Tag: food
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fancy food Grilled Eel
Unagi: Japan’s Grilled Eel Tradition, and Why It’s Worth Trying: Freshwater eel isn’t a dish most visitors have encountered before arriving in Japan, it’s rarely eaten this way elsewhere, which is exactly what makes it worth trying. Unagi (eel) prepared in the traditional Japanese style is rich, tender, and completely different from what the phrase…
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Japanese Fried Chicken “Karaage”
Why Japanese Fried Chicken Has a Reputation for Being So Juicy: Fried chicken exists in some form in nearly every country, but Japan’s version, karaage, has earned a distinct reputation among international visitors specifically for how juicy it is compared to fried chicken elsewhere. It’s a staple at izakaya, convenience stores, and home kitchens alike,…
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Japan’s Gourmet Shaved Ice Boom
Kakigori: Japan’s Gourmet Shaved Ice Boom, and Where to Try It: Kakigori has existed in Japan for centuries as a simple summer treat, but over the past decade or so it’s transformed into something else entirely: a serious dessert category with dedicated specialty shops, long lines, and a genuinely devoted following. If you associate shaved…
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More Japanese Food Than You Know
Japanese Food Has Way More Variety Than You Think, Go Try It All: If your mental image of Japanese food starts and ends with sushi and ramen, you’re missing most of what’s actually on offer. Japanese cuisine covers an enormous range of dishes, flavors, and cooking styles, and since you’ve already made the trip, it’s…
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Restaurant Chains with English Touch Panel Ordering
Restaurant Chains with English Touch Panel Ordering: Easy Options for Visitors: A Japanese-only menu can be intimidating if you don’t read the language, and it’s one of the reasons some visitors stick to familiar international chains instead of trying genuinely great local food. The good news is that a number of major gyudon, kaiten-zushi, and…
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Japan’s Favorite Fried Classics food
Tonkatsu and Tempura: A Guide to Japan’s Favorite Fried Classics: Deep-fried food in Japan takes a distinctly different form from what many visitors expect, lighter, crisper, and more precisely executed than a lot of Western fried food. Tonkatsu and tempura are the two pillars of this tradition, and each comes with its own popular rice…
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Japan’s Egg Sandwich
Tamago Sando: Why Japan’s Egg Sandwich Has Foreign Visitors Obsessed: Japan’s convenience store egg sandwich, tamago sando, has become something of an internet phenomenon among international visitors in recent years, with travelers regularly posting about how something so simple can taste this good. For Japanese people, though, it’s nothing new at all, it’s a humble,…
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Onboard Sales in a Shinkansen
Does the Shinkansen Still Have Onboard Sales? What to Know Before You Board: If you’re picturing a snack cart rolling down the aisle the way it used to, it’s worth updating that expectation before your trip. Onboard sales on Japan’s shinkansen have been disappearing rapidly over the past few years, and by the time you…
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Tsukiji and Toyosu Market
Is a Food Tour Worth It, or Should You Go Alone?: Tokyo’s fish market complex, split between the outer Tsukiji market and the newer Toyosu wholesale market, is one of the most popular food experiences for visitors, and one of the most common questions is whether to book a guided food tour or simply explore…
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Sushi-Making and Cooking Classes in Japan
A Complete Guide: Learning to make Japanese food from an actual instructor, rather than just eating it, has become one of the most popular hands-on experiences for visitors, and it’s easy to see why: you leave with a skill, not just a photo. This guide covers sushi-making classes, other popular cooking experiences, and a specific,…
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Tea Ceremony Experience in Japan
A Complete Guide: A traditional tea ceremony (chanoyu or sado) is one of the most accessible ways to experience genuine Japanese culture in a single, focused hour, and it’s become a popular booking for visitors who want something more meaningful than a quick photo stop. This guide covers what to expect and how to choose…
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Japan’s Luxury Fruit
Why a Single Melon Can Cost Hundreds of Dollars: One of the more genuinely surprising things visitors encounter in Japan is the price tag on fruit. A single melon selling for the equivalent of several hundred dollars, or a small box of strawberries priced like a nice dinner, isn’t a scam or a tourist trap,…