Where to Dine in Japan

MET freedownload Police Superintendant's Party A Gift of Food and Drink Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japanese, 1839–1892)

Many of our listeners have asked, "Where should I eat in Japan?" So, here is the list! This list is a collection of recommendations by Japan Eats listeners, my friends, and myself. In other words, it is totally subjective. If you would like to add your recommendation, please e-mail us at [email protected].

Itadakimasu!!!

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Hokkaido Region

Hakata

  • KAKU UCHI – Sake bar

Otaru

  • SUSHI KODAI - Standing sushi bar

Kanto Region

Tokyo

  • Aoyama
    • MAISEN – Tonkatsu
  • Akasaka
    • ANDO – Kaiseki
  • Daikanyama
    • TABLEAUX LOUNGE - Cocktail & cigar bar
    • TATEMICHIYA – Izakaya
  • Ebisu
    • ARITSUKI - Motsunabe
    • BAR TRENCH – Cocktails
  • Ginza
    • SUSHI DAIZEN – Mackerel and other shiny-fish only
    • DAZZLE - Contemporary Japanese
    • SHOU TAI EN - Yakiniku
  • Jiyugaoka
    • KOSOAN – Japanese tea
  • Kagurazaka
    • KAGURAZAKA ISHIKAWA - Kaiseki
    • KOHAKU - Kaiseki
  • Kamata
    • HATSUNE ZUSHI – Michelin-Starred sushi
  • Mita
    • SEIZAN - Kaiseki
  • Monzen Nakacho
    • BENKEI – Ramen
  • Nakameguro
    • KUSHIWAKAMARU - Yakitori
    • TORIGOYA –Motsunabe
  • Shiba Daimon
    • SHOU TAI EN - Yakiniku
  • Omotesando
    • SAKURAI TEA – Japanese tea
  • Shibamata
    • KAWACHIYA – Unagi
  • Shibuya
    • FUGULEN - Cocktails
    • SANTOUKA –Ramen
    • UOSHIN – Fish only Izakaya & sushi
  • Toritsu Daigaku
    • YAKUMO SARYO – Japanese tea
  • Tsukiji Fish Market
    • DAIWA SUSHI – Sushi for breakfast!
    • SUSHI ZANMAI – Sushi
  • Yotsuya
    • OKAGESAN - Omakase only Michelin-starred izakaya

Kanagawa Prefecture

Chigasaki

  • TENSEI at Kumazawa Brewing Company – Japanese & sake

Hakone

  • HATSUHANA – Soba

Chubu Region

Kanazawa

  • FUWARI - Izakaya
  • KOURIN - Sushi
  • UOTSUNE – Kaiseki
  • YAMASHITA – Seafood

Nagano

  • CHIKUFUDO – Chestnut rice

Shirakawago

  • NOMURA – Soba

Takayama

  • GINPUTEI – Local cuisine including Hida Wagyu Beef
  • SUMIKYU - Soba
  • KYOYA – Local cuisine
  • SANSHA – Izakaya.  The owner/chef used to be a pizzaiolo

Kansai Region

Kyoto

  • SHIGETU at Tenryuji Temple  - Shojin ryori
  • SOUJIKI NAKAHIGASHI – Kaiseki featuring hand-harvested local vegetables

Nara

  • GYOKURO - sushi
  • WA YAMAMURA  - Kaiseki

Osaka

  • HARIJU – Japanese curry by the 100+ year old meat shop next door
  • OHANA – Okonomiyaki
  • STYLISH GRILL TYU – 8-seat Japanese-style classic French bistro

Shikoku Region

Takamatsu

  • WARAYA -  Udon

Kyushu Region

Beppu

  • KAKUREGA DINING - Izakaya with local ingredients

Karatsu

  • SUIKO ZUSHI - Edomae sushi

Miyazaki

  • OGURA HONTEN - Chicken nanban (fried chicken)

… And don't forget to try:

  • Japanese convenience stores (Seven Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart, Mini Stop, Yamazaki, etc.)
  • “DepaChika” (the basement floor of department stores in Japan)

MET freedownload Sushi (Vinegared Fish and Rice) Food Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (Japanese, active ca. 1799–1823)

Thank you for your contributions to the list!

Aki Ogata, Amy Hau, David Kinch, Joe Capolarello, June Fujise Shimura, LaMonte Heflick, Masa Urushido, Peter D’Aquino, Stephen Lyman, Trevor Blyth

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