Advice about Eat and Drink
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“Hina-arare” - Grilled bits of rice cake for the Girls' Festival
“Hina-arare” are sweet rice cakes eaten for the Girls’ Festival on March 3. There are mainly two kinds depending on what they are made of; glutinous rice and ordinary rice. Kanto people are more familiar with the one made of ordinary rice while Kansai people are more familiar with glutinous rice on…(76 words)
OKAKI-sun
Ningyo-yaki: Little Baked Doll Cakes
Ningyo-yaki （人形焼） is very popular in Tokyo Asakusa where you can watch them being baked. This is one of my favorite Japanese sweets and a very good omiyage gift. Ningyo is the Japanese word for doll, so the name of this sweet reads "baked dolls". Ningo-yaki are small cakes baked in small m…(192 words)
David
Do not stick your chopsticks upright in your rice!
Do not stick your chopsticks upright in your rice. This is considered as a very bad manner and it makes people cringe. Because it’s the way a bowl of rice is offered to a dead person, at their deathbed or in front of their photograph on the household Buddhist altar. Also, do not spear your foo…(107 words)
EmiOnishi
SUKEROKU
When I don't have a clear idea of what type of food (bento) to buy, I always choose SUKEROKU bento.It is simple bento, kind of Sushi without raw fish.As you see the picture, two kinds of sushi are in.One is NORIMAKI, rolled by seaweed, inside : Kanpyo, brown color, cooked vegetable, boi…(137 words)
Moo Moo
Kintsuba - Japanese Sweets in Asakusa
Kintsuba きんつば is one of the Japanese sweets that I like because you can watch them being made. This photo is from a small shop in Asakusa located in the Nakamise-dori shopping street at Senso-ji temple. You can try the Kintsuba fresh, still warm. Kintsuba are made from sweet bean paste. The…(255 words)
David
Enjoy Japanese Chu-hi drink !
You will see an overwhelming numbers of Chu-hi cans lined up in a rowbesides beer and wine in every convenience stores. Chu-hi is aJapanese-shochu-based cocktail, which has now become a widely acceptedbeverage nationwide in Japan with a variety of offerings such as localfruits flavors.A…(332 words)
fujimorison
SAKE 101: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SAKE
A trip to Japan would not be complete without a little sake tasting! But unless you are an avid sake drinker, it can be hard to know where to begin.To help you navigate the world of sake, we’ve done plenty of research in Japan: from consulting with sake connoisseurs, to sake tastings and sampli…(1032 words)
Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan
Kaminari-okoshi: Asakusa Thunder Crackers
Kaminari-okoshi （雷おこし） are traditional Japanese sweets. Crispy rice is mixed with sugar and syrup, pressed down into a flat shape and cut into squares. Often there are some peanuts mixed into it, but there are also many other flavors such as macha green tea and sesame. The added ingredients giv…(286 words)
David
What is Okaki?
Okaki is one of Japanese traditional snacks made of rice (glutinous rice). In order to make okaki, rice is first polished, cleaned and steamed to make into mochi. When mochi is hardened, it will be cut into smaller pieces for drying. This drying process is the most difficult step for professional o…(83 words)
OKAKI-sun
Komeda Coffee: the First Trend to Start in Nagoya
Komeda Coffee is a chain cafe that originated in Nagoya, and has since spread across the country. I often joke with my friends that Nagoya is the last place to be informed of the latest fads, but this time around, Nagoya became the trendsetter. Of the more than 400 stores nation-wide, in Aichi …(320 words)
Misa
I opened a craft beer bar in Tokyo
I recently opened a new craft beer bar in Tokyo and I thought an article re the process of this would be interesting. After the forced closing of my previous beer bar in Aoyama (the building was being demolished to make way for a redevelopment) I was in a situation where I had to relocate the b…(1288 words)
Adstev73
Traditional Japanese Snacks Yokohama Style
When you think of traditional Japanese snacks, senbei (rice crackers) surely comes to mind. But have you heard of "arare"? Arare are bite-sized Japanese crackers made - like their senbei cousins - from glutinous rice and flavored with soy sauce. The size and shapes are what distinguish arare from s…(300 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
The allergy of TEMPURA Japanese-style food is taught to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGVaVlms3G8&feature=share&list=PLkckVuTIJ6_ceUqknqbwWg9aIxRJ9LlkD&index=5I introduce information of food allergy.This time is tempura.The nice restaurant I ate gluten-free tempura was "Tofuya Ukai" in Kanagawa.1-18-4 Saginuma Miyamae-ku Kawasaki Kanagawa…(66 words)
Eddie
How To Eat Japanese Soba Noodles - The Sound Makes the Experience
Eating Soba in Japan is an all around sensory experience. The smells, sights, and feel of the soba are crucial to experience this most traditional Japanese dish. One sensory aspect however that is not always associated with a culinary experience is sound.The sound of soba is a result of the con…(381 words)
KurtisW
Food Delivery Systems of Japan
With the engaged city life that many may find while living here in Japan, city problems are to arise. One of these problems that may occur may well be food; how to get it, pre-cooked and prepared, organic, gluten-free, and so on. Although the concept of food delivery is nothing novel, in Tokyo, the…(446 words)
Alex
Trappist Cookies
The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance is better known throughout the world as Trappist. The order is Roman Catholic, cloistered contemplative monastic monks and nuns who live in monasteries. Originally part of the Cistercian Order, the Trappists broke off to form an independent order…(458 words)
mikekato
“OKAKI” and “OSENBEI”
I would recommend “OKAKI” and “OSENBEI” – both are one of the most popular snacks in Japan. OKAKI is essentially toasted cut and dried MOCHI rice cake. SENBEI is originally based on uruchimai, a non-glutinous rice – grind uruchimai, steam, dry, toast and brush with a flavoring sauce. Often both of…(109 words)
OKAKI-sun
The Best Butter in the world!
Calpis is OK to me, but Culpis Butter is the best butter by far!!! It is so smooth, so rich, just so tasty.There are many good bread in Japan. If you really want a good toast, you have to have a good butter too. Try Calpis Butter. It is about twice as expensive as regular butter, but more tha…(109 words)
Hitomi
"Jibie" Cuisine in Okayama
A trend utilizing wild game, specifically wild boar meat, is sweeping Okayama Prefecture. Known as "jibie" （ジビエ）in Japanese, the word is derived from the French "gibier" and simply means "wild game".Although I am generally very adventurous when it comes to trying new food, I have never rea…(280 words)
Andrea Miyata
How to be Polite in a Restaurant in Japan?
These are not just little finger towels placed neatly next to your plate for conveniently wiping stray food off of hands and fingers...these Oshibori are almost like an appetizer to the meal itself. You go into a restaurant, settle in with some water or tea and an Oshibori wet towel. Some places wi…(139 words)
5@example.com
Hanami Dango (Three-color dumpling)
Sanshoku Dango (dango of three colors)is a skewered dango formed of one pink dumpling, one non-colored white dumpling and one green dumpling. Each color has a meaning : cherry blossom in spring, snow in winter and grass in summer. Wagashi (Japanese sweets) is one of the wonderful Japanese culture d…(67 words)
OKAKI-sun
Agemanju - Sweet Deep-fried Cakes in Asakusa
There are many good reasons for a visit to Asakusa: Senso-ji temple’s gates and pagoda, tiny Hanayashiki amusement park, Japanese kabuki theaters, old restaurants, and shops selling kimonos and festival clothing. And then there is the area around the temple’s Nakamise street where you can buy souve…(253 words)
David
KOUMEN - Best Egg Tarts in Yokohama Chinatown
Egg tarts are my absolute favorite dim sum items, but it's very hard to find them in bakeries in Japan unless I make a trip to Yokohama Chinatown.The egg custard tart (commonly romanized as daan taat) is a kind of custard tart pastry found in Portugal, England, Hong Kong, and various Asian countrie…(209 words)
Suetsumuhana
Winter Fruit: Strawberries!
Best Winter Fruit: Strawberries!The strawberries that are grown in Japan are different varieties than those grown in my home country (U.S.A) and are super large and super sweet! Whereas American strawberries are grown in fields, Japanese strawberries are grown in elevated beds in vinyl greenhou…(221 words)
Andrea Miyata
'SKIP Ferret & Cafe' in Okayama
When I recently heard that Okayama City now has a ferret cafe, I knew I had to go. Although I'm not especially "into" ferrets, I enjoy interacting with animals of all kinds, so news of this cafe caught my attention.Apparently there are only a few ferret cafes in the country; I found online refe…(486 words)
Andrea Miyata
Enospa Sojourn Part 3: “The true meaning of massage and Enoshima Island Spa Bengteng Spa”
... My partner chose to experience the Signature Massage" (see Enospa Sojourn Part 2) ... I went for the 40 minute massage which focuses on the feet mostly going as far as the knees. This was a real foot massage by a kind and polite yet very strong armed professional massage therapist My partner o…(265 words)
Andrew Grimes
Lots of authentic French bakeries in Japan
Many bakeries in Japan, especially in a trendy area/at a major station building, offer authentic French-style bread. Paul is a well-known French bakery chain, but Jean Francois, Le Pain Quotidien, Bigot, Viron, Aux Bacchanales and many other local bakeries have amazing selections of bread too. …(71 words)
Natchan
“Isobe-maki”
I would recommend to wrap “mochi (rice cake)” in “nori (laver)” seaweed. It’s one of the nicest traditional cooking style. You might want to add a little bit of sugar to soy sauce, dip well-toasted cut pieces of mochi in that sauce and wrap the rice cake with nori. This is called “Isobe-maki”. Y…(68 words)
OKAKI-sun
Nigori-zake, thick like milk
Sake, made from rice, comes in all grades and qualities, usually hanging around the 12% alcohol range. One type however, is a bit unique, and also has a higher alcohol content: Nigori-zake.This is unfiltered sake. If you have ever washed white rice before cooking it, you have seen a thick almos…(102 words)
KurtisW
Hot Vending Machines
Any visitor to Japan will immediately see that there are vending machines of all kinds everywhere. Not just sodas, but beer, cigarettes, batteries, condoms, and, especially, coffee. Canned coffees are everywhere.But a visitor who travels on the highway is certain to find among the Coca Cola, …(282 words)
mikekato
Heart Shape Tangerine Treasures on Shikoku Island, Japan
As my train lumbered through the towering mountains of Shikoku and I caught a quick glimpse of glistening sea beyond, I realized exactly why the Mikan (tangerines) of this area are so delicious. Makes perfect sense to me as I watch the mountainside drinking in the salt-tinged air and the bright Set…(236 words)
5@example.com
Enjoying Indian Masala Tea aka `Chai` in Japan
Since my teen years I am a big fan of Indian tea aka 'Masala Tea' aka 'Chai'. Chai comes in several variants such as 1) Masala Tea (milk tea with flavored spices, these are different spices than the ones used in Indian curry), or 2) Ginger Tea (raw or minced ginger paste added in small quantity whi…(466 words)
Samir Bodhe
Have you Heard of Hayama Gyu Japanese Beef?
Just a few days ago, I had an opportunity to visit one of the best “Wagyu Cattle Ranches” in Japan, which is located in the city of Hayama, less than 2 hours train/ bus ride from Tokyo. The ranch is surrounded by serene nature, it lies among a combination of bamboo, cedar forest, a stream and many …(739 words)
AustinA
Have you Heard of Water Shield? It's a Vegetable and No, I haven’t Heard of it Either.
In Japan, this vegetable is called “Junsai” and I remember seeing it in my local supermarket, wondering what it was, and then moving on to the more familiar Nori or seaweed area as usual. This is something I do often, and learn to regret when a new menu translation comes down the pipeline to my des…(541 words)
5@example.com
Nomihoudai: All you can drink (but not too much)
Nomihoudai - all you can drink - is a very customary service in a Japanese pub. The service usually includes all of the drinks in one part of the menu, usually beer and some mixed drinks, and sometimes wine. Nomihoudai usually has a time limitation, such as 2 or 3 hours. But as is common in Japa…(195 words)
mikekato
Kara-age is the king of fried food
Kara-age is for the most part Japanese fried chicken, or perhaps Japanese chicken nuggets. Kara-age however in Japanese peoples' minds is separate from "fried chicken". Fried chicken in Japan always has the bone in, whereas kara-age is cut chunks of chicken thigh, seasoned in soy sauce, ginger and …(168 words)
KurtisW
This is not just a dumpling; This is GYOZA -a perfect guide to eating gyoza in Japan-
'Is it really Japanese food?' 'Yeah Probably.' 'Or is it perhaps Chinese food?' 'Maybe, Yeah' Gyoza is one of the most widely eaten cuisines in Japan. Basic gyoza consists of pork meat and some vegetables as filling and are wrapped into a dough. The feature of gyoza is lovely frilly edges o…(712 words)
Taka Saito
Ethiopian Food in Nakameguro
when you would like to try spicy ......try Queen Sheba at Nakameguro.This restaurant was the oldest Ethiopian restaurant in Tokyo.You can try traditional Ethiopian food such as, spicy meat and vegetable in the form of wat (also w'et or wot), a thick stew, served atop injera, a large sourdough f…(91 words)
yukorose
The Food of Kusatsu Onsen
One the best ways to experience a town is through its food. When I travel, I love finding the diners, pubs, restaurants and cafés the locals choose to frequent, because that’s where I know I’ll get to experience the most authentic cuisine. But there is an interesting factor to be considered when lo…(545 words)
Petra
5 Food Streets in Japan - The Paradise for Foodies !
1. Dontobori Food StreetAs the landmark of Osaka, Dontobori is not only the shooting location of many Japanese films and plays, but also the famous paradise for foodies in Japan, which is praised as “the No.1 food of Japan.”The most delicious gourmet here is Tokayoki, Okonomiyaki, sushi, frie…(482 words)
Alexlovetravel