Places to eat in Japan

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Japanese ramen is a popular lunch or late night snack for Japanese business men after hours whose origins came from China, unlike soba or udon which originated here in Japan. There are many kinds of broths used in Japanese ramen. Miso, soy sauce (shouyu), or salt (shio) are some of the regular kinds of ramen broths offered at ramen restaurants throughout Japan.

It's also important to be aware of how many (if not most) Japanese consume their ramen at high speed in a slurping 'race' of sorts. This vacuum cleaner approach can be a bit of a social shock for foreigners who aren't use to the (some might say 'obnoxious') sounds adults slurping down their food and trying to do it all at break neck speeds.

Of course, there's the adage: When in Rome do as the Romans do. But, I personally don't recommend copying the Japanese in this respect. There is a particular correlation between Japanese who develop stomach cancer and other cancers (such as that of the esophagus) and a high level of ramen consumption. The primary factor for such cancer has most to do with downing the ramen while it is too hot. The ramen burns both the esophagus and the inner linings of the stomach causing the development of scar tissue formation which eventually leads to cancer. Ramen also has the double whammy of being salty and this also contributes to high levels of stomach cancer in Japan (particularly Niigata, Akita, and Aomori (where people tend to consume more sodium on average than the rest of Japan)).

However, for those on a tight budget, ramen is relatively cheap when compared to other types of Japanese cuisine.

Favorite Dish: I really prefer the ramen with soy sauce broth (shouyu) chashumen (tender grilled pork).

The main reason why inbound planes to Japan fly with more speed rests with the utterly healthy diet of the Japanese. Upon our table there is a bowl. This bowl is a starter - like a bowl of nachos or a bowl of crisps or a bowl of partially formed chicken eggs - imagine it to be a bowl filled with a snack in your respective country.
What's in this bowl? Crispy, raw cabbage leaves. Totally delicious.

Again, note that CCS has crept across ethnic lines and also pay attention to the couple who are recoiling in fear! Upon the counter you can see my favourite summer tipple - cold sake. They are poured to deliberately overflow into the saucer below. I always try to get them to replace the small saucer with a dinner plate but have yet to strike success in that endeavor.
The man with the beard is my mentor.

Favorite Dish: Fish and Chips.

My homestay family took me to eat okonomiyaki, what they described as a big "pancake"filled with vegetables, fish ,meat, whatever! This is huge! It's like a giant omelette and very delicious. Great for lunch, and cheap, too!

Check out the website I found on how okonomiyaki is made.

several American chains in the Tokyo area. McDonald's is located almost everywhere (no, it doesn't cost ten bucks for a Big Mac). There is a Denny's Restaurant in Shibuya as well as a Burger King. There's also a Denny's in Asakusa. For you coffee addicts, there are many Starbuck's coffee shops all over Tokyo (they like their java too). Underneath the train tracks separating Hibiya and Ginza, there's a coffee shop called Becker's, which has excellent coffee as well as hamburgers. To go along with your coffee, there are many donut shops around too.

There are also T.G.I. Friday's restaurants in Tokyo (Roppongi has one), and they are just as noisy as the ones in the states. If you have a desire for Colonel Sanders, there are KFCs (Kentucky Fried Chicken) stores all over Japan. Many of them have a statue of Colonel Sanders in front of the store

You know ... I opted not to take anyone's recommendations as where to dine. I just walked for a long long time in varying directions then randomly selected places to dine or have a drink. Try this out. See the photo for the name of the place.

Great location.

I found wonderful little Jazz bar. It was nestled in like an upstairs studio. If I recall, it had only room for to high tables and a little bar. When I arrived, there was this moderately attractive woman with a lot of sex appeal. She had a account binder open ... seeming to be doing an audit. She had a few customers in the place. Honest, I'd be surprised if this bar was larger than my guest bedroom.

So, I cozied up to the bar. She was playing Jazz from the USA. The music went back over 40 years. She didn't speak much English. And, I only knew hello, bye, thank you, and how to smile in Japanese. That last action works in any language! This woman knew so much about Jazz that I knew that I had to hurry back to the USA to catch up.

I was in her bar working on some of my freelance writing projects. Absorbing the tunes while my pen rode the melodies in to my personal never never land that I escape to often enough.

When I finished, I left her a $50 Tip. Having stayed there to write for so long I did feel obligated to give her something else.

Favorite Dish: Seafood. Try any combination. I was pleased (see the photo for an example of the specials for the day).

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Sushi is the most popular Japanese traditional cuisine in the world what we would like serve you and made of vinegared rice, usually topped with other ingredients including fish (cooked or uncooked) and vegetables.
Historically. Sushi was a dish only eaten on special occasion such as festivals or parties for congratulating people on promotion, engagements or graduations.
These day, there are a lot of cheap, fast sushi restaurants including Kaiten-sushi restaurant, which offer run-of-the-mill sushi.

There are a few distinct terms used at sushi restaurant.
@For example;
Ethe part of tuna with a lot of fat is called Toro
Eginger is gari, soy sauce is murasaki
Ehot green tea is agari.
Here are some tips to really bring out the sushifs delicious taste.
First, hold sushi upside down in your chopsticks and dip it in a little soy sauce.
But never dip omelet sushi or vinegared fish sushi in soy sauce.

Also, eat ginger when you have fish sushi.
It kills fishy smell and clears the taste on your tongue.
It is said that ginger also help to reduce the hot favor of wasabi.

Favorite Dish: The various fresh stuff are used for Shshis.

Which one have you tasted so far?

- Tuna
- Yellowtail
- Sea bream
- Abalone
- Cuttle-fish
- Blow-fish
- Sea urchin
- Salmon
- Salmon roe
- Eel
- Conger
- Sardine
- Mackerel
- Shellfish
- Scallop

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The Sushi is probably the most known and popular Japanese food. In Europe and USA you can have these days sushi almost anywhere and those are trendy and popular places. In Japan you do not see as many sushi places as you might think and often I just took it from the kiosk as a snack and not as a meal. The photos you can see here are from my own home made sushi I have made it after my return from Japan.

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Coffeehouses culture is blooming in Japan. From the quick self service style to classic cafés, all is now available in the big cities and for the coffee lovers will be easy to enjoy also here a good cup of cappuccino from time to time :)