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• Eating out in Tokyo

There are over 8 million people living in Tokyo so, while national cuisine such as sushi keeps many happy, there are many other themed restaurants keeping the public happy. Japanese food is cheaper than others as you must pay a few yen more for good international food.

It’s very hard to suggest particular areas in Tokyo for eating. The metropolitan city centre itself is divided into 23 different ‘ku’, meaning wards. But one way to decide where to dine is by letting the time of day influence you – areas well-known for shopping are better for eating out during the day while parts of the city with a livelier nightlife are better at night.

Japan’s best known native dish is sushi. If you want to spread your wings a little and try something else, other Japanese specialities are Okonomiyaki which is a giant pancake filled with ingredients you choose yourself, Tempura which is a selection of seafood and vegetables deep fried in batter, and Yakitori which is a combination of chicken pieces and vegetables on bamboo skewers.

Japan's most famous food export

Made of vinegared rice and seafood, sushi is undoubtedly Japan's most famous food export. It isn't to everybody's liking, mainly because most of the fish used in sushi is raw. But give it a whirl and you may be nicely surprised. If you do decide to do as the Japanese do, keep in mind that sushi restaurants with moving sushi trains are a lot cheaper than those without.

Restaurants in Tokyo

• Gonpachi

  1-13-11 Nishi-Azabu Minato-ku, Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan

  Seeing as this restaurant (allegedly) inspired one of Kill Bill Vol. 1's most famous scenes, you simply have to check out it. Choose one big noodle dish or lots of smaller ones such as 'yakitori' (skewers) and sushi. Bookings are essential though.
  
  Open daily from 11.30am-6am; tel: 03 5771 0170.

• A Good Diner, Inc

  Maruhachi 2-10-12, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

  Amidst the bright lights of Shibuya is this informal eatery where you can easily forget about the crowds. Its extensive menu is packed with dishes comprising of fish, cheese, chicken and salad. It's also a perfect place for a beer as it stays open way into the early hours.
  
  Open daily from 5pm-7am.

• Tajimaya

  9th Floor, Yodo-Bashi Centre, Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan

  Tajimaya is where you can try traditional Japanese 'hotpots'. This is where you cook meats and vegetables in your own pot of boiling water. Try the 'shabu shabu', a thin beef cooked with vegetables and served with dipping sauces.
  
  Open daily from 11am-11pm.

• Kushimura

  1F Woo Bldg., 3-8-8 Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan

  Venture into this inexpensive Roppongi restaurant and order just one thing - the '10-piece'. With this comes a series of dishes served one after another. Their specialites are charcoal grilled yakitori and kamameshi.
  
  Open Mon to Sat from 5.30pm-11pm.