Aomori Prefecture
In the evening university students flock to this nondescript office building housing eight tiny restaurants, most doubling as bars. It's a lively local…
Must-see restaurants in Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Aomori Prefecture
Cut out the middle man and head straight for the famed Aomori seafood market, where piles of fresh catch – as well as apples, pickled vegetables and a…
Sendai
Vegetable curries, macrobiotic tofu and fresh, colourful salads are the highlights of this delightful, minimalist cafe, which rotates its menu regularly…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The best noodles in town are found in this 250-year-old Edo-era wooden schoolhouse. The house speciality is buke-soba served with takenoko (bamboo shoots)…
Iwate Prefecture
Jaja-men (じゃじゃめん; noodle with miso and minced meat) joints are all over town, but this hole-in-the wall is still the leader. Ordering is a breeze: just…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
On the 2nd floor, with huge windows overlooking the bay, this light-filled, minimalist cafe specialises in castella, a moist, sponge-like cake originally…
Niigata Prefecture
Conveniently located on the way to the Sado Kisen ferry terminal, this sprawling complex includes markets and eateries – so you can gawk at the bounty of…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The versatile soybean is pounded and skewered to perfection at this former bean-paste mill dating from 1834. The speciality here is dengaku – bamboo…
Aomori Prefecture
In a town that knows how to handle a bivalve, Osanai has a stellar reputation among locals for its simple and cheap hotate (scallops). The menu includes…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Atop reclaimed land near where the old centre of Minami-Sanriku stood, this new shopping village opened in 2017 to much fanfare. It represents the…
Iwate Prefecture
Serving the best curry we tried in the whole of northern Japan, this small, charming restaurant makes nothing except creamy plates of curry. The wonderful…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Rebuilt after a 2017 fire, Nagaya Sakaba is easy to spot due to the massive Namahage demons above the entrance. Sake flows freely once you've negotiated…
Iwate Prefecture
Customers line up and tour buses roll in for this hugely popular wanko-soba restaurant. As per tradition, the waiter will refill your tiny bowl with soba…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This bright, well-regarded shop specialises in inaniwa udon, a thin chewy wheat noodle that originated in Akita Prefecture in the 1600s. Locals seek out…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Constructed haphazardly from caravans, pine beams, fake turf and fairy lights, this pop-up community dining and gathering space is emblematic of…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The best Mongolian barbecue or jingisukan restaurant in Zaō (there are many) is a sharp operation where diners do the grunt work on plates of raw lamb and…
Sendai
In a city of fans of charcoal-grilled cow's tongue, this little gyūtan has been steadily among the top few purveyors for some time now. Perch at the…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The line of locals out the door at lunchtime is testament to the popularity of this small restaurant, tucked inside a grocery store opposite the Tazawa-ko…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Tucked away on a residential street a few blocks back from the main thoroughfare, this tiny, one-room bakery does a seriously good sourdough, as well as…
Iwate Prefecture
On top of the hill within the Chūson-ji complex, this glass-walled restaurant has lovely views of the surrounding countryside and is the perfect place to…
Niigata Prefecture
On a bend in the road at the southern tip of Mano Bay, this unexpectedly excellent bakery-cafe serves a wide variety of baked goods as well as coffee,…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Delicious chewy udon and signature soba bowls (hot or cold) are served with simple elegance at this friendly spot. The accompanying tempura and miso are…
Sendai
The best gyūtan (charcoal-grilled cow's tongue) place in town is this tiny hole-in-the-wall filled with locals. It's cheap, fresh and there is an English…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Delicious, organic lakeside cafe known for its starring role in a Korean film. Salads, soups and locally made Kohan No Mori beer make for a very…
Sendai
Spectacular evening kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine) courses and crunch-for-lunch tempura are served in this elegant traditional building in the heart of…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
A must-visit for seafood lovers. You can eat at a variety of places at this indoor seafood market or grab some mouth-watering sushi and picnic goodies.
Aomori Prefecture
The bright-green building housing Kaikyōsō looks more like a hardware store than a purveyor of fine raw fish, but don't be fooled: you're in the exact…
Iwate Prefecture
Among the soba varieties served here, try hitsuko soba (ひつこそば), eaten with chicken, mushrooms, onion and raw egg. Otherwise go for hittsumi (ひっつみ), hand…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
To the east of the centre, in a residential neighbourhood, this popular ramen joint does a roaring trade in steaming bowls of homemade noodles in a rich,…
Aomori Prefecture
Walking down Shinmachi-dōri from the station, turn left on Zeimusho-dōri (before the Alpha Hotel). Walk towards the water, and on your left you'll find…
Aomori Prefecture
On the southern side of Hirosaki-kōen, Rairai-ken is a lovely little Chinese restaurant in the temple district. There are lots of vegetarian options,…
Aomori Prefecture
One of the fanciest establishments in Hirosaki, this elegant restaurant offers French-inspired banquets, many including the chef's famous 'miracle' cold…
Niigata Prefecture
The speciality here is awabi (abalone), grilled as a steak (at market rate) or, more affordably, barbecued with a sweet soy-sauce marinade and served over…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Perennial local favourites from land and sea such as kaisen-don (mixed sashimi on rice) and gyūtan (chargrilled cow's tongue) feature here, along with…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
One of the most popular places to try the sublime wappa meshi (steamed fish or vegetables over rice, prepared in a container made from tree bark, which…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This peculiar concept cafe enjoys a lovely riverside locale and is run by a busy young team of foodies who specialise in desserts, fancy teas and organic…
Aomori Prefecture
This brightly lit basement restaurant stars musicians wielding shamisen (three-stringed instruments resembling a lute or a banjo) entertaining seafood…
Aomori Prefecture
Nearly 50 years of churning out sweet, creamy curries has led to mastery of spice and consistency at Curry House Hōryū. It's remarkably cheap and draws a…
Aomori Prefecture
A true local restaurant offering a variety of set meals of hearty stews and delicate seafood concoctions. There's also an extensive list of Aomori sake,…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Come here to sample sake and local Yamagata specialities such as imo nabe (potato stew) and dongara (cod), as well as a variety of chargrilled seafood…
