Restaurants in Japan
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Downtown Cafe
A local landmark that sits aside the main traffic light in downtown Hirafu, this New York City–inspired cafe has the obligatory cup of joe and toasted bagel with a smear of cream cheese. Sweet tooths can find comfort in all manners of danishes and pastries, not to mention pizza, sandwiches and tap beer for the lunch and dinner crowds.
reviewed
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Doutor
- Nara, Japan
- Restaurants › Cafe
If you just need a quick cuppa or an eat-in or takeaway sandwich, there is a branch of the coffee shop chain in the Konishi Arcade (a five-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara).
reviewed
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Dō-rai
In the centre of Sonai is this delightful little Okinawan izakaya that serves local specialities like ishigakigyū-sutēki (Ishigaki-style steak; ¥1300) and rafutē (gingered, stewed pork; ¥700). It's about 100m southeast of the post office in Sonai. Look for the blue and white sign on the brick wall.
reviewed
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B
Don Don Udonya
A popular spot serving tasty udon, with plastic models in the window. Udon teishoku (udon set) goes for ¥580 and there are donburi standards like oyako-don (¥500). There's a cheaper morning selection. It's in a big black-and-white building on the right as you head away from the station.
reviewed
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Daikō Shōten
This seafood shop/izakaya is a great place to try freshly caught local seafood in a casual atmosphere. From November until mid-April (the busy tourist season for Kinosaki), the restaurant section is upstairs, while the downstairs is given over to selling vast quantities of crabs and other delights. For the rest of the year, the restaurant is on the ground floor. Teishoku are available from ¥1480, but you'll never go wrong by just asking for the master's osusume (recommendations). It's diagonally across from Mikuniya, about 50m back toward the station.
reviewed
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Daiki
Our favourite place to eat in Ise-shi bills itself as 'Japan's most famous restaurant'. It's a great place to sample seafood, including ise-ebi (Japanese lobsters), served as set meals for ¥5000; ask for the ise-ebi teishoku and specify yaki (grilled), niita (boiled) or sashimi (raw). Simpler meals include tempura teishoku (¥1500). It's outside and to the right of Uji-Yamada Station (walk past the Toyota Rentacar lot); there's a small English sign reading 'Kappo Daiki' and 'Royal Family Endorsed'.
reviewed
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C
Daiichi-kaikan Kawabataten
Complementing Otafuku is this unassuming spot tucked away on the 3rd floor of a nondescript white building just a few blocks south. The house speciality is shottsuru-nabe (¥2520), a hotpot made with hatahata, green onions and fresh tofu.
reviewed
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D
Daichi Makishi Kōsetsu Ichiba
We highly recommend a meal at one of the eateries on the 2nd floor of this food market. Just have a look at what the locals are eating and grab a seat.
reviewed
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E
Curry Honpo
Can't make it to Mojikō? Try the Kawabata Shōtengai location of the famous shop for some yaki-curry (broiled curry rice with cheese), which the English menu disturbingly refers to as 'combustion curry'. The standard is pork combustion curry (¥870). It's the fake-wood-panelled storefront in the arcade.
reviewed
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Chūzan
This popular izakaya is a great spot that offers a variety of locally caught seafood. You can't go wrong with the sashimi-moriawase (sashimi assortment; ¥1000), which washes down perfectly with a tall glass of nama-biiru (draught beer; ¥250). Service can be a little slow. Look for the green carpeted steps outside.
reviewed
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Chō Bali Bali
This stylish space gathers lively crowds most nights and serves eclectic dishes from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, with a touch of Italian for good measure; yam-un-sen is a spicy Thai salad with vermicelli. Highly recommended.
reviewed
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Chīzu Rāmen-no-mise Karin
As you've no doubt figured out by now, Furano is also famous for its cheese. While you can be a traditionalist and eat it by the slice, we prefer ours shredded over a bowl of rāmen. This excessively high-calorie indulgence can be found in a fairly nondescript brown-and-white building (look for the red curtain) three blocks east and one block north of the public library. There is no English menu, but just say 'cheezu rāmen' and you're golden.
reviewed
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F
Chiho-no-ie
At the base of the gorge, this three-storey building serves seasonal regional treats and nagashi-sōmen (¥600) – have fun catching tasty noodles with your chopsticks as they float by in halved bamboo rafts.
reviewed
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G
Chari
This low-ceilinged narrow cafe- restaurant near the Peace Memorial Museum is a good place for a coffee or lunch stop. There are a few wooden tables and a solo-diner-friendly long bench. Lunch sets, from ¥750, include a teishoku (set meal) of udon (thick white noodles), and there are curries and cakes on the menu.
reviewed
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H
Café Panda
Contemporary bar meals with an emphasis on healthy seafood dishes are on offer at this classy new establishment decked out in floorboards, white furniture and glass tables. The light electronic soundtrack kicks on until 2am.
reviewed
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Café Jumelle
Matsuyama has a revelatory organic food store and cafe that serves up heartening soy-based meals with clean flavours and crisp presentation. It's a godsend for vegans and for anyone who loves a lightly sugared dessert.
reviewed
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J
Café Bleu
This lovely little music cafe on the edge of the Ōkaidō arcade serves tasty, simple lunches to a bookish clientele. The decor includes groovy album covers, music photography and vintage typewriters. Beer and generous cocktails are also available.
reviewed
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K
Café Absinthe
For fantastic alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and juices and an incredibly diverse menu of Mediterranean food (something of a rarity in Kansai), this friendly restaurant on the western edge of Ame-Mura is a must. The drinks and food here cost a little more, but they're worth it when you factor in the quality of the ingredients and the atmosphere. And, yes, it does serve the eponymous absinthe. Needless to say, this place can easily double as a nightspot.
reviewed
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@Cafe
This modern cafe is a good place to stop for a break and a bite in town. It is situated in a 150-year-old building beside the stone lighthouse in the harbour. There's a small menu consisting of pasta dishes and other meals for around ¥1000.
reviewed
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L
Bukkake Udon
In the less-than-atmospheric Bios Arcade across from the station, this local chain serves up the tasty Kurashiki udon speciality – called bukkake udon (from bukkakeru, meaning to pour or splash) because you tip the sauce over the noodles yourself. Tempura bukkake is ¥590. Or try a niku (meat) kimuchi bukkake for ¥680. Look for the sign with a ぶ in a yellow oval.
reviewed
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M
Bosco
Just outside the covered arcade (look for the pink lit signs), this cosy trattoria has an open kitchen, two large tables and a long counter. Ebi-abokado spaghetti (with shrimp, avocado and clams) has legions of fans.
reviewed
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Bills
This popular new outpost from Australian celebrity chef Bill Granger proves that Yokohama still has an appetite for foreign flavours. There's a glass terrace and a long line for Sunday brunch.
reviewed
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O
Bijin-tei
Smiling mama-san sees all at this discrete, seafood izakaya. Point to the menu items already plated – the pickled taco (octopus) is a mouthful – or ask for an o-susume (recommendation). It's on the ground floor of a building containing several snack bars and karaoke joints. Look for the sign with the shop's name on it in kanji: 美人亭.
reviewed
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Bier Hall
- Gifu, Japan
- Restaurants › Bar
For a nightcap, join expats and locals at the wabi-sabi-cool Bier Hall, which specialises in Guinness, pizzas, fried snacks and beef stew. It's a few doors behind the clothing shop 'Bad'.
reviewed
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Barn
Housed in a modernist rendition of an old Hokkaidō barn, this self-described French Alpine Bistro sets the bar on the Hirafu dining scene. Signature dishes apply French reductions to locally procured meats, fish and vegetables, which are accompanied by hearth-baked bread and freshly made ice cream. As if this wasn't enough to make die-hard foodies rejoice, you can also order up a bottle of Boyer-Gontard, which comes from the owner's personal vineyard in Burgundy, France. The visually striking steel-and-glass barn is located two blocks south of the Seicomart in Hirafu.
reviewed