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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A Circuit Through Shimokitazawa
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Healthy Vegan Lunches at Brown Rice Canteen in Omotesando
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Matsuya, The Blue And Yellow Beef Bowl Place
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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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Hinatomaru: A Sushi Bar Making A Case for Tuna Head Sushi
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Ranshu: Best Boiled Dumplings in Tokyo?
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A $500 Sandwich At Nakameguro’s Wagyu Mafia
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Chinzao: Taiwanese Tea House in Ine Village
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Gloriously Decadent Sukiyaki at Ningyocho Imahan
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Refined Kaiseki and Stunning Gardens at Tofuya Ukai
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Café Hassui, Arashiyama’s Luxury Teahouse
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The restaurant that inspired Quentin Tarantino: Gonpachi Nishi Azabu
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Pizza Toast and Kombucha at Café Benisica
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Tokyo Station Bars: Top-shelf Drinking In The Urban Hub
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Toyosu Market Sushi Restaurant: Iso Sushi
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Exploring Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki at Okonomimura
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Rare and Extreme Japanese Beers on Tap at Beer Boy
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Anonymous pleasures at No Name Ramen in Kyoto
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Commune 2nd, Omotesando’s Food Truck Park Paradise
Tokyo food trucks at Commune 2nd, Omotesando.
Commune 2nd...
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Teatime Treats and Summery Sweets: Tea at Miyoshi-ya in Narita
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Shibuya’s Underbelly: A Walk Through Love Hotel Hill and Dogenzaka
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Cafe Orion is A Cute and Quiet Little Escape in Nara
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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...
Japanese Craft Beer By The River: Hitachino Brewing Lab, Akihabara
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Skating the Art Rink at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse: Fun Winter Activities in Tokyo
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Enter the Belly of the Kawaii (Cute) Beast: Harajuku’s Kawaii Monster Café
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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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Akihabara to Ueno Part 2: An Ueno Tour
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An American Style Cafe; Good Town Bakehouse in Yoyogi Uehara
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Green Tea Lovers Should Make a Pilgrimage To Uji… Right Now
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Exclusive Beers and A History Lesson at Sapporo Beer Museum
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Tokyo, Books, and You: Curl up in these Three Green Study Spaces
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All Rise for Kikuya’s Standing Tempura in Ebisu
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Ponipirika Soup Curry Is A Perfect Late Lunch in Shimokitazawa
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Could ‘American’ Be The Biggest Sandwich In Tokyo?
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Vegan Food with a Side o’ Wonder at Saido Vegan Restaurant Jiyugaoka
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Tobusakana—A Local Seafood Izakaya in Shimokitazawa
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Unique Foods in Japan – A Guide
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Iwasa Sushi, Toyosu Market
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Nakameguro Tour – A Taste of Trendiness
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All You Can Eat Candy at Tokyo’s Dagashi Bars
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World’s Biggest Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Nakameguro
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Japanese Country Town Profile: One Day In Kiso Fukushima
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Where to watch the AFL Grand Final in Japan
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Dining in Dotonbori: Osaka’s Lively Entertainment District
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Natural Ice Kakigori in Saitama: Asami Reizou
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Japanese Hot Pot Guide – Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu
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Fabulous Kyoto-style Okonomiyaki at Oagari in Gion
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Kyoto After Dark: An Evening Stroll through Pontocho and Gion
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Bib Gourmand Ramen at Kyoto’s Menya Inoichi Hanare
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The Jogasaki Coast: Hiking through Volcanic Cliffs and Quiet Capes
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Omicho Market, Where Kanazawa Does Its Shopping
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Head to the Coast of Toyama to try Tara-jiru
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Strolling Arashiyama’s Shopping Strip Like a Pro
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Nature’s Air-Con: Nagashi Sōmen Flowing Noodles Kawadoko Style at Hirobun, Kibune
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Nagasaki Champon: The City’s Most Famous Regional Dish
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A Leisurely Yokohama Seashore Tour
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A Fancy Cocktail (Or Two) At Finlandia Bar, Kyoto
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Turkish Rice at Kyushu’s First-Ever Cafe “Tsuruchan”
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Da Yo Ne is A Great Little Tea Rice Bar in Roppongi
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Aoyama Trek: A Nature and Architecture Walk
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What to Eat and Drink in Arima Onsen
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Hot Pies, Cold Drinks: A Taste of Australia at Punk Doily
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Freshly Fried Seafood At The New Toyosu Market
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An Intimate Guide to Kabukicho
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Phenomenal Ramen in the Suburbs: Shibasakitei in Umegaoka
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Pre-war nostalgia at Asakusa Okonomiyaki restaurant ‘Sometaro’
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Ichikawaya Coffee is A Stylish Machiya Cafe in Kyoto
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Yes, Cold Noodles Are Cool: Sanpotei Tokyo Lab’s Hiyashi Tantanmen
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Exploring Local Nightlife at a Japanese Yokocho
For an authentic, down-to-earth Japanese dining experience, head straight for the nearest yokocho,...
Stunning Izakaya Food at Fuwari in Kanazawa
If you’re looking for a special but affordable dinner in Kanazawa, a great...
Roppongi Tour: Soaring Heights and Night Life
Full of bustling shoppers and businesspeople by day and partygoers by night, Roppongi...
First Avenue: Characters, Ramen and Sweets
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Cook your own dinner at Sakura Tei Okonomiyaki
The artistic interior of Harajuku Okonomiyaki purveyors 'Sakura Tei'.
The Char-Grilled Chicken Wonderland: Ukai Toriyama
As I sip my tea, a gentle breeze blows into our private dining...
Where to get an afternoon drink in Omotesando
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The Best Tantanmen in Tokyo: Bazoku
Japan, 1977. The economy was booming, black-and-white television was a distant memory and baseball legend...
Matcha Pancakes at ‘A Happy Pancake’ Kyoto
Anyone in Japan (or surveying it via Instagram) knows that pancakes are it...
Meat-ya Asagaya: Tokyo’s Best Spaghetti House
Do one thing, and do it well. Many restaurants in Japan subscribe to...
Kengo Kuma’s Starbucks design in Fukuoka
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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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The Healing Waters of Hitoyoshi: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 11
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Kooriya Peace in Kichijoji Serves Gorgeous Shaved Ice Creations Almost Too Beautiful to Eat
Tokyo has no shortage of great shaved ice (kakigori), but even with all...
Liquid Tiramisu in a Cup: Vietnamese Egg Coffee at Cafe Giang in Yokohama
At first glance, Yokohama seems like the sleepy, more sedate sister to Tokyo’s...
Join in the Japanese tradition of eating KFC for Christmas
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Sampling, Shopping and Snacking at Tokyu Food Show
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Fukuoka’s Hakata Ramen Packs Rich, Porky Goodness
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Suiba – A Standing Izakaya in Kyoto for Solo Diners
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Unlimited Fun at Kabukicho’s Okinawa Paradise
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Learning A Thing Or Two At A Japanese Cooking Class
Food is an important part of travel for me. When I’m exploring a...
Delicious Tempura Soba at Nozawa Onsen’s Sobadokoro Daimon
Whether you’ve come to Nozawa Onsen in search...
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...