Culinary Trip to Japan
 

Hello

I am a 21 year old culinary student with a huge passion for food, and I have recently won an Award called Toyo-Orc, which means I will be moving to Tokyo in April 2011 for 2 months to experience the best food, drink and markets the country has to offer! I have already researched yakatori stalls, sushi restaurants, fish markets and other foodie places I want to visit.

But I would LOVE to meet an indigenous Japanese person, or some one who has lived there for a long time to show me all those little places tourists never see! I would be truly grateful if you can help. Please get in touch if you can be of any use what so ever

Stewart Craigie

Sounds like fun! I loved trying a lot of different foods in Japan! Here's 1 bit of advice... DON'T just stay in Tokyo. Japan has a lot of regional foods and local ways of preparing common dishes, and the best way to experience that is to travel to different places. Try Hakata ramen in a street stand in Fukuoka, not some place in Tokyo. Try the different styles of okonomiyaki in their native regions, and experience shojin ryori at a temple on Koya-san.

Not only will the food be more authentic, you'll get to see a lot of Japan! Oh, and be sure to try lots of little mom-'n-pop restaurants, not just fancy places. A lot of the best food I ate there came from simple little family-run places. Ask the locals where to eat, they can usually tell you, and stress you want really good, flavorful food, not necessarily someplace fancy or expensive.

Tokyo is not known for it's Japanese food. I would go to Kyoto/Osaka area for a spell.

Thanks for the advice guys, I have a train pass and do intend to travel around, especially to Osaka area as I hear great things about there food!

Go to Nagano and try oyaki. おいしいでした