The high street is a central part of city life, with individual and specialist sellers still very much thriving. There are bakers, butchers, 100¥ shops, slipper shops, dog grooming shops, rice cracker shops, you name it, lining the local streets.

The Japanese are the perfect hosts: your sake cup is never empty, your belly is always full and omiage (small gifts) are given at every event, dinner, lunch.

Katsu sandwiches: fried chicken and white bread. Why? Why? Especially when you can have some of the most delicious food in the world just by wandering off the train and into a soba shop.