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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Grab an exquisite lunch at Hayama Ramen, Shinjuku

Hayama Ramen, Shinjuku. Some of the best ramen in Tokyo.

Where to Catch Tokyo’s Food Trucks: Lunch at the International Forum

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Touring Harajuku – Walking the Big Two Part 2

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Vegan Food in Tokyo: A Complete Guide

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Japanese Hot Pot Guide – Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu

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Stunning Izakaya Food at Fuwari in Kanazawa

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Turkish Rice at Kyushu’s First-Ever Cafe “Tsuruchan”

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Shopping on Miyajima: What to Buy

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Urban Oasis: Aoyama Flower Market Teahouse

Interior of Tokyo cafe 'Aoyama Flower Market Teahouse' The...
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Dashi Chazuke En: Comfort Food Before A Flight at Narita

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Forest Bathing in Japan’s First National Forest: Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest

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Ambling Asakusa Tour: A Tour of Old Tokyo Part 3

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Where to Eat and Drink on Naoshima: The good, the quirky and the delicious!

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Cafe Orion is A Cute and Quiet Little Escape in Nara

Things don’t always look that promising when you’re walking around the back streets...

Iwasa Sushi, Toyosu Market

Though Tsukiji Market has closed and is settling into its new location at...

Spicy, Soupy, Sublime: That’s Soup Curry at Yellow Company

Eat out in Japan often enough and you’ll notice a certain dearth of...
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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...

Canal City: A Shopping Oasis in Central Fukuoka

Called the oasis within the city, Canal City is a massive complex housing...

World’s Biggest Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Nakameguro

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Superb Slurps at street pasta company

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A Curry To Remember At Joto Curry Shibuya Honten

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All about Shojin Ryori: Zen Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine

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Ichikawaya Coffee is A Stylish Machiya Cafe in Kyoto

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Classic Burgers at Golden Brown, Nakameguro

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The best Jingisukan in Sapporo: Daruma

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Tokyo Day Trip: Koedo, Kawagoe’s Breath of Edo

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Exclusive Beers and A History Lesson at Sapporo Beer Museum

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Tokyo Sake Bar in Ebisu: Frozen Sake Bar Buri

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Sangenjaya Tour – Burgers, Cafes and a Stop in the Park

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Junteuchi Daruma's shoyu ramen is beautiful to behold.

For Fabulous Shoyu Ramen, Head to Junteuchi Daruma

Whether it’s tonkotsu, salt, or miso, you’ll find all kinds of ramen in...

Gearing Up at the Final Fantasy XIV-Themed Eorzea Cafe in Akihabara

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An American Style Cafe; Good Town Bakehouse in Yoyogi Uehara

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Da Yo Ne is A Great Little Tea Rice Bar in Roppongi

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Bib Gourmand Ramen at Kyoto’s Menya Inoichi Hanare

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Delicious Yakiniku at Hiro Beef, Pontocho

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California Cuisine from a San Francisco punk rock veteran in Shibuya

*Note: This restaurant is no longer operating* “Tonight there’s gonna...
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Tokyo Craft Beer at Far Yeast Brewing in Shibuya

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Take a Refreshing Pause at Shizuoka’s ‘Tea Room in the Sky’

Green fields of tea ー almost ready to be harvested ー extend out...

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Head to the Coast of Toyama to try Tara-jiru 

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The restaurant that inspired Quentin Tarantino: Gonpachi Nishi Azabu

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Where to watch the AFL Grand Final in Japan

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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...

Kengo Kuma’s Starbucks design in Fukuoka

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Café Hassui, Arashiyama’s Luxury Teahouse

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Cook your own dinner at Sakura Tei Okonomiyaki

The artistic interior of Harajuku Okonomiyaki purveyors 'Sakura Tei'.

Gallivanting around Ginza – A Tour Through Old Tokyo Part 1

Many people come to Tokyo for the bright lights of Shibuya and Shinjuku....
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Ranshu: Best Boiled Dumplings in Tokyo?

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Kurogi’s Killer Kinako Kakigori – A Shaved Ice Dessert to Die For

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Hinatomaru: A Sushi Bar Making A Case for Tuna Head Sushi

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Isezushi: Michelin Star Sushi in Otaru, Hokkaido

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Food and Fresh Air at Fukuoka’s Yatai

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An Unforgettable White Christmas In Japan: Destination Sapporo

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Ikebukuro Tour: Sunshine City and Beyond

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All Shook Up at Osaka’s Elvis-themed Bar USAGI

It’s easy to let the night get away from you in Osaka; it's...

Roppongi Tour: Soaring Heights and Night Life

Full of bustling shoppers and businesspeople by day and partygoers by night, Roppongi...

Daimyo: Fukuoka’s Super Cool Neighbourhood

Amitabha Tattoo shop in Daimyo. As a one-stop-shop for...

The Jogasaki Coast: Hiking through Volcanic Cliffs and Quiet Capes

After a morning spent witnessing volcanic archery and visiting a capybara onsen, my...

Japanese Craft Beer By The River: Hitachino Brewing Lab, Akihabara

Akihabara can be a frenetic place; whirring arcades, hordes of tax free shoppers,...

Spice Chamber Serves Keema Curry with a Kick in Kyoto

Japanese curry tends not to be spicy. It’s unsurprising, when most Japanese people...

The Opposite of Chaos at Khaos Spice Diner in Kyoto

There are few things more delicious and comforting than a plate of curry...

Chinzao: Taiwanese Tea House in Ine Village

Ine, the quaint fishing village in Kyōto’s northwest, is arguably one of the...

Magurodake Bono Shirakawa’s Tuna Donburi Keeps Lunch Sweet and Simple

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On day 11 of our trip, we left Fukuoka and after a brief...
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Perfect Egg Sandwiches at Smart Coffee in Kyoto

Japan seems to have perfected the art of great egg sandwiches. Even the...

Exploring Local Nightlife at a Japanese Yokocho

For an authentic, down-to-earth Japanese dining experience, head straight for the nearest yokocho,...

Healthy Vegan Dining at Restaurant 8ablish, Omotesando

Omotesando on the weekend is a bustling place. The wide streets and footpaths...
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Pizza Slice—A Taste of New York in Tokyo

Japanese pizza has a reputation for being a little strange. Where else would...
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Could ‘American’ Be The Biggest Sandwich In Tokyo?

Ginza, Tokyo. An upscale neighbourhood all about high-end shopping and dining. As such, many cuisines...

Kyoto After Dark: An Evening Stroll through Pontocho and Gion

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Where to get an afternoon drink in Omotesando

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Delicious Tempura Soba at Nozawa Onsen’s Sobadokoro Daimon

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Serene Gardens, Exquisite Kaiseki and Feudal History at Fugetsuro, Shizuoka

Ah, Shizuoka. Rolling hectares of tea crops, vast lakes, rushing rivers, stretching coastlines...

JK For A Day: Embracing Your Inner Teen In Tokyo

Living in Japan, I can’t help but look around at all the cute...

Explore Osaka’s Shinsaibashisuji shopping street

The Shinsaibashi area of Osaka is well-known for its shopping options and is...

Nagasaki Champon: The City’s Most Famous Regional Dish

Also known as Chanpon (with an ‘n’), this is a local Nagasaki dish...

Catch your own meal at Zauo Fishing Restaurant Tokyo

Japan is synonymous with sushi. Every day, thousands of fisherman take to the...

Retro cocktails, hip coffee, and Michelin Italian food: An evening in Yoyogi Uehara

On the outskirts of Shibuya-ku, Yoyogi Uehara has a reputation for being a...

Rare and Extreme Japanese Beers on Tap at Beer Boy

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What To Eat While Watching Sumo: Kokugikan Yakitori

Japan is a nation steeped in tradition. There is a profound reverence for...

Anonymous pleasures at No Name Ramen in Kyoto

Superlative ramen restaurants are a dime a dozen in Japan. Standing out from...

All You Can Eat Candy at Tokyo’s Dagashi Bars

When visitors think of old school Japan, they no doubt picture kimono-clad geisha...
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