
A filmmaker based in Los Cabos, Mexico, is attracting attention online in Japan with his stunningly beautiful food video. Entitled “A Taste of Japan”, Mike Arce’s video features the food he fell in love with on a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. In an impressively expansive gourmet tour, Arce sampled everything from Kyoto speciality tofu cuisine to delicious hot-plate favourites like okonomiyaki and sukiyaki, even squeezing in a trip to Sukiyabashi Jiro in Roppongi for some high-class sushi, too.
If you didn’t already want to go to Japan really, really badly, you will after you watch this!
As Japanese netizens were quick to point out, this might not be the best video to watch if you’re hungry! (Or prone to food-induced jealousy…)
▼ The video opens at a Cold Stone Ice Cream server. The food’s not looking very Japanese yet (although the great service definitely is), but don’t worry; the best is yet to come!
▼ A bubbling pot of sukiyaki hot-pot. Hungry yet?
▼ The meat from sukiyaki is usually dipped in raw egg before eating. Is this the world’s most gracefully mixed egg?!
▼ Even on these flower-cut mushrooms, the attention to detail is impressive.
▼ More food cooked right in front of your eyes, this time in an okonomiyaki restaurant.
▼ Okonominomnomnom… excuse me while I wipe the drool off my keyboard.
▼ Even more batter-based goodness at a takoyaki (soft balls of batter with fried octopus) stand.
▼ Choosing beautifully marbled beef for yakiniku.
As if that wasn’t enough, our food hero heads to the Roppongi branch of Sukiyabashi Jiro.
▼ Arce was given permission to film chef Takashi Ono. Here he is at work:
▼ Jealous yet? I know I am…
Arce, who studied at the Sydney Film School before returning to his hometown in Mexico, writes: “Filmmaking in Mexico, even independent, is not an easy task. Nevertheless, I try to get involved in any project I can in the hopes of producing my own.”
No time to watch the whole video? You can watch the world-class sushi section separately, too:
Man, I’m hungry now…












Sukiyabashi Jiro Sushi Rice: How good is rice from Japan’s legendary sushi restaurant?
American chef perfectly captures the scrumptious soul of Japanese cuisine 【Video】
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms
7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets
7-Eleven Japan adds new cold soup smoothies to its convenience store drinks range
Godiva Japan gets into the shaved ice scene with two luxurious frozen desserts this summer
New Studio Ghibli washi tape adds anime flair to Japanese stationery
Japan’s foreign resident population hits record high as Japanese population hits record low
New service lets Tokyo tourists display their faces on giant screen at Japan’s busiest intersection
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Face lettuce appears in Japan, with the face of Death Note’s Light Yagami, but why?
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
Pokémon Card Stores requiring facial recognition scans for entry in Japan in latest anti-scalper move
Family Mart’s new Famima flagship in Tokyo has a hidden gem that most visitors miss
Starbucks Japan unveils exclusive new Frappuccinos limited to three regional areas
Giant Evangelion Spear of Longinus to be installed at Japanese train station with Eva art trains
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】