Japan Trip Photos - Food

Here's a link to pictures of some of the food I ate during our trip in Japan.
Two main types of food stood out for me on our trip: Kaiseki and Ekiben.

From Japan Trip 20...

Kaiseki is Japanese haute-cuisine.
The courses are as structured as a haiku:

* Sakizuke: an appetizer similar to the French amuse-gueule.
* Hassun: the second course, which sets the seasonal theme. Typically one kind of sushi and several smaller side dishes.
* Mukozuke: a sliced dish of seasonal sashimi.
* Takiawase: vegetables served with meat, fish or tofu; the ingredients are simmered separately.
* Futamono: a "lidded dish"; typically a soup.
* Yakimono: Broiled seasonal fish.
* Su-zakana: a small dish used to clean the palate, such as vegetables in vinegar.
* Hiyashi-bachi: served only in summer; chilled, lightly-cooked vegetables.
* Naka-choko: another palate-cleanser; may be a light, acidic soup.
* Shiizakana: a substantial dish, such as a hot pot.
* Gohan: a rice dish made with seasonal ingredients.
* Ko no mono: seasonal pickled vegetables.
* Tome-wan: a miso-based or vegetable soup served with rice.
* Mizumono: a seasonal dessert; may be fruit, confection, ice cream, or cake.

From Japan Trip 20...

Ekiben means "Train station food."
It's a lot more casual than Kaiseki. Usually each station features the regional food specialties in boxes that are ready for train travelers. You can get an ekiben meal without a drink for prices between 400-1500 yen (About $4-15). The stations have plastic representations of the food so it's easy to choose what to order.