Michelin magic for less in Japan Restaurant Week

When is a week not a week? Why, when it’s the 17 days of this summer’s Japan Restaurant Week (JRW), of course; it runs from August 17-September 2.

The twice-yearly event is based on the notion of expanding the customer base for the near-250 participating restaurants across the country.

Of those, the vast majority -- over 160 -- is in or near Tokyo, although there are a handful as far north as Sapporo and as far west as Fukuoka.

Regardless of location, all restaurants have to toe the JRW party line and lay on cut-price menus to attract new diners.

Lunch sets start at ¥1,575 (US$20), which is barely more than one would pay in a decent Tokyo diner on any given day anyway.