Food & Travel Guide
Japan
Japan is one of those places that feels endlessly fascinating, where ancient temples and tea ceremonies sit happily alongside neon lit streets, bullet trains and vending machines selling almost everything imaginable.
Stretching across thousands of kilometres, the country offers snowy mountains, volcanic landscapes, tropical islands, buzzing megacities and quiet rural villages, all tied together by a deep respect for seasonality, craftsmanship and beautiful presentation, especially when it comes to food.
Japan in a nutshell
💬 Languages
The main language is Japanese. English is spoken in major cities and tourist areas, although learning a few basic phrases goes a long way and is always appreciated.
💰 Currency
Japan uses the Japanese Yen, abbreviated as JPY. Cash is still widely used, although cards and contactless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities.
🍣 Food, glorious food
Come with an empty stomach. From delicate sushi and sashimi to steaming bowls of ramen, crisp tempura, smoky yakitori and comforting plates of curry rice, Japan is heaven for curious eaters. Add regional specialities, beautiful bento boxes, convenience store snacks that are far better than they have any right to be and an obsession with seasonal ingredients and you will find yourself planning each day around your next meal.
💡 Travel ideas
Start in Tokyo for a thrilling mix of neighbourhood wandering, food halls, tiny bars and cutting edge dining. Slow things down in Kyoto, famous for its temples, gardens and traditional teahouses, then head to Osaka for street food heaven and a famously lively nightlife scene. For something different, take a ferry to Naoshima to explore its world class contemporary art museums and seaside sculptures, spend a night in a monastery town in Koyasan to experience temple stays and vegetarian Buddhist cooking, or visit Miyajima for forested hills, wandering deer and its iconic floating torii gate just offshore.
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