Yufumabushi Shin Ekimae: Where to Have Hitsumabushi in Yufuin, Japan
Hitsubamushi is an eel specialty dish of Nagoya in Aichi prefecture. It's served in a bowl over rice with a side of yakumi (condiments) and dashi (soup stock).
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JAPAN
If I could visit just one country for the rest of my life, then it would be Japan. If I had to eat one cuisine for the rest of my life, then it would be Japanese. Japan is without a doubt one of the most unique and culturally fascinating countries on the planet.
Where to Stay in Kurokawa Onsen, Japan: Senomotokan Yumerindo
Yumerindo is a ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen, a quaint hot spring town high up in the mountains of Kumamoto. Set in a forested valley with a river running through it, Kurokawa Onsen is known for being one of Japan's most attractive onsen towns.
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Warokuya: “If You’ve Tasted Better Fried Chicken, Then We Will Close Down.”
According to one reviewer on TripAdvisor, Warokuya Restaurant allegedly has a sign saying that if you've ever tasted better fried chicken, then the owner will close down. Challenge accepted!
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Yossou: A 150-Year-Old Chawanmushi Restaurant in Nagasaki, Japan
Open since 1866, Yossou is credited as being the very first chawanmushi specialty restaurant in Japan. They make their signature chawanmushi with nine specific ingredients – white fish, chicken, shiitake mushrooms, kikurage mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginkgo, kamaboko (fish paste), wheat powder, and anago (grilled conger eel).
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Horaiken Bekkan: Where to Eat Champon in Nagasaki, Japan
Nagasaki's diverse cuisine is regarded as one of the most unique in Japan. It offers plenty of interesting dishes, perhaps none more famous than this Chinese-Japanese noodle soup called champon.
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Kaisen Ichiba Nagasakiko: Enjoy Fresh Seafood on Dejima Wharf in Nagasaki, Japan
Kaisen Ichiba Nagasakiko is a seafood restaurant on scenic Dejima Wharf in Nagasaki. As far as I know, they're one of the few places in the city that serves ika-no-ikizukuri, or "live" squid sashimi.
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Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Akasakaten: Where to Eat Motsunabe in Fukuoka, Japan
A specialty of Fukuoka prefecture, motsunabe is a hot pot stew made with beef or pork offal. Innards like beef intestines and tripe are allowed to simmer in a soup base seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and chili pepper. If you're visiting Fukuoka and like offal, then you need to try this dish.
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The Ultimate Sapporo Winter Travel Guide
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido. It's home to the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, not to mention some of the country's best seafood, most notably crab. If you're planning a trip to Sapporo in winter, then this guide will be very useful to you.
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Korombia Izakaya: Where to Have Yakitori & Chicken Sashimi in Sapporo, Japan
If you're unfamiliar with the term, an izakaya is a type of gastropub in Japan. It's the Japanese equivalent of an American bar (like Cheers) or an Irish pub. They're informal and unpretentious establishments where office workers would go to loosen their ties and get a quick drink after work.
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The Ultimate Japanese Food Guide: What to Eat in Japan (and Where to Try Them)
I adore Japanese food. It's my absolute favorite cuisine in the world and a big reason why I love visiting this country. We plan on exploring every prefecture and trying as many local specialties as we can. If you enjoy Japanese food as much as I do, then you need to read this guide.
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Sapporo Snow Festival: A Week of Snowmen, Ice Sculptures, and PPAP in Hokkaido, Japan
It's interesting to learn that the Sapporo Snow Festival began as a one-day event way back in 1950 when six local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. Today, it's become an annual event attracting over 2 million visitors every year.
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Enjoy the Snow Light Path Festival in Otaru, a Charming Port City near Sapporo
Otaru is lovely. Spend a few hours there and you'll understand its appeal. Unlike Sapporo which is a busy metropolis, Otaru is a small port city known for its well-preserved canal and heritage buildings.
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Historical Village of Hokkaido: An Idyllic Open Air Museum in Sapporo, Japan
This Historical Village of Hokkaido is an open-air museum on the outskirts of Sapporo. It features about 60 period structures spread out over an area of 54 hectares. All the buildings are from the Meiji and Taisho eras (mid-19th to early 20th century) and were recreated to reflect what pioneer life in Hokkaido was like.
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Shirakaba Sansou: Where to Have Sapporo’s Signature Miso Ramen in Ramen Alley
When doing research for this trip, I saw many locals refer to Ramen Alley as a tourist trap, a place to steer clear from if you were serious about miso ramen. They warned of the ramen restaurants in downtown Sapporo that served them with sweet corn (gasp!). Sweet corn in ramen is for tourists they said, and something to avoid at all costs.
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Snowmobile Land: Where to Ride a Snowmobile in Sapporo, Japan
It's funny, Snowmobile Land gets a little sexist when it comes to riding in pairs. For safety, they don't allow women to ride together. In the event that a man and a woman share a snowmobile, only the man is allowed to drive. I know it's because the steering on snowmobiles is a little heavy, but still. Try telling that to Xena.
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Takinami Shokudo: Where to Have Overflowing Bowls of Kaisendon in Otaru, Japan
Otaru is a small port town less than an hour away by train from Sapporo. It's a lovely town known for its beautifully preserved canal, its wealth of dairy shops, and the freshest seafood. Some say that the best seafood in Hokkaido can be found right here in Otaru.
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Gotsubo: Where to Have Plump, Juicy Oysters for Cheap in Sapporo, Japan
We visited Nijo Market a few days before and oysters there were priced at JPY 150-200 apiece. At Gotsubo? Just JPY 105 each for a minimum order of five. If that isn't enticing enough, the owner throws in an extra oyster or two if he likes you. Just kidding. He does it for everyone.
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Sapporo Beer Museum: Beer Tasting and Jingisukan (Genghis Khan) in Sapporo, Japan
The red brick of the Sapporo Beer Museum is a striking sight, especially in winter when it's framed against the whiteness of the snow. Sapporo is one of the oldest beer brands in Japan and has been brewing here in Hokkaido since 1877.
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