Our Destinations
Japan
Gourmet Paradise
Japan is a major gourmet destination thanks to the variety and richness of Japanese cuisine. You will find top-class restaurants throughout the country featuring both Japanese and cuisines from every corner to the world.
The Allure of Japanese Cuisine
Ask people around the world about Japanese food, and they are sure to mention sushi and tempura, but these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Japanese cuisine. Sukiyaki and shabu-shabu are both healthy and great dishes to eat as a group since they are cooked in a pot at your own table. The ingredients include meat (beef or pork), a mountain of vegetables, tofu and much more.
If you like noodles, you should try udon (thick white noodles made from wheat flour), soba (buckwheat noodles) or ramen (Chinese noodles). Soba has a substance called rutin that is said to purify the blood (but be careful of soba allergies).
Kaiseki-ryouri is an elegant full-course meal that allows you to sample many dishes that make Japanese cuisine special all in one sitting. Seasonal ingredients are used and great care is taken to arrange the food decoratively on the serving dishes. It’s just as fun to look at, as it is to eat.
Restaurants
Have you the TV program “ Iron Chef”? It pits master Japanese, Chinese and French chefs against renowned chefs from the world in a 60-minute cooking competition. The program has been broadcast in many countries, and for some people it was the first time the learned that Japan is a gourmet paradise.
The Japanese version of the “Zagat Survey” was published in 1999, and “Michelin” ratings will be released in November 2007, further proof that the world has a growing interest in Japanese cuisine.
Many famous restaurants from overseas have branches in Japan, allowing you to enjoy the finest French, Italian, Spanish or Asian while visiting the country.
From Japan to the World
The examples of the joy of food in Japan go on and on. “Depa-chika”, or the basement levels of department stores, are usually the food sections where you can get the highest-quality ingredients and alcohols from both Japan and abroad. Each department store has its own distinctive assortment of goods, but there is no better to find information on the newest food trends. They might also make you wonder why your own local supermarket doesn’t have a better selection.
“Izaka-ya” pubs that offer meals and drinks are starting to catch on in the USA, Australia and Asia. Dishes are ordered a la carte and are created to be shared, making them great venues for groups.
