One of the biggest worries I had before going to Japan was the food. Even though I’d heard amazing things about Japanese cuisine, I was still nervous mainly because I eat halal, and I knew pork is a major part of the cuisine. After spending three weeks in Japan, I can confidently say that worry was unnecessary. I found myself constantly eating and trying new foods especially snacks. I found it amazing how clean and organized every food place was, from small food stalls to restaurants. I recognize and appreciate how unique every restaurant was, you can feel how much effort and energy is put into it.
A couple of classmates and I visited 2 food markets once at the beginning of the trip and once at the end. First, we explored Tsukiji Fish Market before the program officially started. We got a small taste of what the food scene was like. I tried food I never thought I would, like squid and raw tuna. At the end of the trip I visited Kyoto and explored Nishiki market to indulge one more time before heading home.
Food Stall at Tsukiji Market
One reason I was worried about the food in Japan was due to the fact that I eat halal which includes not eating food with pork or gelation. I was aware that pork is a main cuisine and was worried about my options. Despite this there was quite a number of halal food spots that I was able to take advantage of. I visited a few and they turned out to be my favorite spots throughout the trip. Even though I still had to check labels and ask question about ingredients especially at convenience stores I never felt like I was missing out. During my stay I even tried Malaysian and Thai food which I’d never had before.
Trying Halal Wagyu Ramen
Halal Wagyu Ramen
Something I noticed was that each city we visited had a dish that they were known or famous for, something that was a specialty to that city. In Hiroshima it was Okinamiyaki which is a pancake like dish layered with noodles, eggs, cabbage and additional toppings. In Sendai it was grilled beef tongue. In Kyoto it was matcha. Although Kyoto is said to be the matcha capital of the world, matcha was something I had in every city we visited. While we had the opportunity to try a variety of food i’d say my favorite Japanese foods that I tried had to be Japanese curry and for desert Daifuku.