Japanese cuisine Archives

In Japan

The Original Teppanyaki Kobe Beef

Kobe Beef is probably the most well known Japanese beef around the world. So if you have a chance to visit Kansai region, make sure you stop by Kobe and try the original teppanyaki beef. Established since 1945, Steak Misono was the first teppanyaki steak restaurant to introduce bite size steak cooked on iron plate that suits the taste of Japanese who use chopsticks and eat rice. Teppanyaki steak has become popular domestically and now well known internationally. Over 70 years, Steak Misonon has 5 restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. The restaurant was the first and remains one of the best for teppanyaki Kobe beef today.

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In Chubu

Creative Japanese Cuisine

Locating just about 10-15 minutes on foot from JR Kiso Fukushima Station, Nagomian Hidatei is a Japanese restaurant that offers traditional Japanese cuisine with creative twist in a centuries old building. The ambience was excellent, food was great, the owner and staffs are friendly and speak English! Thumbs up (Like)!

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In Chubu

Yamayu Beef from Hida Furukawa

Hida Beef is a specific name given to the black-haired cattle raised in Gifu Prefecture. There are stringent requirements to qualify for the recognized name: all cattle must be raised for at least 14 months and the meat texture must be grade 3, 4, 5 according to the grading system Japan Meat Grading Association. Visiting Hida Furukawa, don’t miss the chance to taste the high quality Hida Beef. Some farms have become so famous that they brand their own cattle. Yamayu Beef is one of the famous Hida Beef brands in the area, providing by Yamayuushi Ikkan which has its own farm at over 1,000 meters above sea level. Fresh air, pure mountain water and good pasture are all the good factors contributing to the quality of meat.

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In Japan

Grilled Kumano Beef

When you visit the famous Kumano Grand Shrines, the UNESCO World Heritage sacred sites and pilgrimage routes, don’t miss out the chance to taste the Kumano beef which is one of the famous high quality beef in Japan. Kumano beef is a high quality beef descended from Tajima Beef, a type of Japanese Black. Tajima beef cattles are raised in Hyogo Prefecture in West Japan. Back in the old days, all nobles and kings visiting the grand shrines came from Kyoto. They went on foot and took a long time, bringing all the food supply along the pilgrimage route. The rich natural resources and climate of Kumano create a favorable environment for raising healthy beef cattle, resulting in delicious beef. Kumano beef restaurants are mostly grilled restaurants. There are quite a lot of choices around Shingu JR Station which is near the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine.

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In Japan

Ise Udon & Oyster Lunch

Visiting Ise Grand Shrine Inner Shrine in the morning, you may want to have a proper lunch and enjoy the best local food. There is a famous udon restaurant called San Gu Tei in Oharai Machi, the old town street by the entrance of the Inner Shrine. The restaurant is inside or part of the big souvenir shop called Iwatoya.

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In Hokkaido

The First Sushi Restaurant in Hokkaido

Established in 1875, Azumazushi was proud to be the first sushi restaurant introduced to Hokkaido. Azuma means ‘east’ in Japan, it’s a name chosen by the founder who came from Tokyo, east of Japan. Today, there are so many choices of sushi bars, Japanese restaurants and fish markets where you can enjoy fresh sushi in Hokkaido. Yet, visiting or re-visiting heritage restaurants is one of the things that frequent travellers do. In my last trip to Hokkaido in October, I had a lunch in this 130 year old restaurant brand and it turned out to be the last chance.

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In Japan

Baby Red Seabream Lunch in Wakayama

Looking for Japanese food around Wakayama JR Station, a big billboard writing “Baby Sea Bream” on a building caught my eyes. Then I found this restaurant right at the station and gave it a try.

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In Chubu

Sakura Lunch Set + Hotspring in Asahimachi

If you come to Asahimachi for the “Spring Quartet on train then switch the shuttle bus that runs between Tomari JR station and Asahimachi, the bus will drop you off a club house where there are restaurants, a gym and a hot spring. I think it is for the locals but they let me have lunch there. I think it’s possible to use other facilities as well. There is a beautiful yard where many cherry trees are planted. Then you walk along the cherry tree road next to the club house to get to the “Spring Quartet”. Easy.

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In Japan

Exquisite Sushi at Tsukiji Market in Tokyo

Before the move of the world’s largest wholesale fish and seafood market to Toyoso in November 2016, I took a chance to enjoy another nice lunch while it remains in its convenient location in the center of Tokyo. This time, I am not going to any of the 24/7 sushi restaurants nor the ones that are crowded with foreign tourists. I prefer somewhere nice and quiet with good quality of food and service.

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In Japan

Soba House in Chayamachi Osaka

Chayamachi is Osaka Kita’s most popular downtown area for young people. It’s a modernized area with trendy stores such as Loft, NU and NU+ shopping malls, HMV, coffee shops, boutiques and many eateries. There is a good mix of young culture and business people. I like this area because there is a good wide variety of things to see, places to shop and eat.

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