Eating in Japan: Michelin Stars and Traditional Kaiseki
Table of Contents
Restaurant Recommendations in Japan to Add to Your List
If you love Japanese food but wonder if it’s really that much better in Japan itself…I can attest that this country is worth traveling to just to eat.
Japan's culinary landscape is a harmonious blend of tradition, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to quality. For foodie travelers, it's not just a destination to eat—it's a culinary revelation. From street vendors to standing sushi bars to Michelin star restaurants, I was impressed by the quality of every bite I took!
In Japanese fashion, seasonality is a huge emphasis...even down to the dishes you're eating off! One night at a ryokan, I noticed the tea cups had tiny plum blossoms on them to match the season. Of course the kaiseki dinner, a multi-course meal, was deeply rooted in seasonality, and the entire menu was different the very next night. It was one of the most thoughtful and beautiful dining experiences I’ve ever had!
Whether you are a sushi connoisseur, ramen fanatic, or want to try something completely new, keep reading for more insights on the Japanese food experience.
Hi, I’m Whitney! I am the principal travel advisor and founder of Undiscovered Sunsets, connecting curious, open-minded travelers to experiences around the world. We plan travel a little differently here—we let your passion & purpose shape the trip. Say “goodbye” to generic guide books and checklists and plan your next trip with professionals who can open up the world in unexpected ways.
Michelin-Starred Dining in Japan
Japan’s reputation for precision and creativity extends to its most prestigious restaurants. As of 2025, Japan is home to 539 Michelin-starred establishments, with Tokyo alone holding 183 stars, making it the most Michelin-starred city in the world. From intimate sushi counters to innovative international cuisine (yes, even a Mexican restaurant just earned a star), Japan showcases culinary mastery at every turn.
What sets these restaurants apart isn’t just technique or presentation—it’s access to some of the highest quality ingredients in the world. Buttery Hokkaido uni, silky Kyoto tofu, pristine sashimi-grade tuna, and the famous, exquisitely marbled Kobe beef, all at top quality.
Traditional Kaiseki in Japan
Kaiseki is the crown jewel of Japanese haute cuisine. This multi-course, seasonal meal is about more than just food; it’s about aesthetic, ritual, and harmony with nature. Each dish is prepared with balance in mind: texture, color, temperature, and of course, seasonal ingredients all play a role.
At the ryokan, the attention to detail was breathtaking. The meal mirrored the exact time of year we were visiting. I learned that if we had come just a few weeks later, the flowers on the plates would have changed, the ingredients in the soup would shift, and even the ceramics might be swapped to reflect the new season.
Traditional kaiseki dining is one of the most immersive ways to understand Japanese values, literally tasting beauty, balance, and what’s in season right now.
At Undiscovered Sunsets, we believe that luxury travel means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed, creating moments of genuine cultural connection rather than surface-level observation. When you plan your trip through an agency like ours, you are partaking in our carefully nurtured relationships with people on the ground, access to opportunities and experiences that you won’t find on Tripadvisor, and insights that only travel professionals spend time researching. Learn more about our services and what to expect from working with our team.
Ramen in Japan: A Bowl of Regional Stories
One of the most fun ways to eat through Japan is by chasing down different styles of ramen. Every region has its own signature: creamy, pork-based tonkotsu in Fukuoka (which was apparently created by mistake!); clear, soy-based shoyu in Tokyo; miso ramen in Hokkaido; and citrusy yuzu ramen in some Tokyo shops.
What blew me away was how much the broth mattered. It’s not just a hot bowl of soup—it’s the result of hours of simmering, seasoning, and perfecting. The noodles are important, yes, but the broth is where the flavor lives.
Fun fact: Did you know that ramen was brought to Japan by Chinese immigrants? The blending of food across cultures is always an interesting phenomenon!
Casual Dining and Street Food in Japan
Japan excels not only at fine dining but also at elevating the everyday. One of my favorite meals? Tonkatsu. Just a perfectly breaded, perfectly fried pork cutlet, served with cabbage and sauce. We loved it so much we went to two different spots in Kyoto just to compare.
Even the convenience stores are a surprise. Lawson, 7-Eleven, and Family Mart serve up shockingly delicious items like fried chicken (hello, famichiki) and onigiri (rice balls with various fillings). These aren’t just grab-and-go snacks—they’re thoughtfully made and often locally sourced.
Street food also has its place, especially in Osaka, where takoyaki (octopus balls) sizzle on corner grills and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes) are a local favorite. I’ll be honest, I didn’t love okonomiyaki—but that’s part of the fun. In Japan, there’s so much variety, it invites you to keep exploring.
Sushi in Japan: More than Raw Fish
Sushi is arguably the most popular Japanese food around the world, and with good reason. It’s unique, delicious, varied, and adaptable. Eating it in Japan was, of course, incredible. I tried some of the freshest tuna I’ve ever had, and watching how sushi chefs artfully craft single rolls was beautiful.
The word ‘sushi’ is the combination of ‘su’ and ‘meshi’—vinegar and rice. Mixing vinegared rice with various garnishes of seafood, vegetables, eggs, etc gives the mixer we know as sushi. And like many popular, often expensive dishes around the world, sushi most likely had humble beginnings, originating in rice paddy fields as a quick meal for farmers.
It’s a popular food choice for the Japanese as well, with sushi standing counters to high-end restaurants. Again, the seasonality and top quality ingredients make this an easy type of food to eat wherever you go.
Restaurant Recommendations in Japan to Add to Your List
Michelin-Starred Dining
Sazenka (Tokyo) – A three-Michelin-starred Chinese-Japanese fusion restaurant known for precision and creativity.
Kikunoi Honten (Kyoto) – A world-renowned kaiseki restaurant offering a truly seasonal and immersive dining experience.
Den (Tokyo) – Playful modern kaiseki that’s ranked among the world’s 50 best restaurants.
Find the rest of the Michelin-rated restaurants in Japan here
Ramen Favorites
Ichiran (Nationwide) – Famous for solo booths and rich tonkotsu ramen; ideal for first-timers.
Afuri (Tokyo) – Known for its light, citrusy yuzu shio ramen with a cult following.
Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum (Yokohama) – A traditional street food court with shops offering samples of ramen dishes from different regions.
Traditional Kaiseki Meals
Gion Matayoshi (Kyoto)
Fushikino (Tokyo)
Casual & Comfort Food
Tonkatsu Maisen (Tokyo) – A top spot for crisp and juicy pork cutlets.
Udon Shin (Shinjuku, Tokyo) – Handmade udon noodles served fresh daily; lines are worth the wait.
Convenience Store Picks
Family Mart – Try the famichiki (fried chicken) and egg salad sandwich.
7-Eleven – Don’t miss the tuna mayo onigiri or seasonal mochi desserts.
Food in Japan is Paradise
Every meal in Japan can feel like a discovery. The reverence for ingredients, the deep respect for seasonality, the artistry in both presentation and technique—it all adds up to a country that truly lives its food culture.
For travelers who plan their trips around what they can taste and experience at the table, Japan is more than a bucket list destination. It’s a culinary masterclass that will change the way you think about food. Regional variations and even restaurant varieties in one city are what make Japanese food so exciting to eat.
Plan your next food adventure with a travel professional who has been there and can guide you in making every bite count. Learn more about working with a travel advisor to plan your travels to Japan.
At Undiscovered Sunsets, we believe luxury travel in Japan means creating experiences that resonate deeply and personally—moments of perfect harmony where you find yourself completely present, experiencing something authentic that stays with you long after you return home. Through our carefully cultivated relationships and deep knowledge of Japanese culture, we open doors that would otherwise remain closed, revealing a Japan that few visitors ever truly discover.
Ready to begin planning your luxury journey to Japan? Let's create an itinerary that goes beyond the ordinary to reveal the extraordinary in this fascinating destination.
Undiscovered Sunsets was a long time in the making, even if I myself didn’t realize it. During my time at the University of Northern Iowa, I studied abroad in New Zealand. Upon graduating, I bought a one-way ticket to France, lived with a French family and studied with classmates from Turkey, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, and everywhere in between. In 2010 I began teaching English as a foreign language. This job quickly took me to China, where English teachers were in high demand and within three years, I began working in a 5-star hotel, speaking Mandarin throughout most of my day. In total, I lived abroad for 7 years.
I consider Undiscovered Sunsets to be the perfect mélange of my personal experience traveling the world and my professional experience working in the hospitality industry.
I look forward to designing your next adventure!
