Japanese cuisine, now popular in the West, involves very sensitive flavours, fresh crisp vegetables and an absence of richness. The best place to try sushi is a Kaiten Sushi Bar, where many varieties pass the customer on a conveyor belt allowing complete choice over which delicacies to try, at more reasonable prices than a traditional Sushi Bar. Fine Oriental food (Korean – very hot – and Chinese) is served in restaurants. An amazing number and variety of international restaurants are also available, catering for every possible taste and budget, from French and Italian to Chinese, Indian and Thai. Western dishes in expensive places are good, but cheaper restaurants may be disappointing. The Japanese are very fond of original Scotch whisky, but this is both very expensive and highly sought after, therefore Japanese versions of this drink are often served.
Things to know: Restaurants have table service and in some places it is customary to remove footwear. Waiter service is common in bars. There are no licensing hours. Drinking is subject to long-standing rituals of politeness. The hostess will pour a drink for the visitor, and will insist on the visitor’s glass being full. It is also appreciated if the visitor pours drinks for the host, but it is bad manners for a visitor to pour one for himself.
National specialities:
• Teriyaki (marinated beef/chicken/fish seared on a hot plate).
• Sukiyaki (thin slices of beef, tofu and vegetables cooked in soy sauce and then dipped in egg).
• Tempura (deep fried seafood and vegetables).
• Sushi (slices of raw seafood placed on light and vinegary rice balls – very tasty and refreshing).
• Sashimi (slices of raw seafood dipped in soy sauce).
National drinks:
• Green tea is by far the most popular beverage amongst the Japanese. The quality of the tea varies greatly from houjicha (a common brown-coloured tea) to matcha (a bitter green tea used in tea ceremonies).
• Sake, rice wine served hot or cold according to the season, is strong and distinctively fresh tasting. • Shochu, a strong aquavit, is an acquired taste.
• Japanese wines are worth trying once.
• Beer – similar to lager – is recommended. Popular brands are Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory.
Tipping: Tips are never expected since a 10 to 15 per cent service charge is added to the bill at hotels, ryokan and restaurants; where a visitor wishes to show particular appreciation of a service, money should not be given in the form of loose change but rather as a small financial gift. Special printed envelopes can be bought for financial gifts of this type.

Tokyo has an abundance of cinemas, theatres, bars, coffee shops, discos and nightclubs. A wide range of bars are available, from the upmarket and stylish to cheap street stalls. In the summer, rooftop beer gardens are popular. Some clubs have hostesses who expect to be bought drinks and snacks. In bigger nightclubs and bars, a basic hostess charge is levied. However, there are thousands of other bars and clubs. In Tokyo there are concerts of all styles of music almost every night. Foreign opera companies, ballet companies, orchestras and rock/pop stars visit Japan all year round. Some live jazz houses are also available. For those who would like to try the traditional Japanese performing arts, there is kabuki and noh theatre in Tokyo. It is advisable to purchase the tickets in advance because shows are quickly sold out. Karaoke bars are a very popular form of entertainment.

A blend of Oriental goods and Western sales techniques confronts the shopper, particularly at the big department stores, which are more like exhibitions than shops. Playgrounds for children are available. Special purchases include kimonos, mingei (local crafts including kites and folk toys); Kyoto silks, fans, screens, dolls; religious articles such as Shinto and Buddhist artefacts; paper lanterns; lacquerware; hi-fi equipment, cameras, televisions and other electronic equipment. Bargaining is not usual. Tax exemptions: These are available in authorised tax-free stores. Certain items costing more than ¥10,000 are exempt from tax. Shopping hours: 1000-1900/2000 every day of the week and on public holidays.