Food & Drink VacationsJapan

Japanese food is about aesthetics, balance, and fresh, natural ingredients that reflect each region. It runs the gamut from 3-star Michelin degustations, to mouth-watering sushi, to the simple delights of konbini (convenience store) fried chicken. It’s a nation just as proud of its drinks. While sake is the national liquor, Japanese whiskeys and beers are also well-respected worldwide, but there’s nothing quite like sampling them in a proper Japanese whiskey bar or a lively izakaya.     

Balance and Tradition in Kyoto Cuisine

Kyoto’s devotion to aesthetic perfection extends to its approach to food. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in kaiseki, a multi-course meal carefully designed to showcase fresh, seasonal flavours. Sit down to one during cherry blossom season, for example, and you’re likely to find a bright sakura blossom garnishing a course or two.

Of course, kaiseki is usually reserved for a special occasion. For satisfying everyday eats, Kyoto locals and visitors alike descend on Nishiki Market, located in central Kyoto just west of Gion entertainment district. A food tour of Nishiki can unlock a wide range of flavours from throughout the Kansai region you might not have otherwise tried. For a hearty meal before or after a day trip, hit up ‘Ramen Street,’ which is actually a corridor on the tenth floor of Kyoto Station. Here, you can sample ramens from every corner of Japan.

Big City Flavours in Osaka and Tokyo

Tokyo may have the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, but it’s Osaka that’s hailed as Japan’s kitchen! Here, the local mantra is kuidaore, meaning "eat till you drop," and once you taste popular street treats like okonomiyaki—a savoury grilled pancake—and takoyaki—delicious fried balls of batter and minced octopus—you’ll start to agree. A food tour while you’re in Osaka is a must. Be sure to explore Dotonbori, Osaka’s neon-soaked ‘food street,’ that has somehow retained its authenticity, despite its popularity.

That’s not to sleep on the gastronomic delights of Tokyo, which promises everything from high-end dining experiences to hidden izakayas serving more typical comfort food. Japanese bars and restaurants tend to specialize in particular types of cuisine such as sushi, ramen, donburi (rice bowl), katsu (deep-fried cutlet), curry, fine dining and so on, but local izakayas, or Japanese pubs, tend to offer something for every taste, and are as much about culture, socializing and people-watching as they are food.

Practical Eating and Etiquette in Japan

With new dishes to try around every corner, there are a few social mores to keep things neat and orderly. Walking while you eat is a big social faux pas in Japan, but you’re more than welcome to sit down somewhere and enjoy your takeout. Likewise, follow the locals’ lead and pick up a bento box to enjoy onboard the train. Similarly, you can order a bento during a sumo match (if you’re lucky enough to score tickets to one), and even while watching kabuki, provided you’ve paid for a seat. At the fine-dining end of things, absolutely do not no-show for a reservation. Not only is it extremely rude, the restaurant has probably bought and prepared ingredients just for your party, and a no-show will make them less inclined to take bookings from foreigners in the future. Some restaurants, like Ginza’s  Sukiyabashi Jiro, which shot to fame in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, will only accept reservations from a hotel concierge.

Unforgettable Dining with a Difference

For all the great traditional restaurants and fine-dining degustations on offer throughout Japan, we can’t ignore the kitschier delights of our favourite themed restaurants and cafes. We’re not just talking about Akihabara’s famous maid cafes here. Shinjuku’s beloved robot restaurant has sadly closed, but in its place has risen Samurai Restaurant, a fusion of theatre, technology, Japanese tradition and kitsch that offers a similar experience. You can also follow your curiosity to dine alongside Pokemon, Gundam, vampires, ghosts, sumo wrestlers, ninjas or model trains. Enjoy your meal in a school classroom, onboard a train, in a catholic church or buddhist monastery, or even a prison. There are restaurants offering 8-bit and 16-bit retro video games at your table, as well as food streets that seem frozen in time. One cafe welcomes you into the world of Alice in Wonderland, and one even invites you to catch your own seafood (and will reward you with an encouraging chant if you’re successful). That’s just in Tokyo!

Japanese cuisine continues to play a vital role in defining its culture, and these Japan tours are designed to spark your curiosity while tempting your tastebuds.