Cliff(y) Goes Dining

Totally wasn't expecting the jumbo-sized 'tonkatsu'! As I stepped into yet another prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan, my very first meal in Wakayama was nothing short of delightful. The humble flagship store of Sarashina, a family-run establishment located not far from Wakayama station, was a truly serendipitous find that afternoon.

Does anybody know the exact name of the roasted rice congee dish? Following a sumptuous dinner, a restful night's sleep and a thoroughly enjoyable soak in the hot bath the following morning, the anticipation for breakfast at Mikasa Ryokan in Nara heightened. I've always enjoyed Japanese breakfast, where the symphony of rice, soup, protein and vegetables provides a nutritious and satisfying start to the day.

Take your pick: beef or seafood? After spending a night at Henn-na Hotel Nara , my family and I moved on to the slopes of Mount Wakakusa, finding solace and culinary delight at Mikasa Ryokan. Opting for a half-board plan, we had a memorable dinner where each dish was meticulously prepared and served with the grace of traditional Japanese hospitality.

Not Japanese, but simple French dishes for breakfast~ Happy New Year, folks! Ever since I heard about the world's first hotel run by robots in 2015, I'd always wanted to stay at Henn-na Hotel. The opportunity eventually materialised during my second visit to Nara with my family. For breakfast, each guest gets to choose one dish with free-flowing drinks.

Virgin experience with Omi beef, red konjac and 'choji-fu'! My family and I had the opportunity to go on a day trip to Shiga Prefecture, specifically the town of Omihachiman, that's not too far from Kyoto. For lunch, we dropped by a restaurant serving Omi beef, which is recognised as one of the top three brands in Japan, alongside Kobe and Matsusaka beef.

Eat or don't: the store sells only one dish! When strolling through the lively district of Dotonbori in Osaka, Japan, it's probably hard to overlook the sight of at least one dragon holding a bowl of noodle. Established in 1928, Kinryu (lit. Golden Dragon) Ramen has got a few branches in the area. Be it day or night, you can satiate your ramen cravings anytime as they're open 24/7.

Certainly way better than being no. 18 in the market! Takoyaki , the celebrated Japanese octopus balls, stands as a quintessential street food experience in Osaka. I recall having pretty good ones from Kukuru in my previous visit to the lively Dotonbori district many years ago. This time round, I was drawn to another famous shop that calls itself no. 18, but the origin of the name remains a mystery with no clues provided on their website.

Not a single visit to Japan without 'ekiben'! A portmanteau of eki (lit. station) and bento (Japanese meal box), ekiben  has long been an icon of Japanese culinary culture. I know the meal boxes are served at room temperature, but I'm always drawn to them, thanks in part to their exquisite presentation. My family bought some from Ekiben Tabi Bento situated within Kyoto station to savour them for lunch, not inside a train, but in the comfort of our hotel room.

Abalone-topped sushi, anyone? Founded in 1995, Kura Sushi is the second largest sushi restaurant chain in Japan, trailing only behind Sushiro (スシロー). Having more than 450 outlets in the country, it's since expanded its presence to international locations, such as Taiwan and the USA. While visiting Osaka, I decided to drop by the branch located at the vibrant district of Shinsekai.

Came for the parfait, but even more amazed by the 'cha soba'! Kyoto is synonymous with that finely ground green tea powder known as matcha . In the heart of Uji, a town distinguished for producing high-quality matcha , lies a traditional tea house called Nakamura Tokichi that's been around since the Edo period. Though we didn't have the chance to visit the main outlet, my family and I managed to get a table at the Isetan branch that's conveniently linked to Kyoto station.

Fancy some winter-exclusive soup curry? Although CoCo Ichibanya can be found in Singapore, I've always been interested to try it in Japan. Started from a shop in the suburb area of Nagoya in 1978, the restaurant chain specialising in Japanese curry has grown to over a thousand outlets, going as far as Hawaii and Los Angeles in the USA.