A food lover’s guide to Japan
For many dreaming of heading to Japan, it is images of blooming cherry blossoms, neatly cut bonsai gardens, traditional temples, glorious geisha and the hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s shopping district that pop into their heads. But for this writer, the lure of steaming bowls of ramen, glistening arrays of freshly cut sashimi, displays of neatly packed bento boxes and the unmistakable scent of sizzling okonomiyaki dictated my travel timetable without ever having to miss a cultural beat.
First stop, Tokyo
No matter the hour, people are dining in Tokyo so despite arriving late at night, I made my way to a local. These casual bar/restaurants abound in Japan: you sit at the bar, a high table or use a traditional tatami mat and low table to drink local sake (return customers buy huge bottles which remain until their next visit), beers or whisky while sampling tapas-style treats. Some have English menus, others not.
