Japanese cuisine is a major drawcard for travellers, who soon learn the significance of food for locals as part of japaneseculture. Traditional cuisine is based around rice and miso, with plenty of fish and vegetable side dishes, including pickles and sashimi.Odyssey’s small group tours are not a food tour, however your tour guide will be able to guide away from some of the more colourful dishes of Japanese cuisine. But what some people don’t realise is that Japan‘s food is richy varied by region and season.
On a escorted tour, your tour director will be able to assit you in understanding and appreciating Japanese cuisine beyond the traditional tea ceremony, enriching your experience on your Japan trip. And that food is one of the primary motivators for domestic travel by Japanese people. Okonomiyaki is arguably Japan‘s widest known regional dish. This savoury, cabbage-rich pancake is found in Hiroshima and Osaka. Fish is a major component in the Japanese diet, but in Kobe, for example, the locally produced beef is prized. Kobe is also a major destination for those with a sweet tooth. But Japanese cuisine is not only about the food, it is about the experiences that accompany it.
Dining out is common, with a variety of styles including kaiten-zushi (sushi train), teppanyaki (iron griddled-food), and restaurants that specialise in skewers, ramen, tempura, sukiyaki and more. Restaurants in Japan are generally friendly, tasty and good value, and mostly very clean.