a Cat Lover’s Paradise: Prepare to Lose your Mind
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Exclusive Beers and A History Lesson at Sapporo Beer Museum
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Soup Curry in Tokyo: Where and Why You Should Eat It
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Enter the Belly of the Kawaii (Cute) Beast: Harajuku’s Kawaii Monster Café
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Tobusakana—A Local Seafood Izakaya in Shimokitazawa
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A Curry To Remember At Joto Curry Shibuya Honten
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Learning A Thing Or Two At A Japanese Cooking Class
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Japanese Craft Beer By The River: Hitachino Brewing Lab, Akihabara
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The 10 Best Foods to Eat at Nishiki Market, Kyoto
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Where to get an afternoon drink in Harajuku, Tokyo
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Standing Yakiniku Restaurant Jiromaru: a great place for A5 Wagyu Beef
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Unique Foods in Japan – A Guide
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For Fabulous Shoyu Ramen, Head to Junteuchi Daruma
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Where to get an afternoon drink in Omotesando
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Nawate dori: Matsumoto’s Charming Frog Street
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A Brooklyn Brunch that’s Beyonce approved, right in Harajuku
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Exploring Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki at Okonomimura
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The Opposite of Chaos at Khaos Spice Diner in Kyoto
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Arashiyama’s Luxury Tofu Kaiseki at Shoraian
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The Healing Waters of Hitoyoshi: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 11
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Cool Down With Green Tea Soba, Perched Over A Flowing River
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Kyoto After Dark: An Evening Stroll through Pontocho and Gion
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Nakameguro Tour – A Taste of Trendiness
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Late Night Eats at Ebisu Yokocho
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Onden’s Japanese Curry Rice—a Taste of Home in the Heart of Harajuku
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Catch your own meal at Zauo Fishing Restaurant Tokyo
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Commune 2nd, Omotesando’s Food Truck Park Paradise
Tokyo food trucks at Commune 2nd, Omotesando.
Commune 2nd...
Fukuoka’s Hakata Ramen Packs Rich, Porky Goodness
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Ichikawaya Coffee is A Stylish Machiya Cafe in Kyoto
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Rare and Extreme Japanese Beers on Tap at Beer Boy
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Where to watch the AFL Grand Final in Japan
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Chinzao: Taiwanese Tea House in Ine Village
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Head To Toriyoshi For Some Juicy, Smoky, High-Quality Yakitori
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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....
A Charming Kyoto Lunch Course at Tsuburano in Higashiyama
The rickshaw driver pants as he passes by, breathlessly regaling the couple in...
Daimyo: Fukuoka’s Super Cool Neighbourhood
Amitabha Tattoo shop in Daimyo.
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Delicious Tempura Soba at Nozawa Onsen’s Sobadokoro Daimon
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Tokyo, Books, and You: Curl up in these Three Green Study Spaces
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Magurodake Bono Shirakawa’s Tuna Donburi Keeps Lunch Sweet and Simple
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Nagatoro: An Outdoorsy Day Trip From Tokyo
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Refined Kaiseki and Stunning Gardens at Tofuya Ukai
We follow our hostess through the twisting and turning hallways of the converted...
An American Style Cafe; Good Town Bakehouse in Yoyogi Uehara
“The Japanese people just do everything so authentically. They copy every last detail...
Join in the Japanese tradition of eating KFC for Christmas
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Tokyo Rojiura Soup Curry Samurai, Shimokitazawa
Look up Shimokitazawa in most guides to the city, and you’ll quickly discover...
Kurogi’s Killer Kinako Kakigori – A Shaved Ice Dessert to Die For
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Things To Do (And Eat) in Nagano City
The main hall of Zenkoji Temple
As a mountainous...
Fabulous Kyoto-style Okonomiyaki at Oagari in Gion
Local and authentic—these are the qualities typically associated with restaurants people want to...
Turkish Rice at Kyushu’s First-Ever Cafe “Tsuruchan”
I’m not the first to suggest Nagasaki’s food...
Suntory Yamazaki Whisky Distillery Tours
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Matcha Pancakes at ‘A Happy Pancake’ Kyoto
Anyone in Japan (or surveying it via Instagram) knows that pancakes are it...
Tokyo Day Trip: Koedo, Kawagoe’s Breath of Edo
We hear music in the distance. Drums beat and flutes whistle a traditional...
The Best Narita Airport Sushi Bar: Standing Sushi Bar in Terminal 3
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Spicy, Soupy, Sublime: That’s Soup Curry at Yellow Company
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Sampling, Shopping and Snacking at Tokyu Food Show
Food lovers, prepare yourselves for one of the most dangerous foodie activities in...
Exploring Local Nightlife at a Japanese Yokocho
For an authentic, down-to-earth Japanese dining experience, head straight for the nearest yokocho,...
Pre-war nostalgia at Asakusa Okonomiyaki restaurant ‘Sometaro’
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Healthy Vegan Lunches at Brown Rice Canteen in Omotesando
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Hinatomaru: A Sushi Bar Making A Case for Tuna Head Sushi
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A Circuit Through Shimokitazawa
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Gearing Up at the Final Fantasy XIV-Themed Eorzea Cafe in Akihabara
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First Avenue: Characters, Ramen and Sweets
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Iwasa Sushi, Toyosu Market
Though Tsukiji Market has closed and is settling into its new location at...
All You Can Eat Candy at Tokyo’s Dagashi Bars
When visitors think of old school Japan, they no doubt picture kimono-clad geisha...