Dinner from a Depachika: How to Shop Japan’s Department-Store Food Halls
Build a dinner from a department-store food hall: choose a main, add a side and leave room for something sweet. Know where you will eat before buying.
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EAT
Choosing restaurants, ordering, reservations and dietary needs.
A Half-Day in Uji: Matcha Desserts, a Tea Sitting and Byodoin
Taste tea, whisk your own matcha or stop for dessert. Choose an Uji tea experience and fit it around Byodoin on a half-day trip from Kyoto.
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How to Choose an Ekiben: Regional Bento to Enjoy on the Shinkansen
Meat, fish or a little of everything: find an ekiben that suits your journey, buy it before boarding and enjoy a regional meal from your Shinkansen seat.
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Arriving Late in Japan? Dinner, ATMs and Breakfast at a Convenience Store
A nearby convenience store can cover dinner, cash and the next morning’s essentials after a late arrival.
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Your First Conveyor-Belt Sushi Meal: Ordering, Plate Prices and Paying
Know which plates you can take, how touchscreen orders arrive and what to check before paying at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant.
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Ordering Ramen in Japan: Ticket Machines, Queues and Finishing Your Meal
Choose your ramen, understand the ticket machine and follow the shop’s queue without feeling rushed on your first visit.
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What to Eat in Dotonbori: An Osaka Evening Without Queuing for Everything
Try Osaka favourites a little at a time, leave room for another stop and enjoy the riverside between meals.
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When to Visit Tsukiji Outer Market: Earlier Is Not Always Better
Plan a visit around public shopping hours, check individual shops and leave your suitcase elsewhere before exploring Tsukiji.
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Food Allergies in Japan: An English Menu Is Not Enough
Ask about ingredients, sauces and shared equipment, and discuss your needs with restaurants before visiting.
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Do You Need Restaurant Reservations in Japan? Booking and Walk-In Etiquette
Know when to book, when to queue and when a sign-in sheet or reception machine must come before the queue.
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