Japanese Cuisine – Food

At a Japanese ryokan, one of the highlights is dining on “kaiseki” (a traditional, multi-course dinner). Indeed, many Japanese think of a ryokan as a place to dine on “kaiseki” rather than as a type of accommodation. One Kyoto ryokan owner told me that over 70% of his income was from diners while the rest came from overnight guests. What exactly is kaiseki? The term “kaiseki” means hot stone in a kimono fold, and it is believed that Zen priests would tuck hot stones wrapped in towels next to their stomach to cure their hunger pangs during their morning and afternoon prayers (the term “kai” means a fold in a kimono and “seki” means stone). In this way it was believed that only a small amount of kaiseki would be enough to take away your hunger. Originally, kaiseki was a simple, vegetarian meal with dishes such as pickles served during the traditional tea ceremony. It was thought the tea would taste better if the guests were not so hungry. Today kaiseki is no longer a strictly vegetarian meal but may also include both meat and fish. One kaiseki dinner can consist of anywhere from 6 to 15 different kinds of food.

Japan will test all your senses, and its street food scene is no exception. Yatai are small food stalls that can be found at festivals or near train stations. Yatai are a great way to discover Japan and to meet friendly people. These vendors offer an accessible and tasty selection of on-the-go dishes that are cheap, high-quality and delicious. Yatai will offer you dishes such as Takoyaki, Yakisoba, Yakitori, and many others. Our favorite destinations for Yatai are Osaka and Fukuoka.

Kobe Beef is a Japanese delicacy and probably the most widely-known regional specialty food in Japan. It is one of several brands of Wagyu (Japanese beef), which are bred throughout the country and often associated with the area where they are raised. While Kobe Beef is probably the best known type of wagyu outside of Japan, there are many other breeds, such as Matsuzaka and Yonezawa Beef, that are equally or even more famous among Japanese gourmets. When passing by Kobe, don’t miss your chance to have a Kobe Beef dinner! Your Japan travel expert can make reservations for you.

Japan has some of the best restaurants in the world and foodies are known to travel across continents just to dine at its renowned restaurants. Among Japanese cities, Tokyo is the best place to experience a high-end restaurant without a doubt. In 2020, 11 restaurants in Tokyo were awarded 3 Michelin stars bringing the total Michelin-starred restaurants to 226 in Tokyo. Your Japan travel expert can make reservations for you at many of these restaurants but please keep in mind that some of them are quite small and are fully booked months in advance.

Shojin-ryori (monk cuisine) is served at shukubo (temple accommodations) on Koyasan (Mt Koya) and at restaurants around Japan. Your meal will consist of vegetables, fruits, tofu, miso, pickles, a savory custard, rice and other dishes all artfully presented in small bowls and dishes. Often you will dine in a Japanese style room on tatami mat flooring. Your meal will be presented to you on a 6-inch high tray and you will sit on a zabuton cushion. Beer is considered vegetarian and can be ordered though drinks are not included in the price of your tour. Please talk to your Japan travel expert if you wish to try a shojin-ryori meal at a shukubo.

Meal requirements are not expressed in the same way all over the world. We want to make sure that we understand your needs, so we can communicate them clearly to restaurants and accommodations. If you have any special meal requirements like Celiac, allergies, vegetarian with fish, vegan, or specific foods that you cannot eat, then you must tell us as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that special meal requirements will limit the number of restaurants or hotels/ryokans available to you and it may be impossible to find one for you. Of course, we will do our best to find a place that can prepare meals for you. Please find more details see our Special Meal Requirements page.