When dining in Japan’s metropolitan capital of Tokyo, there are few foods more native to the city than sushi. Tokyo is the birthplace of nigiri-style sushi, the iconic ball of vinegared rice topped with a beautiful cut of fresh fish or other seafood, which developed as a lunchtime food for laborers, merchants, and artisans during the 1800s. Nigiri sushi is also known as Edomae sushi, after Tokyo’s former name, “Edo”.

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Sendai, the capital of Miyagi prefecture, is located on the northeastern coast of Japan. The area offers some of the best scenery in Japan, with gorgeous mountains to the west, and Matsushima Bay on the Pacific Ocean to the east—one of the top three most scenic locations in the country. But home not only stunning scenery, the food of the region is also fantastic.

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Explore one of Japan’s most diverse culinary scenes in Hiroshima, located on the westernmost part of Japan’s main island. Bordered by the Seto Inland Sea, the southern Hiroshima coastline is dotted with numerous fishing villages and more than 100 tiny islands. Hiroshima produces two-thirds of Japan’s oysters and enjoys a huge bounty of fish and shellfish that vary throughout the year. The area’s unique geography is home to a rich, biodiverse ocean environment, rewarding it with some of the best seafood in the country. Here are 8 Hiroshima sushi restaurants where one can sample the finest coastal cuisine the area has to offer.

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A city renowned for its spiritual and artistic tradition, Kyoto is also home to a storied culinary history—including a unique sushi culture unlike any other. As a landlocked city, Kyoto traditionally did not have access to fresh fish, which fostered an inventive Kyoto style of sushi emphasizing preserved and pickled ingredients. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake of 1923, however, displaced sushi chefs came to Kyoto and brought with them the familiar Edo-mae (Tokyo) style sushi of fresh fish atop a ball of rice. Kyoto sushi has since evolved to incorporate aspects of both traditional Kyoto dining—with its emphasis on high-quality, local, seasonal ingredients—and Edo-mae sushi techniques. Here are 8 must-try Kyoto sushi restaurants that combine the peerless tradition of yesterday with the tastes of today.

Continue reading Kyoto Sushi Restaurant Guide: 8 Seafood Gems of Old Japan

The Roppongi district is known as Tokyo’s upscale center of entertainment, complete with high-end hotels, chic bars, and a fantastic nightlife. Bordered by two large commercial hubs, Roppongi Hills at one end and Roppongi Midtown at the other, this peerless shopping destination offers the allure of numerous luxury brands, while the sheer variety of museums, galleries, and art installations in the area create a bustling art scene. Due to its close proximity to a number of foreign embassies, Roppongi draws a diverse crowd of esteemed overseas visitors, so it’s no surprise then that the area is home to one of the best dining scenes in Tokyo and throughout Japan. For visitors looking to enjoy the finest in Japanese cuisine, here are 7 Roppongi sushi restaurants that not only provide the best sushi in Roppongi but also furnish the ultimate seafood dining experience.

Continue reading Roppongi Sushi Restaurants: 7 Luxurious Tokyo Seafood Finds

When it comes to Japan’s northernmost prefecture, most epicureans likely envision refreshingly chilled ale, expertly braised cuts of succulent Genghis Khan mutton and delectable mountains of cheese and other dairy products. While the culinary prominence of Hokkaido’s meat and dairy products is undeniable, ignoring its teeming seafood culture would not only be cruel to your stomach, but would serve to discount those who have made it their life’s work. Nowhere is this dedication to craft, seasonal excellence and exceptional flavor more apparent than in the realm of sushi and sashimi, where master chefs effortlessly mold the ocean’s bounty to their whims for your pleasure. Come out of the cold with these 7 top-notch Sapporo sushi restaurant recommendations.

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Tokyo’s Ginza is a glittering upscale oasis that, for discerning epicureans, offers a veritable cornucopia of culinary possibilities. Contemporary eateries coexist with traditional establishments, all united by the common pillars of quality, service, and unwavering commitment to gathering only the finest ingredients. Read on to discover why Ginza is especially renowned for its flourishing seafood and sushi scene—and learn about the very best places to experiencethe freshness for yourself!

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Tempura, a tantalizing assortment of battered and deep-fried ingredients, is already one of Japan’s most world-renowned dishes. What many people outside of Japan don’t realize, however, is that there are a number of regional differences when it comes to this famous dish. The western Kansai region favors vegetable tempura fried in neutral oil and served with salt, while tempura from the Kanto region in the east includes both seafood and vegetables, fried in sesame oil for a golden color and served with a soy sauce-based dipping sauce. For most visitors to Japan, it’s this Kanto-style that comes to mind when they think of tempura—large golden battered prawns, crisp tempura vegetables, and a flavorful dipping sauce.

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>Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine cooked on an iron grill top which originated in Japan following the introduction of modern iron manufacturing. With the spread of teppan cooking plates, dishes such as okonomiyaki (a Japanese savory pancake) became popular in Kansai, the western region of Japan. Later, during the post-war period, a new type of teppanyaki emerged. This new style of teppanyaki cuisine—also known as “hibachi” outside of Japan—is often described as Japanese dinner theater, with a personal chef grilling up meat, seafood, and vegetables in front of dinner guests with dynamic yet graceful culinary flair.

Continue reading Kyoto Teppanyaki Restaurants Serve up Iron-grilled Delights

Teppanyaki is a modern style of Japanese dining akin to dinner theater, with skilled chefs displaying graceful culinary techniques as they grill high-quality meat, seafood, and vegetables with style and flair. Sometimes dubbed “hibachi” outside of Japan, teppanyaki means “grilled on an iron surface” and refers to the open cooktop where chefs typically prepare the meal before their delighted guests. Based on traditional Japanese open griddle cooking, teppanyaki originated in the 1940s as Japan’s take on the American steakhouse and quickly spread overseas. What better place to enjoy a world-class teppanyaki experience than in one of the most exciting, modern and most gastronomically adventurous cities in the world? Here are 9 restaurants representing some of the best teppanyaki in Tokyo.

Continue reading Best Teppanyaki in Tokyo: 7 Sizzlingly Stellar Restaurants