A to Z of Japanese Food and Drink | A Visitor’s Guide to Eating in Japan

Mitarashi dango

There’s more to eating in Japan than sushi, tempura and teriyaki (delicious though they are). For travellers seeking to immerse themselves more fully into Japanese cuisine, enjoy our in-depth guide and learn about all the fantastic food and drink to be enjoyed in Japanese cuisine. Contents Amazake | Azuki Beans (Anko) | Bakery (Bread, Patisserie ... Read more »

A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Tea by Per Oscar Brekell

A Beginners Guide to Japanese Tea - Cover

Over the last 10-15 years I’ve developed a real love for and interest in tea, especially Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese teas. Coinciding with my deep love of Japanese food and drink, I’ve researched and learned about the different types of Japanese tea (such as sencha, gyokuro, hojicha, genmaicha, matcha), about their growing and processing, their ... Read more »

Want to Learn About Sake? A Comprehensive Sake Guide For Beginners

Sake bottles

It’s no secret that I adore Japan, Japanese food and Japanese culture, and that I’m always dreaming of my next trip to Japan! Sake is one element of Japan’s food and drink that is both fascinating and delicious. It’s a drink I’ve been learning about for several years and I’ve come to really appreciate it. ... Read more »

Asia | The Best Kept Secret in Chocolate

Au Lac Chocolate

Do you know where your cacao comes from? Cacao is the botanical name of the tree— Theobroma cacao— on which the chocolate fruit is grown. Before it can be turned into chocolate, the fruits must be harvested at peak ripeness. Their seeds are removed for fermenting, drying, roasting, peeling, and grinding into chocolate, a complicated ... Read more »

Spiritual Japan | Koyasan Temple Stay & Visit to Okunoin Cemetery

Spiritual Japan | Koyasan Temple Stay & Visit to Okunoin Cemetery

A Visit to the Okunoin Cemetary and an overnight Koyasan Temple Stay, are a must-do for many visitors to Japan, especially those seeking a spiritual experience and an insight into Japanese worship and culture. On paper, the journey to reach Mount Koya – respectfully known as Koyasan in Japan – seems a bit convoluted. But the ... Read more »

The Way of Whisky by Dave Broom | A Journey Around Japanese Whisky

Book cover for The Way of Whisky Dave Broom

There are whisky books which seek to list every whisky in a given category, or give you a tick-list of X whiskies that you must “try before you die”. This is not such a book. Instead, The Way of Whisky by Dave Broom is a large and detailed exploration of nine Japanese distilleries and while ... Read more »

Snapshots of Japan | American Craft Beer at Yokohama’s Antenna America

Beer

The advantage of meeting up with friends in Japan is that they can guide us to the best places for food and drink, none more so than food and drink journalist Robb Satterwhite, also the founder of Animal Cafes, Bento.com (restaurant guide), Craft Beer Bars Japan, and Where in Tokyo. Although we’re usually keen to seek ... Read more »