Phrase card
Say it in Japanese: a dietary & allergy phrase card
Show, don't struggle. Copy-ready Japanese phrases for vegetarian, vegan, halal, pescatarian and gluten-free diners — plus the hidden ingredients to name.
Food culture
Hand-gathered by our editors — stories, guides and the dishes worth seeking out.
9 places
Guides
Food culture
Special-occasion Tokyo: starred tables a visitor can actually book
Tokyo holds more Michelin stars than any city on earth. Here's how to choose, book and behave at a high-end Japanese table — and a few that genuinely welcome visitors.
Practical guide
Tokyo for Muslim travellers: certified, friendly, and what to ask
Tokyo's halal scene has grown fast — certified wagyu, halal ramen, prayer rooms and Muslim-friendly kaiseki. Here's the difference between 'certified' and 'friendly', the seasonings to watch, and where to start.
Food culture
Tokyo on any budget, from ¥ to ¥¥¥¥
Some of Tokyo's best eating costs a few hundred yen. How to feast well at every price — bowls, counters and splurges.
Practical
How to book a table in Tokyo
Walk-in, Tabelog, Ikkyu or the concierge — how reservations really work in Japan, and why showing up matters.
Food culture
First trip to Japan? 10 dishes to try
A friendly starter list of the dishes that define a first trip — what they are, and where on this site to go deeper.
Food culture
Sake, shochu & beyond: a drinks guide
What to drink with Japanese food — from sake grades to shochu, highballs, beer and the teas that round out a meal.
Food culture
The konbini guide: how to eat well at a convenience store
Japan's convenience stores are a genuine food destination — fresh onigiri, bento, oden and famous fried chicken, 24/7.
Food culture
Eating by the season: shun, Japan's culinary calendar
Japanese cuisine is built on shun — eating each ingredient at its seasonal peak. Here's what to look for, spring to winter.