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A Japanese Food Adventure: From Okinawa to Hokkaido and the Islands in Between

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There’s so much amazing food in Japan, it can feel hard to narrow your options down! Here’s only places I’ve tried and would recommend for your exploring the country. From Okinawa to Hokkaido and the Islands in between, here’s your sign to leave just...
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Tokyo Food

Tokyo is one of the greatest food cities in the world. It feels hard to recommend anything, because you could find amazing food with only a little effort. But here’s some tried and true favorites!
 
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What even is donut. Look, if the line’s short it’s worth it, if the line’s long it’s a donut
I'm donut? Harajuku
 
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A staple from Sapporo that hits just as good here, its ramen just exploding with shrimp flavor
Ebisoba Ichigen Shinjuku
 
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Always hits! Kura is a chain all over Japan, and if you want affordable conveyor sushi, it’s a great choice
Kura Sushi Ikebukuro East
 
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The cutest kids only bakery! There’s a sign up sheet, so come ready with some other activities in the area while you wait your spot
Comme'N KIDS(コムン キッズ)
 
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If you can’t enjoy here, you can’t enjoy anywhere. It’s crowded and often rainy, but the seafood is perfect.
Tsukiji Outer Market
 
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If you end up in this area of Tokyo, this is a great conveyor sushi spot
Choshimaru
 
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Just off the metro, these cakes are so so good. If you’ve got a freezer, bring one with you for a late night snack
Criollo
 
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Ramen that’s been Michelin starred in the past, this bowl is impeccable. Get there around 7am to get your reservation then go explore Ikebukuro
Sosakumenkobo NAKIRYU – Tokyo - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
 
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Join the spicy miso ramen wars of Ikebukuro
Mendokoro Hanada Ikebukuro
 
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Mammaaaaa just killed a mannnnn
Onigiri Shop Mamma
 
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These are top tier soup dumplings and the Taiwanese fried chicken is spot on
Gyopao Gyoza Shinjuku
 
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This place is hidden amongst some flats, and keep it a secret, because the pastry is seriously good
Paquet Monté
 
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Some SOUPer unique ramen for a break after thrifting in Shimokitazawa
Ten to Sen.
 
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Shimokitazawa is known for its curry, and this is a great spot
Ponipirika
 
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Come in the afternoon to get some adorable and delicious cream puffs. They’re as good as they are cute
Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory
 
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Free tours at the home of kewpie mayo
Mayo-Terrace
 
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Great vibe jazz bar that’s comfortable and quaint
Grandfather's
 
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It’s hard to call anything in Tokyo a can’t miss because there’s so much, but I won’t go back and miss here
Seafood Dokoro Mukai - Shinsen/Seafood | Tabelog
 
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This spot makes me want to make my own cola
Iyoshi Cola
 
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Make your own okonomiyaki!
Sakura-tei
 
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Next level soup dumplings
GYOPAO Gyoza Roppongi
 
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Create your own dashi stock! It’s the best souvenir you’ll find in Japan
Dashi Okume Azabudai Hills | Shopping in Kamiyacho, Tokyo
 
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Nothing fancy, just great bread
Age.3 GINZA (Fried Bread Cafe)
 
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Decorate your own maneki while you dine!
Cafe Neko-e-mon
 
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The owners here are so nice, and the food is really good!
American Diner Andra, Tokyo, Japan - Reviews, Ratings, Tips and Why You ...
 
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Great little walking street with lots of street food
Yanaka Ginza
 
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Cute little cat pancakes with some great flavors
Mochinyan-yaki(Chewy Cat-shaped Pancake)
 
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I’m incapable of walking by a melon pan without stopping
Asakusa Kagetsudō Melon Bread
 
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Monja is the Tokyo version of okonomiyaki, and this spot is littered with both locals and tourists
Tsukishima Monja Okoge Asakusa
 
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Try out different sakes to find what you like!
WASAKE Sake Experience
 
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These pies are the truth
Lemon Pie Confectionery
 
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If you’re looking for a spot near Tokyo Disney, this ramen and soba is handmade and so good
Marugame Seimen Shibuya Dogen-zaka Shop
 
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Very good soba in Kamakura
鎌倉五山 別館 - 北鎌倉/麺類
 
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Amazing curry pan!
Giraffa Curry Pan
 
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If you make the trip to Fuji, this is awesome regional cuisine
Houtou Fudou Kawaguchiko North Main Shop

Tokyo Coffee

The coffee scene in Tokyo is amazing, especially for lovers of pour overs.
 
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A trusty spot anywhere in Tokyo
FUGLEN ASAKUSA
 
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Such a beautiful space with good beans
THE ROASTERY BY NOZY COFFEE
 
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Another transplant from Sapporo with a great space
Mermaid Coffee Roasters Ikebukuro
 
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Such a great vibe across from a great kids park
Little Nap COFFEE STAND
 
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Really cute, eclectic shop
Pond Owl Star Coffee Shop | Toshima Tokyo
 
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These bruleed cheesecakes might not be for everyone, but they’re definitely for me
Cois Espresso Club Shinjuku Gyoemmae
 
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Go early to avoid the queues and explore every level for some incredible drinks
Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo
 
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A great Tokyo vibe
Onibus Coffee
 
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The bear cafes are as cute as you imagine
ANAKUMA CAFE Harajuku
 
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The latte art is beautiful if you’re willing to wait
LATTE ART MANIA TOKYO (@latteartmania_tokyo) · Minato-ku, Tokyo
 
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A great shop and roaster
About Life Coffee Brewers
 
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Great coffee and great aesthetic
Bear Pond Espresso

Hokkaido

Hokkaido is seen as food Mecca in Japan, and the freshness of the ingredients doesn’t go unnoticed when you’re here!
 
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There’s a significant Indian population in Hokkaido, and this food lives up to anywhere we are in India!
ビリヤニ専門店 Qmin
 
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Home base for a popular spot in Tokyo!
Ebisoba Ichigen Main Shop
 
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Our guesthouse recommended this spot as his favorite ramen in Sapporo!
Hachibousei
 
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A little hard to find, but very good soup curry!
Sapporo Soup Curry BAR Dan
 
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Fresh oysters so many different ways. The wasabi and sake ones were top!
GOTSUBO, Sapporo - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos
 
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Zangi is the Hokkaido style of karaage, and this was a great little spot to try it a number of ways
SAPPORO ZANGI HOMPO SAPPORO STATION NORTH ENTRANCE
 
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Maybe the best spot in Sapporo ramen alley
Sapporo Ramen Haruka
 
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Another spot that’s transplanted to Tokyo, they offer coffee tastings of everything they have on pour over
Mermaid Coffee Roasters
 
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The best version of the fruit sandos you crave from the konbini
Majisand
 
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As good of soup curry as you’ll find!
Soup Curry GARAKU Sapporo Main Restaurant
 
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Free sake tastings!
Chitosetsuru Sake Museum
 
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Cmon, are you really coming here and not going to the Sapporo museum?
Sapporo Beer Museum
 
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Sad we didn’t find this place until our last day because the coffee and the vibe is unreal
poool(プール) -Espresso&Work- Sapporo
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Parfaits? Everybody loves parfaits!
Sapporo Parfait PENNY (@pennysapporo)
 
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Even if the line is down the stairs and out the door, I’d stick it out
Suage+ Soup Curry
 
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Come here once and you’ll most certainly be back
Donguri Cocono Susukino
 
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It’s so Sapporo that instead of choosing your espresso origin you choose your milk origin
BARISTART COFFEE
 
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Finally, a place that serves enough scallions
KIRAITO, Sapporo - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number
 
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Curry omurice, om I right?
洋食Kogame
 
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They serve a unique type of pressed mochi that’s worth a try!
JINGU CHAYA, Sapporo - Restaurant Reviews & Photos
 
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If you ever wondered what it’d be like to live our Willy wonka
Shiroi Koibito Park
 
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A pretty chaotic fish market right when you get off the train in Otaru
Sankaku Market
 
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Order salmon belly just to watch the chef flamethrower it
Conveyor belt sushi restaurant Toppi - Otaru Canal Street branch
 
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These cheese danishes give life meaning
Fromage Danish Dani LeTAO
 
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Get the melon!
sweets garden prateria
 
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Find some really unique desserts at this little konbini!
24スイーツショップ札幌中央店 · Sapporo, Hokkaido

Osaka

Osaka is my favorite city to eat in in Japan. It begs you to find something good and grab a cozy spot in the city to enjoy the weather.
 
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If there’s a line outside, go inside and hang out
Bear Paw Cafe
 
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Awesome coffee in namba
Brooklyn Roasting Company Namba
 
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It’s just a street you have to experience. Find some food and let yourself be immersed
Dotonbori
 
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You didn’t know you needed bread as much as you need this bread
LeBresso honten
 
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If you’re in the area, this is some great okonomiyaki
Kaze no Machi at Tamatsukuri
 
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The coffee is great, and people just gather to hang out along the road creating such a great vibe
HICARU COFFEE ROASTER Osaka
 
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Such a cute and fun place to decorate your own cake!
unimocc art cafe gallery
 
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One of the coolest bars I’ve ever been in! No menu, but grab a lemon sour
Deepening Submarine Bar SHINKA, Osaka, Japan - Reviews, Ratings, Tips ...
 
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The owner of the submarine bar told me this is his favorite spot
中華そば うえまち (Uemachi in Osaka)
 
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These sandos are huge, and so good!
Dekasan
 
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Great coffee just down the street from the castle
SOT COFFEE ROASTER - Osaka Tenmabashi
 
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Another great sot spot
SÖT COFFEE Tasting Bar Kitahama ソットコーヒー大阪北浜店
 
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Super tasty little treats right across from Namba shrine
ベビーカステラ MOGU MOGU
 
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A viral spot that lives up to the hype!
ディアブロ道頓堀千日前店
 
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Great bowls of miso ramen
鶏白湯ラーメン 麺屋 猿のすけ / Creamy Chicken Paitan Miso Ramen SARUNOSUKE
 
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Great coffee and great matcha
LiLo Coffee KISSA
 
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Home to one of the best baristas in the world
Barista Map Coffee Roasters
 
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Small shop with a great vibe and great coffee
Mill Pour Coffee
 
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Amazing onigiri, perfect for a picnic
Onigiri Gorichan
 
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Really unique ramen near Osaka station
Hi,KI
 
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Another gorichan location, this one’s typically less crowded
ONIGIRI GORICHAN, Osaka - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number ...
 
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A Star Wars themed bar!
Tavern Pachimon Wars
 
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Their dirty matcha made me believe I could be a matcha fan
Ourlog Coffee Roasters
 
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The best soba I had in Japan
CHIKKO MEN KOBO, Osaka - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number ...
 
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Great little tiki bar a short walk from Kobe station!
THE KAZAN ROOM (@thekazanroom) · Kobe-shi, Hyogo

Okayama and Naoshima

Okayama is home to a number of shops that are popular in Tokyo, and it’s always fun to try something at its roots.
 
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This place is insanely good
400℃ Pizza - Yanagawa/Pizza | Tabelog
 
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Very solid miso ramen spot
Renge Sapporo Miso Ramen
 
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Really cute little coffee stand
Coffee stand 887
 
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This type of katsudon is regional to Okayama, and the sauce is so so good
Katsudon Nomura
 
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Really good bagels just near the station
STAND1-1
 
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Home base for an amazing coffee roaster
tostinocoffee
 
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Awesome misokatsu along the walk to kurashiki
Misokatsu Umenoki
 
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Perfect spot for coffee and a snack before the ferry to Naoshima
UPINN Cafe
 
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Perfect little spot to eat and hang on Naoshima
maimai(元祖 直島バーガー)
 
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Homemade gelato with really unique flavors
naoshima gelato

Okinawa and Kerama Islands

Okinawa is like a Japanese culture all its own, and the Kerama Islands feel like the best hidden secret Japan has to offer.
 
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Awesome spot for trying Okinawa soba
Minosaku
 
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So worth the wait, this food is amazing
YUNANGI, Naha - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor
 
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The iconic Okinawan ice cream
Blue Seal Kokusaidori
 
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Only around 10 seats, but very very good soba
miyako soba SAIGA Chikugo Ten - Hainuzuka/Okinawa noodle soup
 
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A bar and restaurant you can rely on for good food on Aka
BAR YONAMINE HOUSE, Zamami-son - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone ...
 
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The woman here hand makes everything, and the weekend curry is so good
Aka Island Cafe and Food guu guu
 
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Great little bentos
軽食 パーラー ひびき - 座間味村/沖縄料理
 
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Little cafe with great smoothies
Hahna Cafe
 
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We were so bummed it never opened while we were there, because the food looks great and it’s on our favorite beach
海の家結
 
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The best market on any of the Kerama Islands
105 Grocery Store

Hiroshima and Miyajima

Hiroshima is known as a great place to eat, especially to try its special type of okonomiyaki!
 
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If you like pugs and you like coffee, this is the spot for you
THE BEANS ROASTER 9689coffee
 
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Top tier Hiroshima okonomiyaki!
HIDEYA, Hiroshima - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number
 
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Japanese curry that is so good!
51CURRY
 
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Awesome bagel, go early because they definitely run out
Wildman Bagel
 
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Four floors of okonomiyaki restaurants!
Okonomimura
 
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Beautiful shop with great coffee
Obscura Coffee Roasters
 
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These fried momiji are divine
Momijido Nibanya
 
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The food was so good, and this feels about as authentically Japan as you can get
Yamamura chaya
 
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Cute ice cream and okonomiyaki, a dangerous combo
Miyajima Umaimonokan

Kyoto

While Kyoto isn’t my favorite, it’s undoubtedly a beautiful city with lots of great food
 
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Great pourovers right by the train station
Kurasu Kyoto Stand
 
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Great drinks and great vibe
New Tiki Bar in Japan - KRFT Tiki — Kyoto : r/Tiki
 
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(THIS IS) great ice cream
(THISIS)SHIZEN
 
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Lovely traditional soba
Honke Owariya Main Branch
 
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Really great ramen that you can get takeaway
Ginjo Ramen Kubota
 
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Whatever their daily special is, that’s what to get
TOYO SUSHI, Kyoto - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos
 
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Worth the hype
Blue Bottle Coffee - Kyoto Cafe
 
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It’s a little overwhelming and touristy, but still worth the visit
Nishiki Market

Nagoya

Nagoya food is best known for its chicken wings, and the mid size city packs a big flavor punch!
 
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Such a fun ramen stall experience
Ramen Stall Yumyum
 
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I know you’re skeptical
Sayulita Tacos & Craft Beer
 
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Great vinyl and great cake
JAZZ&COFFEE YURI - Hisaya Odori/Traditional Café
 
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Nagoya is known for its tebasaki (wings) and this spot was awesome
Tebasaki Mutsumi - Sakae/Chicken wings
 
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Getting non konbini onigiri is always worth it
Onigiri Namihei
 
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I know you think you don’t need a break from Japanese food, but you need a break
Nepal station
 
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Great drinks
IMOM COFFEE Nagoya Sta.
 
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Get off the train, go get lobster ramen
Shishimaru

Amanohashidate

You could make it up here in just a day trip from Kyoto, but there’s plenty to do and eat to justify a few night stay.
 
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The crab rice is insane
海鮮工房 はしだて物産 - 天橋立/海鮮丼
 
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Really nice like soups and sandwiches right by the chairlift
GENMYOAN CAFE
 
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Wagyu Don at an amazing price, and the owners are so kind
Tantan Ya - Amanohashidate/Steak
 
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A few friends running a local brewery with some great beer and snacks
Hashigoya - Amanohashidate/Coffee Stand | Tabelog
 
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Homemade soba in someone’s garage, it doesn’t get more Japan than that
伊根手打ち蕎麦 東風
 
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If it’s open, grab yourself a weenie
BiS Dogg (@bisdogg_ine)
 
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Awesome coffee with seating in an old boathouse along the water
hakuzu coffee stand
 
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Grab some sake or potentially a brewery tour!
Mukai Sake Brewery

Tottori

Come for the sand dunes, stay for some really unique cafes!
 
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Great unagidon right by the train station
鰻の中川
 
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The vibe is kinda weird in an office building, but the food is great
DINING&CAFE SANDBOX 1F (ダイニングカフェ サンドボックス )
 
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Some of the best pudding in Japan, it’s a must hit by the sand dunes
プリン専門店 Totto PURIN.
 
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Designed by a legendary Japanese architect, the pear soda is out of this world
Takahama Café
 
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No frills ramen just outside the sand dunes
鳥取牛骨拉麺 八起

Takachiho

Takachiho Gorge is - dare I say - gorgeous, but the whole Miyazaki prefecture makes for beautiful drives and happy eating.
 
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Toasted sesame seeds are the cheat code to amazing ramen
Asuka Ramen
 
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If it’s open, it’s good bread
uipan(ういぱん)
 
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My favorite donuts in the world
JUGAAD BROS DOUGHNUTS
 
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This izakaya inside this guesthouse is great food and great people
YUMEYA, Yamato-cho - Restaurant Reviews & Phone Number