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LEE TRAN LAM asks food experts and chefs to recommend their favourite Japanese places to visit.

- LEE TRAN LAM

JAPAN HAS CONSTANTS YOU'LL FIND EVERYWHERE, from ramen stalls to the grab-and-go joys of convenience stores. Then there are specific places that are worth seeking out for a one-of-a-kind experience. Here, well-travelled visitors to Japan share the locations they keep returning to – and where they'd like to go next.

TOKYO

“Tokyo is essential for immersion into the restaurant and culinary scene,” says Caryn Ng, who has been to Japan 14 times and written books about its food culture, including A Day in Tokyo. Isetan department store’s food hall is a compulsory visit: its Shinjuku flagship offers everything from sushi to exquisite Japanese sweets. Another essential Tokyo activity? Slurping ramen. “I've had some truly good ones in nondescript ramen shops, but the finesse of Ginza Hachigou lingers in my mind.”

Koichi Minamishima, sushi master behind Melbourne's Minamishima restaurant, recommends the Kichijoji neighbourhood for ramen and “other places that still retain their traditional atmosphere”. Nearby is his favourite sushi restaurant, Sushi Marufuku.

Yu Ozone runs Sydney's Comeco Foods, a vegan and gluten-free café shaped by her allergies. Travelling through Japan with dietary restrictions is tricky: many Japanese staples, from tempura batter to soy sauce, contain gluten. But for anyone dodging wheat, Tokyo “tends to offer more variety” than other cities. She's created an Instagram account, @japanglutenfreeguide and her Tokyo picks include Esoragoto Udon, “a cosy spot that offers delicious gluten-free udon made from rice flour... paired beautifully with their dashi broth”.

Tokyo is also famous for its cocktail scene. Jac Landmark from Perth's Bar Love interned at Bar High Five in 2023 and spent off-duty hours at “incredible” venues recognised by The World’s 50 Best Bars list (