Category Archives: Japanese

Zen Soba Bar and Restaurant, Hakuba

Zen is frequently recommended by locals for its combination of traditional architecture and the diversity and locality of its menu. Local wine and sake, traditional soba with mountain vegetables, and newer variations like octopus with spicy olive oil and garlic … Continue reading

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Gen Macrobiotic Kitchen Matsumoto

Matsumoto finally has an organically minded, vegetarian option thanks to the two month old Gen Macrobiotic Kitchen. Not that every city mandates local and organic cuisine options (though it should) but the absence of a local vegetarian based restaurant in … Continue reading

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Negibouzu Okonomiyaki, Nagano City

Negibouzu’s twig canopied entrance way and rock studded walls hint that it is not a normal okonomiyaki restaurant. Its more standard menu, prices, and tastes, however, indicate otherwise. But if you are looking for teppanyaki grills and okonomiyaki in Nagano … Continue reading

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Eat Ramen Like a Local on Route 19

Yukio Miyazawa throws vegetables and spices by the handful into a giant frying pan, briskly mixes them with noodles and smoothly tosses it all into the air.  Without looking down, he adjusts the stove heat, and the flames settle down … Continue reading

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March’s artistic and edible offering, Yashouma

Yashouma is the rice flour (komenoko) Japanese sweet that is not sweet. The ornately designed, plain flavored mochi is a fascinating imbalance between decorative art and flavor. The neon picture inlaid in the center of the hockey puck shaped mochi … Continue reading

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Tori Shin YakiTori, Matsumoto

If you live in Matsumoto city you’ve probably heard of the yakitori bar Tori Shin. Getting to the local favorite, however, isn’t as easy. The grilled chicken den is only a three minute walk from JR Matsumoto station but spontaneously … Continue reading

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