EAT JAPAN

A N ESS E NT I A L G U IDE TO THIS C U LINA RY HOT SPOT

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 S LU G

OKONOMIYAKI
Okonomiyaki, a pan-fried batter filled
with cabbage and topped with a variety of
ingredients such as sliced meats, fish flakes,
mayonnaise and/or aonori (dried seaweed),
is Japanese comfort food at its best and should
be tried at the bustling street stalls of Osaka where
the dish is said to have originated.

THE MUST-TRY
D I S H E S O F J A PA N
There’s no better way of discovering the nation’s cuisine – recognised by UNESCO
as an Intangible Cultural Heritage asset – than by lining up the following ‘top hits’.
RA M E N
One of the most popular and
inexpensive fast-food favourites in
TAKOYAKI
Japan, ramen – wheat noodles in a What do you say to mouth-watering balls
salty meat- or (occasionally) fish- of batter filled with diced octopus, green
based broth – is served in four major onions and pickled ginger and topped
with mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce? This
soup styles: miso, soy sauce, salt and ultimate street snack was first popularised
tonkotsu (pork bone). To experience in Osaka and should be experienced
the best, head to Tsuta, a humble SUSHI & SASHIMI at either Aizuya (the restaurant that is
Sushi has become almost synonymous rumoured to have
ramen restaurant in Tokyo’s Sugamo with raw fish, but there is another term created the dish),
district, which was recently awarded a for this: sashimi. Sushi is rice, seasoned or Yamachan, the
Michelin star for its efforts. with vinegar, and accompanied by raw only takoyaki
fish or other seafood, vegetables, egg, restaurant to
or even red meat! Whichever you’d ever be listed
prefer, there’s no place fresher than in a Michelin
the shops dotted in and around guide.
Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market.
For something a little more upmarket,
Sukiyabashi Jiro, with its three
Michelin stars, will not disappoint; nor
UNUSUAL SUSPECTS
will the more purse-friendly Irifune.
Fugu (puffer fish): so
poisonous that even the
KAI SEKI CUI SI N E tiniest morsel can kill; only a
Not just a meal, but the ultimate Japanese highly trained chef will do.
dining experience, kaiseki cuisine is best Natto: slimy (and smelly)
described as traditional, multi-course haute fermented soy beans.
cuisine that has evolved over the centuries Basashi: raw horse meat
TEMPURA from the simple dishes once served at tea served in thin slices with soy
It would be a crime to dismiss tempura ceremonies to what it is today. Served in ryokan sauce, ginger and onion.
as ‘deep-fried food’, for imagine if you ( Japanese-style inns) or specialised kaiseki Shirako (milt): a
will large chunks of fresh seafood and restaurants, it comprises a creative procession popular bar snack.
vegetables dipped in a light batter, cooked of dishes made of the freshest local produce, Hachinoko (bee and wasp
in oil, and often served with a dashi-based representing various cooking methods and larvae): a sweet snack
dipping sauce or flavoured salt on the side. presented on a multitude of exquisite plates beloved in central Japan.
While many restaurants serve tempura, and bowls. Head to Kyoto where kaiseki
do yourself a favour and seek out a still reigns supreme and make a booking at
tempuraya (a restaurant that specialises Hyotei, a three Michelin star establishment,
in the dish) such as Seiju, again located or Nakamura, a popular favourite that dates
near Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market. back to the Edo period (17th to 19th century).

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 5 FOOD SOUVENIRS
TO TAKE HOME
SHOPPING

3 POTTERY
Japanese ceramics and pottery are lovely,
with everything from rice and ramen
bowls to sake sets produced in a rainbow
of colours, including distinctive browns,
greens, and blue and white patterns.

1
Shops can be found all over the country
but, if you want to be spoilt for choice, head
KNIVES to Kappabashi Street in Tokyo, known as
Kitchen Town, or go straight to the source:

2
Japanese knives are beloved
by chefs the world over for
Arita and Imari, in north-western Kyushu,
are pottery towns worth exploring.
their precision and longevity.
Much of this has to do with KITKATS
their hand-made construction A SWEET TAKE-HOME TREAT, KITKATS COME IN MYRIAD FLAVOURS
by master craftsmen. Some
blades can cost thousands THAT CAN’T BE FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, FROM RUM
of dollars to purchase, but AND RAISIN AND PURPLE SWEET POTATO TO GREEN TEA AND EVEN
small kitchen knives can be
had for a reasonable price.
SAKE. YOU CAN BUY BOXES FILLED WITH INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED
Shop for them at renowned MINIATURE BARS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE YOU HEAD HOME.
Aritsugu Knives inside Kyoto’s
Nishiki Market, where your
choice will be sharpened on a
giant whetstone in store and
engraved with your initials,
or take a quick train trip from
Osaka to the city of Sakai,
4 PICKLES
Tangy, sour vegetable pickles
or tsukemono are a cornerstone
where the tradition started: of the traditional Japanese
apparently ninety per cent of meal, and they are great to
professional chefs in Japan take with you to use at home.
use Sakai kitchen knives. Pickles are so revered in Kyoto
that there are plentiful stores

5
dedicated exclusively to them;
choose pickled ginger (gari),
cucumber (kyurizuke) and
irresistible plums (umeboshi).
SWEETS AND CANDY
There’s a tradition of giving sweets as thank you gifts in
Japan so they are widely available and seriously cute. The
imperial household historically bestowed konpeito, tiny
pastel-hued sweets that come in pretty boxes, on visitors.
These are available everywhere along with kintaro ame,
little discs that traditionally featured the face of the Golden
Boy (kintaro), but now feature everything from flowers to
Hello Kitty. Also look out for little bento boxes filled with
candies made to resemble sushi and rice, and traditional
wagashi (pictured above).

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 DIIN
F NEI NDGI N
OIUNTG

A N D T H E AWA R D G O E S TO. . .
With so many award-winning eateries scattered across the country, it’s almost Kobe, Nara and beyond. You need
impossible to have a bad meal in Japan, explains chef Michael Ryan. to be your own meta-critic, sourcing
information from many sites to create a
I DON’T KNOW about you, but when Many of Tokyo’s restaurants are so small wish list of restaurants. To restrict yourself
travelling I feel a real pressure to make (think eight to ten seats), and beloved, to just one source means you could well
every meal ‘count’. When you are in a that receiving an anointment from miss out on the less known, more off-the-
new city for just a few days, the idea of Michelin doesn’t really change the bottom beaten-track places that can be just as
having a bad meal can be a serious issue. line, although it may change things for rewarding as the higher-profile offerings.
The often-quoted line that you can’t have the customer, sometimes pushing out There’s a lot to be said for the feeling of
a bad meal in Tokyo isn’t entirely true – bookings to six months in advance. But ‘discovering’ a place that’s not so well
while it is certainly harder to have a bad cooking and running restaurants is hard known.
meal in Tokyo than many other cities, work, and getting recognition for it can One thing’s for sure: with so many great
they are out there. So doing research and be very satisfying; it is also great for those restaurants on offer, your bucket list will
getting recommendations is important. working with you. no doubt be long and probably require
One of the highest-profile guides to While Michelin is possibly the best more than just one visit to the country to
the restaurant scene is the Michelin known restaurant guide in the world, it get through.
Guide. And there is no denying that the
Michelin Guide has had an impact on the
restaurant scene in Tokyo; the city has
WHEN YOU ARE IN A NEW CITY FOR
more Michelin stars than any other city JUST A FEW DAYS, THE IDEA OF HAVING
critiqued by the guide, including Paris.
It’s been a success for the Michelin
A BAD MEAL CAN BE A SERIOUS ISSUE.
Guide too. Hundreds of thousands of is just one of the many tools available to
MICHAEL RYAN’S
Tokyo guides are sold each year, and customers seeking the best of dining in
TOP TOKYO PICKS.
Michelin’s decision to expand to other Japan. In fact you would be doing yourself
Den, jimbochoden.com;
cities (Kyoto and Osaka now have a joint a disservice to use just one guide when
Florilege, aoyama-
guide) has certainly reinvigorated the exploring the country’s vast and eclectic
florilege.jp; Craftale,
brand. The expansion of the restaurants dining scene. There are many online sites,
tables.jp.net/craftale;
featured to include traditional Japanese some customer reviewed, that you would
Kotaru, ameblo.jp/
cuisine, including sushi and even ramen, be crazy to ignore (definitely try savorjapan.
kotaro-info;
shows an awareness of the booming com), and Bib Gourmand, Michelin
Salmon & Trout,
Japanese food scene and a willingness to Guide’s listing of the best restaurants
Setagaya; Namikibashi
embrace the best of the best, no matter offering great food at a reasonable price,
Nakamura, Shibuya.
the style. includes choices in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka,

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 TEA + SAKE

TEA CEREMONY 101

Bringing together theatrical movement, objects of beauty and centuries-old customs in
a spellbinding performance, a traditional tea ceremony is a feast for the senses.

WHEN YOU hail from a country where variations in the temae (serving methods)
using a saucer is all too often considered performed and equipment used.
a formality, the splendour of the Japanese
tea ceremony can be dazzling to watch. TIMELINE
A choreographed ritual of preparing, Beginning with a quick ritual cleanse,
serving and drinking matcha (a powdered guests can expect to spend some time
green tea) that in its current form dates viewing and appreciating the tea-making
back to the 16th century, the ceremony items before the meal is served in small
works to instil tranquillity and courses. Once finished, the host will
mindfulness by bringing together ritually cleanse each tea-making utensil
the mind and body in a series of before preparing the tea. Bows are
pre-determined movements. Curious? considered the ideal venue. In Kyoto, exchanged as each guest receives their tea
Make the most of your first ceremony try En, a small teahouse with plenty of bowl in turn, rotating it slightly to avoid
by getting to know the basics. atmosphere, or the elegant Club Okitsu. drinking from the ‘front’ of the bowl
In Tokyo, head straight to the gardens and wearing away the design. In some
HISTORY of Hotel Chinzanso. variations of tea ceremony, all guests may
Tea has been a fixture in Japan since it share the same bowl and rotate it as it is
made its way into the country via China D E TA I L S passed along.
in the 800s; however, ritualistic drinking It’s not as simple as booking into any old
didn’t begin until the 13th century when ceremony; gatherings are either chakai – a ETIQUET TE
tea-tasting parties became popular under simple event that includes thin tea, a light Taking time to show appreciation is
Kamakura Shogunate rule. meal and confectionery – or chaji, which is essential, and it is also considered polite
a far more formal (and time-consuming) to enter the room on your knees and let
VENUE affair with a full-course kaiseki meal, thick the host seat you. Be sure to also eat and
Although tea ceremony can be performed tea, confectionery, and thin tea. drink everything the way it is served – no
anywhere, a tatami-floored room is Seasonality is also important, with requests for sugar!

SAKE FOR BEGINNERS

Here’s what you need to know about the national drink.

1 Sake is a rice wine 2 Sake has evolved 3 There are various 4 Sake can be served 6 The amount of
made by fermenting over millennia, with sake-producing regions hot or cold, although polishing that has been
rice that has been mention of a brewing where you can visit a high-grade tokutei done to the rice, as well
polished to remove department being brewery, take a tour, meisho-shu is usually as the absence of
the husk or bran. The established in the and taste the wares: drunk cold so as not additives, governs the
brewing of the clear Imperial Palace in try Fukumitsuya Sake to lose the flavour and premium status of the
liquor is similar to Nara in 689. But it was Brewery (fukumitsuya. aroma. Hot sake is sake. Rice polishing is
beer in that it involves during the Edo period co.jp) in Kanazawa, more often than not described in the
converting starch into (17th to 19th century) founded in 1625; served in winter. following levels:
sugar and alcohol. that it started to be Shirataki Brewery Junmai, Ginjo,
Unlike beer, sake produced on a wider in Echigo Yuzawa, 5 Sake is served in Junmai Ginjo,
packs a punch: beer industrial scale. Niigata Prefecture, a small earthenware Daiginjo, and
usually contains up where the winter snow or porcelain bottle finally Junmai
to 9 per cent alcohol provides ample clear known as a tokkuri, and Daiginjo.
while sake can contain mineral water for sipped from tiny cups Look for
up to 20 per cent, but the brewing process; called choko; at special these terms
can be diluted with or Fukuju Brewery celebrations sake is to guide you
water to end up at 15 (enjoyfukuju.com), served in ceremonial when choosing
per cent. located near Kobe. cups or sakazuki. your drink.

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 F O O D C U LT U R E

E AT I N G JA PA N
(FROM TOP TO TOE)
If you think you know Japanese cuisine based on eating sushi every now and then,
think again. Japan has one of the most interesting and diverse food cultures in the world,
with myriad unique delicacies and traditional dishes specific to each region.

WHEN IT COMES to eating your way around an entire

country, France and Italy often spring to mind, but Japan is
now taking its rightful place as a gastronomic destination on
a world scale. Much of its appeal has to do with the intricacies
of Japan itself: the country is made up of a number of distinct
regions, from the winter wonderland of Hokkaido in the
north to the balmy islands of Okinawa to the south, with 47
prefectures (like small states with their own local government
departments) found within these. While much of what we
recognise as Japanese cuisine can be found throughout the
country, each of these regions and many of the prefectures –
along with the cities they contain – also have their own
distinct variations and unique dishes influenced by everything
from traditions and customs to locality. The best way to
sample all that’s on offer is to work your way through it from
top to bottom, literally.

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 The stunning scenery of
Jigokudani or “Hell Valley”,

HOKKAIDO
located above the Noboribetsu
Onsen resort in Hokkaido.

JAPAN’S NORTHERNMOST ISLAND, Hokkaido is known

as a winter paradise, with its capital city of Sapporo playing host
to a world-famous snow festival every February and ski fields
such as Niseko stealing much of the thunder of more renowned
European resorts. But beyond snow, the island also boasts
stunning scenery and abundant national parks to enjoy in the
warmer months. The food here is honest and hearty, relying on
the natural flavours of its local ingredients. Naturally the island
offers specialty seafood, including crab (queen crab, horsehair
crab, red king crab and blue king crab are all found locally), sea
urchins and scallops: order a bowl of donburi meshi (rice topped
with sea urchin, scallops or salmon roe) to get a sample of what’s
on offer. Another seafood speciality is Ishikari nabe, a stew of
salmon, locally grown potatoes and cabbage, konnyaku (a plant
stem also known by the much more enigmatic name of devil’s
tongue) and tofu in a kelp stock flavoured with miso. Ramen is
also a staple on Hokkaido, but as with all things Japanese there
are regional differences: Sapporo specialises in miso ramen
with garlic, wiggly noodles and generous slices of braised pork;
Asahikawa is all about soy sauce ramen; and in Hakodate,
believed by many to be the best place in the entire country to
slurp this irresistibly delicious noodle soup, the ramen has a
lightly salted broth.

TO H O K U
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Swirly soft-serve ice-cream made from
creamy, pure Hokkaido milk is one of the best iced treats you will
ever eat in your life.
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Hokkaido has a fine tradition of brewing
THE TOHOKU REGION, located in the north- crisp, fresh beer; it is the home of Sapporo, after all. The annual
eastern part to the northernmost tip of Honshu, Sapporo Summer Festival takes place for a month in summer
offers up a diverse collection of six prefectures (starting around July 21), with Odori Koen, the park that runs
that take in everything from coast to mountains. through the heart of the cosmopolitan city, transformed into a
The area is famed for its stunning countryside, giant jovial, colourful beer garden.
hot springs and lakes, and the rice produced here
is considered some of the most delicious in the A view of the tranquil
country, especially hitomebore from Sendai, the Oyakuen Garden in the
city of Aizuwakamatsu,
capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, and akitakomachi Fukushima Prefecture.
from Akita. Given its size, there are numerous
unique dishes on offer, many of them featuring
the aforementioned rice; one such dish is kiritanpo,
cooked rice that is kneaded and then toasted on a
skewer and subsequently added to soups. Another
dish unique to the area is the comically named
Wanko Soba, a favourite of Iwate Prefecture, which
involves mouthful-sized servings of buckwheat
noodles being flung into the bowls of diners by
a server as each one is finished; they repeat the
process until the diner is full, sometimes after 50
to 60 serves.
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Sasakamaboko is a steamed
fish paste that is a specialty of Miyagi Prefecture,
especially Sendai; it’s a popular gift or souvenir.
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Tohoku has a fascinating
samurai history; visit Kitakami in Iwate Prefecture,
Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture and the
lovely town of Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture.

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 Looking out onto the

K A N TO
compelling international
city that is Tokyo.

ENCOMPASSING the national capital of Tokyo,

one of the most vibrant and compelling cities in the
world, and including its surrounding prefectures,
this region’s abundance of food choices is truly
staggering. Whole streets in Tokyo are dedicated
to the pursuit of excellence in just one dish, and
the rivalry between Kanto and Kansai (taking in
Osaka and Kyoto) is legendary. Two dishes unique
to Tokyo that must be tried are Fukagawa-meshi, a
jumble of shelled clams and leeks cooked in miso that
is served on a bowl of rice with the soup, which takes
on the taste of the shellfish, served on the side, and
Monjayaki, a loose batter mixed with your choice of
toppings; there are endless restaurants specialising
in Monjayaki on Nishinaka Street, just a few steps
from Tsukishima Station. But Tokyo isn’t the only
place worth eating in Kanto: take the train to Chiba
(Narita International Airport is located in this
coastal prefecture) to try namero, a fisherman’s dish
of fish pieces, miso, sake, leeks, ginger and Japanese
basil (shiso) that are finely chopped into a paste that
when served on top of rice with green tea poured
over it is called magocha.
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Yuba is the bean curd skin
skimmed from the surface of boiled soy milk during
the making of tofu, and it is a speciality of Tochigi
Prefecture, especially in Nikko where you can eat it

C H U BU
dried and wrapped around fillings, or with soy sauce
and wasabi like sashimi. While you’re in the area be
sure to experience an onsen or hot spring bath; there
are a staggering 630 onsen in the prefecture.
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Less than an hour from TRANSLATING as ‘central region’, Chubu is located in
downtown Tokyo, Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture central Honshu, as its name implies, taking in the bustling
is known as Little Edo due to its preserved streets of city of Nagoya, extensive coastlines, stunning mountain
old warehouses evocative of the Edo period; stroll resorts and Japan’s most famous natural landmark, Mount
through the warehouse district and then head to Fuji. Here, miso is a staple, being consumed in more ways
Candy Alley (Kashiya Yokocho), lined with stores than just as a soup like in the rest of Japan. Miso katsu involves
selling traditional Japanese sweets and treats that covering a fried pork cutlet (tonkatsu) in a miso-based sauce
make perfect souvenirs. beloved in Aichi Prefecture, while Goheimochi, white rice that
has been pounded until sticky, skewered and coated in a sweet
glaze of soy sauce or miso before being toasted, is a traditional
snack of the Chubu area. Eel, or unagi, is another specialty of
the region, cultivated in Lake Hamana in Shizuoka.
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Hoto hails from Yamanashi, and while
its combination of flat wheat noodles, pumpkin and vegetables
cooked in miso tastes delicious, it also has mystical health-
giving benefits; locals believe that if you eat pumpkin on the
winter solstice you will never catch a cold.
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Mount Fuji of course! But instead of
admiring it from a distance get up close on a day tour that
takes in the rugged natural beauty as well as the man made,
including the lovely Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine.

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 F O O D C U LT U R E

TAKING IN the ski fields of Nagano, the Hokuriku

region has some of the highest volumes of pristine The stunning Kanazawa
white snow in the world, so it is not surprising that Castle in Hokuriku’s
many of its indigenous dishes have been designed Ishikawa Prefecture.

and adapted over centuries to keep people warm,

from thick soups to hearty stews such as noppejiru, a
collection of meat, seafood and vegetables simmered
in a broth. Another thing warming visitors from
the inside around here is sake, one of Niigata
Prefecture’s specialties. You can take tours of various
sake breweries in the area to sample the wares.
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Hegi soba is a Niigata
institution, consisting of silky smooth noodles made
from a type of seaweed called funori that are wound
into mouthful-sized servings and layered row upon
row in a hegi, or plain wood box.

HOKURIKU
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Visit Toyama Bay to see the
hotaruika or firefly squid, luminescent squid that glow
an ethereal bluish-white as they spawn in shallow
waters from April to May each year. Of course, they
can be eaten as well; try them as sashimi or cooked
shabu-shabu style at the table.

ALSO KNOWN as Kinki, the Kansai region has some serious big-name
On the streets of Kyoto.
cities within its limits: Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe. It is touted as the food
capital of the country, with the locals even coining an expression to describe
what they like to do with their time, kuidaore: literally “to eat until you drop”.
Given the diversity of destinations, it’s hard to know where to start when
describing the dishes of the region, but there are a few staples for any visitor.
In Osaka, where eating is almost a hobby for most, takoyaki or octopus balls
are a staple: small batter balls filled with diced octopus, onion, cabbage and
pickled ginger, and served drenched in a sweet takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise
and bonito flakes. There’s even an Osaka Takoyaki Museum dedicated to
the dish. In Kyoto, visit the bustling Nishiki Market, filled with stores selling
local specialties such as tangy pickles, delicate sugary sweets and tako tamago,
tiny octopus stuffed with quail eggs, and finish off with a bowl of yudofu,
hand-made tofu cooked in a kelp-based soup. In Wakayama, it’s all about
koyadofu, the ancient process of freezing tofu and drying it out. And in Shiga
Prefecture, funazushi is a real ‘only in Japan’ delicacy involving catching funa
(carp) during spawning season, cleaning it but leaving in the eggs, pickling
it in salt for a month, washing it again, and then pickling it for another six
months with cooked rice; the result is sour in taste and pungent in aroma!
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : “Eat until you drop” at Dotonbori, Osaka’s neon
hyper-lit eat street where you can watch takoyaki being whipped up and
mammoth crabs, puffer fish and gyoza denote where each is sold.
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Go further afield than Kyoto and Osaka to the city
of Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture to see UNESCO World Heritage listed
Himeji Castle, considered the most stunning castle in the entire country.

KANSAI
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 F O O D C U LT U R E

WITH HIROSHIMA at the

region’s heart, it is fitting that one
of the most famous dishes hails
from the prefecture. Okonomiyaki
was a popular snack before the
Second World War, but afterwards
it became a meal in itself, bulking
up the poor diet being endured
here. Other must-tries are Izumo
soba, noodles made from unhulled
buckwheat seeds that are stacked in The giant torii gate
bowls called warigo, each layer with in the water near
Hiroshima.
different accompaniments popular in

CHUGOKU
Shimane Prefecture; and Okayama’s
barazushi, sushi rice topped by local
fish, tofu, vegetables and pickles. And
Yamaguchi Prefecture is the best
place in Japan to sample fugu.
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Hiroshima
Prefecture is the country’s leading
oyster producer, with the plump,
shiny mollusc containing more
nutrients and taste than others.
Try them in kaki no dotenabe, oysters
simmered in a miso soup with tofu
and vegetables. THE SMALLEST OF the four main islands of Japan, there are
a lot of mountains in Shikoku, and not much flat land. Those
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Miyajima,
mountains act as barriers, and individual regions have developed a
less than an hour from Hiroshima
unique and deep-rooted food culture as a result. Being surrounded
City, is famous for the centuries-old
by the sea, there is a great selection of seafood, including katsuo
Itsukushima Shrine, built largely over
no tataki, a dish made by grilling the surface of a piece of bonito
water, and the giant red torii gate
tuna over a straw fire, slicing it and serving it with a splash of
anchored in the sea; outstay the day-
broth. Meanwhile, Kagawa Prefecture is famed for its Sanuki udon,
trippers and book a night at a ryokan.
characterised by its square shape, flat edges and smooth texture; the
Sanuki region is known as ‘Udon Kingdom’ due to the proliferation

S H I KO K U
of udon makers and restaurants.
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Sawachi ryori are platters laden with seafood
and vegetables that represent the generosity of the people in Kochi
Prefecture, with the selection laid out to show appreciation to the
gods for a bountiful harvest. Everyone helps themselves from the
same plate.
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : An island in the Seto Inland Sea, and
part of Kagawa Prefecture, Naoshima is filled with modern art
museums, architecture and sculptures, including a giant
polka dot pumpkin by famed artist Yayoi Kusama and a
bath-house-cum-art-installation.

Celebrated artist Yayoi

Kusama’s giant Pumpkin
installation greets visitors
to the island of Naoshima.

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 KYUSHU
BOASTING CITIES such as Nagasaki and Fukuoka, the
island of Kyushu has a distinct personality and some serious
food credentials. Fukuoka has its own version of ramen,

O K I N AWA
tonkotsu ramen, made from boiling down pork bones into a
cloudy broth; restaurants specialising in the dish can be found
around the station area of Hakata in Fukuoka, resulting in
it being named Hakata ramen. Nagasaki also lays claim to
a signature noodle dish, sara udon, which eschews broth in
favour of frying the wheat-flour noodles in oil and adding
seafood, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and pork, and then
a pork-and-chicken stock sauce. Seafood is another staple
here, with a favourite of Miyazaki Prefecture being hiyajiru,
a fish-and-miso soup that is chilled before being poured onto
hot rice and served with vegetables and pickles. Apparently
the dish is a perfect antidote for too much shochu, the local rice
wine that features ingredients such as sweet potato, wheat,
buckwheat and black sugar.
M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Miyazaki mango or Taiyo no Tamago
(eggs of the sun), grown here since the mid ’80s, have reached
The colourful traditional
cult status in Japan; the first fruits of the season are auctioned costumes of Okinawa.
off with prices reaching upwards of $3500.
M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Celebrated for more than 400 years, THE SOUTHERNMOST islands of Japan,
the colourful Nagasaki Kunchi Festival honours the Suwa Okinawa Prefecture consists of a cluster of islands
Shrine with dance and performances involving large floats that once formed part of the ancient Ryukyu
and lots of noise. It is worth taking in from early October. Kingdom. Closer to China than Tokyo, the islands
here possess a wonderfully laid-back pace that is
influenced by the tropical climate and beach culture.
The food presents a unique personality, and is also
credited for its health benefits: the fiercely proud
Okinawans live longer than people almost anywhere
SA K U R A else in the world. Ingredients such as purple sweet
MOCHI potato (beni imo), goya (a nobbly bitter melon) and
umibudo (sea grapes), as well as locally grown herbs
Mochi are traditional rice cakes made
and iron-packed leafy greens, turn up in many of the
from pounded glutinous rice, served
dishes here, including the hugely popular champuru,
throughout Japan, but sakura mochi is
a stir-fried mix of vegetables, tofu and meat or fish.
the pretty pink princess of the lot.
The deep-purple sweet potato flesh is mixed into
Usually served during the spring cherry
vividly coloured sweet tarts and ice-cream or made
blossom (sakura) season, the cakes, of
into noodles. Another dish that speaks volumes of
course, differ from one place to the
Okinawa’s unique history is the cheap and cheerful
next. In the Kanto region, sakura mochi
taco rice – minced meat served on rice mixed with
are constructed from flat, round rice
green salad and salsa sauce – an influence of the
cakes that have a silky smooth texture;
American soldiers stationed on Okinawa Island since
these are wrapped around a dollop of
the end of the Second World War. Also try melt-in-
sweet bean paste and finished off with
the-mouth Ishigaki beef.
a cherry leaf that has been soaked in
brine. In Kansai the mochi has a M U S T- T RY B I T E S : Okinawa has its own tipple:
nubblier texture and is fashioned into awamori, made from rice and distilled like whiskey,
little balls and swaddled in a leaf to can have an alcohol content of up to 45 per cent.
resemble an actual cherry blossom. M U S T- S E E S I G H T S : Taketomi Island, 10 minutes
The one thing they have in common by ferry from Ishigaki Island, has traditional Ryukyu
is the taste: sweet and delicate. architecture, sandy laneways for roads and deserted
beaches that give it a blissful time-forgot feeling.

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 FOOD HALLS

TO K YO ’ S H A L L S
OF HAPPINESS
In order to find some of the finest food on offer in Tokyo, Adam Liaw takes a
deep dive into the fantastical subterranean world of the department store food hall.

Some of the best food in Tokyo isn’t found get an insight into what makes it all their higher levels, again filled with hand-
in tiny holes-in-the-wall or behind the tick – exquisite supermodels of produce, picked outlets serving extremely high-
heavy gilded doors of award-winning deep-fried family favourites elevated to quality food in kid-friendly non-smoking
restaurants. It’s hidden in plain sight, just an art form, and care and dedication put environments. But if you can afford to
underground beneath some of the city’s into every step of the food production wait a little for your food, your options are
busiest and best-known locations. process, from the farmers through to the even more attractive.
Known as depachika (a contraction packaging, which is as elaborate as you’d If the weather is fine, plan for a picnic.
that roughly means ‘department store find in any high-end fashion boutique. Tokyo Food Show, under Shibuya JR
basement’), these are anything but your You need to remember, however, that station, is just two stops from Harajuku’s
average food court. Part-supermarket, these aren’t actually places to eat. The entrance to Yoyogi Park, and from the
part- specialty store, immaculate food hall
part-restaurant, and
part-gift shop, depachika EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT SHOPPING, below the Isetan
department store in
are the art galleries of
Japanese gastronomy,
A WALK THROUGH A DEPACHIKA IS Shinjuku 3-chome it is
an easy walk to Shinjuku
often featuring THE BEST THING A FOODIE CAN DO. Gyoen National Garden.
outlets from the most Or you can just take
impressive restaurants and food stores. lack of space to sit and enjoy your food your food up to the rooftop garden:
If you’re looking for yatsuhashi (sweets) can be a frustration for visitors who want Takashimaya in Shinjuku has a nice one.
brought on the bullet train direct from to dive in straight away. But plan right My pick, however, is the Mitsukoshi
Kyoto every day, a particular type of and you won’t find yourself crouched in a in Ginza. It has one of the city’s most
kombu (seaweed) grown only in the far stairwell trying to scoff down a croquette, impressive food halls, and if you arrive
reaches of Hokkaido, or $400 square gift eating on the train to judgmental stares before 10:30am you can see the store’s
watermelons (that you secretly suspected (it’s considered impolite on local trains), or opening ceremony at the main entrance.
were a YouTube prank, but which actually wandering around Tokyo with pockets full Browse for a while, then pick up lunch
exist), these halls are the place to go. of rubbish because you can’t find a bin. from the food hall. The Imperial Palace is
Even if you’re not in a shopping mood, If you must eat immediately, head up, a short taxi ride away and you can easily
a walk through a depachika is one of the not down. Most department stores will find a spot to enjoy your lunch before
best things a food lover can do. You have impressive restaurant precincts at seeing the palace. A perfect day in Tokyo!

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 S LU G

HANAMI
Nothing says Japan quite
like the visual feast of cherry
blossoms in bloom, with
CAT CA F ES their appearance (often
heralded by news reports)
Fancy your long black with a side of kicking off the annual cherry
purring kitten? Cat cafes – essentially blossom festival all over the
a place for people who always wanted nation. Taking place from
a pet but could not own one – are big the end of March to early
May (depending on location),
business in Tokyo where new spaces of the celebrations mark
all shapes, sizes and themes open on a the arrival of spring with
regular basis. The premise? You pay a gatherings, called hanami,
time-based entry fee, then, it’s a simple under the cherry blossoms
for food, sake and the delight
matter of ordering a coffee while you of feeling a petal graze your
play out your pet-ownership fantasies. cheek as you dine.

W E I R D A N D WO N D E R F U L
D I N I N G D E S T I N AT I O N S
From dining with maiko to getting raucous at a robot restaurant, there’s little
about Japanese dining that could be considered run-of-the-mill. Here, the top
(and wholly unique) dining experiences to be had in the country.

KAMAKURA S HO JIN RY OR I
How does dinner for two in a warmly Picture an ancient temple with
a chef of pure mind, body and
lit igloo sound? If you find yourself soul at the helm, preparing
in Northern Japan in February, join the ultimate vegetarian feast:
in on the local fun where townships a complete meal comprising
five colours and five flavours to
such as Yokote and Iida celebrate bring joy and balance to each of
snow festivals, or specifically your senses. Known colloquially
as ‘Buddhist temple cuisine’,
kamakura, which are the igloos shojin ryori can be experienced
built for the occasion. in restaurants – particularly those
VENDING MACHINES around Arashiyama in Western
Fun fact: there are more than 5.5 Kyoto – but it’s worth paying
million vending machines scattered a little extra to enjoy it while
around Japan, offering hungry diners KAWADOKO lodging at a temple (called
in a rush the chance to trial push- The vogue for dining with water views is shukubo). Koyasan is a great
button everything from hamburgers taken to the next level by kawadoko, a style place to experience this.
and ramen to flying fish soup. While of eatery where the floor or deck is placed
it’s doubtful the machines are likely to over or beside a scenic waterway to keep
deliver anything Michelin star-worthy customers cool during the warmer summer
(although they can offer up tickets to months. Particularly popular in Kyoto,
local Michelin-ranked restaurants), which it must be said is home to some
it’s worth having at least one culinary of the country’s most scenic waterways,
vending food experience, just to say kawadoko is usually available from May until
you have. September. Your mission? To get in early
enough to score one of the best seats in the
house right near the water.

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OSAKA
D R I N K S + C H E A P E AT S

BAR

By Adam Liaw
THANKS TO the huge variety of ways
to enjoy a drink in Japan, heading out
after dark is one of the most exciting
things you can do on your visit. Osakans
THE BEST WAY TO GET UNDER THE SKIN
OF A CITY IS TO HEAD OUT AFTER DARK
AND SEE HOW THE LOCALS HAVE FUN.
and drink” bars are less common.
Those that you do find tend to be run by
foreigners and cater for a more Western
bar experience. These expat bars are fun
Not far from Shinsaibashi, near
V S
the Tanimachi stations you’ll find the
Karahori district, a taste of old Osaka
that is now a network of small streets
have a reputation for being the most and casual, and are just as popular with overtaken by artists, boutiques and
fun-loving people in the whole country, so young Japanese punters as they are with teahouses. Try SO, a renovated ‘mall’ of
there’s no better place to wet your whistle. tourists and foreign workers. There are small shopfronts filled with interesting
The first thing you need to know a lot of these in Minami, and a bite to places to eat and drink, from counter
about Osaka is that the city’s nightlife is eat along Dotonbori and a few drinks in sushi at SUSHI FUKUMAN to a splendid
divided conceptually into Kita (North) Namba will be a great night out, but my kimono-themed bar called LE MUSEE .
and Minami (South). The Minami suggestion is to try something a little bit Or right nearby there’s YUION CHAHO,
areas of Namba, Shinsaibashi and the off the beaten path. a cocktail bar specialising in drinks made
Dotonbori restaurant strip are packed from Japanese teas.
with restaurants and bars and have a real In the heart of Namba you should
party atmosphere. The Kita area near also try the MISONO or “leisure
Osaka Station is more popular with the centre”, a five-storey function centre
locals, with the buzz centred on Umeda popular with office drinking parties,
and neighbouring Kitashinchi. but which also has a whole floor of
Every area in Osaka has a personality, tiny bars that hold no more than a
and you need to decide what you’re in handful of people each.
the mood for. Namba is fun, young and In Kita, drop into YAMABUKI
rowdy, but 30-something office workers in Kitashinchi, a sophisticated bar
might feel more drawn to the slightly specialising in different types of sake,
more sophisticated entertainment or BAR JUNIPER for gin in gorgeous
offerings of Umeda. surroundings.
In Japanese culture drinking alcohol And once you’ve had your fill, grab
is usually combined with food so “stand a late-night ramen on the way home.

CONVENIENCE
STORE BITES:
THE TOP FIVE
2 ONIGIRI
Triangles of rice filled with everything

FOODS TO FIND from tuna and mayonnaise to flaked salted

1
salmon to fish roe to pickled plum, and
either wrapped in nori or finished off with
Forget soggy pre-packed sandwiches
and dry old muffins; Japanese BENTO a little square at the bottom providing a
handy holding spot. They are convenient,
convenience stores offer up a veritable A meal in a box, the ubiquitous bento delicious and super cheap: expect to pay
feast of grab-and-go delicacies. can contain any combination of rice, about Y150 (the equivalent of $1.80) each.
pickled vegetables, tempura, salad, cooked
chicken, meat or fish, sashimi and/or
fruit. They are made fresh daily, and
come displayed in open fridges with
see-through lids so you can see exactly
what you are getting.

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 TOKYO
HOP

V S By Michael Ryan
CATERING TO all levels and budgets,
the high-quality dining scene in Tokyo
is possibly the biggest draw for tourists
choosing to travel to this wonderful city.
More temple than cocktail bar, GEN
YAMAMOTO offers set courses of
cocktails based on perfect seasonal
fruits and vegetables, sake and spirits,
all served in a serene environment at
this establishment, named for its owner-
But Tokyo’s bar scene is equally unique bartender. And as his cocktails aren’t concoctions to order from his selection
and equally fascinating. overly strong, having a set of four or six is of fresh and dried fruits and spices; his
While Tokyo is a mega city that appears manageable and actually a great way to Campari is legendary.
to be all about the macro, once you get start the evening. Bookings are essential. Another Shinjuku must-visit is THE
into the heart of it and see its restaurants An import from Oslo, FUGLEN has a NEW YORK BAR at the Park Hyatt.
and bars, you realise it is actually all more international vibe but still feels as Having played a starring role in Lost in
about the micro. The bars are as small though it could be nowhere but Tokyo. Translation, it now stands on its own merits
as the restaurants; an establishment that Located in Shibuya, it’s a coffee shop for its wonderful ambience.
seats eight is almost the norm. Many feel by day and a bar at night, with a great In Ginza, BAR HIGH FIVE is the
as if they’re run by hobbyists, and the fact beer selection and a relaxed vibe that bartender’s bar. You come here as much
that you happen to enjoy their hobby and is a hit with the expat set. While you’re for the wonderfully balanced drinks as to
want to drink in their bar is just a bonus. in the area, drop into BAR TR AM and watch bartender and owner Hidetsugu
There are plenty of gimmicky bars BAR TRENCH , a block from each other. Ueno create drinks with style and
specialising in any weird quirk you may Specialising in absinthe, both are dark precision. It was Ueno, along with a few
want, but it is the bars obsessively focused moody affairs that are hugely popular others, who put Tokyo’s cocktail scene
on producing the best cocktails possible with Tokyo’s inner-city crowd. The on the map. STAR BAR , also in Ginza, is
that interest me. A drink at a bar after a owners recently opened another bar close another of the original bars, with classic
meal is a great way to make your night in by, BAR TRIAD, if you can’t get enough. drinks and exquisitely attired staff.
Tokyo last a little bit longer (sometimes BEN FIDDICH in Shinjuku is one of And if you find yourself in Kichijoji, a
much longer), and there are plenty to my favourite Tokyo bars, the sort of place vibrant area of laneways filled with great
choose from. But be warned: they can be where you can end up spending far too eating options, SCREWDRIVER is a great
even harder to locate than the often- long. With the look of an old apothecary, option – before finishing the night with a
difficult-to-find Tokyo restaurants. bartender Hiroyasu Kayama creates quick bite to eat, of course.

3 KATSU
SANDO
5 SUSHI
The fact is that Japanese convenience
Juicy, golden fried pork schnitzels coated store sushi is probably better than
in crunchy panko crumbs (tonkatsu) restaurant sushi anywhere else; it is fresh,
resting between two slices of pillow-soft offers up good variety and comes with all

4
white bread and drenched in Japanese the requisite accompaniments (wasabi, soy
mayonnaise; they even come complete sauce, pickled ginger) at a fraction of the
with the crusts removed, further price of restaurant sushi.
enhancing their super sandwich status. SOBA
These buckwheat noodles are served
cold in summer (zaru soba), making
them very portable and surprisingly re-
freshing. The chewy noodles come with
various accompaniments or yakumi, such
as finely sliced green onions, toasted
sesame seeds and thin slivers of nori,
as well as a light soy and dashi-based
dipping sauce (soba tsuyu).

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 S LU G

E AT J A PA N
For more information on culinary experiences in Japan, visit the
Japan National Tourism Organization’s website: www.jnto.org.au

ILLUSTR ATI ON: GR ACE LEE

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