Hands down, Tokyo is one of the best food cities in the world. It’s the kind of place that attracts serious foodies with distinct flavors, fresh ingredients and unique textures. From okonomiyaki to sushi, Japanese food varies greatly depending on your location, budget and appetite for adventure. To learn more about this incredible food culture, Yuma Wada, sake sommelier, sushi chef and owner of Ninja Food Tours, shares his thoughts on what to eat in Tokyo, travel tips and more.
How long have you been giving food tours in Japan?
I have been giving tours since 2017.
Courtesy of Ninja Food Tours
What might surprise travelers about Japanese cuisine?
The variation of food would surprise travelers. Japanese cuisine has a wide range of food to offer from vegan Shojin cuisine from Buddhist temples to raw chicken sashimi and poisonous puffer fish. You will never get bored trying new types of food in Japan.
What are some of your favorite Japanese dishes?
Sushi! People would say they love tuna and salmon. Of course, they are good, but I love Anago eel – a seawater eel, different from Uangi. It is rather lean meat and if it is fresh and cooked well, it has a very fluffy texture, which goes very well with tare sauce (Japanese BBQ sauce).
Photo by Thomas Marban
Photo by Helga Christina
Which traditional Japanese dish should every visitor try in Tokyo?
You should try okonomiyaki, which is a Japanese savory pancake. It is a regional dish, so you can find many different styles in Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima, for example. If you are a first-timer to Tokyo, visit a neighborhood called Tsukishima. You can find countless restaurants serving okonomiyaki.
Okonomiyaki
What is sake? And, do you have any tips for drinking it like a local?
Sake is Japanese rice wine. We take sips of sake (not shots!) with some snacks. In the winter, try to order hot sake at up-scale restaurants. Good warm sake might change the stereotype of sake.
Courtesy of Ninja Food Tours
What are some of the best food markets in Tokyo?
Tsukiji Fish Market! Even after the relocation of the wholesale market, Tsukiji has a lot to offer as far as food to see and eat. If you like to shop for Japanese knives and cookware, go to Kappabashi, which is next to Asakusa.
Photo by Michael DeMarco
Are there any social errors to avoid when dining out?
You will most likely be trying a lot of Izakaya restaurants, which are Japanese gastropub. They are restaurants, not bars. At Izakayas, it is considered as a good manner to order food or some small snacks in addition to your drinks.
How does Tokyo’s food culture differ from other parts of Japan?
This is a tough one! Tokyo is always the center of food trends and some say Tokyo gathers good parts of regional food from many parts of Japan and does not have a unique food culture by itself. We believe Tokyo has a powerful food culture to bring new waves of food and restaurant scenes compared to other cities.
In addition to the food, what do you enjoy most about living in Japan?
Japan offers so many domestic travel options from beaches in Okinawa to powder snow snowboarding in Hokkaido! There are tons of nature and outdoor activities and sightseeing across the country, and you will never get bored!
Thank you, Yuma!
Ninja Food Tours
Locations: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka
Website: https://www.ninjafoodtours.com/
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +81-50-5240-8828
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