If it is your first trip to Japan – or even the second or third -, write down these five gastronomic experiences in your travel notebook so you don’t get lost in the face of so much diversity.
It is very difficult to get bored in this country. With a complex culture that drinks with equal passion from traditions and new rituals, everything in Japan provokes fascination and curiosity in the traveler. Including the kitchen, where this destination shines with its own light. This is demonstrated by the fact that Tokyo remains the city in the world with the most Michelin stars year after year.
- Have fresh sushi for breakfast
It is not what a stomach accustomed to having toast and coffee for breakfast might initially feel like, but going early to the food establishments that surround the Tsukiji market in Tokyo, the largest market in the world, is worth it. Both workers and tourists find in the bars and tables of these small restaurants the freshest sushi in the city, prepared with the fish that has just arrived at the fish market. One of the most popular places is Daiwa Sushi. - Enjoy traditional haute cuisine
Any trip to Japan must include a kaiseki dinner in the travel agenda, whose name refers to traditional Japanese haute cuisine. It is presented in a closed menu of several exquisite dishes, always made with seasonal products and decorated with care. This culinary experience is within the reach of most travelers, since the wide offering also includes affordable proposals. - Eat like a monk
It is true that it is not the tastiest food in the world, but it is an interesting experience that allows you to learn about the country’s vegetarian cuisine. In the preparation of the so-called Shojin-ryori, no meat, fish or eggs are used and it can be tried in Buddhist temples that offer accommodation, such as in the town of Koya-san. The menu usually includes soba noodles , an assortment of tofus, tempura vegetables, miso soup with seaweed and the most typical dish on this menu, Gomadofu, a starch and sesame cake. - Take the experience beyond the palate
To enjoy the highest level of Japanese culinary experience, you must walk through the doors of a ryotei. Here luxury is not only in the food but in the way it is served. The various dishes are ceremoniously brought by the nakai-san and the customer enjoys them in a tatami-covered room overlooking a garden. In these establishments the experience transcends the palate and extends to the aesthetic and spiritual, to the very core of the Japanese essence, where beauty, the moment and harmony maintain a permanent dialogue. These types of establishments are more accessible to travelers in the city of Kyoto. - Sit at the bar of an izakaya
They are the closest thing to our taverns and are distinguished because a red lantern usually hangs from the door. Its name “means sake shop”, although they not only serve this typical Japanese liquor but also food at a good price, usually designed to be shared. In izakayas the atmosphere is more relaxed and lively than in other types of restaurants.