Japanese Food to Try: 15 Dishes and Where to Eat Them

Japanese food is far more varied than sushi and ramen, and every region has its own specialities. On a first trip, try sushi and ramen, tempura, tonkatsu, okonomiyaki and takoyaki, yakitori, wagyu, udon and soba, a kaiseki dinner at a ryokan, and the sweets and snacks sold at markets and convenience stores — eaten where each one is done best.

The classics

• Sushi — best at a counter, where the chef serves each piece as it is made. Conveyor-belt sushi is a cheaper and fun alternative.
• Ramen — noodles in broth, with a different style in almost every region. Our regional ramen guide explains them.
• Tempura — seafood and vegetables fried in a light batter, best eaten straight from the pan.
• Tonkatsu — breaded pork cutlet, served with shredded cabbage and rice.

Street food and casual meals

• Okonomiyaki — a savoury pancake, made in different styles in Osaka and Hiroshima.
• Takoyaki — octopus dumplings, Osaka's favourite snack.
• Yakitori — grilled chicken skewers, eaten with a drink in an izakaya.
• Udon and soba — thick wheat noodles and thinner buckwheat noodles, served hot or cold.
• Japanese curry — a mild, thick curry with rice, popular and cheap.

Special meals

• Wagyu — Japanese beef, famous from Kobe, Matsusaka and other regions; try it grilled or as sukiyaki.
• Kaiseki — a seasonal multi-course dinner, often served at a ryokan.
• Unagi — grilled eel on rice, a summer favourite.

Sweets and snacks

• Wagashi — traditional sweets served with green tea, often shaped for the season.
• Matcha desserts — green-tea ice cream, cakes and drinks, best in Kyoto.
• Convenience-store snacks — rice balls, sandwiches and seasonal treats.

Where to eat each one

Osaka is the city for street food, Kyoto for kaiseki and matcha, Hokkaido for seafood and ramen, Fukuoka for tonkotsu ramen and food stalls, and Tokyo for everything at every level. Our guides to what to eat in Tokyo and what to eat in Osaka go further. Travellers with dietary needs should ask about broths and sauces, which often contain fish, meat or alcohol.