Japan Trip Lab Your Guide to Traveling Japan

Food & Drink

Food & Drink

7 articles

Japanese food guides: wagyu, ramen, convenience store favorites, sake and where locals actually eat.

Where Locals Eat in Osaka: 10 Old-School Spots Most Visitors Walk Past (2026)

Where Locals Eat in Osaka: 10 Old-School Spots Most Visitors Walk Past (2026)

Quick answer: Osaka's best local food isn't on the busiest street in Dotonbori. It's in station basements, covered shopping arcades...

Why Pocky is Japan’s Most Beloved Snack: The Ultimate Guide

Why Pocky is Japan’s Most Beloved Snack: The Ultimate Guide

Pocky is one of Japan's most recognized snacks worldwide — slender biscuit sticks coated in chocolate or other flavors, sold...

Japanese Wagyu: Your Complete Guide to Grades, Brands, and Where to Eat

Japanese Wagyu: Your Complete Guide to Grades, Brands, and Where to Eat

The first time I watched an A5 wagyu steak being grilled — that intricate white marbling against deep pink meat,...

Ichiran Ramen Guide: Solo Dining Booths, How to Order & Best Locations

Ichiran Ramen Guide: Solo Dining Booths, How to Order & Best Locations

The first time I walked into an Ichiran in Shibuya, I had no idea what I was doing. There was...

FamiChiki: Japan’s Beloved Convenience Store Fried Chicken You Need to Try

FamiChiki: Japan’s Beloved Convenience Store Fried Chicken You Need to Try

Walking through Tokyo late at night, I ducked into a Family Mart for water and caught the unmistakable aroma of...

Convenience Store Onigiri: Your Complete Guide

Convenience Store Onigiri: Your Complete Guide

7-Eleven, 7 AM, somewhere in Tokyo. I'm staring at a refrigerated case with 30+ triangular packages, all labeled in Japanese,...

Japanese Alcohol Guide: Sake, Shochu and More

Japanese Alcohol Guide: Sake, Shochu and More

The first time I walked into an izakaya in Tokyo and the server rattled off a list of drinks, I...