Japanese cuisine is more than just sushi and seafood—it’s a rich and diverse culinary tradition shaped by centuries of culture, regional ingredients, and seasonal sensibilities. From hearty noodle bowls and sizzling street food to delicate pickles and comforting rice dishes, Japanese food presents a wide variety of flavours, textures, and cooking techniques. Whether you’re sampling crispy karaage fried chicken, warming up with a steaming bowl of miso soup, or exploring the umami-rich world of fermented foods, there’s always something new and delicious to discover.
Green Tea Ice Cream
Green tea ice cream is a favorite dessert served in many Japanese restaurants. The Japanese call their green tea Matcha and it is very popular…
Beer
Beer—pronounced bi-ru in Japanese—is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Japan. It’s widely available and can even be purchased from vending machines on the footpath,…
Bento
Bento is a popular Japanese meal traditionally served in a wooden box, offering a well-balanced and convenient way to enjoy a variety of foods. Dating…
Chicken Karaage
Juicy, crispy, and bursting with flavour, karaage is Japan’s beloved version of fried chicken. A staple at izakayas (Japanese pubs), karaage is commonly served as…
Chūhai
If you’re wandering through a Japanese convenience store, you might notice a colourful array of canned drinks with bold lettering, fruit illustrations, and surprisingly high…
Crab
You don’t have to go far in any major Japanese city to see the country’s love for crab—just look for the spectacular, giant mechanical crabs…
Eel (Unagi)
Eel, or unagi as it is known in Japan, holds a special place in the country’s culinary traditions. Highly prized for its rich flavour and…
Food Theme Parks
When you think of theme parks, you probably imagine Mickey and his friends or high-thrill roller coasters. However, in Japan, there’s another kind of theme…
Fish Guts and Organs
With so many people and limited natural resources, not much goes to waste in Japan. At times, you’ve got to wonder what happens to the…
Fugu
Poisonous pufferfish are a specialty at many Japanese restaurants, particularly in Osaka. Known as fugu in Japan, these fish belong to several species, depending on…
Gyudon
Gyudon is fast food Japanese style, translated gyudon means cow bowl, and that’s sort of what gyudon is, strips of beef served in a bowl….
Happoshu Beer
In recent years, many of the Japanese breweries have been producing a low malt beer like beverage known as Happoshu.
Using Chopsticks
Like many cultures across Asia, Japan predominantly uses chopsticks as eating utensils. Chopsticks are used for most meals, except for soups, curries or Western-style dishes,…
Izakaya Bars
An izakaya is a traditional Japanese bar, popular among Japanese businessmen for an after-work drink. In recent years, these bars have also gained popularity among…
Japanese Curry
You might not expect to find curry on a Japanese menu, but it’s actually quite common, extremely popular, and relatively inexpensive across Japan.
Japanese Cocktails
Japan is well known for its sake, shochu, and whisky, but its cocktail scene is equally impressive. Whether it’s a refreshing highball, a unique beer…
Japanese Soft Drinks
With the abundance of vending machines in Japan, you might assume they’re filled with Coca-Cola, but surprisingly, Coke is rarely seen. Instead, you’ll find an…
Japanese Snack Foods
The Japanese love their snack foods, but unlike in much of the Western world, chocolate is not a major seller—except for Pocky, which is immensely…
Japanese Whisky
Japanese whisky has gained a loyal following both at home and abroad, with fans praising its smoothness, balance, and craftsmanship. Drawing early inspiration from Scottish…
Japan for Vegetarians and Vegans
When Buddhism spread to Japan around fifteen hundred years ago, it brought with it the concept of a vegetarian diet. Buddhists follow shojin ryori, a…
Octopus
Although Tokyo is famous for its seafood, in Osaka, the octopus reigns supreme. It is by far one of the city’s most beloved seafood ingredients….
Narazuke, Sake Soaked Pickles
In Japan, pickling isn’t just a method of preservation – it’s an art form, often honed over centuries. And one of the most unique examples…
Ramen
Ramen is the Japanese name for the popular noodle soup dish that is much like instant noodles. In fact, instant noodles actually evolved from the…
Roe
Roe, or fish eggs, is often the most prized part of the fish in Japanese cuisine. The Japanese love it in various forms—whether eaten fresh…
Sake
Sake is probably the best-known of all Japanese beverages. It is an alcoholic brewed drink made from fermented rice and is sometimes referred to as…
Shochu
Shochu is one of Japan’s most popular and widely consumed alcoholic beverages, yet it often remains in the shadow of sake on the international stage….
Sashimi
Sashimi is what many people in the west consider Sushi, raw fish. Sushi is actually a rice based product which uses vinegared rice as its…
Seaweed
Probably the most widely used ingredient from the sea in Japan is seaweed. It is an essential part of the Japanese diet, providing plenty of…
Sea Urchin
The sea urchin, known as uni (うに) in Japan, is one of the most prized delicacies in Japanese cuisine. With its rich, creamy texture and…
Sushi
Probably the best known of the Japanese foods to westerners are Sushi and Sashimi. Over recent years, these dishes have become popular, if not fashionable…
Tachinomi Bars
Tachinomi, meaning “standing drink” in Japanese, refers to standing-only bars that offer a casual, no-frills drinking experience. These establishments are especially popular among Japanese businessmen,…
Takoyaki
New York has its hot dog, London has its bangers and mash, Berlin has its Currywurst and Osaka has its Takoyaki. Takoyaki is found all over…
Taiyaki
Taiyaki is a popular Japanese sweet desert that generally consists of a sea bream shaped jaffle made from pancake or waffle batter. It is filled…
Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu is one of Japan’s most popular and widely enjoyed comfort foods—a golden, crispy pork cutlet that’s crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside,…
The Japanese Tea Ceremony
The tea ceremony, or chado (meaning “the way of tea”), is one of Japan’s most significant cultural traditions, deeply embedded in everyday life.
Tuna
Tuna is arguably the most prized fish in Japan, with the highest quality and freshest cuts selling for tens of thousands of yen. In fact,…
Vending Machines
It is estimated that there is a vending machine of some variety for every 20 people in Japan. With Japan’s population in excess of 127…
Whale Meat
Whale meat has long been a part of Japan’s culinary and cultural history, but its place in modern society is increasingly contentious. While the Japanese…
Yakitori
Yakitori is one of the tastiest and cheapest meals in Japan, it is succulent pieces of chicken meat served on bamboo skewers, marinated in BBQ…