The delicious array of premium yakiniku restaurants throughout Japan specialize in Japanese-style barbecue grilled tableside over a charcoal or gas brazier. It’s an excellent way to enjoy high-quality domestic black beef, known as kuroge wagyu, which is available in various regional brands. Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, has access to all of the finest kuroge wagyu from across the country, making it by far the best city for experiencing top yakiniku dining. Here are 7 highly-rated restaurants that epitomize the best yakiniku in Tokyo, proving the point beyond a doubt.

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From flashy Michelin-starred establishments to cozy neighborhood bistros, the Japanese culinary affair with French cuisine is extensive. Japanese chefs have travelled to France to study cooking since the Meiji and Taisho Eras, and in the years since the 1960s those numbers have increased dramatically. These French-trained Japanese chefs bring with them the flavors and techniques of traditional French cuisine, as well as the influences of the ‘nouvelle’ cuisine that has become the gold standard in France since the 1920s, with its ingredient-focussed dishes, refined presentation and healthful emphasis.

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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.

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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.

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Located not too far outside of Tokyo by train is the historic seaside town of Kamakura, a special place that still echoes of old Japan. With its over-40-foot-tall bronze statue of the Great Buddha, picturesque beaches, friendly locals, slower pace of living, and fantastic photo opportunities, Kamakura is a favorite sightseeing destination. Where the town itself is traditional, the cuisine is often bold, expertly combining European influences with ancient Japanese favorites. For travelers planning to visit this hidden gem, here are 8 essential Kamakura restaurants to add to the itinerary.

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Hida beef is a highly esteemed brand of kuroge wagyu beef from the Gifu area in central Japan. Black-haired Japanese cattle are raised to produce beef of the topmost quality, meeting stringent industry standards for marbling, color, texture, and aroma. Compared to other kuroge wagyu brands, Hida beef has thinner muscle fibers; furthermore, its exquisite marbling appears not only on steaks but also on flank, shoulder, and round cuts. This results in a light and tender beef that, lacking the heaviness of many other meats, possesses instead a smooth and sweet flavor. A fine marble coating also protects the meat when stewing, resulting in only the juiciest and most tender cuts.

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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.

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Japanese food culture is one of the most highly prized in the world, with Japan becoming the only country aside from France to have its cuisine included on the UNESCO cultural heritage list. In particular, Japanese delicacies, which often vary according to the changing seasons, are notable not only for the exceptional care and attention given to their preparation, but for the unprecedented flavor that preparation ultimately yields. To guide you on your dining adventures, here are 10 luxurious Japanese ingredients that you will want to try when visiting this culinary mecca to the East.

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Kaiseki is the quintessential Japanese haute cuisine, a tasting course characterized by the perfection of its preparation and elegant presentation. Originally a meal of small dishes meant to accompany the bitter green tea of Japanese tea ceremonies, kaiseki has become a dazzling culinary tradition unto itself. Kaiseki eschews strong sauces or overly complex arrangements, instead presenting every dish with stark simplicity around natural themes that highlight the superior quality of seasonal ingredients. This absence of artifice means that every ingredient must be selected at the height of freshness and then carefully prepared to showcase its true flavor.

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