Michelin
Guide won’t be released in full until later this year, but here are nine Kyoto spots to add to your to-eat itinerary right now.
This new collaborative product offers a cheap and convenient way to experience the flavor of world-class ramen.
We spend some time with an expert noodle chef and find out what it takes to become one-star certified.
Our Japanese reporter investigates the Michelin-recommended udon restaurant and nabs one of their precious thirty meals per day.
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It doesn’t have a star yet, but our research points to this Shinjuku restaurant getting the honor soon.
Now there are two Michelin-starred ramen restaurants in the capital, and we lined up to try the signature dish from the latest award-winning eatery.
Convenience stores in Japan really do have everything, including a meal from the world’s only Michelin-starred ramen restaurant.
It turns out that Tokyo’s Michelin star-winning ramen eatery has a sister restaurant, but not for long.
Our reporters made pigs of themselves at Marugo, a pork cutlet restaurant featured in the 2016 Tokyo Michelin Guide.
It wasn’t so long ago that you’d hear expats and travelers in Japan express shock over the concept of sitting down in a restaurant and paying good money for a bowl of ramen. Seriously, aren’t those the cheap, instant noodles that college students, bachelors, and other people too lazy to cook survive off of?
Things are very different today, though. Ramen is currently the hottest segment of Japanese cuisine in the international dining community, with restaurants dedicated to it opening up in cities across the U.S. The humble noodles’ stock has risen so high that this ramen restaurant in Hokkaido is listed in the esteemed Michelin guide, so we decided to see if it was deserving of the honor.


















Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Wagyu ramen for foreign tourists appears in Kabukicho, with a very high price tag
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Studio Ghibli releases new Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji music box for anime fans
Over 1,400 cities in Japan see foreign population rise, total populations drop in new statistics
Stray cats almost became classified as an invasive species in Japan but the change was overturned
7-Eleven Japan adds new doughnut-like tonkotsu ramen fried chicken to its hot food section
Did you know? Only one Beard Papa’s in all of eastern Japan sells soft serve in a cream puff
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
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
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
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
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
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
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Stray cats almost became classified as an invasive species in Japan but the change was overturned
7-Eleven Japan adds new doughnut-like tonkotsu ramen fried chicken to its hot food section
Did you know? Only one Beard Papa’s in all of eastern Japan sells soft serve in a cream puff
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Starbucks Japan unveils new Kyoho grape drinks for a taste that’s quintessentially Japanese
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
This awesome Japanese arcade chain has crane game coaches to help you win prizes
This Japanese chopping board sanitising bag might be the handy kitchen gadget we never knew we needed
Japanese convenience store food gets turned into hyper-realistic stationery you can peel open
Studio Ghibli theme park announces new expansion saluting a previously off-limits anime
Are Japan’s room-temperature curry packets the boxed lunch heroes we’ve been looking for? [Taste test]
Police ask Kumamoto residents to not get blackout drunk as much during earthquake relief efforts