Where to Eat
Tokyo Yokocho Explained — The 7 Alley Dining Districts You Should Visit
A yokocho is a pedestrian alley packed with tiny izakaya, lit by red lanterns, smelling of grilled chicken and beer. Tokyo has dozens. Seven of them are worth…
How to Eat
Tabelog vs Google Maps — Which Tokyo Restaurant Rating Actually Matters (And Why Both Lie)
Tabelog and Google Maps both rate Tokyo restaurants on a 5-point scale. The Tabelog 3.5 is the equivalent of a Google 4.5, and a Google 4.7 in Tokyo…
How to Eat
Solo Dining in Tokyo — Why Japan Is the World’s Best City to Eat Alone
Eating alone is treated as a third-rate option in most cities. In Tokyo it is structurally normal — even preferred. The reasons are physical, social, and economic, and…
How to Eat
How to Read a Japanese Menu — The 30 Characters That Cover 80% of Tokyo Restaurants
You don't need to learn Japanese to eat well in Tokyo. You need thirty characters. Here's the shortlist that decodes most menus, why menu apps still fail you,…
Plan Your Trip
The Real Cost of Eating in Tokyo — A 2026 Budget Guide for Every Traveler Tier
How much does eating in Tokyo actually cost? The honest breakdown across three traveler tiers — ¥3,500 a day, ¥7,500 a day, ¥18,000 a day — with real…
How to Eat
Tipping in Japan: The Complete Story
You may have read that tipping in Japan is "not expected." That phrasing softens what is actually true. Tipping in Japan is, in most settings, a small social…
How to Eat
What “Omakase” Actually Means (And Why “Chef’s Choice” Misses It)
Most English-language menus translate omakase as "chef's choice." That translation is technically true and substantively wrong. What you are actually doing when you say omakase is something specific,…
How to Eat
The Unspoken Rules of Eating Ramen in Tokyo
Most of what tourists hear about ramen etiquette is either wrong or out of date. Here are the rules Tokyo regulars actually follow — and the ones nobody…