This is something I ran into while talking to other friends about eating in Asia, how to avoid eating foods that one is not accustomed to, or just down right hate, and how to find things that I will love and remember forever. I,  as a picky but passionate eater, completely relate to these culinary qualms. Asian food can be very foreign and even as a Chinese, I don't necessarily eat everything in front of me. But I do believe there is something for everyone if you know how to look. So! I am writing a series about eating in Asia, starting with Japan.

10 Tips About Eating In Japan

1. Avoiding Fish: Japan is an island nation and one should expect a lot of fish. But what if you don't like fish? I've ran into a lot of people who don't like to eat finny friends for various reasons but feel that there is just no way to avoid it. Afterall, isn't Japan the country of sushi? Is there a way to avoid eating the fruits of the sea? There is! Try noodles and rice! There are several options available in the form off the varieties of noodles. From soba and ramen and udon to beef bowls (like those from Yoshinoyas) or a fried pork cutlet! Fish might serve as part of the base for some of these foods, but mostly the flavor originates from some sort of meat, like pork or beef. There are also curries and fried rice. And the big advantage of this is that these meal options can be cheaper than eating fish! So grab your sticks and head down to the closest noodle joint and take your pick.

2. Where do I eat?!: This is always a difficult thing when traveling, how do you pick which restuarant to eat at? How do I avoid obvious traps etc. Well, here's a tip, try the train station food in Japan. This seems very odd for people who are used to the negative reviews and crazy prices of the horrid airport food, but in general I find that food at the major train stations in Tokyo are very good. Many of those stands have been there for years and cater to the busy and hurried salary workers of the city. Some stores are speciality shops that deliver particular items to the busy people and cannot be found elsewhere without much time and effort. So for those busy travelers who find themselves at a major trains station with much hunger and no clue, I suggest shop around the train station area. Most likely you will find a hidden secret in there among the bustle.

3.Will it be good?:  It's always hard to tell if the place that you've chosen is going to be good or not. But here is an important hint I use in all my travels in Asia: Always ALWAYS look to see if there are other people eating in the restarant you've chosen. If the place that you have chosen is empty and it's dinner time, it's time to question the food. Most people in Asia are always on the hunt for good food, and unless they are interested in impressing someone, will almost always go to a local haunt to eat. Also, with bigger families and less time, people in general do not eat out very often. However! If a place is very good and reasonably priced, its reputation will spread and no matter what will have a long line. And just as that is true, if a place is completely empty, then it's possible that either it's too expensive for the food or just not very good. So rule of thumb, try to eat at busier places.

4. Local Specialities: In Japan, a local specialty is definitely one of the mainstays of their cuisine. Each region will have some sort of famous product, from eggs to fish to rice to pork. Kobe beef sound familiar to anyone? And in each cuisine (eg. ramen) there will also be local specialities. Many regions in Japan will have a special way to prepare a dish that make it unique. An example of a "local speciality" is okonomiyaki. This is an "authentic" Japanese food, but if you ask a Japanese person, they will tell you that this is a food particular of the Kansai (western part) of Japan and there you will find the best example of this food. Yes you could find it in Tokyo if you wished, but to eat it in its "authentic" and hence "best" state, one would go to the city of Osaka for it. And so! If you know where you are going on your trip or have enough time to explore, try finding the local specialty of the area! It could be eggs boiled in the sulpheric hot springs in Hakone or tofu specially made in a small district in Kyoto, and will almost always come with a long line and excellent quality.

5. Seasonal Specialities: Amazingly enough, in Japan there are not only specialities based on locality but also specialities based on seasons. The four seasons are very important in Japan and serve to represent different times and attitudes throughout the year. In Winter, warm sweet sake is popular (the alcohol is burned off), Spring, sakura prevade all the foods, Summer is full of cold soba and the nabe pot starts to emerge in the Fall. Different fish and different vegetables also become available depending on what time of the year you decide to visit. In the Northern regions in Japan the best tuna is caught from August to January and hence are the freshest in these periods. Many times when a food has come back around in the annual year, you will see signs of it in all the shops. So look out for those seasonal specialties! Once it's gone, it's gone for another year!

6. Sweet Sweets!: There is a huge variety of sweets in Japan and I do suggest people to try them all. Ditch the sugary cakes and pasteries, they are all beautiful, but almost all of them cannot compare with what you can find in Europe and are probably not sweet enough either way for a Western palate besides being very expensive at $7-$10 for a slice of cake. Also, it is very unlikely for you to find a dessert at the restuarant that you ate your dinner at, instead the dessert stands will probably be in the area and will probably only sell certain related products. Red bean is a major filling in most sweets in Japan as well as sweet rice pounded into mochi. But there are various and various ways to prepare these simple ingrediants and they are everywhere. Black sesame is also prevalant in Japanese snacks. To find the best sweets, check out smaller shopping districts with outdoor vendors such as those found in front of major temples and shrines accross the nation. Many of those stands have been around for decades and have become famous in their own right for their product. And for those of you who might want a saltier snacks, the same areas will have those as well! Another famous sweets district is the street in front of the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto.

7. Eat What You See: One of the best part about eating in Japan is their food displays. Almost all places will have real samples out there or plastic samples out there for you to see in order to know what's in the food. They will almost always have labels as well! But remember, previously mentioned seasonal foods may not be in those cases, so be sure to look out for them either way.

8. Eat, Drink and Be Merry!: Japan loves its alcohol and there are many places to eat and enjoy beer or sake. In fact there are many restaurants and establishments that exist solely for the purpose of eating excellent food with excellent sake. If you wish to do this, choose places that are smaller and often staffed by one cook who is probably also an expert on the booze. If you get to know him, he might make specialities for you to enjoy and please eat everything he has specially prepared for you. Try not to question everything in front of you, as you probably don't want to know what you're eating. Most Japanese people understand the qualms that visitors have about eating items such as raw horse meat and will not offer it, but either way I don't suggest refusing it if he puts such a delicacy in front of you! If you do go to such a place but are unsure of what to order, I suggest ordering basics that will always be there. Toasted rice balls (onigiri) are a staple at such places, and with a couple stick of yakitori (skewered chicken) you will have a good base for your drinking and no occassion to worry.

9. Soy What?!: Besides fish and rice, another major staple food of Japan is the soy bean, and it emerges in all forms, from fermented whole (natto) to grinded and added into everything (miso). Besides soy sauce, probably the most familiar form of the soy bean is in the form for tofu. Now, unlike its soy burger counterparts, tofu in Asia is a highly regarded food and found in most soups, most notably in Japan in the miso soup. Miso itself is very flavorful and adds a lot to each food. And it is great for vegetarians! (you though I'd forget about you?) If you are vegetarian and are afraid of eating the previously mentioned pork flavored soups, I suggest you go for miso and tofu based products! They are flavorful and healthy as well as cooling with a variety of preperation forms. But be sure to ask if there is fish in any of the soup bases if this is your concern. Many of them will use bonito flakes to flavor things. Try tofu, it just might surprise you! (note: I do not recommend natto but for those of you who are brave, go ahead)

10. Why Can't We Eat Here?: If you happen to make friends on the road in Japan, don't expect them to take you home for dinner. It simply isn't done. Instead, it is more likely for you to meet up with your friend somewhere and they will show you a good time out. Hosting a party at home is a very intimite thing and almost never done, hosts often prefer to take people out and show them their town rather than their home. On the same scale, if you wish to invite someone to a dinner, find a nice place out. It would be awkward to invite someone to your hotel room to hang out and there are many other options. So don't feel awkward if you are never invited home for dinner! Rather enjoy your time and use the previous 9 tips to make the trip one to remember.

I hope these 10 tips are helpful to people traveling or will travel to Japan. They are in no particular order and just things I've discovered for myself going to the land of the rising sun. I hope you enjoy your trip there as well!

Until next time!