What to Eat Compared to other nations, Japan's cooking uses almost no spices. With very little land, agriculture and livestock are limited, although Japan is famous for its fattened delicacy, Kobe beef.
Raw fish is masterfully prepared as sashimi or as sushi, where it is served with rice.
A diner is meant to appreciate the harmony of all three. Japanese meals are designed with beauty in mind, but also with simplicity and modesty. Evening is the main meal, starting with an appetizer and small cups of sake, fermented rice wine usually served warm. The meal itself usually consists of a simmered dish, a salad, a fried, steamed or broiled dish, rice and soup. The dishes are simply prepared, but the combination of flavors, textures, and foods creates the elegance and variety that so typifies the Japanese style.