What I ate in Japan

[Raymond Lin]

Let's start with my biggest expense, which was still cheap relatively at 9500 yen. A 26 course Omakase meal. Basically our Tasting menu of sushi. For an Omakase, this is considered cheap.

The meal started off with a Clamp soup. A little salty, very ocean taste.

Sakura flavour red snapper

Seaweed

Raw Scallops

Bonito (Like the flakes, but before they get dried and shaved obviously)

King mackerel

Tofu

Raw Ebi small shrimp chopped

“Cambachi” amberjack I think he said.

Then I accidentally got another course of the Raw Shrimp again, bonus! No need for pics for this one.

Nanahana greens

Isaki

Abalone (boiled)

Sardine balls

Hokkaido shrimp

Boiled oyster

Tutoro

Otoro

Pickles

Salmon roe with sushi rice

Uni wrap

Miso soup with clamps

Tomago (eggs made with dashi)

Anago eels (sea eels)

Chopped Otoro wrap

Pickled cucumber (not actual cucumber but that's the translation)

Mikan orange from ekimae

Other things I've eaten, actually a lot of Konbini food due to lack of time. Let's get those out of the way first.

Classic egg sandwichs.

Ebi Katsu sandwich (prawns)

Gyu don (Beef on rice)

Origiri with a Sausage

Dumplins, salmon roe spaghetti, Spam Musubi

Pork Bun with Fami Chicki

More fried chicken from Family Mart

Fish cake and a chicken teriyaki burger.

More Fami Chicki and a pizza bun. Plasters because i had 5 blisters from walking over 100 miles in 10 days.

I also went to the Japanese version of McDonald's, that's like Yoshinoya, Sukiya, Matsuya

This is Nakau, they specialises in chicken

Oyaku don, it's chicken and egg on rice, with miso soup and a piece of fried chicken

Matsuya dinner, this was one of the best meals....it doesn't look it but you have no idea lol

Yoshinoya, accidentally ordered take out instead of eat in. Beef rice bowl with 3 piece fried chicken

Sukiya - Chicken on rice with salad and miso soup

Hotel breakfast, had it twice, both buffet style

Dumplins, rice, fried chicken, steamed egg, sushi, potato croquette, bacon, eggs, shitake mushroom with something stew, mackeral.

Natto with rice, ham, salad, sausafe, miso soup, pockles, lotus root, Wagashi and Chicken Pho

Yakiniku, so good i went there twice, only about £12 each time.

Beef Steak and Beef Tongue with chicken skewers of chicken butt and chicken skins, with High Ball

I only had 2 ramen this time. Both time Tsuekmen, side of wanton
Mutikya

Tomita Chukka Soba

Bento on the train of course.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Continue...

Matcha Ice cream.

Sushiro

Matcha Latte

Daifuku Pie

Random Hot dog thing and curry bun

Melon juice, 20% melon! This was so good, also had a strawberry and Mango. Melon was the best.

Actual daifuku

Prawn Cracker.

Sweet Soy Sauce Dango, this was unexpectedly good, i ate it in about 20 seconds

Real Gold covered ice cream

Creama - with Hokkaido Milk

Waygu Beef sushi

Unagi Don

Cola frapp

Ghibli Cream puff

Starbucks Pastry - the red drink has alcohol. Cold Brew coffee, almond croissant and a mini pizza thing

 

[Raymond Lin]

This is why I can’t go to Japan as I’d fly in JAL economy and have to fly home DHL Cargo.

What did you drink with the tasting menu? I would imagine many of the flavours would be easily over powered.

Green tea. It was either that or Sake or water.

I actually could have eaten more, I got up at like 5-6am most mornings and had just like an origiri with bottled coffee as I needed to be at places and then had to go to the next spot so didn't eat a proper meal. I skipped lunch half the time, one time I accidentally bought a packet of frozen ramen from the machine thinking it was just ticket to go into the ramen store inside it....

So I ended up eating a chocolate filled eclair thing instead.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Those sandwiches look minuscule! Did they fit in the palm of your hand?

They are like a 2 biter, no crust. The glass bottle is a Vit C drink.

There are some interesting ones, I saw one filled with nothing but cream.

I forgot these.

Squid, White bait (boiled and raw)

Balcony seat.

The best Katsu don i've had. Pork and Ebi (giant) in Matsumoto. Very local place, the chairs and tables were so old and a little uncomfortable lol

 

[Raymond Lin]

Wow

I've not seen anything yet that I wouldn't eat.

Even natto?

It smells worse than it tastes, the worse part is actually it gets everywhere.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Now thats what you call a prawn cracker

There was also a squid cracker, which was what the place famous for but I bought the Prawn one by accident lol. Anyhow, I had squid later the same day for lunch so it’s all good.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Sushi looked great, though 1 bit at a time? Annoying.

I must admit, I have fond memories of the crustless white sandwiches. They reminded me of my first night in Fukuoka, stumbling into a 7-Eleven grabbing a beer and some food before a jetlagged sleep.

That is the idea. The idea it is eaten freshly made. He makes it and then you eat it in the next few seconds.

If you want to eat hours or day-old sushi, then this isn't the place.

 

[Raymond Lin]

No Calpis?

I did, but got the "Water" kind, rather than the fizzy kind in a bottle.

I did have it with the Squid as well.

Pics off my phone

Accidentally bought a Japanese Monster/Redbull

The left drink, "With Fibre" was not good.

Fanta Strawberry Milk...fizzy. Delicious!

 

[Raymond Lin]

Great thread and pics @Raymond Lin. I had a trip to Japan on my wishlist pre-COVID. Need to check out the airmiles situation and see if I can get something organised. If I do I'll be hitting you up for general recommendations. I have to say it seems quite a daunting place to visit, but I guess nowhere different where you don't speak the language.

The language thing is overplayed and not as daunting as you would expect, at least for a tourist, much different kettle of fish if you are living there and trying to open a bank account or do any kind of paperwork.

As a tourist, the things you will encounter are

1 - Ordering food. Most places have either a machine to order from outside, or photos of food you can point to. They often have English menu in the city, almost always. Or the chains will have an ipad to order direct from the table which can switch to English. Although i must admit some of these apps on these tablets are very in BETA stage, I filmed the operation of one where some of the buttons didn't do anything when you switched to English!

There are occasions where i did need to whip out Google Translate camera, like the self check out in Sushiro. You go to the self check out with the QR code you got given, then the machine will take payment, except it's in Japanese, at least i didn't see an English language option! So i had to use Google translate camera to get through that.

2 - Getting around, all the trains shows places name in English, and announce in Japanese, English, Mandarin and Korean.

One incident I had to seek help from a staff at a remote location at a station, I basically wanted to have my fare on my trip in the phone canceled as I had a JR Pass from that day. So I didn't want a £40 charge to my card, it was my fault. But using google translate and they had this translation gadget thing, we got the job done between us.

You just need a bit of patience when in situation like that.

3 - I would say, everywhere you go, give yourself extra 10mins when you get there, some of the stations are massive, with several "gates" at different places to enter for different lines, think of Circle Line and Northern Line, but even though they are in the same station technically, the entry barrier are separate, as they are operated private companies. So you need to make sure you enter in the right one. That can be confusion, as they are not linked together AFTER you are through the gate. So give yourself time to find the platform.

Oh, if you have an iPhone, transport is super easy. I was straight onto the platform to get the train the second i got out of immigration and got my bags, the queue to the tickets at the station was long. Or like this in Shinjuku. I didn't have to get a physical ticket once.

Not sure if you can see it, 3 JR staff in uniform helping some tourists to get tickets. I just tap with my phone like you do in London Underground. The app is call Suica. The Andriod version doesn't work for outside Japanese phone as easily and its all in Japanese. The iPhone one doesn't need an app, just add the card to Apple Wallet.

4 - Google maps walking distances....i'd say, again, give yourself extra 30% what it says, it doesn't take into elevation and to make the time Google suggests, you really need to powerwalk or jog.

 

[Raymond Lin]

What ive learned from this thread, if I go to Japan im going to starve

There are loads of unhealthy fried food options, actually hard to find vegetables in meals, at least like a big salad.

But I would say that if you are a vegan or have allergies to fish, seafood....it would be quite challenging. Not impossible, but challenging.

Learn 1 phrase when you go into Family Mart.

"Fami Chicki Kudasai"

Fami Chicki is their Family Mart Fried Chicken.

Kudasai = please.

Then you don't need to be that foreigner who points at things, which is rude in Japan, to point.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Only just clocked that 20% Melon drink. Is it a melon style milk drink like Meiji?

Not sure which Meiji drink but this is almost like Melon flavoured milk with 20% of the content being pieces of melon. It feels healthy, probably full of sugar.

 

[Raymond Lin]

that 26 courser looks great! Mind you almost £60? Whats an average bento box cost? @Raymond Lin

Between 1000 to 1500 yen for an average Ekiben.

The one i got was 1280 yen i think. So about £8.

As for the Omakase, a lot of them are about double or triple that price.

 

[Raymond Lin]

what were your thoughts on the abalone? I've had it 'cantonese style' in hong kong and wouldn't repeat the experience

That was probably my least favourite, it just wasn't worth the hype or cost that they normally attract. I prefer an oyster or clamps personally for that kind of food.

The best piece was the Otoro, that was really nice, the pickles too was surprisingly nice and crunchy, probably a change in texture from all the soft pieces made it stand out. The Mekan orange also deserves a mention, you see that there is no rind on it, i don't know why, i saw him cut it up and there is very little to no rind in this species they have in Japan. it was practically just all juice.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I'd say the only thing I've had worse than abalone is sea urchin, that was at a japanese restaurant. My local one plays it a bit safe on the sushi side but one that opened in town after covid does eel, octopus, mackerel etc and all really good, i need to get back there soon.

Sea Urchin was one of the pieces, the Uni. It was okay, just like mush. When it's fresh, it doesn't really taste of that much, like a cream but a little ocean taste. I would say that is like the middle of the rankings.

A lot of asian dishes like that kind of texture, the slimy, mushy, creamy texture, something that isn't so prevalent in the west.

Eel is done really well generally everywhere, especially when grilled on rice. It's amazing, as opposed to the jelled eels here, which is like......no thanks!

 

[Raymond Lin]

You got to think what's the point though if it doesn't taste of much

Like i said, it's the texture, even if its mush and slimy. And they also like delicate flavours, when it's fresh, sushi is delicate.

 

[Raymond Lin]

@Raymond Lin does many dishes contain dairy eggs or nuts? The reason I ask is because of allergy

Eggs, not unless the dish has it. Nuts however, they might cook with peanut oil, or they have soy? are you allergic to soy?

I would say the most prevalent ingredient would be soy and fish (it is used in dashi, the base of practically anything in a bowl).

 

[Raymond Lin]

Nope I'm ok with soy.

I think I've had chips deep fried in peanut oil and still alive lool

You should be okay then, ramen usually come with an egg though, but some don't, those that do, they are often served sliced in half.

But no eggs in sushi unless you have the one with egg on it. Noodles are generally wheat noodles, not egg noodles, like Soba. You can eat all the curry, sandwiches too. Just stay away from Omurice and egg sandwiches. I think you are fine.

Peanut oil would be my only concern, they might use it in the oils for the ramen for example.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I really want to visit Japan, but I'm afraid to eat food there, so as not to get poisoned - has anyone experienced this?

Why would you get poison? Do you have allergies?

 

[Raymond Lin]

Looks great, what camera/lens you using photos look super sharp!

Erm, mix of Sony A7R3, Fuji X100, there might be a iPhone 14 Pro photo here and there.

 

[Raymond Lin]

My wife and I visit Japan for two weeks in May. Absolutely buzzing for the food, thanks for the great pics and advise.

You will love it! If it’s the first week…book all your travels or tickets now.

It’s going to be rainy season come June so if you are going near end of May, when it rains, umbrellas are sold in konbini for like £5-8. I love the clear ones. I normally just get it and then leave it behind at the end of the trip. I’ve done that twice now!

Oh, at the end of the meal, the word to say isn’t “Arigato”, but it is “Gochi cho sama desu”. That’s the phrase to use, you don’t say thanks but “this was a feast”.