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Koyasan, Japan: hoe een nacht in een boeddhistische tempel echt is

One night on Koyasan — what a shukubo temple stay actually involves: the goma fire ceremony, shojin ryori dinner, and Okunoin cemetery at dusk.

18 jun 20269 min lezen

Tokyo sushi omakase — chef plating nigiri at a counter, single piece on a wooden board

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Beste sushi omakase in Tokio

Six verified Tokyo sushi omakase counters: Sushi Saito (3-Michelin closed-list), Sushi Yoshitake (2-Michelin Ginza, demoted from 3 in 2024), Sushi Kyubey (1935 institution), Sushi Itsumi (1-Michelin Akasaka), Harezushi (¥6,000 lunch). Plus the omakase explainer + lunch-tier strategy.

24 mei 20269 min lezen

Tokyo street food — Tsukiji morning market, Ameyoko alley at dusk, depachika basement

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Tokio Street Food

Six Tokyo street-food walks: Tsukiji Outer Market at 07:00, Asakusa Nakamise-dori, Ameya-Yokocho (Ueno), Yanaka Ginza shotengai, Tsukishima Monja Street, and the depachika (department-store food halls). Cash, timing, no-eating-while-walking.

24 mei 20269 min lezen

Osaka food guide — Dotonbori neon, takoyaki griddle, kushikatsu skewers, Kuromon market

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Waar eten in Osaka

The full Osaka food guide: takoyaki (Aizuya 1933 original), okonomiyaki (Mizuno Dotonbori), kushikatsu (Daruma Shinsekai), Kuromon Market, Osaka sushi tradition, and kappo counter-kaiseki — at half Tokyo / Kyoto prices.

24 mei 20268 min lezen

Kyoto Michelin restaurants — kaiseki tatami room with seasonal courses, garden view

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Michelin-restaurants in Kyoto

Seven verified Kyoto Michelin restaurants from Japan's most kaiseki-dense guide: 3-star (Hyotei, Kikunoi Honten, Kitcho Arashiyama), 2-star (Roan Kikunoi, Gion Sasaki), 1-star Gion sushi + tempura. Plus Bib Gourmand and concierge booking guide.

24 mei 20269 min lezen

Tokyo Michelin restaurants — sushi counter, kaiseki tatami, French open kitchen, yakitori grill

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Michelin-restaurants in Tokio

Eight verified Tokyo Michelin restaurants across 3-star (Sushi Saito, Ryugin, Quintessence), 2-star (Tempura Kondo, Den), and 1-star (Birdland, Torishiki, Nakiryu, Tsuta). Plus Bib Gourmand under ¥6,000 and how to actually book.

24 mei 202610 min lezen

Tokyo yakitori — chicken skewers over charcoal, counter omakase

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De beste yakitori van Tokio

Five verified Tokyo yakitori counters: Birdland Ginza (1 Michelin), Torishiki Meguro (1 Michelin), Toriki (the master's house), Yakitori Imai (modern), Torikizoku (¥328 chain). Plus the omakase-ordering 101 — chicken parts, tare vs shio, the order of the meal.

22 mei 20267 min lezen

Tokyo izakaya — counter drinks, sashimi platter, yakitori smoke, yokocho alley

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De beste izakaya van Tokio

Four verified Tokyo izakayas: Andy's Shin Hinomoto (Yurakucho expat-friendly), Donzoko (Shinjuku 1951 institution), Buri (Ebisu sake nerds), Motsuyaki Ucchan (Shibuya offal skewers). Plus a yokocho walking guide for Omoide, Golden Gai, Ebisu Yokocho.

22 mei 20268 min lezen

Kyoto kaiseki — Hyotei, Kikunoi, Kitcho Arashiyama tatami room with seasonal dishes

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De beste kaiseki van Kyoto

Five Michelin-grade kaiseki tables in Kyoto: Hyotei (3-star, 400 years), Kikunoi Honten (3-star, Yoshihiro Murata), Roan Kikunoi (2-star Pontocho), Kitcho Arashiyama (3-star riverside), Gion Sasaki (2-star modern). Plus the lunch-tier trick that halves the price.

22 mei 20267 min lezen

Five cheap Japanese chain restaurants — gyudon, udon, conveyor sushi, Italian

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De 5 goedkoopste restaurantketens in Japan

Five Japanese chains in the genuine ¥300–¥500 tier: Matsuya breakfast, Yoshinoya gyudon, Marugame Seimen udon, Kura Sushi conveyor, and the Saizeriya wildcard. Plus the ticket-machine survival guide.

22 mei 20268 min lezen

Tokyo ramen — tsukemen, shio, tantanmen across six neighbourhoods

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De beste ramen van Tokio

Six Tokyo ramen picks across three tiers: Fuunji (best tsukemen), Afuri (yuzu shio), Nakiryu (Michelin tantanmen), Tsuta (world's first Michelin ramen), Rokurinsha (Tokyo Station), and an honest Ichiran vs Ippudo answer.

22 mei 20269 min lezen

Tokyo sushi — counter, omakase, fresh fish

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De beste sushi in Tokio

Six Tokyo sushi picks across three tiers: standing-bar Sushichou, Sushi Itsumi (Akasaka omakase), Kyubey (Ginza institution), Sushi Saito (3-Michelin), Harezushi, and Tsukiji morning shops.

22 mei 20265 min lezen

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Waar eten in Kyoto

Verified Kyoto food guide: Kikunoi + Hyotei kaiseki, Tousuiro yudofu, Pontocho obanzai, Daiichi Asahi ramen, Nishiki Market, Inoda Coffee. Reservation tips + how to eat the city.

22 mei 20265 min lezen

Tokyo food — ramen counter, yakitori smoke, sushi conveyor

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Waar eten in Tokio

Verified Tokyo food guide across 8 cuisines + 4 chains + 5 neighbourhoods. From Fuunji tsukemen to Tempura Kondo, Sukiya gyudon to depachika bento. Every queue avoided.

21 mei 20268 min lezen

Bowl of Fuji Ramen Masterpiece tonkotsu — pale silky broth, shredded cabbage, chashu, marinated egg, nori

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De beste ramen van Asakusa

Five Asakusa ramen shops worth queuing for: Fuji Ramen (author's pick), Yoroiya, Yukikage, Hayashida, Bibi. Addresses, hours, what to order. Skip Nakamise.

20 mei 20265 min lezen