Japan’s food is some of the best I’ve ever had, and there are so many fun things to try. You can get fantastic local dishes for great prices, and people are more than willing to help you figure out what to eat. Street food is very popular, especially around well-known areas and during festivals. Vendors are selling anything from sweet treats like taiyaki to sticks of wagyu beef.

Almost every city is known for a specific dish. Where I live in Hikone, it’s omi beef, a type of wagyu that’s regional to the Shiga prefecture. I previously went to Osaka, and they’re known for takoyaki there, which are these delicious fried octopus balls. If you like any sort of matcha, Kyoto’s the place to go. Walking in Kyoto, there are matcha stalls everywhere, selling lattes, ice cream, mochi and anything in between. With every new place having important cultural food, there’s always something new to go searching for.

Food is a great way to meet people as well. Going out to eat with new friends or finding locals to talk to while out and about have proved great ways to really immerse myself in the culture. Excluding restaurants and stalls, I’ve even had fantastic food at the local university’s cafeteria! We partner with them for classes or we’ll stop by and eat when we go on bike tours, and it’s been great to not only expand my palate but see what Japanese university dining halls are like.

Food has been a fantastic way to get involved, try new things and can truly enhance your experience!

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Japan Center for Michigan Universities