Unlocking Japan’s Culinary Secrets with Foodie App: Japan Gourmet Pass

Arigato Travel was delighted to interview David Garcia of the culinary app, Japan Gourmet Pass, the ultimate app for food lovers exploring Japan! Imagine having a culinary compass guiding you to the best ramen joints, sushi bars, and hidden izakayas across the country. Japan Gourmet Pass not only offers curated recommendations and deals but also provides insider tips about the culinary traditions of Japan. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, this app offers unique dining experiences to all. Let’s learn more about how Japan Gourmet Pass is making every meal an unforgettable journey!

Hello! Can you please introduce yourself?

My name is David Garcia, and I’m originally from Barcelona (Spain). I graduated as a pharmacist and worked in this industry in my early professional days. After moving to Japan, I switched my career from the pharmaceutical field to business consulting for different European chambers of commerce as well as private companies, helping them to develop business within Japan and South Korea.

I have been living in Japan for more than 20 years! There have been many more tools since I arrived, but I always felt there was a lack of help for finding good restaurants (not necessarily expensive or Michelin-ranked). My partner Jaume and I decided to list the pain points that foreigners living in Japan and travelers can face to develop a service covering these important aspects. We are a “Hybrid” service for foodies or practical people wanting to have a cultural immersion in Japanese cuisine.

Your app focuses on helping tourists find restaurants and foodie spots locals frequent, and you even have a reservation service! Could you explain how the app and the reservation service work?

When looking for a good restaurant, our app is a shortcut to the best possible option. By default, the app lists each restaurant by proximity in real time to ensure which is closest to your location. You can also use filters such as area, type of food, prices, food restrictions, and more.

All restaurants are really good and authentic restaurants loved by locals. Communication is possible, at least in English or other means such as a photo menu or a closed chef menu (chef’s choice). Japan Gourmet Pass helps you to avoid the hassle of searching infinite lists every time you look for a new venue, or having communication problems once arriving at the restaurant.

The restaurants listed are very popular, and some (like ramen, tonkatsu, soba, etc.) don’t accept reservations. Even so, we point out some hints like: busiest hours to avoid waiting in the queue or to line up just 10 minutes before opening. For others, for whom reservations are recommended or necessary, we provide free reservation services for our gourmets in case there are available seats.

Reservations are an expensive service in Japan that many websites offer, but we include this for free for our foodies. We try to avoid Michelin star restaurants because it is almost impossible to make any reservation, so even if they are out there, they are not really accessible, or they need to be booked through platforms charging high fees. We want to provide a tool with excellent and reachable options that you would use every day on your trip. For most people, it is unrealistic to eat daily in a Michelin Star restaurant and spend 300 USD per person.

Many travelers stay in Japan for varying lengths of time, from a quick week-long trip to an extended stay of a few months. With that in mind, what is the pricing for memberships and the availability of coupons and special offers within the app?

Most of the visitors come to Japan for 1, 2, or 3 weeks, so we have adjusted our membership to those lengths of stay – just like the Japan Rail Pass model. In addition, we provide 6-month and 1-year memberships, but only for those living in Japan (especially foreigners). People may extend their passes for a longer period of time. We also have special offers and discount coupons distributed by our associated partners, bloggers, travel agencies, etc.

How are these hidden Japanese culinary restaurants found? How do you find your dining partners?

We rely on a network of local culinary specialists (chefs, gastronomic critics, food editors, etc.) throughout Japan who recommend the best restaurants in each area. Additionally, we conduct thorough professional research online, engage directly with restaurant owners, and personally visit each establishment to assess quality. Our criteria include not only excellence in cuisine but also atmosphere, some distinctive aspects, and accessibility. We prioritize restaurants where securing a reservation is feasible or not necessary. This selection process is meticulous, time-consuming, and rigorous to ensure we meet our high standards. Our goal is to provide our Gourmets, who value exceptional food experiences, with the best possible culinary journey in Japan.

Japan is filled with food hotspots, from busy cities to the countryside. Can you tell us which cities and areas that Japan Gourmet Pass is available in, and how it enhances the food experience in these different locations?

Japan is renowned as one of the world’s premier culinary destinations, celebrated for its exceptional quality and diverse array of regional cuisines. With nearly 1 million restaurants across the country, the culinary landscape is incredibly rich and varied. Japan Gourmet Pass aims to ensure that every food enthusiast visiting Japan enjoys an outstanding culinary experience, no matter where they are within the country.

Our coverage spans all major tourist hubs, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Hiroshima. However, as Japan continues to grow in popularity as a tourist destination, we’ve observed more seasoned travelers venturing to alternative destinations like Kumano, Hokkaido, Kanazawa, and Okinawa, each offering unique culinary delights reflective of their local traditions.

Initially focusing on sourcing the best local restaurants in major cities, our selection has expanded to encompass nearly 750 restaurants spanning from Hokkaido to Okinawa, in both urban centers and quaint villages near Japan’s most compelling tourist attractions.

For instance, in popular but sometimes underserved areas like Nikko, home to a renowned shrine complex near Tokyo, we curate restaurant options to ensure our users always have access to the highest quality dining experiences available.

This year, our goal is to further expand our network to include over 1000 restaurants, broadening our reach and enhancing our selection to offer even more diverse and exceptional dining options across Japan.

Japan offers such a wide range of food! How can users with dietary restrictions or allergies tailor their search to find safe and enjoyable options?

We prioritize accommodating individuals with dietary restrictions, ensuring everyone can fully savor Japan’s exquisite cuisine. We’ve observed that travelers facing challenges such as Celiac disease or allergies often encounter significant difficulties dining out in Japan. Existing guides typically focus on dietary restrictions and safety without emphasizing culinary quality, and finding authentic Halal options beyond Indian cuisine remains a notable challenge.

At Japan Gourmet Pass, our goal is to offer the ultimate guide for gluten-free, allergen-conscious, and Halal dining experiences throughout Japan. We dedicate considerable effort to curating a selection that ensures these discerning Gourmets can also enjoy their visit to Japan to the fullest.

How does the app accommodate users who may not speak English or Japanese? Are there language options on the app and support for non-Japanese speakers in the featured restaurants?

We recognize that language can be a significant barrier for visitors to Japan. Not all restaurants are accustomed to serving foreigners, and cultural differences can sometimes create additional challenges.

At Japan Gourmet Pass, we carefully select restaurants where communication with non-Japanese speakers is feasible. This includes offering translated menus, often in English and other languages, as well as providing photo menus, English-speaking staff, fixed chef’s menus with limited options, or establishments specifically welcoming to foreign visitors. We strive to create an environment where our Gourmets feel comfortable and can fully enjoy their dining experience.

Currently, the app interface is available in English, Spanish, and Italian. However, we are actively working on launching a new version of the app that will support a wider range of languages, including Korean, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, and more.

What exclusive perks and benefits can users expect when using Japan Gourmet Pass to explore Japan’s culinary scene?

Japan Gourmet Pass offers a meticulously curated selection of over 750 restaurants (soon expanding to more than 1000) across Japan, each cherished by locals and accessible without language barriers. It provides foodie visitors with an authentic Japanese dining experience, facilitating memorable moments throughout their journey.

The app and website are user-friendly, offering updated information, a wish-list feature, as well as a variety of filters such as area, budget, cuisine type, proximity, and available services. It includes a seamless navigation system to guide users to their chosen restaurants, a complimentary reservation service, and a comprehensive traveler’s guide featuring essential English-language emergency contacts, including information on lost and found services, credit card assistance, police stations, hospitals, top currency exchanges, and more.

One of the things we don’t want to become is another infinite list of restaurants (see Google, TripAdvisor, and many more) where there’s no curation (reviews without any criteria), and everything is mixed or outdated. When someone is willing to eat ramen, they don’t need to have 100 results, but just a short list of the best ones. We want to cut the time they spend searching to almost none and make their experience better. We believe that “less is more” in this scenario, and our clients feel the same. Our goal is to reach a level of value that, by not acquiring Japan Gourmet Pass, it becomes the REAL cost (time, search, low quality, overpriced touristic spots, etc.) for the traveler and not the opposite. There are many aspects we want to improve in the future, but we are striving to offer real value for the visitors coming to Japan.

How does Japan Gourmet Pass differ from other apps or websites that uncover hidden gem restaurants in Japan?

While there are numerous options available for finding good restaurants, Japan Gourmet Pass offers a distinct approach. One common issue is the overwhelming amount of information available. Platforms like Google present a vast array of choices, often requiring users to sift through extensive listings and unreliable reviews before making a decision that may not meet their expectations.
Other tools like The Fork or TripAdvisor primarily serve as advertising platforms for restaurants, which don’t always guarantee quality. In contrast, Japan Gourmet Pass meticulously selects restaurants based on stringent criteria to ensure they meet the high standards of our Gourmets. More importantly, restaurants featured on Japan Gourmet Pass do not pay for inclusion, ensuring impartial recommendations.

The Michelin Guide is renowned but presents its own challenges. Michelin-starred restaurants can be inaccessible due to high demand, requiring reservations months in advance or expensive third-party booking services. Moreover, these establishments tend to be quite costly, making them impractical for everyday dining. Japan Gourmet Pass caters to all budgets and occasions, offering options from 800-yen ramen to exclusive sushi in Ginza. Every restaurant recommended is accessible and designed for anyone to enjoy, whether for a quick lunch or a special dining experience.

Note: Some hospitality sites mention in their statistics that the average time for a traveler looking for a restaurant is between 40 and 80 minutes per day.

What is your favorite food or restaurant featured on the app, and why?

My favorite category of restaurant is izakaya, a quintessential Japanese tavern. Unlike specialized Japanese restaurants like sushi or tempura places, izakayas offer a wide variety of small dishes served in a tapas-like style, perfect for pairing with sake or beer. They often have extensive menus, which can be challenging to navigate. I particularly enjoy seafood-specialized izakayas because they showcase a diverse range of dishes that highlight Japan’s coastal bounty. Finding a high-quality one can be a delightful challenge. To me, the ideal izakaya evokes an old-style ambiance with a seasoned chef, perhaps with a distinctive headband, effortlessly preparing orders from a menu boasting over 150 different dishes in just minutes.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our audience?

If you are planning a trip to Japan, where food plays a significant role, I highly recommend giving the Japan Gourmet Pass a try! You can’t truly understand Japanese culture until you get the ultimate gastronomic experience.

Thank you so much for taking the time to be interviewed! We truly appreciate you giving us the chance to introduce you on our blog.

Read more about Japan Gourmet Pass on:

Website: https://www.japangourmetpass.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japangourmetpass/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japangourmetpass

Featured Photo Credit: Japan Gourmet Pass

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