Japanese cuisine involves fresh, delicate flavors. The best place to try sushi is a
Kaiten Sushi Bar, where many varieties pass on a conveyor belt allowing choice over which to try, at more reasonable prices than a traditional sushi restaurant. A variety of international restaurants are also available, catering for every taste and budget, from French and Italian to Chinese, Indian and Thai. Western dishes in expensive places are good, but cheaper restaurants may be disappointing. The Japanese are very fond of whiskey, and saké (rice wine) is still regularly served.
Things to know: Restaurants have
table service and in some places it is customary to remove footwear. There are no licensing hours. Drinking is subject to long-standing rituals of politeness. The hostess will pour a drink for the visitor, and will insist on the visitor’s glass being full. It is bad manners for a visitor to pour one for himself.
National specialties: •
Teriyaki (marinated beef/chicken/fish seared on a hot plate).
•
Tempura (deep fried seafood and vegetables).
• Sushi (slices of raw seafood placed on light and vinegary rice balls – very tasty and refreshing).
•
Sashimi (slices of raw seafood dipped in soy sauce).
National drinks:• Green tea is by far the most popular beverage amongst the Japanese. The quality of the tea varies greatly from
houjicha (a common brown-colored tea) to
matcha (a bitter green tea used in tea ceremonies).
•
Sake, rice wine served hot or cold according to the season, is strong and distinctively fresh tasting.
• Shochu, a strong aquavit, is an acquired taste.
• Japanese wines are inconsistent, but improving.
• Popular brands of beer are
Asahi,
Kirin,
Sapporo and
Suntory.
Legal drinking age: 20.
Tipping: Tips are never expected since a 10 to 15% service charge is added to the bill.
NightlifeTokyo has an abundance of
cinemas,
theaters,
bars,
coffee shops,
discos and
nightclubs.
Karaoke bars are also a very popular form of entertainment. A wide range of bars are available, from the upmarket and stylish to cheap
street stalls, with the key areas being Shibuya, Roppongi and Shinjuku. In the summer, rooftop
beer gardens are popular. Some clubs have hostesses who expect to be bought drinks and snacks. In bigger nightclubs and bars, a basic hostess charge is levied. However, there are thousands of other bars and clubs that do not charge entry and do not offer hostess service. In Tokyo there are
concerts of all styles of music almost every night. Foreign
opera companies,
ballet companies,
orchestras and
rock/pop stars visit Japan all year round. Some live
jazz houses are also available. For those who would like to try the traditional Japanese performing arts, there is
kabuki and
noh theater in Tokyo and Kyoto. The Tokyo English-language guide Metropolis (website:
http://metropolis.co.jp) is a good source for finding out what’s on. It is advisable to purchase tickets in advance because shows are quickly sold out.
Osaka is also renowned for its nightlife.
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