How to Eat and Drink Like a Local in Japan - Simple tips and tricks!

You're attempting to cross everything off your 'must see in Japan' list and keeping an eye out for undiscovered treasures, and all of this is happening against the background of menus that you can't understand. You may stroll back to your apartment at two in the morning and still find restaurants that are full of customers. This is only one example of the vastness of the eating scene here. Let’s take a closer look at how to enjoy the local cuisine in Japan!

Douglas Perkins, Wagashi closeup 14, CC0 1.0 

Relax at one of the combinis

There are salads, snacks, bento boxes, gyoza, and a variety of ready-made meals available in Japanese "combini", which are similar to convenience shops. However, the meals at Japanese "combini" can be nutritious and unexpectedly tasty. They are a fantastic way to get acquainted with the culinary options that Japan has to offer in a single sitting, and with approximately 50,000 combinis located all throughout Japan, you will not have any trouble finding one. Also, Onigiri, also known as rice triangles, are a common snack in Japan and are considered to be one of the country's culinary cornerstones. So, make sure to try them out here!

Locate a coffee shop

In Tokyo, you may experience the entire range of the different effects coffee can have on your body. You'll find everything from traditional kissatens to third-wave coffee houses, cans sold in vending machines for 100-yen, coffee sold in combini machines for the same price, and more. 

Authentic breakfasts are a must  

If you are staying in a luxury hotel or even at a ryokan, you can expect a more elegant breakfast than if you're dining at property offered by a restaurant chain. Traditional-style breakfasts, on the other hand, remain relatively consistent regardless of the setting. You may anticipate receiving, at its most fundamental level, rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and pickles along with tofu that has been cooled, eggs that have either been hard- or soft-boiled, natto, which is made from fermented soybeans and a variety of seasonal foods. For more information, you might want to check out guides such as The Dine And Wine, which highlight authentic meals and local delicacies.

Make a visit to a local bakery 

Bread may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of dining in Japan, but if you were to visit Tokyo and not stop at any of the city's bakeries, you will be losing out. Things like mentaiko furansu pan, kare-pans, mugwort croissants, and pretzels having a filling of red bean paste are some examples of entertaining fusions that may be tried. You also get focaccias garnished with lotus root, cheese and yuzu paste, which is yet another local favourite! 

Try wagashi, and if you can, accompany it with matcha that has been freshly whisked

The Wagashis are traditional Japanese local sweets that were originally served with tea at the local tea ceremonies. They are created using natural ingredients such as sweet bean paste, nuts, glutinous rice, dried fruits, as well as soybean powder. They're like small culinary gems, and the patterns on them are inspired by traditional tales and nature.

Sushi is prepared in a variety of styles 

Nigiri-type sushi, which does not use nori or wrapping, but rather a pressed rice cylinder capped with fish slices or other items, originated in Tokyo. Nigiri literally translates to "pressed", and the word describes the kind of sushi. Going out to lunch at a sushi restaurant may cost a fraction of the expense of having an upscale sushi dinner, which can run hundreds of dollars. Request the "omakase", which translates to "chef's pick".