All About Japan

Ramen, Japanese Pickles, and Michelin Stars

He’s written over 1,000 restaurant reviews for the Japan Times newspaper. Now he shares some of his favorite dishes, memorable meals, classic menus, and why soba is the most underrated Japanese food.

Simple Quiz Helps Find Your Ideal Saké

New Japan-based startup Kurashu is looking to help people break into the world of sake with a novel recommendation system and a web shop selling a curated collection of small-batch sake.

The City of Salmon – A Day in Murakami

Murakami, in northern Niigata, is home to the eerie tradition of hanging salmon. It is also famous for tea, sake, wagyu, and more!

Starbucks Selling Reusable Silicone Straws

Starbucks is selling reusable silicone straws in Japan as part of efforts to reduce plastic waste, and it comes with a carrying case and washing brush.

Homesick?! Comfort Food Cures, Part 1

The first of a two-part series on where to buy ingredients for those dishes you miss the most. From tiny shops to on-line retailers and supermarket chains, Japan offers a wealth of sources from which to stock your pantry with foods from home.

Starbucks Welcomes Spring '21 with New Flavors

Every year, Starbucks hopes to capture Japanese springtime in a cup with annual sakura-flavored releases. And we just got a taste of their newly released offerings for 2021.

A Valentine Chocolate Tour of Tokyo

Introducing a delicious tasting route of 11 elite Tokyo chocolatiers and their creations.

Setouchi Brewery Is Representing Regionality

The newly established Setouchi Brewery is using local ingredients to create beverages that are directly inspired by the unique climate of the area.

Trying to Make the Antiviral Legend Go Viral

Legend has it that seeing a drawing of this yokai named Amabie will cure or protect a person from any disease. The creature itself is said to have asked to be drawn and shared around – what is known today as an ‘Instagram shout-out.’

Foods To Try In Kyoto, Japan

A visit to Kyoto is a gastronomic journey into the culture of the city. Here is your ultimate guide to the foods to try when you visit Kyoto, Japan.

Make Your Own Japanese Fruit Sandwiches

A café staple for years, the fruit sandwich (furutsu sando) is back in the news, as new gourmet versions have caught the attention of sweet lovers. Here's a primer on making your own at home.

12 Things to Do in Charming Kanazawa

Kanazawa, the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by scenic mountain ranges and national parks, has well-preserved art and culture. Read on for a list of 12 things you can do in Kanazawa.

The Perfect Weekend in the City of Niigata

The first of a series introducing a local insider’s ideal weekend in their home town.

Teenage Beer Brewer to Shochu Prophet

American Christopher Pellegrini has spent two decades in Japan, much of it on a mission to bring the delights of shochu and awamori, Japanese alcoholic drinks, to the rest of the world—through writing, podcasting, and an export business.

Why I Switched My Family’s Diet to Washoku

Learn how one family made a big impact on their diet by switching to Japanese-style home cooking.

From the Way of the Warrior to the Way of Tea

Randy Channell Soei is a tea ceremony master living in Kyoto. He tells us how he came to follow the Way of Tea, its connection to martial arts, and the benefits of Japan's time-honored tea ceremony.

A Perfect Weekend in Tokushima City

In this second of a series on perfect weekends in Japan, an insider offers hints for enjoying this picturesque riverfront city.

Can Coffee Champion Make Me Like Drip Coffee?

I'm not a big fan of drip coffee. Can the world coffee champion Tetsu Kasuya change my mind?

5 Places to Drink in Japan!

The definitive guide to Japan's nightlife is here!

Ochoko and More! All About Sake Cups

Deepen your knowledge of Japanese sake culture with this guide to sake cups and other drinking vessels!

know-before-you-go