Japan is famous for window displays of food (often displaying the price) so you can quite easily go off on your own taste testing adventures knowing what you are order and how much it will cost. Restaurants with window displays are most common around train stations and department stores and are usually very affordable. You don't need to speak Japanese, you can simply point to what you want.
Apart from restaurants there are numerous convenience stores and bakeries where you can pick up affordable sandwiches, cakes and simple lunch box meals consisting of rice or noodles with meat, vegetables and fish. Most major international fast food chains have outlets throughout Japan.
Vending machines are everywhere with the biggest range of hot and cold drinks from soups, teas, and coffees to soft drinks, beer and energy drinks.
Strict vegetarians will find it a little difficult as fish/fishing is a very strong part of the culture and cuisine. A simple noodle soup with mountain vegetables will be in a fish broth and a plate of tofu will be sprinkled with fish flakes.
Sushi go round is where the plates with the sushi are placed on a rotating conveyor belt that winds through the restaurant and moves past every table and counter seat. Customers may place special orders, but most simply pick their selections from a steady stream of fresh sushi moving along the conveyor belt. The final bill is calculated based on the number and type of plates of the consumed sushi.
Watch out for Wasabi!
Wasabi is one of Japans hottest and strongest spices and is served with a plate of sushi. So be wary, and just mix a little bit with soy sauce and enjoy your sushi.
Sushi or not�
Sushi means 'seasoned rice' and sashimi means 'sliced raw fish".
Cleansing the Palate
The vinegared ginger slices that accompany your sushi bar experience is for cleansing your palate between orders.
