Food

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Food in Japan

One of the best parts about being in Japan for a summer is Japanese food. The Japanese cuisine offers a very large variety of dishes and regional specialties and we encourage all NanoJapan students to try as many as they can over the course of the summer. For more information on Japanese cuisine see the following websites:

Vegetarian in Japan

Japan can be a bit daunting for vegetarians, especially if you are vegan. Many Japanese recipes use a fish stock or base and while you can find vegetarian, and sometimes even vegan restaurants, in most large cities you will still need to ask a lot of questions and read a lot of labels if you are a strict vegetarian or vegan. There are many helpful websites and other resources that past NanoJapan students have shared with our program and if you have specific questions about vegetarian options in Japan please let us know so we can put you in touch with one of our program alumni who may be able to advise you further.

Halal in Japan

There are a few mosques in Japan and it is possible to find Halal food and restaurants in most major cities. You may also find the following websites helpful. If you have specific questions about halal options in Japan please let us know so we can put you in touch with one of our program alumni who may be able to advise you further.

Kosher in Japan

There are a few synagogues in Japan and it is possible to find Kosher food and restaurants in most major cities. You may also find the following websites helpful. If you have specific questions about Kosher options in Japan please let us know so we can put you in touch with one of our program alumni who may be able to advise you further.

Gluten Free or Other Food Allergies in Japan

If you have a food allergy it is important to do a lot of research before you go to Japan and you may find the following websites helpful. If you have questions about a specific food allergy please let the NanoJapan program know and, when possible, we will put you in touch with one of our program alumni who may be able to advise you further.

Cheap Dining Options in Japan

There are plenty of dining options in Japan for students on a tight budget. Be sure to ask the Japanese students you will meet in Tokyo and the students in your research lab where the best inexpensive restaurants are in and around your neighborhood. Since they are students too they will likely know the best deals in your area.

Konbini (Convenience Stores): One thing you will quickly notice about Japan is that there is a konbini on every street corner with an estimated 50,000 stores in Japan, growing by about 1,000 new outlets per year. Most Konbini are open 24 hours a day and offer a wide range of food and other services. They are a great place to stop for a quick lunch or dinner and most will discount their bento boxes, sushi, or other prepared meals in the evening. For more about Japanese conveniences storesclick here.
Grocery Stores: Local supermarkets are relatively inexpensive if you stick to Japanese food such as seasonal vegetables, seafood, soya bean products and rice. Vegetables and fruits not in season or those that must be imported, such as bananas, will be much more expensive than what you are used to in the US. If you visit supermarkets shortly before closing time in the evening you can purchase remaining perishable products at big discounts. For more about Japanese grocery stores click here.
Department Stores: The basements of most major department stores often have wonderful grocery stores and are a great place to look for nice food gifts and also for inexpensive prepared bento boxes and other meals. Just like with grocery stores they will often discount their prepared meals before closing time so shop late at night for the best deals. For more on department stores in Japan click here.
Inexpensive Restaurants: There are plenty of restaurants where you can have a full meal for between 500 and 1000 Yen. Noodles (ramen, soba and udon), domburi (for example, beef domburi), curry rice, bibimba (Korean style domburi), hamburgers and many more types of dishes are available at such inexpensive restaurants. Look cheap dining options around and inside large train stations and in business areas.
Set Lunches: During lunch hours, many restaurants offer inexpensive teishoku (set menus) at around 1000 Yen, including a beverage. If dining out try to have your large meal at lunch and a smaller meal at dinner as you typically get more for your money with a lunch set.
Kaitan-zushi: Kaiten-zushi are sushi restaurants, where the sushi dishes are presented to the customers on a conveyor belt. Customers can freely pick the dishes that they like as they pass in front of them or order dishes which are not available on the belt. In the end, the number of plates is counted to determine the cost. There are usually a few kinds of plates (differing in color or pattern), each being associated with a certain price of typically 100 to 500 yen. Kaiten-zushi tends to be less expensive than usual sushi-ya.