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1. Enjoy Japanese cuisine
Many people are looking forward to eating the country's unique food as the purpose of their trip. Especially in Japan, there are so many delicious dishes that it can be difficult to decide which one to eat in your limited travel itinerary. So, here are 5 recommended dishes that you should definitely try if you are going to Japan for the first time.
1. Sushi
Many people associate Japan with sushi. It is representative of Japanese food, and there are many sushi restaurants overseas, so I think many people have eaten it at least once. However, nigiri sushi (so-called vinegared rice topped with raw fish) is common in Japan, and many sushi rolls that are often seen overseas are not common in Japan. Even in the country where I live, sushi rolls are more common, and when I visited a sushi restaurant for the first time, I was surprised at the variety of them. California roll is good, but nigiri sushi in Japan is exceptional. You will be impressed by the freshness and variety of fish.
2. Ramen
Ramen is probably the next thing that comes to mind after sushi when you think of Japanese food. There are many ramen shops in Japan. Depending on the restaurant, you can customize the hardness of the noodles, the intensity of the flavour, the amount of oil, etc., so you can order your own special ramen.
3. Tempura
Tempura is also one of Japan's signature dishes. The crispy battered vegetables and seafood will be addictive once you eat them. You can eat soba noodles with tempura, eat it with rice, and enjoy different flavours depending on the combination.
4. Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu is another popular Japanese dish that is a crispy and juicy pork cutlet. The combination of crispy batter and juicy pork is irresistible. You can eat it with rice, or the "katsu sand" sandwiched on bread is exquisite, and once you eat it, you will definitely repeat it.
5. Yakitori
Yakitori is a Japanese grilled chicken skewer. Charcoal-grilled chicken goes well with both alcohol and rice. Normally, you can choose between sauce and salt. Eating with salt allows you to enjoy the taste of the ingredients themselves, and the sweet and spicy sauce is appetizing. There are many yakitori specialty restaurants in Japan, and there are many types of yakitori, so you can try various of them.
2. Take a hot spring
A hot spring (Onsen in Japanese) is one of the Japanese cultures. It's a great way to unwind from the fatigue of your trip. There are various types of hot springs throughout Japan, and there are differences in colour, quality, and efficacy, so I recommend you try multiple hot springs. In addition, there are many places in the hot spring town that are flourishing as tourist destinations, so you can enjoy not only the hot springs but also the local cuisine and strolls around the city.
3. Immerse yourself in Japanese traditional culture
If you travel to Japan, you can't miss watching Kabuki, a traditional Japanese performance, and sumo, which is the national sport.
Kabuki
In order to make Kabuki more enjoyable for more foreign tourists, Kabuki theatres have taken measures such as providing multilingual audio guides and increasing the number of performances with English commentary. You can also purchase Kabuki tickets in English on the following websites. https://www.kabukiweb.net/
Sumo
The grand sumo tournament is held every odd-numbered month. It is held daily in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. All you have to do is show your ticket at the entrance of the venue during this time, so you can enter at any time. I recommend you arrive at the venue around noon and enjoy a meal and shopping and then watch the sumo wrestling so that you can fully enjoy the main event.
4. Visit temples and shrines
When you travel to Japan, you can't miss visiting temples and shrines. Temples and shrines play an important role in Japanese culture. They will make you feel serene just by visiting them and you will be impressed by their majestic architecture. When you visit temples and shrines, please don't forget to respect local rules.
5. Explore Japanese nightlife
After enjoying sightseeing during the day, go out to the city at night to meet new people and things. Japanese people are often said to be shy, but many people become very cheerful once they drink alcohol. Also, on weekends, many people go out to eat and drink with friends and family, so Izakaya and bars are very busy. Even in the same area, the atmosphere will be different in the afternoon and morning, so please enjoy both. You can drink alcohol on the street in Japan, but please be careful not to drink too much and avoid getting into trouble.