A culinary must-eat list - dishes you can never quite recreate at home. Try them where they belong.
Sushi
Fresh nigiri and sashimi straight from the market. In Japan both the quality and the price can surprise you - even at conveyor-belt sushi (kaiten-zushi).
📍 Toyosu Market in Tokyo, or omakase at the counter
Strawberry daifuku
A snack that combines soft mochi dough with the intense flavor of fresh strawberries. Often with anko paste.
📍 The best ones are found in Japan’s strawberry capital – Shizuoka.
Ramen
A bowl of hot broth and noodles - different in every region. Tonkotsu in Fukuoka, miso in Sapporo, shoyu in Tokyo.
📍 Order from the ticket machine by the door
Takoyaki
Batter balls with a piece of octopus inside, topped with sauce and mayo. The icon of Osaka street food.
📍 My recommendation:D
Okonomiyaki
A savoury cabbage pancake - "grill what you like". Two schools: the looser Osaka style and the layered Hiroshima style.
📍 Often you grill it yourself on the teppan at your table
Yakitori
Charcoal-grilled chicken skewers, perfect with a beer. The heart of every izakaya.
📍 In the evening at an izakaya, or under the tracks (Yūrakuchō)
Tempura
Prawns and vegetables in a light, crisp batter, fried golden. Surprisingly light despite the frying.
📍 Best at a specialist tempura-ya
Wagyū / yakiniku
Top-grade marbled beef (Kobe, Matsusaka), grilled piece by piece at your table.
📍 Yakiniku - you grill it yourself; look for A5 grade
Unagi (eel)
Eel grilled in a sweet-savoury glaze, served over rice (unadon). A summer delicacy said to give you strength.
📍 A summer specialty; famous spots in Nagoya
Kaiseki
A multi-course, seasonal haute cuisine - true art on a plate. Often served at a ryokan.
📍 Kyoto; book well ahead
Matcha & sweets
Bitter green tea with delicate wagashi sweets - and in summer, matcha parfaits and ice cream.
📍 Uji near Kyoto - the matcha capital
Eat it at the source
I’ll put together a trip with culinary gems matched to your taste.
