Premium Deal Alert: 8 November 2024

We know from our reader surveys that most of you already want to go to Japan. That's great for me, because it means you probably already want to go!

So instead, I'll take this opportunity to talk about food. Because who could ever get tired of writing about Japanese food?

I've gotta start with sushi. Tokyo is the undisputed sushi capital of the world, but you can get perfect, fresh bites anywhere in Japan. Pay close attention to Okinawa — the coastal region is known for its seafood culture. We've heard good things about (the lengthy-named) Ryuku Sushi Tsukiji Aozora Sandaime Naha, where the chef combines local Okinawan ingredients with traditional sushi.

For ramen, we're stopping in Sapporo. It's known for more than its famous beer: the big item here is miso ramen! The city's so crazy for it that you can find an entire Ramen Alley, home to 17 different ramen eateries. You can walk in anywhere and grab a bowl of warm, buttery comfort. 

Our last stop is Osaka. No Japanese foodie trip is complete without it. Highlights include gooey takoyaki, grilled beef from neighbor city Kobe, and fugu (for the brave).

Of course... when it comes to cuisine, you really can't go wrong with any city in Japan :-)