Food in Japan

Japan, a country known for its remarkable blend of tradition and innovation, offers a culinary adventure as diverse and sophisticated as its culture. Japanese cuisine, recognized for its emphasis on seasonality, quality ingredients, and presentation, extends far beyond the well-known sushi and ramen. As a traveler in Japan, you'll encounter a palate-pleasing array of regional specialties, street foods, and haute cuisine that reflect the country's history and modernity. Discover the essential dishes and unique dining experiences that await you in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Japanese Dishes

Sushi

Sushi, perhaps the most internationally recognized Japanese dish, consists of small balls or rolls of vinegar-flavored cold cooked rice served with a garnish of raw fish, vegetables, or egg. Varieties like nigiri (hand-pressed sushi), maki (rolled sushi), and sashimi (sliced raw fish) are staples at Japanese restaurants worldwide.

Ramen

A beloved noodle soup, Ramen has regional variations throughout Japan. The dish consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork (chashu), nori (dried seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), and green onions.

Tempura

Tempura is a Japanese dish usually consisting of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. The dish was influenced by fritter-cooking techniques introduced by Portuguese residing in Nagasaki in the 16th century. The light, airy nature of the batter is unique and makes tempura a delightful dish.

Sukiyaki

Sukiyaki is a one-pot dish of beef, vegetables, tofu, and noodles, which are all cooked together in a sweet and savory sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. It's a popular family-style meal, especially during the colder months, and is often cooked at the table as diners watch.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki are ball-shaped snacks made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. They are typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion. Takoyaki are brushed with takoyaki sauce, similar to Worcestershire sauce, and mayonnaise, and then sprinkled with green laver (aonori) and shavings of dried bonito (katsuobushi).

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a savory version of a Japanese pancake, made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, and meat/protein – usually thin slices of pork belly. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "how you like" or "what you like", and yaki meaning "cooked" (usually fried). Okonomiyaki is associated with the Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan, but is widely available throughout the country.

Shabu-Shabu

Shabu-Shabu is a Japanese hotpot dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables boiled in water and served with dipping sauces. The term is onomatopoeic, derived from the sound emitted when the ingredients are stirred in the cooking pot. This dish is considered to be more savory and less sweet than sukiyaki.

Miso Soup

Miso soup is a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a stock called "dashi" into which softened miso paste is mixed. It often contains seaweed, tofu, and spring onions. Almost always served with rice, it is considered an essential part of most Japanese meals.

Unagi

Unagi is river eel grilled over charcoal and lacquered with a sweet barbecue sauce. It is a delicacy famous across Japan, particularly during the hot summer months when eating eel is believed to provide stamina to withstand the heat.

Kaiseki

Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner that emphasizes seasonal ingredients, balance of taste and texture, and presentation. Originally associated with the tea ceremony, kaiseki meals are now a showcase of precision and artistry in Japanese cuisine.

Onigiri

Onigiri are Japanese rice balls, often wrapped in nori seaweed and containing a savory filling, such as umeboshi (pickled Japanese plum), salted salmon, or katsuobushi (shavings of dried bonito). They are a convenient and portable snack or meal, popularly found in convenience stores across Japan.

Yakitori

Yakitori are skewered and grilled chicken, prepared in a multitude of ways and seasoned with tare sauce or salt. This popular street food can be found at festivals as well as izakaya (Japanese pubs).

Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish that consists of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. It is typically served sliced into bite-sized pieces with cabbage, rice, miso soup, and a thick sauce similar to Worcestershire sauce.

Chawanmushi

Chawanmushi is a savory steamed egg custard that often contains fillings such as shiitake mushrooms, shrimp, and pieces of chicken or fish, all flavored with dashi, soy sauce, and mirin. It's often served as an appetizer in Japanese cuisine.

Natto

Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, known for its strong flavor, pungent aroma, and sticky, slimy texture. Often eaten with rice, it is a breakfast staple for many Japanese people.

Japanese Desserts

Mochi

Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of mochigome, a short-grain japonica glutinous rice. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape. Often eaten during the Japanese New Year, mochi can also be found in various sweets and ice cream.

Daifuku

Daifuku is a variety of mochi stuffed with a sweet filling, most commonly anko, sweetened red bean paste made from azuki beans. Daifuku comes in many varieties, but the most traditional is white, pale green, or pale pink mochi filled with anko.

Dorayaki

Dorayaki are a type of Japanese confection, a red-bean pancake which consists of two small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet Azuki red bean paste. Dorayaki are similar to sandwiches, but they are traditionally eaten as sweets with tea.

Taiyaki

Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, commonly filled with anko. The cake is made using regular pancake or waffle batter. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.

Matcha Ice Cream

Matcha ice cream is a Japanese ice cream flavor. This treat is made by blending in matcha green tea powder into an ice cream base, giving it a distinct green color and a unique blend of sweetness and bitterness.