{"id":17121,"date":"2017-10-31T12:12:33","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T12:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=17121"},"modified":"2020-01-29T15:37:36","modified_gmt":"2020-01-29T15:37:36","slug":"eating-alone-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/31\/eating-alone-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Table for one: Solo dining in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>Claire has just returned from her first trip to Japan where she spent a good chunk of time travelling solo. After making a hasty, jet-lag induced decision to grab a cr\u00e8me caramel from the nearest 7\/11 on the first evening, she quickly found her feet and was delighted to discover that Japan is well-versed in the art of eating solo.<\/p>\n<h2><!--more-->Eating alone<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-17154\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-510x383.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0740-780x585.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On the one hand, travelling alone is hugely liberating. Buoyed by the success of <em>Eat, Pray, Love<\/em> and similar tales of people \u2018finding themselves\u2019 on the other side of the world, an increasing number of travellers (of all ages) are embracing their inner adventurer and packing their bags to embark on a solo journey.<\/p>\n<p>Yet for all the zealous enthusiasm and bravado, there\u2019s no denying that solo travel can be daunting. Even the most intrepid traveller will have moments of doubt. What if I get lost? What if I miss a connection? What if I fall ill? And the biggest question of all\u2026 Where will I eat?<\/p>\n<p>Cue visions of awkward solo dinners, pretending to be deeply engrossed in your phone or a book. Then there\u2019s the language barrier; whilst you might get by on schoolboy French in a European restaurant, the average Western tourist is woefully underprepared to speak the language of Japanese haute-cuisine.\u00a0The food itself is such a deviation from the norm for the average Western palette. There&#8217;s a chance you won&#8217;t have a clue what you&#8217;re eating, you just know one thing for sure \u2013 the <em>fugu<\/em> is to be avoided at all costs.<\/p>\n<p>But Japanese restaurants are becoming increasingly accessible for those who don&#8217;t speak the language \u2013 anyone who has spent time in Japan will be familiar with the delightful plastic mock dinners gracing restaurant frontages &#8211; and going solo is not unusual at all.<\/p>\n<h2>Societal norms<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-17155\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-510x338.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-510x338.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-1024x679.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-564x374.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-1200x796.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-900x597.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-1440x955.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-390x259.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028-780x517.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/96350028.jpg 1544w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Eating alone isn\u2019t just considered socially accepted in Japan, it\u2019s increasingly considered the norm. A quick scan of popular press reveals that Japan seems to be leading the way in the art of solo dining. Even popular Japanese restaurant chains here in the UK are big on the concept of communal dining. I instantly turn to places like Wagamama and Yo Sushi! when I want to blend into the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>In Japan, Ichiran is a chain of restaurants characterised by a series of \u2018flavour concentration\u2019 booths. Here, diners can savour a bowl of ramen noodles in complete solitude. The very concept rests on the ideology that one can arrive, eat, and leave without the need to interact with anyone. The menu is purposefully simplistic, you can order at the touch of a button and food is presented without ceremony. Admittedly this might be a little extreme, especially if you&#8217;re hoping to immerse yourself in the culture and meet local people, but it&#8217;s always an option.<\/p>\n<p>So don\u2019t panic singletons! Japan is GREAT for solo diners. These are our favourite places to pitch in with the locals with your head held high:<\/p>\n<h2>1) Ramen restaurants<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-17149\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-510x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/ramen-780x1040.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A hot steaming bowl of ramen is \u2018fast food\u2019 done well. Ramen is a salaryman\u2019s staple, and it\u2019s not uncommon to walk into a ramen restaurant and see the work-weary quietly tapping away on their smartphones while they slurp through a bowl of noodles at a table for one. You certainly won\u2019t be the only solo diner.<\/p>\n<p>Lots of ramen restaurants have counter seating as standard, in fact, counter seating may be more popular than table seating. Many also have picture descriptions of the food on the menu, so you can easily point out what you\u2019d like. Some even operate a handy system where you select your dish on a screen and food magically appears just moments later.<\/p>\n<p>The really good thing about ramen restaurants? Listening to everyone slurp their noodles with gusto is a sure fire way to put a smile on your face and make you feel slightly less socially awkward!<\/p>\n<h2>2) Conveyer belt sushi restaurants<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17134 size-medium-plus-size\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-510x510.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"510\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-510x510.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-564x564.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-720x720.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-1440x1440.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FullSizeRender51-780x780.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Conveyer belt sushi restaurants are a great option for solo diners for so many reasons. For a start, there are no individual tables; just grab a seat at the counter facing the chef. Secondly, you don\u2019t have to worry about the language. The food has already been prepared &#8211; help yourself to whatever takes your fancy. Eat as much or as little as you like, and spend as much time here as you like. It&#8217;s an authentic Japanese foodie experience that&#8217;s completely on your terms.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a common misconception that sushi is just fish, but a lot of conveyer belt sushi restaurants offer a mix of fish and non-fish options. Many tourists, even the most culinary adventurous, might experience a degree of \u2018fish-fatigue\u2019 at some point during their trip. These restaurants a fail-safe option.<\/p>\n<h2>3) Street food<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-17136\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-510x287.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-1440x810.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Osaka-5-780x439.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a lone traveller looking for a quick, cheap bite to eat, street food is a great shout. As luck would have it, Osaka is (arguably) the street food capital of the world! Exit Namba station, make a beeline for the bright lights of Dotonburi and you\u2019ll be overwhelmed by options at every turn. Street food is cheap and extremely tasty (5 gyoza for 500 yen anyone?) so you can go from stall to stall sampling different options to your heart\u2019s content without straining your purse strings.\u00a0Walking and eating is considered a no-no in Japan, so lots of street food vendors have stools or tables where you can stop to eat your goodies before moving on down the street.<\/p>\n<h2>4) <em>Izakaya<\/em><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium-plus-size wp-image-17142 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-510x383.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-510x383.jpeg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-564x423.jpeg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-1200x900.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-900x675.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-720x540.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-1440x1080.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-390x293.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Unknown-4-780x585.jpeg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Whilst walking into an <em>izakaya<\/em> might feel intimidating, once you are in and settled at a counter you\u2019ll be glad you took the plunge. Especially if you are looking for an \u00a0\u2018authentic\u2019 Japanese dining experience.\u00a0<em>Izakaya<\/em>\u00a0are fun, down-to-earth and affordable, offering a mixture of Japanese and Asian-Western fusion small plates. There\u2019s a good chance there will be something you like (even if you\u2019re not 100% sure exactly what it is).<\/p>\n<p>They\u00a0are the equivalent of the British gastropub and\u00a0typically frequented by Japanese salarymen so, like ramen restaurants, eating alone is pretty standard practice. The atmosphere is light-hearted (washing down dinner with a hearty amount of Japanese beer helps). It won\u2019t be long before you\u2019ve made friends with the person beside you regardless whether you&#8217;re fluent in Japanese or not.<\/p>\n<h2>5) Station food Halls<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-17143\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-510x287.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-510x287.jpeg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-564x317.jpeg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-900x506.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-720x405.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-1440x810.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-390x219.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20160901_191218-780x439.jpeg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Japan also does \u2018fast food\u2019 well if you\u2019re looking for a quick, convenient dining solution. In a country where there are more Michelin-starred establishments than you can shake a stick at, fast food giants like McDonalds might leave you feeling guilty. Even Moss Burger \u2013 the Japanese equivalent \u2013 seems like a cop-out.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatives can be found at train station food courts of all places. At The Cube at Kyoto Station, you\u2019ll find a number of restaurants that are conveniently grouped together, each with their own speciality cuisine. It is here that you\u2019ll find Italian and Chinese options alongside Japanese restaurants serving\u00a0<em>okonomiyaki<\/em>, <em>Donburi<\/em> rice bowls and katsu curries; what I affectionately refer to as \u2018Japanese food for beginners\u2019. Most of these restaurants have plastic food displays outside the main entrance with each dish labelled in Japanese and English. The food here is pretty affordable too, and you\u2019ll be served a hearty portion accompanied by a cup of tea and bowl of miso soup.<\/p>\n<h2>6) If all else fails, there\u2019s always Hello Kitty\u2026<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-17146\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-510x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hello-Kitty-Kyoto-780x1040.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For anyone that feels the need for a dining companion, Japan has a fall-back solution. Character caf\u00e9s are popular and in Kyoto, you can sit down to enjoy a matcha latte next to a life-size plush Hello Kitty. Only in Japan.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Has this got your taste buds tingling? If you fancy taking yourself on a solo voyage of discovery to Japan, contact our <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/contactusJapan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">expert travel team<\/a>. Each of them have taken that solo seat at an\u00a0<em>izakaya<\/em>, slurped on a bowl of ramen, and tried just about everything at the street food stalls.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium-plus-size wp-image-17158 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-510x287.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-564x318.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-1200x676.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-900x507.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-1440x811.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-390x220.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00190-780x439.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Check out our <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/SoloIAT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Solo Travel<\/a> page for all of the latest information, tours, hints and tips for going it alone.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17121\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Claire has just returned from her first trip to Japan where she spent a good chunk of time travelling solo. After making a hasty, jet-lag induced decision to grab a cr\u00e8me caramel from the nearest 7\/11 on the first evening, she quickly found her feet and was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2366,2355],"tags":[3264,3412,3415],"class_list":["post-17121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-food-and-drink","category-first-trip-to-japan","tag-solo-travel-in-japan","tag-eating-alone-in-japan","tag-solo-dining-in-japan"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17121"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25512,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17121\/revisions\/25512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}