From tiger-shaped prawns to instant ramen on tap, these delicious delights will make your mouth water!
plastic food
We’re not sure which was more disappointing: getting caught in the act of stealing, or learning that the food he spotted wasn’t real.
Japan sure loves its plastic replica food. It’s a handy way for restaurants to demonstrate the dishes on offer, and it’s an absolute godsend for tourists who don’t read Japanese. Instead of grappling with menus written in complicated characters, they can simply point at the tasty plastic versions. In recent years, however, plastic food has found its way toward decorating all sorts of objects, from phone cases to accessories. We think that things might have gotten a bit out of hand, however, because now you can apparently wear a serving of plastic food around your neck. Join us after the jump to see the whole range!
Although the language barrier can make traveling or living in Japan tough at times, dining out is a snap. There are plenty of conveyer belt sushi restaurants where you just grab what you want as the plates go by, and at many ramen and beef bowl restaurants you simply buy a meal ticket out of a vending machine, then pass it off to the cook.
Even when technology isn’t there to save you, ordering is still easy, thanks to the numerous Japanese restaurants that display wax models of their menu items, allowing you to bring the wait staff to the display window and point and what you want. There’s a whole industry devoted to replicating food, and we recently tried our hand at making a wax creation of our own.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
This Japanese vending machine doesn’t sell drinks, but you can buy drinks through it
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Burger King Japan’s new Crown The One Pounder is like a cheeseburger on steroids
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Weekly
- Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
- Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
- Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo- Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Monthly
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026- Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)- Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino- Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
- Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan- Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
RECOMMENDED STORIES
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Burger King Japan’s new Crown The One Pounder is like a cheeseburger on steroids
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Akihabara saying goodbye to landmark as giant Sega arcade announces it’s closing for good
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Mister Donut wows matcha lovers in Japan with new Dora Matcha doughnuts
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
-
