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GLAZED TO PERFECTION: Almost too good to eat are these chicken yakitori glazed with sauces like tare which is made of mirin, sake, soy sauce, and sugar. Photo by John Lander
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SKEWERED FOR MORE: Serving up one of Japan’s yummy treats, this man cooks chicken yakitori to serve to his eager customers. Photo by John Lander
waffle treats. Try the maple, plain, t’s not all sushi in Japan. The chocolate, and green tea flavors for country’s favorite food—from dessert. ramen, tempura, sukiyaki, and For ramen fans, note that Tokyo teppanyaki—are just some of the has four ramen zones depending dishes to get excited about. on the kind of ramen you want. A The role of food in everyday Japanese circular route on the JR Line takes life is quite central, and the bigger the you to Ikebukuro, Takadanobaba, city in Japan, the more food options Shinjuku, and Tokyo Station. Each there are. If you’re hungry in Tokyo, zone specializes in a distinct ramen and you’ll find a restaurant, ramen store, noodle combo, so unlike the ones that cheese shop, wine bar, or bakery in say “just add hot water.” just about any corner of this incredibly If you’re an early attractive city. riser, take a stroll to In fact, Tokyo is home Yee-Haw! Tsukiji Market, Japan’s to the world’s largest largest wholesale number of Michelinmarket. You will find starred restaurants. The all of Japan’s traditional Michelin Guide Tokyo food and freshest fish, Yokohama Shonan meat, and produce. 2013, the guidebook of There are dozens of tiny restaurants and hotels, Raw horse meat, locally known features 242 dining as “basashi,” is a popular entree stalls with limited or no in Japan. seating, selling ramen, establishments in Tokyo tempura, sushi, sashimi, alone. Fourteen are rated oden (soup dish consisting of different the highest three stars, and others one ingredients), and tonkatsu. The trick or two stars. This outnumbers the total here is to eat fast, lines get really long awards given to any other city in the particularly during breakfast and lunch. world, and affirms that Tokyo is the While the tourists crowd Tsukiji’s world’s gastronomy capital. Inner Market, local Tokyo gourmets do Try a short food tour of Tokyo. First their shopping at the consumer-friendly stop: Torigin (5-5-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Outer market. Originally set up to serve Tokyo), a favorite for kids, serving 12 restaurants, the Outer Market is now varieties of kamameshi (Japanese rice open to the public. Here, hundreds dish) and 20 kinds of yakitori (skewered of crowded stalls sell fresh seafood, chicken), 12 of which are made of vegetables, tea, dried seaweed products, different cuts of chicken. professional kitchen knives, and Upon leaving Torigin, a sweet smell servingware. There are also numerous will lead you to Manneken (5-7-19 restaurants in the district, where visitors Ginza), a small counter selling the can enjoy fresh fish without waiting in yummiest, soft, and chewy Belgian