SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Japanese cuisine is varied. There is so much to choose from. Many people have tried sushi and ramen, but that is just the beginning. Gourmands might want to try the high-end kaiseki course dinner first created in the 16th century by a Buddhist monk and tea master; others may opt for the street-food favorite okonomiyaki, a savory pancake that comes with all kinds of toppings. Ramen noodle lovers may want to slurp down a bowl of udon or soba, while hungry students may opt for a heaping portion of curry rice, or a donburi, which is a bowl of rice served with certain toppings. No one goes hungry!

Tea lovers will find a wealth of teas to choose from, too. Most people have tried traditional green tea, but how about hojicha, which is very popular in Japan but is less known here. Hojicha is a type of green tea that is roasted, not steamed. 

In Japan, most meals are finished with a steaming cup of green tea, and that’s because it is the perfect way to wind down a meal, with your hands warned by the cup and the aroma of the tea tickling your nose.