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Japan’s largest indie ice cream convention returns to Tokyo in Golden Week - Japan Today
It probably doesn’t get brought up as often as it should, but Japan has a very rich and diverse array of ice cream. The offerings found in convenience stores and supermarkets like the Jumbo Monaka and Yukimi Daifuku are excellent examples of this, but beyond all that, there’s an even larger ecosystem of frozen…
Randy’s Donuts Japan announces grand opening date for Tokyo, Japan-exclusive sweets - Japan Today
Earlier this year our sweets sensors began happily tingling at the news that Randy’s Donuts will be coming to Japan, and not just as a limited-time pop-up promotion either. The Los Angeles landmark donut chain, known for its tasty treats and colossal donut signs, is opening its first-ever shop in Japan. We now…
This rustic dish of baked beans and smoked sausages is packed with deep, aromatic flavors - Japan Today
Tavče gravče, which translates as “beans in a pan,” is a Macedonian classic. Traditionally, large dried white beans called tetovac, named for a city in northwestern Macedonia, are the star of the rustic dish, while onions, garlic, peppers and paprika provide deep, rich flavor and color. In this recipe from…
Japan starts selling smart salads in AI vending machine - Japan Today
Japan is famous for its vending machines. It could easily be dubbed the “Land of the Vending Machines.” While most countries stick to selection of drinks and snacks, Japan’s line-up also includes cute knick knacks and shocking discoveries. From origami to potential spouses: the country is littered with quirky and unusual vending machines. The latest…
5 English-friendly cooking classes in Japan - Japan Today
What better way to experience Japanese cooking than to learn it yourself in the comfort of a Japanese home or studio? With cooking classes ranging from sushi to making bentos to vegan ramen and gyoza, there are numerous options around Japan for the home cook of all levels. Whether you’re looking to learn Japanese cuisine as a hobby, pursue it…
Japanese low-cost eateries thrive in China as economy sputters - Japan Today
China's dining scene is buzzing as Japanese chains like Torikizoku yakitori, Sushiro conveyor-belt sushi and Saizeriya Italian eateries turn economic hardship into opportunity, drawing customers with affordable options amid a downturn. Torikizoku, a popular yakitori chain based in Osaka, opened its first mainland China location in Shanghai in late February.…
The world’s longest sushi train at Osaka Expo 2025 - Japan Today
At Osaka Expo 2025, Kura Sushi is taking things to the next level with the world’s longest sushi train—a whopping 135 meters of rotating plates, global flavors, and futuristic tech. For the uninitiated, conveyor belt sushi (kaitenzushi) is a Japanese dining style where small plates of sushi glide past you on…
Asparagus in the garden takes its time but is worth the wait - Japan Today
Asparagus isn’t the most common vegetable among home gardeners, and that’s likely because growing it is an exercise in patience. But three years of patience is a small price to pay for up to 20 years of relatively effortless tender green shoots. If you’ve never seen an asparagus plant, you…
Noodle chain Marugame rolls out strawberry milk udon donuts for new spring sweets lineup - Japan Today
Last summer, “udonuts,” donut bites made from udon noodle flour, became a bit of a craze in Japan. Developed and sold by udon chain Marugame Seimen, the brand is now adding three new flavors to its lineup at restaurant locations nationwide. The standout star is definitely the new strawberry milk flavor, which contains actual…
Mister Donut releases new Uji Matcha doughnut with Gion Tsujiri - Japan Today
Last month, Mister Donut delighted customers with the news that it would be teaming up with matcha specialists Gion Tsujiri for another limited-edition collection. Ever since the two first joined forces back in 2016, the so-called “Misdo Meets Gion Tsujiri” collections have become sell-out hits whenever they’re released, and now they’re back with round two of…
Child-friendly Starbucks store opens in Osaka offering child-exclusive drinks - Japan Today
The number of my kindergarten and elementary students who have told me about their mother’s love of Starbucks, and their most recent visit, is…uncountable. Calling Starbucks “popular in Japan” might possibly be the understatement of the century. It feels like not a day goes by where I don’t see someone…
Famous Japanese whisky Hakushu canned cocktails coming back with new recipe - Japan Today
For many years, Suntory was best known internationally for its beer, something you’d casually crack open a can of when you wanted to partake. Then the world realized that Suntory also makes some very fine whisky, with its Hakushu brand becoming one of the flagbearers for Japanese whisky. And then some very smart…
New cafe in Japan won’t let you leave until you solve a mystery - Japan Today
When most people go to a cafe for a drink, they’re not there for the beverage alone. Just as important to the cafe experience is the ambiance, lingering in a cozy chair and soaking up the relaxing, inviting ambiance even after you’ve taken the last sip from your cup. Cafe…
Eateries in foodie haven Singapore close as costs rise, spending falls - Japan Today
Singapore's well-known food scene has been battered by closures in the past year, affecting low-cost hawker stalls, mid-sized operators and Michelin-star restaurants, who say costs are rising and consumers are spending less. Closures in the food and beverage sector have averaged 307 per month so far this year, up from…
Craft Sake Week 2025: Japan's ultimate sake celebration returns - Japan Today
Mark your calendars from April 18 to April 29 to celebrate sake, one of the most in-demand Japanese cultural heritages. Craft Sake Week 2025, a 12-day festival, will showcase the best of sake artistry. Japan Craft Sake Company, led by a former soccer legend Hidetoshi Nakata, is gearing up to…
New Japanese KitKat flavors include sakura and pineapple candy - Japan Today
It’s been a long time between new KitKat flavors in Japan, but thankfully that’s all changed now, with not one but two new flavors set to delight our taste buds. The first new release is particularly surprising as it pairs the wafer-covered chocolates with Pine Ame, a popular pineapple candy that’s so famous…
Starbucks releases new Frappuccino in Japan to help us 'forget about everyday life' - Japan Today
There’s a lot to worry about in the world at the moment, but at Starbucks there’s a way to keep our chins up, with the release of special range designed to whisk us away from our troubles and into a new carefree environment. The new lineup is based around a “Hotel…
Lunch fit for a samurai lord: Japanese cafes offers castle bento lunches; sells boxes too - Japan Today
It’s a pretty safe bet that just about everyone eating at Uraku, a restaurant in Nagoya, is into Japanese history. That’s because Uraku is the cafe attached to Nagoya Touken World, a museum of samurai swords and armor in downtown Nagoya. ▼ Nagoya Touken World Knowing that its guests would be in a…
7-Eleven Japan adding fresh-brewed tea machines to 2,000 stores, but is their tea any good? - Japan Today
There are a lot of great things you can get at 7-Eleven branches in Japan, but one of our very favorites is their coffee. And no, we’re not talking pre-made coffee in cans or bottles, but 7-Eleven’s very own private brand of coffee that’s fresh brewed by specialized self-serve machines right before it…
Cooking with kids teaches healthy eating, life skills and more - Japan Today
To raise adventurous, self-sufficient and health-conscious eaters, get kids in the kitchen. It may sound too simple, but those are just a few of the benefits when kids learn to cook. Cooking builds life skills, promotes healthy eating, boosts confidence and strengthens family bonds — all while making mealtime fun.…
Faux gras? Scientists craft 'more ethical' version of French delicacy - Japan Today
Foie gras — the fattened liver of ducks or geese — is a French delicacy prized for its rich, buttery flavor. But its production, which involves force-feeding the animals, has led to bans in several countries. Now, a team of scientists says they've developed a more ethical alternative: one that…
Keto diet in Japan: What to look out for - Japan Today
Japanese food and carbohydrates go together like sushi and soy sauce. However, those wanting to explore different eating habits might stumble across the ketogenic (or keto for short) diet in Japan. The keto diet is high in fat and incredibly low in carbs, but it’s more than just cutting pasta…
McDonald’s Japan renews Samurai Mac, but not everyone will be happy with the new warrior - Japan Today
Back in 2020, McDonald’s caused a stir in Japan when it added a brand new burger called the Samurai Mac to its menu. The thick beef burger turned out to be one of the heftiest on the menu, making it a popular option for customers wanting to fill up fast, but this…
FamilyMart releases new collection of Uji matcha sweets to make green tea lovers swoon - Japan Today
Japan’s top three convenience stores — FamilyMart, Lawson and 7-Eleven — are constantly competing for customers, but FamilyMart is nudging ahead of the pack, with a new “Matcha with Fruit” range. This new collection is part of the chain’s Matcha Fair held annually at this time of year, and there are seven…
Michelin Guide unveils new stars for 68 restaurants in France - Japan Today
The Michelin Guide handed out new stars to 68 restaurants in France on Monday at a ceremony that celebrated emerging young talents and proposed food as a tonic for the world's worries. Two restaurants joined the highest and most coveted three-star category in Michelin's 2025 France guide, namely Christopher Coutanceau…
Tokoyo no Naganakidori redefines everything you thought you knew about yakitori - Japan Today
Tokoyo no Naganakidori, a new yakitori restaurant that recently opened in Tokyo’s Minami-Aoyama district, takes the popular grilled chicken dish to a whole new level. Tokoyo no Naganakidori serves an exquisite yakitori course featuring the Kuro Satsuma chicken, a breed descended from Satsuma Jidori, one of Japan’s three great native…
French chefs anxious as Michelin prepares new guide - Japan Today
Chefs across France are waiting for one of the most exciting and dreaded moments of the year: publication of the new annual guide from Michelin with its highly coveted stars. The famous red bible for gastronomes still makes and breaks cooking careers, despite increasing competition from rival food lists and…
Wendy’s First Kitchen to sell octopus ball burgers to celebrate Osaka Expo - Japan Today
It’s only a few weeks away from the opening of the 2025 World Expo in the Kansai region of Japan, and in the spirit of that, we’re seeing a bit of an uptick in Osaka-centric goings on. A variety of themed flights are coming into its airports and even the life-sized Gundam has stopped…
Starbucks Japan’s Snoopy Frappuccino is here - Japan Today
At Starbucks Japan, it’s not really a question of whether or not they’re serving up a special Frappuccino, but what kind. While each special flavor only sticks around for a limited time, there’s a pretty seamless changeover from one to the next, so there’s always something tempting fans of the blended ice…
As Ramadan ends, a new cookbook sheds light on Pakistan’s varied cuisine - Japan Today
When Maryam Jillani was growing up in Islamabad, the last day of Ramadan was about more than breaking a month-long fast with extended family. A joyous occasion, the Eid al-Fitr holiday also was marked with visits to the market to get new bangles, wearing her best new clothes and getting…
Cafe run by Japanese island's only foreigner aims to be new tourist spot - Japan Today
On a small island in southwestern Japan with a population of only around 1,700, Australian John Widmer, reputed to be the island's only foreign resident, runs a cafe hoping it will serve as a new spot to draw visitors. Those traveling by ferry to Himeshima, an Oita Prefecture island with…
Mister Donut makes matcha lovers swoon with new Gion Tsujiri collection - Japan Today
As the nation’s top-selling doughnut chain, Mister Donut knows how to keep its fans happy, and one thing customers keep coming back for is matcha doughnuts by esteemed green tea specialists Gion Tsujiri. Gion Tsujiri sources its matcha from Uji, where the company was founded over 150 years ago and which is now the country’s…
You can take on sumo wrestlers and drink all the whiskey you want at Tokyo’s new sumo restaurant - Japan Today
Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood is the most traditional part of the city, so if you’re spending a day there odds are you want to eat some traditional Japanese food, like sukiyaki or tempura. But what if you want to further immerse yourself in the classical culture of Japan, partaking of Japanese cuisine and…
In U.S., a pastry chef attempts to crack an egg-free menu - Japan Today
Since avian flu turned eggs into a luxury item, pastry chef Annie Clemmons has spent countless hours in her Maryland workshop, racking her brains about how to replace them in her recipes. "It won't taste like chickpeas!" she told AFP as she poured aquafaba -- the watery byproduct of the…
Godiva’s beautiful sakura chocolate potato chips combine our cravings for fancy and simple snacks - Japan Today
Godiva has built a reputation as a premium chocolatier, the sort of place where you can expect to pay a little more to satisfy your sweet tooth than you would at, say, a convenience store, but where you also get a corresponding bump in elegance and quality. And yet, right now…
Kyoto’s most beautiful parfait cafes add sakura sweets for spring - Japan Today
In Japan, there are a number of parks, gardens, and streets that are famous for their cherry blossom trees, drawing visitors to them every spring when the flowers come into bloom. There’s another aspect to the sakura seasonal cycle, though, as certain cafes and sweets shops deliver amazing cherry blossom desserts…
Years of east-west Japan rivalry decided as McDonald’s officially refers to itself as 'Makudo' - Japan Today
Since the dawn of fast food in Japan, a large rift between the population has constantly threatened to tear the country apart. I'm talking, of course, about how people in the eastern Kanto region call McDonald’s Makku whereas people in the western Kansai area give it the nickname Makudo. Personally, as a Kansai…
Is there more to fine dining? For this Mexican chef, it's a path toward his country's roots - Japan Today
Quintonil is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Clients book tables months in advance to celebrate special occasions. The World’s 50 Best list ranked it as the most acclaimed venue in the country in 2024 — and No. 7 worldwide. But once in a while something unexpected happens: food brings guests…
Dinner in the Sky arrives in Tokyo; serves meals with unique view above the city - Japan Today
Back in 2006, a new concept in the culinary world literally rose up in Belgium, giving diners the chance to eat at a “flying” dinner table floating 50 meters above the ground. Called “Dinner in the Sky," the experience soon spread around the world, with locations popping up in over…
Japanese fermented sushi gets remix for younger generation, foreign visitors - Japan Today
An ancient type of sushi called funazushi, considered by many to be the original form of the raw fish dish, is seeing a renaissance aimed at making it more palatable to younger generations and food lovers visiting Japan from abroad. To ensure the survival of traditional narezushi, a salt-cured fish…