Food will undoubtedly be a highlight of any holiday to Japan. With Michelin star restaurants, unbeatably fresh and locally sourced ingredients and an emphasis on seasonality of food, the country is now widely considered the new food capital of the world.
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Japan
Tempura in Japan.
When dining out in Japan you’ll find that the majority of restaurants usually serve only one type of food, so when eating out first decide what you want to eat and then find a restaurant that serves it.
There are of course exceptions to the rule and if you want to try a range of Japanese foods then head to an izakaya. Identifiable by the red lanterns hanging outside these are the equivalent of our pubs and offer a whole cross section of Japanese foods.
Average price £35 per person
This sushi restaurant has various outlets in the city with our favourite being the Ginza branch. With fish flown in daily from all corners of Japan, the restaurant serves up excellent sushi in an authentic setting (reputedly the inspiration for one of the scenes in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill”). Open for lunch and dinner and serving set menus or a la carte dishes of sushi, sashimi and some grilled items the food is best enjoyed with some sake or a glass of shochu.
Average price per person £15
For a truly authentic yakitori experience head to one of the streets running alongside the railway line to Tokyo Station. It’s a little tricky to find but the tell tale lanterns and smokey grill aroma will give it away. Under each arch you’ll find a collection of tiny restaurants specialising in grilled chicken and ice cold beer. Just about every part is on offer, including the skin and cartilage. Fear not – they are delicious. Expect to pay a few thousand yen for a very good feed.
Average Price £75 - £150 per person
Located in an old-fashioned part of Kyoto, Yoshikawa offers possibly the best tempura in Japan. Served in the beautiful surrounds of Yoshikawa Ryokan it’s a small and intimate place with a traditional atmosphere. The restaurant offers table seating but it’s much more interesting to sit around the small counter and observe the chefs at work. Dinner does not come cheap here but if you ever wondered what tempura really should be like, you will find the answer here. Reservations are essential.
Average Price £5 per person
Although the building doesn't look as though it contains restaurants, its name means "okonomiyaki village," and this Hiroshima institution is exactly that - floors of individual stalls, dishing out okonomiyaki. Wander through the area and stop at a stall that catches your fancy. Or, for a specific recommendation, try Chii-chan on the second floor. This restaurant sells between 200 and 500 okonomiyaki a day and is certainly one of Hiroshima's most beloved establishments. It’s a great place to try the local special oyster okonomiyaki.