Section
Food and Drink
19 stories
Fushimi Sake District Guide: Kyoto's Sake Brewery Neighborhood
Fushimi is Kyoto's sake brewery district — white-walled breweries, a canal boat ride, and tastings a short train ride from Fushimi Inari. Here's how to spend an afternoon there.
Vegetarian and Vegan Japan 2026: Honest Survival Guide
Fish dashi hides in “vegetable” dishes. Use HappyCow, a Japanese vegan card, confirmed shojin, and city-by-city tactics so plant-based Japan actually works.
How to Order at Ichiran in Japan: Ticket Machine, Booths, Order Sheet, Kaedama
Official Ichiran system: vacant-seat panel (空), flavor booths, circle the order sheet, call button, and kaedama sensor — no reservations.
Japan Cream Soda: The Neon Kissaten Float That Isn’t Vanilla Extract Nostalgia
Japanese cream soda is melon (or fruit) soda under vanilla ice cream — a kissaten classic with roots in Ginza soda fountains. Where it came from, what to order, and how not to drink it like a kid’s menu joke.
Japan Morning Service: The Kissaten Breakfast That Comes With Your Coffee
Morning service (モーニング) is Japan’s kissaten breakfast deal — thick toast, boiled egg, coffee, often until 11am. Nagoya made it famous; Tokyo and chains like Komeda still serve it.
Nomihodai Explained: Japan’s All-You-Can-Drink Rules (Time Limits, Last Order, Etiquette)
Nomihodai is timed all-you-can-drink — usually 90–120 minutes. What chains put in writing, glass-exchange rules, and when à la carte is cheaper.
Tokyo Depachika Guide: The Department-Store Basements Where Locals Actually Buy Dinner
Depachika is Tokyo’s real food hall: Isetan Shinjuku, Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya, Daimaru. Bentos, sweets, omiyage, and the 7pm discount trick — without treating it like a museum.
Tokyo's Most Talked-About New Restaurants in 2026
The 2026 Michelin Guide Tokyo added 18 new starred restaurants, and a wave of buzzy openings landed alongside them. Here's what's actually worth booking.
Udon in Japan: What Makes Sanuki Udon Different, and Where to Eat It
Kagawa Prefecture takes its udon seriously enough to be nicknamed Udon Prefecture. Here's what separates real Sanuki udon from the rest, and where to find it.
15 Best Breakfast Spots in Tokyo: From ¥500 Convenience Store to ¥5,000 Hotel Buffets
Best breakfast in Tokyo 2026: Fluffy Japanese pancakes at Flipper's, traditional Japanese breakfast at Tsukiji, convenience store onigiri for ¥150. Complete guide to Tokyo breakfast from budget to luxury across all neighborhoods.
12 Best Tempura Restaurants in Tokyo: From ¥1,200 Tendon to ¥20,000 Omakase
Best tempura in Tokyo 2026: Tsunahachi for classic tendon, Kondo for seasonal vegetables, Tempura Mikawa for Edo-style perfection. Complete guide to Tokyo's top tempura restaurants by style, price, and neighborhood.
10 Best Yakitori Restaurants in Tokyo: From ¥2,000 Izakaya to ¥18,000 Omakase
Best yakitori in Tokyo 2026: Toriki for classic yakitori izakaya experience, Birdland for Michelin-starred omakase, Torishiki for impossible-to-book perfection. Complete guide to Tokyo's best yakitori by neighborhood and price.
Best Ramen in Tokyo 2026 (Local Favorites by Style)
Best ramen in Tokyo: shoyu at Tsuta, tonkotsu at Ichiran, tsukemen at Fuunji — ranked by style, neighborhood, and price for 2026.
Hidden Tokyo Cafes: 12 Secret Coffee Spots Locals Won't Tell You About
Hidden Tokyo cafes 2026: Kissaten underground in Shibuya, jazz record cafe in Koenji, book cafe in Jimbocho. Secret coffee spots away from tourists.
Osaka Food Guide: What to Eat and Where (2026)
Osaka is Japan's most food-obsessed city. Here is what to eat, where to find it, and why kuidaore is a way of life.
Best Izakaya in Tokyo: Where to Drink and Eat (2026)
Best izakaya Tokyo 2026: Andy’s Shin-Hinomoto, Uoshin, Torikizoku, Ebisu Yokocho, Omoide Yokocho — what to order, covers, cash rules, and real review notes.
Japanese Food Guide: What to Eat in Japan (2026)
What to eat in Japan in 2026: ramen, sushi, yakitori, tempura, tonkatsu, izakaya, depachika, and regional specialties — from konbini onigiri to kaiseki.
Best Coffee in Tokyo: The Definitive Guide (2025)
Best coffee in Tokyo? Fuglen, Blue Bottle, Kurasu, and the kissaten. Here's where to find the best coffee in Tokyo.
Best Sushi in Tokyo: From ¥100 Conveyor Belts to Omakase Counters
Best sushi in Tokyo? Sushi Dai, Saito, Sukiyabashi Jiro, or a standing bar in Tsukiji. Here's where to find the best sushi in Tokyo.