GREATER TOKYO

Ashley cuts through the garlic-heavy air to get at a massive bowl of Ramen Jiro.

A Buddhist monk shares his religion through cooking and cookbooks.

Kawagoe is one of the few places in Japan where you can really see what cities used to look like, centuries ago.

This market is the main reason people in Japan take it for granted fresh fish will always be on the table.

In response to the global ramen renaissance, some restaurants in Japan are adapting to make their food more accessible to foreign visitors—like this restaurant in Asakusa, which serves halal ramen.

These original gifts represent the rich cultural heritage of this country—and tend to go down well with overseas visitors, too!

Sake is probably the best known Japanese drink in the world.

Umeshu plum wine is one of the most popular of Japanese liqueurs. It's made from a base alcohol such as sake and Japanese plums, and has a very nice, sweet flavor.