An Osaka ramen restaurant, Gadoya, is under scrutiny for charging foreign tourists nearly double the price of Japanese-speaking customers. The owner claims it's for 'premium' ramen and to ensure customer satisfaction.
Discover how single Japanese writers celebrated New Year's with unique meals. From traditional soba to homemade bento, see how they embraced the holiday's culinary traditions.
Tokyo's Toyosu Market saw a record-breaking New Year auction with a tuna selling for over 510 million yen (US$3.33 million). Sushi Zanmai plans to serve the prized tuna at regular prices.
Rakuten offers a New Year's osechi fukubukuro (lucky bag) with feasts ranging wildly in value. One writer's experience reveals the potential for a delicious culinary adventure.
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya is offering a 'Smile Box' lucky bag for 2026. It includes exclusive merchandise and coupons that essentially pay for the bag itself!
A 145-year-old Niigata brewery playfully suggests (and then doesn't suggest) dipping castella cake in sake. The Japanist taste-tests this unusual pairing, revealing a delicious new way to enjoy sake and Japanese sweets.
Cup Noodle tries to capture the iconic Jiro-style ramen, but falls short. The container's design makes it difficult to balance toppings, though the broth captures the essence of Jiro.
Sweets Paradise, the popular all-you-can-eat dessert chain in Japan, is still a great deal after a decade. A reporter revisits the Machida Modi branch and finds upgraded cakes, savory options, and reasonable prices.
Craving a unique Starbucks Japan experience? Discover the top 5 limited-edition Frappuccinos from last year that fans are hoping will make a comeback in 2026.
Pizza Hut Japan is offering hot lucky bags for New Year's 2026, filled with fresh pizzas, fried chicken, and a tote bag. These bags are available in three sizes, perfect for groups of two to nine people, and include a discount coupon for future orders.
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