7 Ways to experience Japan in Hong Kong

When it comes to Japanese food, Hong Kong has it down. From sushi restaurants to ramen joints, and let's not forget about the dip-tastic tsukemen, our city is bursting at the seams with exquisite Japanese restaurants. If you're curious to try them all, eat your way to Tokyo and back with our recommendations of the best Japanese restaurants in town.

Channelling chic, Japanese-Nordic vibes, Green Gingko Tea specialises in premium teas from the prefectures of Kyoto and Shizuoka. Careful attention is paid to everything from the teaware right down to the water quality and temperature to ensure that the final brew is of the utmost quality. Try one of the sencha green teas, or go for the kukicha blend made from twigs and stems from the tea plant.

Forget Sasa and Mannings, Hong Kong has a whole host of Japanese drugstores where you'll find a huge array of affordable beauty and lifestyle products. That and the added bonus of not having a sales lady follow you around makes these drugstores excellent places for a shopping spree. Pay a visit to Don Don Donki to find everything from curry-flavoured toothpaste to other wacky beauty gadgets you didn't know you needed. Or, check out places like Tokyo Lifestyle and Cosme Store to discover the newest and latest trending Japanese beauty products.

Aishonanzuka is one of the few galleries in Hong Kong that specialises in Japanese art. A collaboration between Japanese galleries Aisho Miura Arts and Nanzuka, Aishonanzuka features contemporary art by established and emerging artists from Japan who challenge norms by creating art that is both original and impactful. Expect names like Hajime Sorayama and Nobuyoshi Araki gracing the walls of this gallery. 

Whether it's oddly shaped candy or uniquely flavoured crisps, you can get your hands on all sorts of Japanese nibbles in Hong Kong. Head to megastore Guu San for healthy snacking alternatives, Don Don Donki for popular Japanese sweets and snacks, or discover other quirky nibbles at a variety of Japanese snack stores in town.

Hongkongers are a stylish bunch, and it's certainly in large credit to influences from Japanese fashion. If you're shopping on a budget, places like GU, Muji, Niko and..., as well as Uniqlo are all great places to shop for affordable high street fashion pieces with a Japanese touch.

What better way to end your ‘trip’ than with this heavenly dessert? Offering a bitter punch of green tea mixed with a light, sugary sweetness, matcha desserts come in all shapes and forms. Via Tokyo whips up some of the best soft-serve ice cream in town, while Kyoto Matcha An's menu is entirely dedicated to green tea. Those looking for a full-on matcha experience should also visit Tealosophy Hong Kong, where apart from savouring matcha desserts and tea, various Japanese tea ceremony workshops are regularly held. For a more local take, we definitely recommend heading up to Yuen Long to try Lo Chen Bakery's matcha chiffon cake too.