Kaiseki is the form of Japanese cuisine based on individual servings of a wide variety of dishes, tailored to regional and seasonal foods to ensure the freshest of ingredients. Traditionally, kaiseki starts with a soup and ends with a sweet dessert and green tea. Sandwiched between can be a variety of dishes including vegetables, sashimi, grilled meats, and rice flavored with other ingredients. Chefs specializing in modern styles of kaiseki are often playful with their ingredients, incorporating flavor combinations from Western cuisine with the traditional. Rakushokushu Maru in Omotesando is a great place to enter the kaiseki experience, neither too intimidating nor pricey for beginners.