Japan is a country with a thriving restaurant industry. The number and types of restaurants vary depending on the size of the town, but franchise stores and other outlets that operate nationwide run both urban and rural areas.
There are restaurants in a variety of genres, including Japanese, Western, Chinese, and noodles. It is generally said that the price of lunch is around 1,000 yen, which is cheaper than in other countries. (According to economic newspapers in the United Kingdom, the Big Mac in Japan is unusually inexpensive compared with other developed countries and is reported to cost about half the price of one in Switzerland). Some family restaurants and chain restaurants for ramen noodles (Chinese noodle), udon (Japanese wheat noodle) and gyudon (a bowl of rice topped with beef), are open not only during lunchtime, but are also open late at night at reasonable prices.
To enjoy traditional Japanese cuisines "Washoku" (registered in an Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO), which differs from usual homemade dishes, the price range is considerably higher, but it is a good idea to visit an authentic Japanese restaurant.
Generally speaking, Japanese dishes along with Western and Chinese dishes in Japan are suited to the preferences of foreigners, but some local foods are subject to so-called cultural shocks. If your order comes with side dishes such as natto, umeboshi, rakkyo, or raw eggs, please enjoy them, if you are open to trying them.
