01Food & Drink
Gyoza Capital of Japan: Utsunomiya vs Hamamatsu
Two mid-sized cities have spent years fighting over which one eats the most gyoza, decided annually by a government statistics agency. Here's who's actually winning.
2 min
食
Food & Drink
What to eat, where to eat it, and how to order without the guesswork.
8 articles
02Food & Drink
Kakigori Boom: Japan's Shaved Ice Obsession
Japan is getting measurably hotter, and its response has turned shaved ice into a category with queues, reservations, and price tags to match.
2 min
03Food & Drink
The Ticket Machine at the Ramen Shop: How to Actually Use It
The vending machine by the door isn't decoration — it's how you order. The history behind Japan's ticket-machine restaurants, and exactly how to use one.
3 min
04Food & Drink
Konbini Survival Guide: What to Actually Buy
Japan's convenience stores are genuinely good, which confuses everyone. Here is what to buy at 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart — and what each chain does best.
3 min
05Food & Drink
Wagyu vs Kobe Beef: What A5 Actually Means
Most "Kobe beef" sold outside Japan is not Kobe beef, and A5 does not mean what most menus imply. The grading system, decoded.
4 min
06Food & Drink
Why Tokyo Has More Michelin Stars Than Paris
Tokyo has held the title of most-starred city in the world since the guide arrived there in 2007. The reasons say something specific about how Japanese restaurants are run.
3 min
07Food & Drink
Izakaya Etiquette 101: How Not to Feel Lost on Your First Visit
The shouting, the tiny menus, the dish you never ordered. A first-timer's guide to walking into a Japanese izakaya and behaving like a regular.
3 min
08Food & Drink
The Art of Slurping: Why Noise Is Good Manners
In most countries slurping is rude. In a Japanese noodle shop it is technique — and there is a reason for it.
3 min