Best Restaurant Recommendations in Japan

Tokyo JPY 3,000 - 7,000

Shabusen Ginza Core

Shabu-shabu

Sukiyaki / Shabu-Shabu Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Convenient shabu-shabu option in Ginza.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Pork and beef may be served. Ask staff if avoiding pork.

Kyoto JPY 4,000 - 10,000

Shabuzen Kyoto Gion

Shabu-shabu

Sukiyaki / Shabu-Shabu High (JPY 6,000 - 10,000) 4.2

Comfortable shabu-shabu option around Gion.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Pork and beef may be served. Ask staff if avoiding pork.

Sapporo JPY 1,000 - 2,000

Shirakaba Sansou Sapporo Ramen Yokocho

Ramen alley

Ramen Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Convenient miso ramen shop in Sapporo Ramen Yokocho.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Pork may be used. Ask staff before ordering.

Kyoto JPY 3,500 - 8,000

Shisen Hanten Kyoto

Sichuan dining

Chinese High (JPY 6,000 - 10,000) 4.2

Comfortable Sichuan-style Chinese restaurant in Kyoto.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Ask staff about pork-free and vegetarian dishes.

Osaka JPY 1,500 - 4,500

Sichuan Cuisine Fanfan Osaka

Sichuan dining

Chinese Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Sichuan-style Chinese option for guests wanting spicy dishes.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Ask staff about pork-free and vegetarian dishes.

Sapporo JPY 700 - 2,000

Smooch Coffee Stand Sapporo

Coffee stand

Cafe Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Small coffee stand for a quick Sapporo cafe break.

Hours: Cafe hours
Dietary: Drinks are generally no-pork friendly.

Sapporo JPY 1,000 - 2,500

Soba Dokoro Bansui

Local soba

Soba Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Local soba restaurant suitable for an easy lunch.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Ask staff about dashi and toppings.

Fuji Hakone $

Soba Dokoro Katsumata

Local soba

Hoto / Soba Budget friendly (under JPY 1,500) 4.2

Simple local soba restaurant suitable for a casual lunch around the Hakone area.

Hours: Lunch, hours vary
Dietary: Soba broth may contain fish stock; confirm ingredients if strict.

Sapporo JPY 1,200 - 3,000

Soba Dokoro Rakuichi Sapporo

Soba dining

Soba Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Soba restaurant suited for a relaxed meal in Sapporo.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Soba is generally no-pork friendly, but confirm dashi.

Sapporo JPY 900 - 2,000

Soba Dokoro Sapporo Aoba

Casual soba

Soba Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Casual soba option for a simple noodle lunch in Sapporo.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Soba is generally no-pork friendly, but confirm dashi and toppings.

Sapporo JPY 1,000 - 2,500

Soba Dokoro Shikaman

Local soba

Soba Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Local soba restaurant for a calm noodle meal.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Soba is generally no-pork friendly, but confirm dashi.

Sapporo JPY 1,200 - 3,000

Soba no Mi Sapporo

Handmade soba

Soba Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Handmade soba-style restaurant for a calmer noodle meal.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Confirm dashi ingredients if needed.

Osaka JPY 1,200 - 3,000

Soba Yoshimura Osaka

Soba dining

Soba Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Comfortable soba restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Confirm dashi and side dish ingredients.

Sapporo JPY 1,200 - 3,000

Soba Yukihana Sapporo

Soba dining

Soba Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Soba restaurant suited for lunch or dinner in Sapporo.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Confirm dashi and side dishes.

Tokyo JPY 1,000 - 2,000

Soranoiro NIPPON Tokyo Station

Vegetarian friendly

Ramen Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Tokyo Station ramen shop with vegetarian-friendly options.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Vegetarian/no-pork options may be available. Confirm current menu.

Okinawa JPY 2,000 - 5,000

Steak House 88 Kokusai Street

Okinawa steak

Yakiniku / Grill Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Popular Okinawa steak restaurant around Kokusai Street.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Beef-focused. Confirm pork-free sides and sauces.

Sapporo JPY 5,000 - 12,000

Steak House Katsura Sapporo

Steakhouse

Western High (JPY 6,000 - 10,000) 4.2

Steakhouse option for grilled beef and western-style dining.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Beef-focused. Confirm pork-free sauces and sides.

Osaka JPY 5,000 - 12,000

Steakhouse Juju Osaka

Steak grill

Yakiniku / Grill High (JPY 6,000 - 10,000) 4.2

Steakhouse option for grilled beef and western-style plates.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Beef-focused. Confirm pork-free sauces and sides.

Osaka JPY 800 - 2,200

Streamer Coffee Company Shinsaibashi

Latte cafe

Cafe Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Casual cafe for coffee, latte art, and a short break around Shinsaibashi.

Hours: Cafe hours
Dietary: Drinks are generally no-pork friendly. Check food items separately.

Okinawa JPY 1,000 - 1,800

Stripe Noodles

Creative ramen

Ramen Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Modern ramen shop with creative bowls and a relaxed feel.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Ask staff about pork and chicken broth.

Sapporo JPY 5,000 - 12,000

Sukiyaki Shabu Shabu Hokkaido Sapporo

Hokkaido beef hotpot

Sukiyaki / Shabu-Shabu High (JPY 6,000 - 10,000) 4.2

Higher-budget hotpot option for beef and local ingredients.

Hours: Dinner
Dietary: Ask staff about pork-free course choices.

Osaka JPY 5,000 - 12,000

Sukiyaki Shimizu Osaka

Sukiyaki dining

Sukiyaki / Shabu-Shabu High (JPY 6,000 - 10,000) 4.2

Sukiyaki and Japanese beef dining option for a nicer meal.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Beef-focused. Confirm ingredients before booking.

Osaka JPY 2,500 - 5,000

Sumibi Yakitori Enya Namba

Yakitori

Japanese / Izakaya Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Casual charcoal yakitori restaurant for dinner around Namba.

Hours: Dinner
Dietary: Chicken-focused. Confirm sauces and side dishes.

Okinawa JPY 2,000 - 5,000

Sushi Dokoro Hikari

Local sushi

Sushi Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Local sushi option for fresh seafood and a calmer meal.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Seafood-based. Ask staff about soup and side dishes.

Kyoto JPY 1,200 - 3,000

Sushi no Musashi Kyoto Station

Conveyor sushi

Sushi Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Convenient conveyor sushi option near Kyoto Station.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Seafood-based. Some sides may contain meat stock.

Kyoto JPY 2,000 - 5,000

Sushi Tetsu Pontocho

Pontocho sushi

Sushi Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Casual sushi option around Pontocho for an evening meal.

Hours: Dinner
Dietary: Seafood-based. Ask staff about sauces and sides.

Tokyo $$

Sushi Zanmai Tsukiji

Tsukiji classic

Sushi Mid range (JPY 3,000 - 6,000) 4.2

Well-known sushi restaurant around Tsukiji, convenient for guests exploring the old fish market area.

Hours: Open daily, hours vary by branch
Dietary: Seafood-focused; not halal-certified

Tokyo $

Sushiro Shinjuku

Family friendly

Sushi Budget friendly (under JPY 1,500) 4.2

Popular conveyor-belt sushi chain with tablet ordering and affordable plates, easy for families and first-time visitors.

Hours: Open daily, hours vary by branch
Dietary: Seafood-focused; some menu items may contain pork or alcohol seasoning

Sapporo JPY 3,500 - 8,000

Szechwan Restaurant Chen Sapporo

Sichuan dining

Chinese High (JPY 6,000 - 10,000) 4.2

Sichuan-style Chinese restaurant for a more refined meal.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Ask staff about pork-free and vegetarian dishes.

Kyoto JPY 1,500 - 3,500

Tagoto Honten

Traditional soba

Soba Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Traditional Kyoto soba and Japanese noodle restaurant.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Soba is generally no-pork friendly, but confirm dashi.

Osaka JPY 1,500 - 4,000

Taiseikaku Shinsaibashi

Chinese dining

Chinese Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Long-running Chinese restaurant around Shinsaibashi for group meals.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Chinese dishes may use pork or meat stock. Ask staff first.

Okinawa JPY 1,500 - 3,000

Taiwan Shokudo Naha

Taiwanese

Chinese Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Casual Taiwanese-style restaurant for noodles and small dishes.

Hours: Check before visiting
Dietary: Taiwanese dishes may contain pork or meat stock.

Osaka JPY 2,500 - 5,500

Tajimaya Namba Parks

Shabu-shabu buffet

Sukiyaki / Shabu-Shabu Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Convenient shabu-shabu and sukiyaki style dining around Namba Parks.

Hours: Lunch and dinner
Dietary: Pork and beef may be served. Confirm no-pork handling.

Osaka JPY 800 - 2,500

Takagi Coffee Osaka

Coffee and breakfast

Cafe Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Cafe option for coffee, breakfast, and a casual break.

Hours: Breakfast and cafe hours
Dietary: Ask staff about pork-free food items.

Osaka JPY 700 - 1,800

Takoyaki Dotonbori Kukuru

Dotonbori takoyaki

Osaka Local Normal (JPY 1,500 - 3,000) 4.2

Easy takoyaki stop in Dotonbori for classic Osaka street food.

Hours: Snack and evening hours
Dietary: Takoyaki contains octopus and seafood-based ingredients.