If you’re a bit of a foodie – like me – then Japan surely ranks as one of the best destinations in the world. You can find it all here; sizzling street snacks to elegant kaiseki dining. Of course, we can’t forget about the ramen or sushi. After spending time in Japan, I thought that I’d come up with my very own top foods to try in Japan. These include food which I enjoyed lots of, was lucky to experience, and others which I just wish I had more of!
Without further ado, here are my top 15 foods to try in Japan. I hope that you enjoy it!
Top 15 Foods to Try in Japan | My Quick Guide
1. Sushi
Now, let’s start with the obvious – sushi. It is without a doubt the most famous dish to come out of Japan but it is also one of the simplest. I’ll be honest with you, before we booked our trip Japan I never quite got the sushi hype. I never really had it at home until we neared our flight and then it hit me – I’ve been missing out.
Of course, Japan’s sushi is a whole new level. You have three real options for sushi. Firstly, you have the chains like Sushiro or Genki Sushi, secondly you have street food at markets, and lastly you have art. I’d personally recommend the latter two for taste, but the conveyor-belts (kaiten) are quite fun!
Best Place to Try: I personally loved Osaka’s Dotonbori area for street food, but Sushi Saito is undeniably the best for the best sushi in the country.
Top Tip: Visit early in the morning for markets to enjoy the freshest seafood.
2. Ramen
Ramen is one of my favourite Japanese dishes. Especially after exploring in the autumn, there isn’t quite anything that warms the soul like a warm bowl of ramen. There are multiple regional varieties and it is perfectly possible to eat your way through all of them as you travel across the country.
You won’t find it hard to find ramen in Japan. In fact, in most areas of Tokyo you’ll often find small, family-run shops. We actually found that the best ramen we ate was whilst visiting these styles of restaurants. That being said, I also really enjoyed our Ichiran experience – I know that it is a chain, but it was still very good!
Best Place to Try: Ramen Street in Tokyo Station and small Ramen Shops around Tokyo / Kyoto.
3. Yakitori
A rite of passage for anybody in Kyoto is a visit to the Nishiki Markets. Whilst these are a major tourist hotspot, they can be an incredible foodie experience whilst in Kyoto. One of the best thing that you can eat there are the fresh yakitori, which are effectively grilled chicken skewers. Traditionally, they are actually served in izakayas (Japanese pubs) and are made from a variety of chicken meat cuts.
Best Place to Try: Nishiki Markets or in any traditional izakaya.
4. Wagyu
It would be a crime if wagyu didn’t make my top 15 foods in Japan list. This is meat from the wagyu breeds of cow and is so famous as the meat features marbling; that is, ripples of fat in the meat. It makes the steaks extra moist and tasty, and is renowned for being one of the best tasting meats in the world.
To properly enjoy this, you’ll need to go to a steak house. However, beware, the meat is incredibly expensive and good restaurants will charge you in easily excess of £100.00 to enjoy it. Cheaper options are available though at the markets and, whilst not as good cuts, are definitely worth trying.
Best Place to Try: Completely budget-dependent, but if you want to experience the very best, try anywhere which sells Kobe beef.
5. Gyoza
From the incredibly expensive to the very cheap, gyoza are some of the best examples of Japanese comfort food. These dumplings are packed with different fillings, including minced pork, garlic and cabbage, and are then pan-friend to become really crispy. You can also enjoy them in a bowl of miso soup, which is probably my favourite way.
Best Place to Try: You can genuinely find gyoza anywhere throughout restaurants in Japan, however we loved Gyopao Gyoza when we stayed in Shinjuku.
6. Sukiyaki
If you’re in the frozen north of Hokkaido in the winter, or just fancy something hearty, might I recommend sukiyaki. This features thin sliced of beef which have been simmered in a sweet soy sauce broth. The meat features alongside regional extras. Often it includes tofu, vegetables and mushrooms, but in Hokkaido you also can enjoy snow crab!
Best Place to Try: I personally like the idea of enjoying this in the winter, either in Hokkaido or in the snowy peaks of the Hakuba Valley.
7. Dango and Mochi
For our first sweet entry on this list, I’ve chosen dango and mochi. These are some of the top foods to try in Japan, even though they’re quite divisive! For instance, my husband loves mochi whereas I’m quite impartial. The main difference between dango and mochi are that dango are skewered rice dumplings, whereas mochi are soft rice cakes. They come in endless varieties and you’ll find them in every market.
Best Place to Try: The best mochi we ate were in the Nishiki Markets. There’s a wonderful shop near the western end which sells both strawberry and chocolate mochi cakes. They were actually pretty good!
8. Japanese Curry
Katsu curry is one of my all-time favourite foods. Whilst in the UK we expect a piece of tempura chicken smothered in sauce thanks to Wagamama, in Japan they do things a little differently. In fact, most of the katsu that you’ll have here are breaded pork cutlets or tempura prawns, with variable amounts of sauce. We enjoyed a fair amount of this in Kyoto and really loved the authentic Japanese version; it is much lighter, fresher and tastier.
Best Place to Try: Kyoto has many different small shops which serve this. We personally really enjoyed Katsuriki; it is just round the corner from the Pokémon Center.
9. Tempura
My husband’s favourite Japanese food is, without doubt, tempura. Whilst the west would have you believe that tempura prawns are small and greasy, the reality in Japan is very different. Think of a jumbo prawn which is coated in the lightest batter. The result is truly an art form; it’s delicious. If you aren’t a fan of prawns or other seafood, give the tempura sweet potato a try. You won’t regret it.
Best Place to Try: I personally love tempura as street food. It tastes best when it is served immediately alongside a delicious dipping sauce.
10. Takoyaki
One of the foods which we were most excited for in Japan were takoyaki. These are round dough balls filled with diced octopus and green onions. They’re served alongside sweet sauce and mayonnaise, alongside bonito flakes.
I’ll be honest, these tasted better in my head. They were still good, don’t get me wrong, but they have a really hot, molten core which I know some people like, but it wasn’t quite for me. However, I know that these are highly popular for a reason and my husband again enjoyed them.
Best Place to Try: For the best atmosphere, head to Dotonbori, Osaka, to enjoy these.
11. Onigiri
We had our fair share of onigiri in Japan whilst on the move. These are effectively rice balls which are filled with either fish, pickled plum or seaweed. They are absolutely ideal for long train journeys as they’re compact, really filling and very tasty.
Best Place to Try: I have to say 7/11 or Family Mart for this one – they are actually surprisingly good.
12. Viral 7/11 Foods
On our first night in Japan we were exhausted. Being awake for 36 hours had really taken its toll and we just wanted to crash in the hotel room with some food. Near to the Shiba Park Hotel was a 7/11 and we took the opportunity to try some of the viral foods.
Of course, I had two things on my mind; the classic egg mayo sandwich and the crème brûlée ice cream. I personally am not always a fan of egg mayo but, as these sandwiches go, the 7/11 one was pretty good. However, the star of the show was certainly the ice cream.
Best Place to Try: Why, 7/11, of course!
13. Okonomiyaki
For those who don’t know, okonomiyaki is often referred to as Japanese pancakes or pizza. Its name literally translates into “how you like it” and it is solidified as the country’s ultimate comfort food. You can fill it with savoury fillings including cabbage, pork, ginger – all mixed up in the eggy batter and then fried. You then top it up with mayonnaise and bonito flakes.
Best Place to Try: There are two main styles of okonomiyaki in Japan. Osaka-style is where everything is mixed together to form more of an omelette-style. In Hiroshima though you’ll find layers are added, often with noodles.
14. Taiyaki
One of my favourite sweet treats in Japan is Taiyaki. These are fish-shaped cakes which are then filled with either red bean paste, custard, or even chocolate. You’ll find them in stores like 7/11, but the best ones are the freshly-made versions you’ll find in markets.
Best Place to Try: If you are in Akihabara Electric Town, a place where everything is rather eccentric, head to the stand Kurikoan. These sell Taiyaki in the shape of the Pokémon Magikarp and they’re rather delicious. They come in two flavours, though we preferred the custard ones.
15. Matcha
Okay, so matcha doesn’t technically always come in a food-form, but I think that it needs to be a part of my Top 15 list of Japanese food. Why? Because it is iconic and tastes great! I like mine on the sweeter side. In lattes I’ll add in a sweet syrup, but the traditional matcha tea is still delicious.
Best Place to Try: I personally think that the best place to enjoy match is in a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto’s old town.
Final Thoughts | Top 15 Foods to Try in Japan
Japan is one of the best foodie travel experiences you can have. Whilst I’ve tried including all the best foods you can try in Japan during my Top 15 list, there are still plenty of others. I’ve not even touched upon Japanese confectionary!
If you enjoyed this post or are planning a trip to Japan, why not check out my post on 2 Weeks in Japan | The Ultimate Guide for First-Time Visitors.
