Ryo Iwa– Author –
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Lucky Pierrot Hamburger (ラッキーピエロのハンバーガー)
Some restaurants are worth traveling for. ラッキーピエロ Lucky Pierrot is one of them. It's not a global chain. You won't find it in Tokyo or Osaka. Every single one of its 17 locations sits in Hakodate, a small port city at the southern... -
Japan’s Vegetarian Delights: Top Plant-Based Dishes to Try
Japan might not be the first country that comes to mind for vegetarian travel. Many dishes hide dashi, a fish-based broth, in unexpected places. But here's the truth: Japan has a rich, centuries-old tradition of plant-based eating. You j... -
Zangi (ザンギ)
The first time you order ザンギ Zangi at a Hokkaido izakaya, it might just look like regular fried chicken. But then you take a bite. The crust is thicker. The seasoning goes all the way through. The aroma of soy, garlic, and ginger hits... -
Noto beef (能登牛)
There's a moment, somewhere between your first bite and the second, when you realize this isn't like other beef. The fat is different. The flavor lingers in a way that's hard to explain. That's 能登牛 Noto beef, and once you understand w... -
Quincy melon (クインシーメロン)
If you've ever walked through a Japanese supermarket in summer, you've probably seen it. A round, netted melon with a warm amber rind. It sits quietly on the shelf, modestly priced. That's the クインシーメロン — the Quincy melon. So, wha... -
Ibaraking Melon (イバラキング)
If you've spent any time exploring Japanese fruit culture, you know how seriously people take their melons. Walk into any department store basement and you'll find them: perfectly shaped, gift-wrapped, and priced like jewelry. Among them... -
Shimonita Negi (下仁田ネギ)
Most people do not think much about green onions. They are a garnish, a background note, an afterthought. Then you eat a Shimonita negi, and that changes. 下仁田ネギ (Shimonita negi) is a premium Japanese green onion from Shimonita Town ... -
Takasaki Pasta (高崎パスタ)
If you think Italy holds a monopoly on great pasta, think again. Deep in Gunma Prefecture, about 90 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, sits a city called Takasaki. And Takasaki has a secret. Locals call it the "pasta city" of Japan. That lab... -
Yaki Manju (焼きまんじゅう)
Gunma is not always the first prefecture that comes to mind when people talk about Japanese food. That is honestly its loss. Because somewhere in the back streets of Maebashi, Takasaki, and Isesaki, someone is standing over a charcoal gr... -
Ibaraki Melon (茨城のメロン)
When people in Japan think of premium melon, Hokkaido comes to mind first. Yubari melon has that kind of reputation. It shows up at auction for staggering prices. It makes the news every spring. But ask where most of Japan's melons actua...