Food Theme Parks

When you think of theme parks you usually think of Mickey and his friends or some high thrill roller coaster but in Japan there is another type of theme park, The Food Theme Park.
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Japanese Curry

You might not to expect to find curry on a Japanese menu, but it is quiet common and a very popular and relatively cheap dish throughout Japan.
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Taiyaki

Taiyaki is a popular Japanese sweet desert that generally comprises of a sea bream shapped jaffle made from pankake or waffle batter and filled with red bean paste or various other sweet fillings.
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Takoyaki

New York has its hot dog, London has its bangers and mash, Berlin has its Currywurst and Osaka has its Takoyaki. Takoyaki is found all over Japan but Osaka is the home of the Octopus Ball.
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Fugu

Poisonous Pufferfish are a specialty at many Japanese restaurants especially around Osaka. Pufferfish are known as Fugu in Japan and depending on region are one of a number of species. One of the more popular is the Takifugu which is also known as the tiger blowfish these are blubbery leathery looking fish and one of the most deadly, while some of the others have nasty spikes all over their body.
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Vending Machines

It is estimated there is a vending machine of some variety for every 20 people in Japan, with a population in excess of 127 million people there must be some 5 million vending machines in the country.
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Gyudon

Gyudon is fast food Japanese style, translated gyudon means cow bowl and that’s sort of what gyudon is strips of beef served in a bowl. Often served with a salad and miso soup Gyudon shops are popular all over Japan and they are generally small and consist of a long counter where you sit at in front of the waiter.
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Bento

Bento is a popular Japanese meal traditionally served in a wooden box. Bento dates back centuries and could be called one of the world’s first fast foods. Bento was developed so farmers, school children or even army warriors could carry a small quickly prepared meal for their lunch around with them while they worked. Bento would of originally been placed inside leaves but later on it was more fashionable to be contained inside small wood boxes. Today much of the bento sold is contained in plastic or cardboard boxes that resemble the traditional wood box.
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Yakitori

Yakitori is one of the tastiest and cheapest meals in Japan, it is succulent pieces of chicken meat served on bamboo skewers that have been marinated in BBQ sauce and grilled over hot charcoals.  Many of the restaurants serve this tasty dish along with cold beer. You will find many of these restaurants are just small stands set up around the rail stations, many of them will have a sign out the front with the Tori Bird character and most Japanese style bars known as Izakaya, will also serve Yakatori. Izakayas will always have some red paper lanterns out the front but the fragrance of the barbequing Yakitori will be a real give away.
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Sushi

Probably the best know of the Japanese foods to westerners are Sushi and Sashimi. Over recent years these dishes have become popular if not fashionable in many of the big cities around the world. Many people think Sushi is raw fish, but it isnt (although it can contain it) Sushi is really a range of small rice based finger foods in a variety of shapes and styles. On the other hand Sashimi is usually freshly prepared thin slices of raw fish.
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Sashimi

Sashimi is what many people in the west consider Sushi, raw fish. Sushi is actually a rice based item which uses vinegared rice as its main ingredient. Sashimi on the other hand usually consists of some thinly sliced raw seafood with a variety of dipping sauces and accompaniments.
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Ramen

Ramen is the Japanese name for the popular noodle soup dish much like instant noodles. In fact instant noodles actually evolved from the fresh ramen that has been a staple part of Japanese diet since the 17th century. Ramen noodles have become more popular since the invention of the instant ramen in 1958 by the founder of one of the largest makers instant noodles Nissin Foods.
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Beer

Beer or as it is pronounced BI-RU is Japan’s most popular alcoholic beverage. It is can be drank just about everywhere, and in fact is can even be purchased in vending machines on the pavement which is a strange sight for someone from the west.
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Happoshu Beer

In recent years many of the Japanese breweries have been producing Happoshu which is a low malt beer like beverage containing less of malt content than normal beers.
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Sake

Sake is probably the best know of all Japanese beverages. It is an alcoholic brewed drink which is produced from rice.
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Izakaya Bars

Izakaya are the traditional Japanese bars that are popular with Japanese businessmen for an after work drink, in recent years these bars have also gained in popularity with the younger Japanese drinker too. Traditionally to go along with your drinks small partitions of food are served at the Izakaya, giving this establishment a more of a restaurant feel.
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Tachinomi Bars

Tachinomi is the name given to bars that have no seating, referred to in English as standing only bars, these bars are popular with Japanese businessmen to call into for a quick drink on the way home from work.
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Japanese Soft Drinks

With all the vending machines in Japan you may think they are full of Coca Cola, but no you will rarely see Coke instead you will see an array of interesting and sometimes unusual beverages.
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Recipes

Fancy some Japanese cuisine at home? Try out some of our tasty recipes for the real flavor of Japan without leaving your kitchen.
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