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How to Beat Japanese Summer Heat When Traveling in Japan? images

How to Beat Japanese Summer Heat When Traveling in Japan?

You know those times on the train platform where the crowds make you cringe? You are not cringing at the people per se, just the clammy ugginess of the possibility of contact with clammy, sweaty summer skin. Yes, we all share your feelings. Not even an elbow bump here or a happenstance brush up…(549 words)

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Summer Japanese Summer Tea Coffee May Shop Railway platform Earthquake Vending Machines
Win with a Tai (yaki) images

Win with a Tai (yaki)

Tai, or sea bream, is a fish often used in Japan to celebrate something. The reason is because the sound is part of the word, "medetai," that indicates a cause for celebration. The winners of sumo tournaments, for example, celebrate by carrying a large tai, presumably to be consumed at the feast …(348 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Food Sweets Snacks Green tea Japanese festivals Fish chocolate
What is “Okaki” Sommelier? images

What is “Okaki” Sommelier?

One of the famous traditional snacks in Japan are “Okaki” made of rice (glutinous rice). They are also known as “Arare” or “Kakimochi”. Okaki sommeliers are to recommend best selections of Okaki in terms of material, texture and taste and advise people about unique ways to enjoy eating them and its…(52 words)

OKAKI-sun image

OKAKI-sun

Traditional Snacks Okaki Arare
Don’t Diss “Dennys” Dining During Your Japan Visit images

Don’t Diss “Dennys” Dining During Your Japan Visit

The culture of “Famiresu” or Family Restaurant is iconic and incredibly unique in Japan.http://imgur.com/hl9A8With many Japanese families worried their babbling, food throwing and not-quite-yet disciplined toddlers might bother others too much at an actual big-person restaurant, the “Famiresu…(643 words)

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Dining Yokohama Drink Music Food Coffee Ramen noodles English Japanese food Family Restaurant
Eating in Japan is never a problem! Picnics are the bests images

Eating in Japan is never a problem! Picnics are the bests

When travelling, you have no choice but to eat either in restaurants (nice but it gets on your appetite, and stomach and say good bye to your weight control), or get some room service (a bit sad), or grab some junk food from fast food restaurant and conbini (the 7/11 and other Lawson that have col…(738 words)

Claire image

Claire

Tokyo City Restaurant Park Kyoto Food Department store
Fascinating 4 Akasaka izakaya's of A-un group with reasonable prices, valued quality, and vitality images

Fascinating 4 Akasaka izakaya's of A-un group with reasonable prices, valued quality, and vitality

One recommendable ‘izakaya’ type of operator in Akasaka area is ‘A-un group,’ which is actually operating four ‘izakaya’s under the name of ‘A-un-tei,’ ‘A-un,’ ‘Gonkichi,’ and ‘Kyushu Sakaba,’ respectively in the order of less casualness, providing, though, more or less, the same menu almost for th…(326 words)

Techan image

Techan

Izakaya Tokyo Food May Kyushu Fish Communication Sake (Rice wine)
Leave the tourists behind in Asagaya images

Leave the tourists behind in Asagaya

Most tourists to Tokyo hit the high spots of Asakusa, Ginza, Tokyo Tower, and see the Imperial Palace grounds.If you want to leave the tourist spots behind and get a taste of the real Tokyo though head for Asagaya in Suginami Ward on the northwest side of the city. Asagaya Station can be reache…(417 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Asagaya Tokyo Shopping Food Walk City Hotel Asakusa Chinese dumpling
Ginza Ogura at Haneda Airport images

Ginza Ogura at Haneda Airport

Haneda’s international terminal has an impressive selection of good restaurants in a nicely designed area called the Edo Market Place, although they are all relatively expensive. Once you check in your luggage, you will have free time to wonder and have a meal before boarding the plane. You may…(233 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Airport Haneda Airport Food Tokyo Convenience store Winter Soy sauce Tempura Oden
Kyara-ben or chara-ben Culture images

Kyara-ben or chara-ben Culture

It is a shortened form of character bento. As Autumn is season for sports festivals in Japan, it comes up in our conversations between moms. Moms decorate homemade food to look like cute characters in order to make their kids happy and their lunches more appealing.If you’re interested in seeing…(222 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Food Bento (box meal) Kids Art Sport Autumn Japanese food Apple
Wired-In Dining images

Wired-In Dining

One of the most novel, convenient, and custom dining experiences I have come across in all of my travels can be found popping up in restaurants in and around Tokyo. These hybrid systems of food ordering and delivery are truly an entertaining spectacle while you eat. Technology and food combine to o…(412 words)

Alex image

Alex

Dining Food Technology Tokyo Train Sushi Tea Shinkansen Bullet Train Eat
Tokyo Izakaya for Sashimi and Seafood images

Tokyo Izakaya for Sashimi and Seafood

Izakaya are Japanese style pubs, great places to meet and have drinks. Many izakaya also serve excellent food. Try having a few drinks while you sample some popular izakaya foods. If you like fish and seafood, you should try one of the Isomaru Suisan 磯丸水産 izakaya. Isomaru is a seafood speci…(287 words)

David image

David

Izakaya Seafood Sashimi (Raw fish) Sushi Fish Asakusa Food Japanese
The Absolute Best Burritos in Japan: Cactus Burrito images

The Absolute Best Burritos in Japan: Cactus Burrito

Cactus Burrito offers California "San Diego-style" burritos like no one else in Japan. They’re located just a few minutes’ walk from Musashi-Shinjō Station on the JR Nanbu Line in Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki.Their shop is tiny, but their menu is impressive. In addition to the regular assortment of Mex…(269 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Kawasaki Food Buritto Mexican Cuisine Beer Restaurant Drink
HoneyBaked Ham - Now in Japan images

HoneyBaked Ham - Now in Japan

Just an FYI that you can now get HoneyBaked Ham in Japan. We used to always have this growing up so happy to share it with Japanese friends. They are always amazed to try what we call 'real' ham.www.honeybaked.co.jp. Website is in English or Japanese.This kind of ham is not available…(90 words)

JiyugaokaPaul image

JiyugaokaPaul

Food English Party
Japanese Omelette, “Dashimaki tamago” images

Japanese Omelette, “Dashimaki tamago”

Dashi-maki tamago is basically a Japanese-style omelette made by rolling up the egg as you cook it. Very popular recipe in Japanese restaurant. It is made with dashi broth so it's packed with extra flavor and a bit of sweetness from the sugar. Usually it is served with grated radish (“daikon oroshi…(71 words)

OKAKI-sun image

OKAKI-sun

Restaurant style Eat Sugar
Local Tonkotsu Ramen Shop Urinbo in Asakusa images

Local Tonkotsu Ramen Shop Urinbo in Asakusa

In Tokyo you can try some of the best food from all over Japan here. At Urinbo ramen in Asakusa, you can have good Hakata style tonkotsu ramen without a trip to Fukuoka in Kyushu.Urinbo is a local shop, but don’t be shy to go in. Students, workers, and families with hungry kids all come here. I…(332 words)

David image

David

Ramen noodles Tsukemen Asakusa Tonkotsu Tokyo
Casual Shojin Ryori in Tokyo images

Casual Shojin Ryori in Tokyo

Shojin Ryori, or shojin cuisine, is the form of Buddhist cuisine that is popular with the vegetarian/vegan foreigner crowd here in Japan. Traditionally the food that Buddhist monks make for themselves in their temples, there are only a handful of restaurants in Tokyo that serve this cuisine. Howeve…(432 words)

Nico image

Nico

vegetarian Tokyo shojin Vegan Restaurant Food Roppongi
“Restaurant Chez Mikawa” –Fine Belgian cuisine and beer in Akasaka since 1987 images

“Restaurant Chez Mikawa” –Fine Belgian cuisine and beer in Akasaka since 1987

Do you like Japanese beers? Yes, they’re light, fine and refreshing. I love them! But sometimes, I feel like having something different, like Belgian beers. In Tokyo, you can find bars offering Belgian beers, more easily than before. So, you might know what kind of taste they are. How about Belgian…(480 words)

YumikoH image

YumikoH

Restaurant Beer Cuisine Tokyo Food English Walk Wine Lunch Cherry
Shimokitazawa Area Restaurants #1 Midorizushi ~ the best of Sushi Shops images

Shimokitazawa Area Restaurants #1 Midorizushi ~ the best of Sushi Shops

There are a few great sushi masters who can transform sushi into food for the gods!Midori-zushi. Among the modest 'sushiyasan' creating traditional sushi along with innovational original dishes, there are many master chefs. They say little, giving their sushi creations their full attention. Howev…(311 words)

Andrew Grimes image

Andrew Grimes

Sushi Shimokitazawa Seafood Food Zushi style Eat Traditional Holidays
Hot, Fresh Coffee On The Go! images

Hot, Fresh Coffee On The Go!

Make no mistake. If you love coffee, Tokyo is one of the best cities in the world. As it is with so many other types of food and drink, you can find just about anything your caffeine-craving soul could want here. Tokyo's love affair with coffee started after the end of World War II, when the G…(808 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

Coffee Tokyo City Food Drink Convenience store Shop Cafe
Eating at Daihanten in Yokohama's Chinatown images

Eating at Daihanten in Yokohama's Chinatown

Daihanten, in Yokohama's Chinatown, is one of the most famous shops the area. There are actually two, I'll be speaking about their "honten" (main shop).I recently went for lunch with a large party of thirteen. Once we managed to get through the large crowd of waiting customers in the downstairs…(275 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Yokohama Chinatown Restaurant Food Shop Kanagawa Lunch Dinner Eat
Mikasa Kaikan, quality libations & comestibles in the hart of Ginza images

Mikasa Kaikan, quality libations & comestibles in the hart of Ginza

Quality and connivence in Ginza, Mikasa Kaikan has a lot to offer. Located half a block back from Harumi Dori and 3.5 blocks from the famous Ginza 4 - Chome intersection, it's close to Ginza's high energy central shopping area, easy to find and serene all at the same time.Meet up with friends a…(216 words)

Aron image

Aron

Ginza Food Drink Visit Shopping English Cuisine style Dining Japanese food
Kirin Yokohama Beer Village images

Kirin Yokohama Beer Village

Kirin Beer originates from YokohamaThe Kirin Beer Village, where you can learn about the history of beer, is surely a place that any beer-lover would want to visit.Kirin Beer originates from Yokohama. Kirin Yokohama Beer Village is the oldest brewery in Japan (completed in 1926), and reportedly…(929 words)

Kanagawa P.G.T.D. image

Kanagawa P.G.T.D.

Yokohama Beer Kirin Visit Japan Drink History Shop Children style
Exquisite French Fine Dining in Yokohama images

Exquisite French Fine Dining in Yokohama

Although I live in Yokohama, I avoided this restaurant for years thinking Queen Alice "had to be" overrated and overpriced. Created and owned by former Iron Chef, Yutaka Ishinabe, why else wouldn't I?But last night I took my girlfriend there for our three-year anniversary, and had a wonderful, …(244 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Yokohama Dining Restaurant Fine Dining Japan Visit Food Dinner Dessert French cuisine
Another Easy and Affordable Way to Beat Tsuyu (the Rainy Season) images

Another Easy and Affordable Way to Beat Tsuyu (the Rainy Season)

Two years ago I wrote about one of my favourite summer dishes: "Hiyashi Chuka" - chilled Chinese noodles. It's a summer staple in Japan because it's tasty, light, and refreshing - a perfect meal to beat the season's sultry summer heat: http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3324As soon as June starts, you …(229 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Rainy Season Chilled ramen noodles Food Convenience store Snacks Japan Restaurant Summer Ramen noodles Eat
Yoshiwara and Oiran and TEMPURA images

Yoshiwara and Oiran and TEMPURA

In Japan, there was a place called "Yoshiwara".It is a famous place, the woman named Oiran, but it is not anymore.Things that Japanese men expect to women,It is a little childish gesture and innocent face.The reason is because cute.Its roots can be found in Yoshiwara and Oiran.100…(121 words)

asteka image

asteka

Tempura oiran Guide Japan City Japanese River Eat Playing Tokyo
Ponta, you know what... images

Ponta, you know what...

In Japan, there is a dish called pork cutlet.Its name is called "TONKATSU".There is a way to find the No. 1 delicious shop in "TONKATSU".It is to look for a shop called "Ponta".No. 1 "Ponta" shop is here, UENO-Okachimachi.Price is high, but, But is a well-established store.We …(76 words)

asteka image

asteka

Japan Ueno Tonkatsu (Pork cutlet) Shop pork Tokyo
Suzuhiro Kamaboko images

Suzuhiro Kamaboko

Kamaboko is a seafood product that is steamed, grilled, fried, or poached. Kamaboko is made from white fish, which is filleted, pounded into paste, mixed with salt, sugar, egg whites, fish sauce and Japanese sake. You can enjoy the goodness of fish with a delicious flavor and a unique texture-smoot…(349 words)

Kintaro-man image

Kintaro-man

Tokyo History Beer Sake (Rice wine) Eat kamaboko Odawara Food Kanagawa Hakone
Handle your sushi like a pro images

Handle your sushi like a pro

Ignoring preparation (which can be an intensely meticulous process on the part of sushi chefs), nothing about the actual consumption of sushi needs to be complicated, at least in my experience. After all, it is only a slab of fish over a block of rice. Sushi is meant to be eaten in one bite, so han…(172 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Sushi Restaurant Soy sauce
Elaborate onigiri is king images

Elaborate onigiri is king

Traditional onigiris have a nice healthy appeal, and retain the "classic" Japanese dietary elements, such as rice, fish, and pickled veggies, but let's not limit ourselves to just the classics. Every convenience store has its own brand (or at least brand that is made for that convenience store), an…(178 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Onigiri (Rice ball) Convenience store Karaage (Fried chicken)
If you like potato chips - you MUST try "Jagariko" "じゃがりこ” images

If you like potato chips - you MUST try "Jagariko" "じゃがりこ”

I don't know why these are not in the States yet. Just think of a potato chip but shaped like a french fry. Many flavors, easy to eat, and they don't crumble all over you or your keyboard!I know Japanese who swear they are best dipped in mayonnaise.(49 words)

JiyugaokaPaul image

JiyugaokaPaul

Mayonnaise
Taste over tradition images

Taste over tradition

A late night gorge at a typical Japanese junk food restaurant just can't be beat. One thing which I always go for is ramen, but not just any ramen. Taste over tradition is the key concept, and many older or more traditional Japanese people scoff at some of the wild creations that downtown ramen sho…(133 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Tokyo Restaurant Roppongi Ramen noodles Miso Akita
Find Taisho(Sushi restaurant's head chef) images

Find Taisho(Sushi restaurant's head chef)

When you go to traditional sushi bars or restaurants. Usually it's pretty small and there is a counter bar.Find Taisho(Sushi bar / restaurant's head chef) and order "omakase"Omakase means "chef's special". They offer you today's recommendation fresh fishes. ( 12 ~15 pieces usually)Traditi…(58 words)

yukorose image

yukorose

Restaurant Sushi
Don't play with your chopsticks! images

Don't play with your chopsticks!

When I was child, my grandmother often said to me. "don't play with your chopsticks!"1. Don't pointed out people with chopsticks2. Don't spear your food with a chopsticks3. Big no no is stand chopsticks upright in rice, (this means 'death')Of course it's better use chopsticks properly, …(59 words)

yukorose image

yukorose

Etiquette
Nutritious Japanese snacks [a work in progress] images

Nutritious Japanese snacks [a work in progress]

The Japanese diet is superior to the western diet in many ways and, although western snacks such as cookies, potato chips and other sweets are easy to find, low cal and nutrition dense foods are easy to find.Let me define my terms here. Low cal are foods that are less than 150 kcal/serving. N…(236 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

Tokyo Shopping Convenience store Department store Fruits Rice cracker
Making tasty okonomiyaki images

Making tasty okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki means, literally, "cooked to your own preference." At a restaurant, take a look around and see how others cook it. Making a pancake and letting the first side cook is reasonably easy, But taking the special spatulas in both hands and flipping it in a single motion takes practice. Ord…(58 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Restaurant Okonomiyaki
Dagashi-ya images

Dagashi-ya

The most interesting places to get snacks in Japan are at dagashi-ya, which means, literally cheap snack store. Dagashi are mostly very inexpensive candies and other snack items that have been around for many years, especially in the mid-Showa post-war period. While the prices have gone up since …(101 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Tokyo Shinjuku Shibuya Akihabara
SOBA or UDON! Which one you would like to eat? images

SOBA or UDON! Which one you would like to eat?

Almost all Tachigui soba Shop provide both Soba and Udon.If you went tachigui soba shop ,shop staff ask you which one you want to eat ?soba or udon? Depend on your favor ,Please tell them soba or udon.(39 words)

karnavi image

karnavi

Soba noodles Udon noodles
Arrive there at around 9:00 images

Arrive there at around 9:00

Maybe it's not a fun tip, but they don't let non-licensed general public into the inner market until 9:00. So, when going there, make sure that you arrive there at around 9:00. If you get there too early, you may need to wait till 9:00 to see all the goodies.(47 words)

taro image

taro

Tsukiji
Soup Base images

Soup Base

Soy sauce seems to make its way into all of Japanese cuisine one way or another. Often times just as a replacement for salt in cooking. I find that my bottle in my apartment most commonly makes its way into soups. I usually boil green onions and other stuff like a chicken carcass or fish flakes, an…(108 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Soy sauce Soba noodles Miso Salt Miso soup Cuisine Japanese cuisine
Ewww - it's seaweed?!!! images

Ewww - it's seaweed?!!!

You might think it's yukky, but seaweed is really fantastic! Not only is it healthy, but it is tasty, too. There are so many different kinds of seaweed that Japanese eat and many different ways of eating it, too. Think of seaweeds as sea vegetables, and you get a better idea of the yummy variety…(192 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Sushi Sea Miso Miso soup Winter