Food
The phantom juice only available from vending machines at JR East train stations
Our reporter Mariko Ohanabatake has tried a lot of juices over the years, but in her opinion, the most delicious of them all is one that you can only buy at Acure vending machines. Acure specialises in ekinaka (“in the station“) vending machines, and they can be found throughout the East Japan Railway (JR… Read
Burger King Japan’s new Crown The One Pounder is like a cheeseburger on steroids
In recent years, Burger King Japan has been releasing a series of “One Pounder” burgers containing a whopping four beef patties, and now there’s a new one coming our way. Called “Crown The One Pounder“, this monster of a burger is billed as a “new era double cheeseburger“, with extra slices of cheese added… Read
Survey responds to most important factors when deciding which izakaya to go to
Stopping by an izakaya is a fun item to add to any traveler’s list when visiting Japan. Usually casual joints that come in many shapes and sizes, izakaya offer all manner of small bites (similar to tapas in that sense), drinks (beer and Japanese sake at the forefront), and are typically packed with… Read
Japanese convenience store creates a frappe from a popular candy
Recently, Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart has become known for its frappes, which are sold in the freezer section and blended by customers at a machine on the counter. Every now and then, the chain adds a limited-edition frappe to its freezer section, and its newest release has everyone excited, not only because… Read
This 'Texas Pile' set lured us into a fried chicken shop for the first time, and we have no regrets
Our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma happened to be driving by Karayama, a karaage fried chicken specialty restaurant, when a sign for “Garlic Texas Karayama” caught his eye. This was unfortunate (or possibly fortunate?) timing, because Masanuki happened to be hungry at the time, and the words “garlic” and “Texas” drew him like a moth to flame. He… Read
An introduction to sushi and sashimi
Whether had at a famous kaiten-sushi restaurant or at a luxurious establishment where it’s made right before your eyes, dining on sushi is definitely an experience you won’t soon forget. Sushi versus sashimi Photo: iStock: sunabesyou Simply put, sushi (寿司, すし) are slices of fresh fish or seafood (known as gu 具) on white rice that… Read
Japanese curry chain highly recommended by foreigners on Reddit, but is it any good?
Recently, our reporter Seiji Nakazawa has been checking out Tokyo restaurant recommendations from foreigners on Reddit, and he’s come to the conclusion that some foreigners know more about Japan than Japanese people. After reading some of the discussions on Reddit, he’s discovered some unusual dining spots he didn’t know about, and now he’s… Read
Silkworm sashimi, cricket curry on menu as bugs make comeback in Japan
On a recent vacation in Tokyo, Takumi Yamamoto opted for a special lunch of cricket curry and silkworm sashimi, washed down with a water bug cider. The 26-year-old office worker, from the western prefecture of Hyogo, is one of scores of consumers across the world who have taken an interest… Read
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever nationwide watermelon Frappuccino
Now that we’re in the heat of summer, Starbucks is pulling out the big guns of refreshment in Japan, with the announcement of the chain’s first-ever nationwide watermelon Frappuccino. The new beverage is called the Gaburi Suika Frappuccino, with suika meaning “watermelon” and gaburi referring to a big bite, which in this case… Read
Convenience store fools us with its 40%-more sandwich, but in a good way
On August 1, Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart began a new campaign called the “Roughly 40-Percent Increase Strategy.” This campaign, which gives customers roughly 40-percent more for their money, is limited to certain items and is being released in three installments, with the first installment running from Aug 1-7, the… Read
