Latest Posts - Japanese Food Guide

A hand can be seen gently adding saffron to the top of a steaming bowl of miso ramen.

Guide to Ramen in Japan (Types of Ramen, History, How to Order)

Ramen is a well-known noodle dish, but what is ramen exactly? Learn about the different types of ramen, Japan’s ramen culture and how to order ramen in Japan.

A woman in a lilac-colored kimono holds a pink strawberry daifuku mochi daintily in her hands. Another woman in a pink and black kimono can be seen in the background.

Are Traditional Japanese Sweets Healthier than Western Sweets?

For sweet tooths wanting to indulge while maintaining a more or less healthy diet, is it better to choose traditional Japanese sweets over Western-style ones?

Coffee beans are spread out over a beige muslin table cloth. In the center a space has been cleared and the Japanese word for coffee (kohii) is written out in beans in katakana.

Coffee in Japan and Why Coffee Cup Handles Are Placed the “Wrong” Way

If you order a cup of coffee in Japan, you may notice something “unusual” about the way your coffee cup is served.

Looking down a crowd-filled Nakamise dori with little shops on either side and Sensoji Temple down the end.

The Best Snacks to Try on Nakamise Dori

Nakamise dori is one of the most popular snack streets in Tokyo. This guide will introduce you to some of the best snacks and sweets to try and buy.

The tree-lined walkway leading up to Shuzenji Temple, with the temple in the background. The photo has been taken in fall with the leaves a vivid red and orange, and many leaves already scattered on the ground, creating a very bright contrast with the temple and stone walkway.

What to Eat When You’re in Shuzenji

Just two hours by train from Tokyo, the hot-spring town of Shuzenji feels worlds’ apart. This guide will show you the tastiest food Shuzenji has on offer.

To the left is a blob of green wasabi paste and to the right there are two pieces of salmon-topped sushi (nigirizushi) with pickled ginger in the background. A pair of wooden chopsticks are laying flat on the table surface in the foreground.

What is Wasabi and Why You’ve Probably Never Eaten It

Think you’ve eaten wasabi before? Chances are you probably haven’t, even if you’ve visited Japan or eat Japanese food on the regular.

A black ceramic bowl filled with orange-red colored shichimi togarashi (Japanese 7 spice mix), with a hot red capsicum (Capsicum annum) behind it.

Shichimi Togarashi: The Japanese 7-Spice Mix You Have to Try

What are the seven ingredients in shichimi togarashi? And how did this spicy condiment end up in just about every Japanese noodle restaurant?

An unopened bottle of Iyoshi Cola with a tall glass to the right showing a serving suggestion: some orange-colored Iyoshi Cola syrup with water, ice, a slice of lemon and a sprig of rosemary.

Japanese Craft Cola is the Beverage You Didn’t Know You Needed

You may know craft beer but have you heard of craft cola? The Japanese craft cola scene is booming! Here are some of the unique colas you need to try.

A bowl of T's Tan Tan Golden Sesame Vegan Tantanmen - with its golden broth, and pops of green, red and white veggies.

Where to Find Vegan Ramen in Tokyo

Vegan ramen might not be very common in Japan, but demand for it is rising. Here are six places where you can get a delicious bowl of vegan ramen in Tokyo.