So where can I find options close to Westernized versions of sushi in Japan?
One of my favourite things to do when I have Japanese friends visit Australia is show them our sushi chain stores in shopping centres and food courts.
My Japanese friends are almost always kind enough to be more curious and bewildered over these westernized versions of sushi and the very interesting combinations.
I lived in Japan as an exchange to student in 1997 and, back then (“in my day…..”) sushi was definitely not a mainstream thing. In fact, before I left I had lots of people say “super helpful things” like “good luck in Japan … you’re going to have to eat raw fish all day long….”
But then fast forward just a few years later and sushi was “the thing” and still is now! But the Australian ( or generally westernized) version of sushi can look very different to the options readily available in Japan.
I must admit that I’m less sympathetic with adults travelling to Japan who struggle to get their heads around not having as easy access to “their kind of sushi” while in the actual land of sushi… but when it’s kids or people with food related anxiety … I feel for them as they are just trying to let their little palettes adjust and are often just looking for something yummy and familiar.
One of my children is a picky eater and for that very reason I wrote this blog post to help families as they explore Japan together while also trying to keep those with food anxiety or sensitive palettes happy.
Japanese people don’t actually eat sushi everyday
I was surprised by this too. In Australia, a quick sushi roll or two is considered a healthy snack on the go. But in Japan, sushi and sashimi are often a special treat. A meal shared either over a platter of gourmet sushi at home OR enjoyed at a fancy sushi restaurant – usually at a counter.
Sushi train style conveyor belt sushi restaurants are also on the rise for casual dining but it’s the kind of place that you’d visit with friends or a casual meal out before visiting somewhere else.
So where can I find options close to Westernized versions of sushi in Japan?
So there are options and ways to make sure you can access more familiar looking sushi in Japan.
1) At the convenience store
Now almost always, these sushi rolls will be in onigiri (rice ball ) form. They are cheap – usually 100-250 yen and are filled with options such as tuna mayo, pickled plum, marinated or chargrilled (cooked) beef or pork, chicken, a seaweed salad medley and some of the rice balls are even fried rice.
If you come across a convenience store without my English my rice ball blog post here may help!
You can eat them as is or you can use the in-store microwave to eat them immediately.
Remember that it isn’t considered to walk and eat so the polite thing to do is to find a seat in store or stand outside of the convenience store until you have finished eating.
For other tips on how to find items such as skim milk or certain types of juice in convenience stores in Japan – read here.
Another random hack if your child really craves chicken sushi? Did you know you can buy a plain rice ball and a piece of fried chicken at a convenience store and have them eat those together as a make-do option?
2) In the basement of department stores (depachika)
Depachika is the familiar nickname given to the giant deli section in the basement floors of large department stores throughout Japan such as Daimaru, Takashimaya, Marui to name a few. I have some pictures and examples of food available in a depachika in my Shinjuku with kids post. Warning- you are unlikely to find non-traditional options such as teriyaki chicken sushi etc but you will most likely find a mixture of raw and cooked and some vegetable fillings. These are all freshly made and packaged up nicely – designed to be enjoyed in the seating made available, taken away or to be enjoyed while on a picnic in a park.
3) Some local supermarkets sell sushi that may look slightly more familiar to westernized sushi
4) Sushi Train Restaurants
Sushi train restaurants often sell the more modern and “out there” versions of sushi. Such as cheeseburger sushi, or salad platter sushi.
I recommend the chain Kurasushi (Kurasushi is great when dining with kids and there are lots of cooked non-raw sushi options but if you really love sushi you may be a little disappointed with the raw-fish quality) but I’m also partial to Uobei sushi ( I love their branch in Shibuya so much- I have the address and details in my Shibuya with kids post here.)
5.) This restaurant in Tokyo has the most beautiful California style rolls.
For the most beautifully displayed sushi dishes I highly recommend Shari the Tokyo Sushi Bar. This is an izakaya that specialises in cooked seafood and sushi. Each dish is a true work of art. They welcome children here and also have a children’s menu. The children’s menu consists of assorted California rolls and a small bowl of udon.
There is also space to store strollers while you dine. This restaurant is 5 mins walk from Yurakucho Station (take the Kyobashi Exit) or 5 mins walk from Ginza Station ( take the A10 exit.). This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. This restaurant is completely non-smoking. They have an English menu. For lunch I would budget 3000 yen per adult at lunchtime here and 7000 yen at dinner time. You can make a reservation online via their website in English (you need to scroll down a bit on their homepage.) You can see the Shari The Tokyo Sushi Bar full lunch menu here ( you will need to use google translate if you want to see an itemized breakdown of what’s in each course online – but there are also lots of pictures.) The full Shari the Tokyo Sushi Bar dinner menu is here in English and Japanese. This restaurant has California roll style sushi – something that isn’t always easy to find in Japan.
SHARI THE TOKYO SUSHI BAR
OPEN TUES-FRI 5PM-10:30PM
OPEN SAT 11:30AM-3PM & 5PM-10:30PM
OPEN SUN 11:30AM-3PM & 5PM-9:30PM
This restaurant is in the Ginza area and please see my other family-friendly Ginza suggestions here.
