Not All Sushi! is a site about Japan—for travelers, but not for the usual reasons.
If you’re looking for crowded temples or restaurants swarmed with tourists, there are thousands of other sites for that. (We don’t know them personally.)
What we call “Japan” is often a well-rehearsed performance—beautiful, yes, but curated.
This site isn’t here to ruin the show. Not even a little.
It’s just written by a Japanese local—someone who runs a gift shop and occasionally leaks the awkward edits, forgotten corners, and charming contradictions behind Japan’s polished image.
Sometimes with a bit of shame, but always in good faith.
Motto? Knowing makes everything twice as fun.
Mickey Mouse has someone inside? So what.
Popular Articles
Is Japanese Food Really That Healthy?
Looking forward to eating delicious, healthy Japanese food on your trip? Hold on. This article breaks down what Japanese food really is—and whether it’s as healthy as you think.
Why Do Japanese Restaurants Close So Early?
Why do restaurants in Japan often close before 9 PM—even in Tokyo? Learn the surprising cultural reasons, the post-COVID shift, and how to avoid going to bed hungry.
Do Japanese Hotels Have a Curfew?
Do Japanese hotels really have a curfew? Some say no — but many travelers feel like there’s one. Let’s explore why it feels that way, and what it says about Japan’s quiet culture.
Explore by Category
- Trips – What you’ll wish you’d known before the trip—and what you’ll wish you hadn’t. Places you’d never expect to enjoy, and ones that feel like a gentle scam.
- Foods – Forget you’re a tourist for a second. This is how locals think about Japanese food—and how we actually enjoy it.
- Souvenirs – The shop owner speaks. What makes a souvenir worth packing, and what ends up abandoned in hotel trash bins.
- Gaps – Cultural contradictions, innocent mistakes, polite misunderstandings—and the excuses that follow.
- Etiquettes – Unspoken rules you’re absolutely expected to follow. And loudly repeated ones that nobody really cares about.