Cuisine, traditions and customs in Japan

Food is undoubtedly one of the most loved and intriguing aspects of Japan for visitors from abroad. Japanese cuisine is considered one of the most balanced and healthy and one of the reasons that made Japan the country with the highest life expectancy in the world. Famous dishes everywhere such as sushi, tempura and ramen are just the tip of the iceberg of a vast and complex cuisine, which ranges from strictly traditional dishes linked to centuries-old recipes (the so-called washoku cuisine), to dishes from Western influence born in much more recent times (the latter called yōshoku cuisine). And the dishes usually prepared and consumed are not the only thing that strikes and makes foreign visitors fall in love with Japan. Everything else is equally different and fascinating: the family traditions and customs, the way of catering and serving the customer, even the fast food and ready-to-eat food of the supermarkets will make you fall in love with this country.