What you need to know about food in my guide.
I won’t be recommending a specific restaurant for each day of the trip, as every traveler is unique and may not follow the itinerary exactly. This would make the recommendations outdated or irrelevant depending on your pace and preferences.
Instead, I’ve created a complete food map and PDF that cover:
📍 Interactive map – Find the best food spots near you in real-time.
🥢 Must-try dishes – So you know what to look for, no matter where you are.
Some restaurants in Japan, especially high-end or Michelin-listed spots, or just popular viral spots require reservations, sometimes weeks in advance. To help you navigate this, here are trusted platforms you can use:
Omakase.in – Great for exclusive and omakase-style restaurants. Interface available in English.
Pocket Concierge – Offers a range of restaurants, from casual to high-end, with English support.
TableCheck – Easy-to-use, includes many popular restaurants. Some pages are in English.
TableAll – Specializes in high-end dining. Booking fees apply.
Tabelog – Japan’s go-to food rating platform. Some restaurants allow booking directly through the site, but it’s mostly in Japanese, using a browser translator can help.
💡 Note: Some of these platforms may charge a small booking fee depending on the restaurant.
Other options travelers have used:
Instagram DMs – Some restaurants reply to messages (best to write in Japanese using Google Translate).
Fiverr – Some people hire Japanese freelancers to call and make the reservation on their behalf.
Go check out my guide for the best free things to do as well as itineraries and travel tips to make your trip unforgettable.