Around Tokyo
Sample unagi (freshwater eel) here, grilled on hot coals and served in lacquered boxes over rice. Eel numbers have plunged in recent years, and the…
Must-see restaurants in Japan
Downtown Kyoto
As the name suggests, books line the walls of this cool cafe located in a converted machiya attracting a mix of locals and tourists. It’s a great place to…
Ginza & Tsukiji
Truly vegan restaurants are few and far between in Tokyo and ones that make so much effort over their food as Ain Soph are even rarer. Thank heavens then…
Ueno & Yanesen
Tucked down an alley off Yanaka Ginza is this design-savvy deli and cafe that subscribes to the farm-to-table ethos by telling customers all about its…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
Kanae is a perfect example of one of Shinjuku-sanchōme's excellent and all but undiscoverable izakaya: delicious sashimi, seasonal dishes, simple staples …
Central Honshū
Since 1966 this delightful restaurant has been preparing succulent Hida beef in private tatami rooms in a traditional Japanese house. On the banks of the…
Hakone
Savour premium Japanese beef, cooked teppanyaki-style in front of you by the chef, at this elegant restaurant, an outpost of the celeb chef Nobu's dining…
Naha
Perfect for lunch after touring Shuri-jō, Ashibiunā has a traditional ambience and picturesque garden. Set meals feature local specialities such as gōyā…
Kanazawa
A variety of Japanese dishes and yōshoku (Western-style meals) are served at this stylish cafe in the quieter backstreets of Katamachi – the website will…
Ueno & Yanesen
Housed in a beautifully wooden building from 1909, Hantei is a local landmark. It serves courses of kushiage (meat, fish and vegetables deep-fried in oil…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Mensho is the new agitator in the Tokyo ramen scene, now with a couple of shops around town, each with a different speciality. At this one, it's a twist…
Matsumoto
This wonderfully traditional izakaya (pub-restaurant) serves favourites such as oden (a stew comprising fishcakes, tofu, vegetables and eggs simmered in a…
Kamakura
Popular with Japanese celebrities, this rustic little restaurant specialises in handmade ju-wari (100% soba), including kamo seiro (cold soba in hot broth…
Kyūshū
In the middle of nowhere (in a parking lot) in Niji no Matsubara is a brown-and-white Toyota serving burgers so famous people line up to buy them, and…
Matsumoto
Miso and ramen fans shouldn't go past this purveyor of fine noodles in a cute little building opposite the Richmond Hotel. Miso-rāmen and black Kuro-miso…
Southern Higashiyama
Take an old Kyoto house, make it comfortable for modern diners, serve excellent, reasonably priced kaiseki and you have Karyō’s recipe for success. The…
Ginza & Tsukiji
Paradise for food lovers, indeed. This charming, aqua-painted trattoria serves seafood pasta dishes that will make you want to lick the plate clean. Its…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Proof you don't need to shell out a small fortune to eat well in Tokyo is this humble restaurant specialising in Sanuki-udon, wheat noodles from Kagawa in…
Southern Higashiyama
Family owned Chidoritei is a snug little sushi restaurant tucked away in the backstreets of Gion away from the bustle. It's a great place to try delicious…
Niseko
Down the road from the Annupuri slopes, Loft Club glitters with fairy lights and the warm, glowing promise of a filling meal washed down with beer and…
Southern Higashiyama
Housed in a remodelled Japanese building with a light, airy feeling, this branch of Kyoto’s famed Omen noodle chain is the best place to stop while…
Matsumoto
If you're into tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet), try to find this place a block south of the southeastern corner of Matsumoto Castle park. There's a…
Nagoya
You can soak up the atmosphere of this gorgeous, woody Taishō-era building with its tranquil garden and pond over a glass of pinot: try not to spill a…
Nagoya
The Nagoya branch of this globally acclaimed Taiwanese chain, located in the Takashimaya department store at Nagoya Station, is likely to please with its…
Ginza & Tsukiji
A speciality of Akita Prefecture, inaniwa wheat noodles have been made by seven generations of the Sato family. As you'll be able to tell from the glossy,…
Downtown Kyoto
Roan Kikunoi is a fantastic place to experience the wonders of kaiseki. It's a lovely intimate space located right downtown. The chef takes an…
Nagano Region
This cafe is festooned with every kind of wall clock imaginable, and it specialises in variations on the theme of curry; lunch set menus include omu-karē …
Izu Peninsula
This roadstop chain restaurant opposite the beach has zero character, but who cares when it's this cheap, tasty and fun? Choose from bargain-priced bites…
Ginza & Tsukiji
Nobody in Tokyo does tempura vegetables like chef Kondō Fumio. The carrots are julienned to a fine floss; the corn is pert and juicy; and the sweet potato…
Asakusa & Sumida River
A blast of Antipodean sunshine in the midst of Tokyo, Iki is a relaxed all-day Aussie cafe complete with avo on toast, ricotta hotcakes and long blacks…
Ueno & Yanesen
The family who run this charming little restaurant source many of their organic ingredients, including the rice, pickles and vegetables for side dishes,…
Kanazawa
One of Kanazawa's favourite seafood izakaya (pub-restaurants) is as popular with locals as it is with international visitors, so you may have to queue for…
Tokyo
Indian meals in Tokyo don't come much better than those served at this long-established restaurant with deep-indigo plaster walls. The food is very…
Takayama
Atmospheric, inexpensive, welcoming and delicious are all words that spring to mind when describing this wonderful second-generation eatery serving up…
Hakone
The 'Hakone lava' chicken over rice looks burnt to a crisp at this casual joint, but actually it's a juicy, tasty treat and simply a bit of gastronomic…
Kanazawa & the Hokuriku Coast
Umi-tei Notokichi has been a popular local haunt for generations – it's a quintessential Japanese seafood experience. Purists should keep it simple and go…
Takayama
Experience the unique Japanese art of shōjin-ryōri, holistic vegetarian kaiseki dining in an atmospheric building and garden that's almost 200 years old,…
Kanazawa
This trendy spot in the Kanazawa Miyako Hotel building has a comprehensive Japanese menu and a limited English one with all the Western favourites and…
Nagano Region
Revered in Japan by those who value soba (as many do), this wonderful noodle shop claims that Togakushi is the home of soba – and it may just be right. It…
Niseko
This authentic family-run pizzeria headed by the affable Cezar does thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas with a mouth-watering variety of toppings (plus pastas…
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