Eat

Alcohol is part of the Japanese culture, so much so that you can buy whiskey from vending machines. Though sake (which is also the generic term for alcohol) and Japanese beers are familiar to Westerners, there is a range of other Japanese alcoholic beverages you might encounter, not to mention the widest, strangest range of soft drinks/sports drinks/interesting drinks known on … [Read more...] about Sake, Beer, and Other Drinks

The staple of Japanese cuisine, rice is generally eaten with every meal. It is prepared in a manner that makes it sticky enough to be easily maneuvered with chopsticks. Rice is the basis of sushi and often eaten for breakfast. Rice can also be included in soups served at the end of meals such as shabu-shabu. Rice may also serve as the base for other dishes. Kamameshi is a … [Read more...] about Rice

Okonomiyaki are savory pancakes filled with meat, fish, and vegetables (not always at the same time. Diners choose their ingredients much in the way toppings for pizza are chosen. The chosen ingredients are often cooked right at the table. First-timers at okonomiyaki restaurants will find it helpful to watch other diners for guidance -- learning to flip the pancake and gauging … [Read more...] about Okonomiyaki

The return of oden stalls is the hallmark of the Fall season. These outdoor restaurants feature fish cakes and other ingredients such as tofu. Often located near train stations, oden stalls offer hot, fast food and cold beer. Oden dining represents the epitome of casual dining. If you're looking for a more formal experience with a wider range of choices, try an oden … [Read more...] about Oden

You can buy noodles on just about every street corner in Tokyo. Shops serve a variety, including soba (buckwheat noodles served hot or cold), udon (fat, white noodles), ramen (actually these are Chinese noodles, but still very popular in Japan), yakisoba (fried noodles), or somen (cold summer noodles). Noodle shops are great for quick meals and are generally … [Read more...] about Noodles