There are so many Japanese foods to try if you decide to visit.
Japanese food is famous worldwide but has more than just sushi, sashimi, tempura, and ramen.
Japanese food culture is diverse and rich.
Are you planning a trip to Japan?
Check out our list of 101 Japanese foods to try.
“Japanese cuisine is more than just sushi and ramen. With Japanese dishes ranging from the delicate flavors of kaiseki dishes to the hearty warmth of tonjiru and the crispy delight of tebasaki. Every region offers a culinary adventure. Dive into our comprehensive list and embark on a gastronomic journey through Japan!”
Adam Payne
Seafood Dishes
Japan is famous for seafood, and the locals eat lots of it.
Being an island, the Japanese diet has a lot of fish.
I guarantee the seafood here will be better than at home.
Sushi
Enjoy this traditional Japanese food featuring vinegared rice and raw fish.
Tokyo is the hub where you can find sushi ranging from cheap to Michelin-star quality.
Sashimi
Savor thinly sliced, fresh, raw fish or seafood.
Often, it’s served with soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi.
Unagi
Eat this freshwater eel grilled over charcoal and glazed with a sweet sauce.
Shizuoka Prefecture specializes in unagi dishes.
Ikayaki
Enjoy this grilled squid, often served as street food.
Osaka has some of the best Ikayaki stalls.
Mentaiko
Try this marinated pollock roe, often served over rice or inside onigiri.
Fukuoka Prefecture is famous for its Mentaiko.
Kaki Fry
Crunch into these breaded and deep-fried oysters.
Hiroshima Prefecture is famous for its oysters.
Ebi Fry
Bite into this breaded and deep-fried prawn.
Nagoya is known for ebi fry.
Ankimo
Try this monkfish liver, often called the “foie gras of the sea.”
The dish is a winter delicacy in Japan.
Awabi
Relish this abalone, a shellfish delicacy often grilled or served as sashimi.
The Ise-Shima area in Mie Prefecture is renowned for Awabi.
Negitoro Don
Savor this steamed white rice bowl topped with minced fatty tuna and chopped green onions.
It’s a luxurious dish often found in sushi restaurants.
Aji Fry
Taste this breaded and deep-fried horse mackerel.
The dish is a staple in Japanese home cooking and izakayas.
Mozuku
Taste this Okinawan seaweed, often served with vinegar.
It’s rich in minerals and a local specialty in Okinawa.
Chirashi
Enjoy this “scattered” sushi, a bowl of vinegared rice topped with various ingredients.
Each region has its unique take on Chirashi.
Awabi (Abalone)
Chefs in the coastal regions of Ise and Chiba steam or grill abalone, a type of sea snail, offering a luxury dish with a distinctive chewy texture.
Shako (Mantis Shrimp)
Locals prize mantis shrimp in places like Osaka, especially during spring.
They boil or grill this seafood, enjoying its sweet flavor and tender meat.
Namako (Sea Cucumber)
People in Okinawa and other coastal areas often consume sea cucumber.
They either serve it raw with vinegar or cook it in stews, valuing its gelatinous texture and health benefits.
Akamutsu (Rosy Seabass)
Chefs in regions like Niigata frequently prepare rosy seabass by grilling it with salt.
Many appreciate its rich, fatty flavor, especially during the colder months.
Torigai (Cockle Clams)
Tokyo and Kanagawa residents often savor cockle clams in the springtime.
They serve them as sashimi or lightly boiled, relishing their crisp texture and briny.
Meat Dishes
Despite being more famed for seafood, Japan does meat well.
Here are some must-try dishes.
Yakiniku
Grill your meat at the table in Yakiniku restaurants.
The dish has Korean origins but is widely popular in Japan.
Doteni
Dote-ni is a traditional Japanese stew that originates from Nagasaki Prefecture.
It’s made by simmering beef or pork offal in a miso-based broth, creating a rich and flavorful dish.
The miso sauce and the meat offer a deep umami taste.
Yakitori
Skewered chicken pieces get grilled to perfection.
Yakitori joints are common throughout Japan.
Kobe Beef
Savor this high-quality, marbled beef from Hyogo Prefecture.
Your tastebuds will thank you, your wallet less so.
Restaurants in Kobe serve it in various styles.
Tonkatsu
Cut into this deep-fried breaded pork cutlet.
Tonkatsu can be found throughout Japan.
It is served with shredded cabbage.
Katsudon
Dig into a bowl of steamed rice topped with a deep-fried pork cutlet and egg.
It’s a popular dish nationwide.
Sukiyaki
Cook thinly sliced beef and vegetables in a shallow iron pot.
Tokyo and Osaka offer different variations.
The meat is great when dipped in raw egg.
Shabu-Shabu
Swish pieces of thinly sliced meat in boiling water, then dip them in sauce.
This hotpot dish is popular all over Japan.
Basashi
Taste this raw horse meat dish, often served thinly sliced.
Kumamoto Prefecture specializes in Basashi.
Jibuni
Relish this Kanazawa-style duck or chicken stew with vegetables.
It’s a traditional dish from Ishikawa Prefecture.
Kamo (Duck)
In regions like Kyoto, chefs prepare dishes using duck meat.
They often grill it or serve it in hot pots, and it’s known for its rich, gamey flavor.
Kare Raisu
Spoon some Japanese curry rice, a beloved comfort food.
It has become popular throughout Japan.
Katsu Sando
Bite into this breaded pork cutlet sandwich, a popular grab-and-go snack.
Tokyo has several specialty shops offering gourmet versions.
Horumon (Offal)
In Osaka’s street food scene, chefs grill various offal parts of pork or beef, serving them skewered or in hot pots.
These dishes are flavorful and have various textures, from crunchy to soft.
Jingisukan (Mongolian BBQ)
In Hokkaido, locals cook thinly sliced lamb on a dome-shaped metal skillet.
It’s a communal dish, often accompanied by vegetables and a dipping sauce.
Karaage
Chicken pieces marinated in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, then coated and deep-fried to create Japanese-style fried chicken.
It is found throughout Japan in restaurants and at festivals.
Gyūtan
Taste this grilled beef tongue, a specialty of Sendai.
It’s usually served in thin slices and is considered a delicacy.
Kakuni
Savor these slow-cooked pork belly cubes, tender and flavorful.
Nagasaki is an excellent place to try Kakuni.
Tebasaki
Bite into these deep-fried chicken wings seasoned with a sweet, spicy glaze.
Nagoya has the best Tebasaki.
Shogayaki
A dish made of thinly sliced pork marinated in ginger, soy sauce, and mirin, then pan-fried.
It’s eaten throughout Japan, especially in bento boxes and local eateries.
Vegan or Vegetarian Dishes
If you are a vegetarian, then there are some options for you.
It is hard in Japan if you are a vegan.
Some Japanese foods fall into either the vegetarian or vegan category.
Tamagoyaki
Enjoy this sweet, layered omelet, often served as a sushi topping or a standalone dish.
It’s commonly available in bento boxes.
Miso Soup
This is Japanese soul food, with many locals having it daily for breakfast.
It’s a warm broth made from fermented soybean paste.
Miso varieties differ from region to region.
Kinpira Gobo
Enjoy stir-fried burdock root and carrot seasoned with soy sauce and mirin.
The dish is a staple in home cooking and bento boxes.
Tsukemono
Pickled Japanese vegetables vary in type and color depending on the vegetable and pickling agent.
It is a staple throughout Japan, with Kyoto offering a unique variety.
Onigiri
Grab rice balls filled with fish, pickled plum, or seaweed.
Convenient and portable, they make a great quick meal.
Agedashi Tofu
Savor this deep-fried tofu served in a soy-based sauce.
It’s a typical appetizer in Japanese cuisine.
Yuba
Taste this tofu skin often used in vegetarian dishes.
Kyoto is the best place to try Yuba.
Sekihan
Dig into this sticky rice dish cooked with red adzuki beans.
It’s traditionally eaten on special occasions and festivals.
Tororo
Experience the sticky, grated yam often served over rice or soba noodles.
It’s a nutritious dish consumed throughout Japan.
Hiyayakko
Cool down with this chilled tofu dish, usually garnished with grated ginger and green onions.
It’s a typical summer appetizer.
Tofu
Savor this versatile soybean curd that comes in various textures.
Kyoto is famous for its high-quality, artisanal tofu.
Nasu Dengaku
Enjoy this grilled eggplant dish topped with a sweet miso glaze.
It’s a popular appetizer and a way to showcase seasonal eggplant.
Yaki Imo
Warm up with these roasted sweet potatoes, often sold from street carts in winter.
The dish is a comforting, seasonal treat.
Unusual Dishes
Japan has many dishes you might consider unusual, depending on where you come from.
However, if you have an open mind, you’ll discover that many of them are pretty tasty.
Fugu
Taste this pufferfish delicacy prepared by certified chefs.
These fish possess toxins, and only restaurants in Japan with certified fugu handlers can serve them.
Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture is famous for Fugu.
Natto
Experience the unique taste and texture of fermented soybeans.
Many consider it an acquired taste, but it’s a staple in many Japanese homes.
Kombu
Taste this edible kelp often used to make dashi broth.
Hokkaido is the primary producer of Kombu in Japan.
Goya Champuru
Try this stir-fry dish featuring goya, a bitter melon, and other ingredients like tofu and pork.
It’s an Okinawan specialty.
Shirako
People often eat the sperm sacs of fish, especially cod, anglerfish, or pufferfish, in coastal regions of Japan.
Its creamy texture can be enjoyed raw as sashimi or in cooked dishes.
Hachinoko
In some mountainous regions of Japan, locals simmer bee or wasp larvae in soy sauce and sugar, offering a sweet and savory treat.
Kujira
Whale meat is a controversial delicacy, but some coastal towns, especially in places like Taiji, still consume it in various forms, from sashimi to grilled steaks.
Nankotsu
People in many izakayas (Japanese pubs) throughout Japan enjoy chicken cartilage, which they deep-fry and serve as a crunchy snack.
Inago
In regions like Nagano, people boil grasshoppers in soy sauce and sugar, creating a sweet and crunchy snack or side dish.
Desserts/Sweets
Japanese sweets often look better than they taste.
That said, you don’t know if you don’t try.
Taiyaki
Bite into this fish-shaped cake filled with red bean paste.
Stalls that sell Taiyaki are popular in festivals and shopping streets.
Dango
Chew on these skewered rice dumplings, often with sweet soy sauce.
They are popular during festivals.
Warabimochi
Enjoy these bracken-starch dumplings, often coated with sweet soybean flour.
It’s a popular summer treat.
Kakigōri
Cool down with this shaved ice dessert flavored with syrup.
It’s popular during the hot summer months.
Daifuku
Relish this mochi stuffed with sweet fillings like red bean paste or strawberry.
It’s a popular treat in Japanese confectionery.
Wagashi
Relish these traditional Japanese sweets, often served with tea.
Kyoto’s wagashi artisans are particularly renowned.
Anko
This sweet red bean paste is found in many Japanese desserts.
Different regions use it in a variety of confections.
Castella
Enjoy this sponge cake, a Japanese adaptation of a Portuguese dessert.
Nagasaki is famous for its Castella.
Yōkan
Slice into this jellied dessert made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar.
It’s a classic sweet with variations throughout Japan.
Imo Yokan
Bite into this sweet potato jelly dessert, a specialty of Kagoshima Prefecture.
It’s a unique treat different from typical Japanese sweets.
Kuzumochi
Relish this jelly-like dessert made from kudzu root starch.
It’s often served chilled with a coating of sweet syrup or soybean flour.
Botamochi
Bite into this sweet rice cake filled with red bean paste.
It’s traditionally made during the spring and fall equinox.
Yatsuhashi
A sweet originating from Kyoto, made from glutinous rice flour, sugar, and cinnamon, is often filled with red bean paste.
Associated mainly with Kyoto and commonly bought as a regional souvenir.
Drinks
Need something to wash it down with?
Then try these Japanese drinks.
Matcha
Sip this powdered green tea, often used in traditional tea ceremonies.
Uji in Kyoto Prefecture is renowned for its matcha.
Sake
Sip this Japanese rice wine, which ranges from sweet to dry.
Niigata Prefecture is well-known for its high-quality sake.
Amazake
Sip this sweet, non-alcoholic rice drink.
Often consumed during festivals, it’s believed to have health benefits.
Ramune
A carbonated soft drink that comes in a unique marble stopper neck bottle, derived from the English word “lemonade.”
Kids love it, and you can get it at most restaurants.
Others
In this election, we have foods that could fall into several categories.
But we decided to add them at the end in their own category.
Kaiseki
Experience this traditional multi-course meal.
It’s the Japanese equivalent of haute cuisine.
Kyoto is the heartland of Kaiseki.
Hiyashi Chuka
Cool off with this chilled ramen salad, a summer specialty.
The dish is topped with various ingredients like cucumber and ham.
Gyoza
Bite into these Japanese dumplings filled with meat and vegetables.
You can find them all over Japan.
Tsukemen
Dip cold noodles into a separate bowl of hot broth.
Tokyo offers many specialty Tsukemen shops
Tempura
Bite into lightly battered and deep-fried seafood.
Originating from Tokyo, tempura satisfies both your eyes and palate.
Karē Pan
Crunch into this deep-fried bread filled with Japanese curry.
You can find it in bakeries across Japan.
Kaki no Tane
Snack on these crescent-shaped rice crackers, often paired with peanuts.
They are a popular finger food throughout Japan.
Chawanmushi
A savory steamed egg custard that incorporates ingredients like mushrooms, shrimp, and ginkgo nuts.
Served across Japan, often as a traditional meal starter.
Takoyaki
Relish these ball-shaped snacks filled with minced or diced octopus.
This street food comes from Osaka and is a common Japanese comfort food.
Okonomiyaki
Grill this savory pancake with flour, grated yam, and various fillings.
And topped with fish flakes.
Osaka is the place to go for Okonomiyaki.
Sanuki Udon
Enjoy these chewy udon noodles, a specialty of Kagawa Prefecture.
The dish is named after Sanuki, the region’s old name.
Ramen
This is a well-known noodle soup dish.
Slurp up these delicious noodles in a savory broth.
Hokkaido is famous for its miso-based ramen.
Or, if you want, you can make your own noodle soup from scratch.
Monjayaki
This is a savory pancake you can cook on a hot plate.
Tokyo is where you can try this exciting dish.
Chanko Nabe
Relish this sumo wrestler’s stew with meats and vegetables.
Tokyo’s Ryogoku district is the place for Chanko Nabe.
Hōtō
Slurp up these flat udon noodles in a miso-based soup.
Yamanashi Prefecture is the birthplace of Hōtō.
Korokke
Crunch into these breaded and deep-fried patties, usually filled with meat or vegetables.
They are a Japanese take on the French croquette.
Omurice
Slice open this omelet filled with fried rice and ketchup.
You can find it in Western-style diners across Japan.
Oden
Warm up with this one-pot dish featuring ingredients like boiled eggs and daikon radish.
Tokyo offers a unique version called “Edo-style” Oden.
Zōni
Savor this mochi soup, traditionally eaten during New Year’s.
Variations exist depending on the region.
Inarizushi
Bite into this sushi rice stuffed in sweet tofu pockets.
It’s named after the Shinto god Inari.
Yakisoba
Toss up these stir-fried noodles with vegetables and meat.
It’s a typical dish at festivals and outdoor events.
Osechi
This is a wide range of dishes eaten only at New Year’s.
If you are in Japan in January, then try this.
Nabe
Across the cold regions of Japan, especially in Hokkaido and Tohoku, locals prepare this Winter hot pot dish during the winter months.
They simmer various ingredients, such as meats, tofu, and vegetables, in a pot at the center of the dining table.
As the ingredients cook, everyone enjoys the warm, flavorful broth and cooked items, making it a communal and heartwarming dish.
Tonjiru
In many regions, but notably in places like Kanto, people savor Tonjiru, a hearty miso soup loaded with pork slices and root vegetables.
The rich flavors of the pork meld with the miso, creating a savory and comforting broth.
It’s often consumed alongside rice as a nourishing meal, especially during colder days.
Wrapping Up
This post has just touched on the various Japanese foods to try when you visit.
There are a ton more we could have added.
Some you’ll find easily in Japanese restaurants.
Others will require you to look harder.
Happy eating!
