Tag: hacks
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Should Try Beef Tongue in Japan
Meat Cuts You Won’t Find Easily Back Home, But Should Try in Japan: Japan makes full use of the animal in ways that a lot of other food cultures don’t, and several cuts that are genuinely beloved by Japanese diners rarely make it onto menus elsewhere. If you’ve never tried them, here are a few…
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Japanese Donuts Worth Trying
Japanese Donuts Worth Trying: Mister Donut’s Pon de Ring and I’m donuts: Donuts might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Japanese food, but Japan has developed its own distinctive donut culture, with textures and styles genuinely different from what you’ll find elsewhere. Two names in particular stand out…
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Japan’s Beloved Croquette
Korokke: Japan’s Beloved Croquette, and the Varieties Worth Trying Korokke, Japan’s take on the croquette, is one of the most quietly popular foods among foreign visitors, sold everywhere from butcher shops and supermarkets to convenience stores and specialty restaurants. It’s simple, inexpensive, and endlessly variable, and once you know the main types, it’s easy to…
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Haneda Airport to The Hotel: Taxi vs. Limousine Bus vs. Train
Haneda Airport to Your Hotel: Taxi vs. Limousine Bus vs. Train Compared: Haneda’s proximity to central Tokyo means every option on this list is genuinely fast, but the right choice still depends on your luggage, budget, and how much you want to avoid a transfer after landing. This guide compares the three main ways to…
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Narita Airport to the Hotel: Taxi vs. Limousine Bus vs. Train
Narita Airport to Your Hotel: Taxi vs. Limousine Bus vs. Train Compared: Once you land at Narita, deciding how to get into central Tokyo comes down to a trade-off between cost, speed, and convenience. This guide compares the three main options side by side so you can pick the one that fits your priorities. Quick…
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Fruits Unique to Japan
Japanese Fruits Worth Trying: Wa-Nashi, Kaki, Mikan, and Dekopon: Japan’s fruit culture goes well beyond the famously expensive melons and strawberries covered elsewhere on this blog. A handful of everyday fruits, sold at supermarkets and fruit stands throughout the country, are genuinely worth trying specifically because they’re distinct from what you’ll find back home, or,…
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Japanese Roasted Sweet Potato
Yaki-imo: The Japanese Roasted Sweet Potato Winning Over Foreign Visitors: Yaki-imo, slow-roasted Japanese sweet potato, might be the most unassuming food on this entire blog, and also one of the most quietly beloved. It’s simple, inexpensive, and sold on street corners and in convenience stores throughout the country, yet it’s become a genuine favorite among…
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Why Foreign Visitors Love Japanese Umeshu
Umeshu: Japan’s Classic Plum Wine Has Way More Variety Than You’d Expect: Umeshu, Japan’s sweet, tangy plum liqueur, has been a staple of home and restaurant drinking culture for generations, traditionally the kind of thing grandparents brewed in a jar at home with green ume plums, sugar, and shochu. But the umeshu you’ll find on…
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Japanese soft-serve ice cream
Japanese Soft Serve: Why Cremia, Matcha, and Beyond Have Visitors Hooked: Soft serve ice cream exists in plenty of countries, but Japan has turned it into something closer to a national obsession, with an enormous range of flavors, genuinely premium options, and a level of quality that regularly surprises first-time visitors. Here’s what to know,…
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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…