Japan (17) - Food

17 July 2010 - Japan is not only the country of sushi, tempura and sashimi. There are many different types of Japanese cuisine, and I am sometimes eating things that are totally unidentifiable. However, the presentation is fantastic, as dishes are designed to appeal not only to the palate but also to the eye. One of my favorite places to shop for food is in the big department stores. Located in the basements, the food sections are the next best thing to local wet markets with uniformed vendors yelling out their wares and crowds of housewives trying to decide for evening dinner. Different counters specialize in different items - but my favorite place in the sections for desserts, cakes and sweets. Every possible cake I can think of is available, and there are chocolates, jelly cups and biscuits wrapped in beautiful boxes. Traveling in Japan is an exploration and there is lots to discover in the food section, like the lemon-flavored crunchy white chocolate bar I bought yesterday. Never seen before.