Beyond Sushi: The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Cuisine

When people think of Japanese cuisine, sushi is often the first thing that comes to mind. However, any Japan food guide will reveal that the country’s culinary world is far more extensive and diverse. From steaming bowls of ramen and udon to crispy tempura, savoury yakitori, and elegant kaiseki, Japanese cuisine offers a world of flavours and experiences waiting to be explored.

This guide invites you to explore beyond sushi, revealing must-try dishes that highlight the rich tapestry of Japan’s culinary heritage.

As a dedicated foodie and traveller, I’ve explored Japan’s culinary scene from vibrant street markets to hidden gems. With a deep understanding of the food scene in Japan, I’ll guide you through authentic flavours and unique eats.

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Your Japan Food Guide

1. Ramen: The Soul of Japan

No guide to Japanese cuisine would be complete without mentioning ramen. This beloved noodle soup comes in many regional varieties, each with a unique flavour profile. Whether you prefer the rich, creamy tonkotsu (pork bone broth) of Fukuoka, the soy-based shoyu ramen from Tokyo, or the miso-infused ramen of Sapporo, there’s a bowl for every palate.

Pro tip: When in Japan, seek out a local ramen shop, known as a “ramen-ya,” where you can experience the dish in its authentic form. Slurp your noodles loudly—it’s a sign of appreciation in Japanese culture!

A to-die-for bowl of noodles with chashu and chicken at Tokyo Ramen Street, underground in Tokyo Station.

2. Spam Musubi & Onigiri: Portable Snacks for Any Time

Found in convenience stores and train stations across Japan, Spam musubi and onigiri (rice balls) are popular grab-and-go snacks. Spam musubi, with its Hawaiian-Japanese fusion of rice and grilled Spam wrapped in seaweed, and onigiri, filled with ingredients like salmon, umeboshi (pickled plum), or tuna mayo, are simple yet satisfying bites for any traveller.

Onigiri, sushi rolls, packaged meals and spam musubi from Family Mart.

Pro tip: Try these from konbini (convenience stores) like 7-Eleven or Family Mart, especially before boarding the shinkansen (bullet train) for a quick and affordable meal.

Spam Mitsubi: savoury, salty, and simply delicious!

3. Donburi: Japan Food Guide Comfort in a Bowl

Quintessential comfort food, donburi is a rice bowl topped with varied ingredients, such as beef (gyudon), tempura (tendon), or raw fish (kaisendon). Combinations are endless, making donburi a versatile option for any meal in this Japan food guide.

Pro tip: For a quick, heartwarming meal, pop into a local diner or chain like Yoshinoya to enjoy a donburi bowl before continuing your adventure.

One of the best meals you can get in Tokyo: the donburi bowl with sea urchin and salmon roe at Nihonbashi Kaisen Donburi Tsujihan. Becomes a whole new meal when refilled with sea bream soup once you’re 3/4 done.

4. Bento Boxes: The Perfect Meal on the Go

Bento boxes are beautifully arranged meals packed with a balance of rice, protein, and vegetables. These meals, available at train stations and convenience stores, are perfect for taking on long train journeys, like when riding the shinkansen from city to city.

Pro tip: Pick up a regional ekiben (station bento) at train stations, as they often feature local specialties and seasonal ingredients.

Bento box consisting of rice with *umeboshi* plum, prawn and yam tempura, salad and *mochi* dessert.

5. Tempura: The Art of Frying

Tempura is a dish that exemplifies the Japanese art of simplicity. Vegetables, seafood, and sometimes seasonal ingredients like mushrooms are lightly battered and deep-fried until crispy and golden. The result is a crisp, golden exterior that gives way to a tender and flavourful interior.

Pro tip: For an elevated tempura experience, visit a specialty restaurant where the dish is served course by course, allowing you to enjoy each delicate piece as it’s freshly fried.

Shrimp tempura is the ultimate sweet, crunchy and salty flavour bomb.

6. Omakase: Trust the Chef in this Japan Food Guide

No Japan food guide would be complete without trying omakase, meaning “I’ll leave it up to you.” This dining experience is where you entrust the chef to prepare a carefully curated meal. Often at sushi restaurants, omakase is a journey through seasonal and local ingredients, each course a surprise.

Pro tip: For a memorable experience, book an omakase meal at a small, traditional sushi bar. Here the chef can personalize dishes according to what’s freshest.

Omakase sushi in Japan is unbeatable freshness and quality: a culinary highlight!

7. Kaiseki: The Pinnacle of Japanese Fine Dining

Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course meal that originated from the tea ceremony. The epitome of Japanese haute cuisine, each dish is carefully crafted to showcase seasonal ingredients as a work of art. A kaiseki meal typically includes a variety of small dishes: sashimi, simmered vegetables, and grilled fish, presented with meticulous detail.

Pro tip: If you’re looking for a truly immersive culinary experience, book a kaiseki dinner at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and enjoy the meal in a tranquil setting, often overlooking a beautiful garden.

Kaiseki dining is a healthy and balanced traditional course meal. For extra ambiance, book at a *ryokan*.

8. Japanese Breakfast Set Meals: A Balanced Start

A traditional Japanese breakfast usually consists of grilled fish, rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet). It’s a well-balanced and nutritious way to start the day and is often available at hotels, ryokan, or breakfast cafes.

Pro tip: Enjoy a Japanese breakfast at your ryokan or seek out a restaurant specializing in breakfast sets for a morning meal that feels hearty yet healthy.

Our Airbnb host in Iidabashi, Tokyo made us traditional Japanese breakfasts daily. Pictured: self-serve miso soup, edamame and mushrooms, tomato and cheese, tamagoyaki, soft tofu with scallion, onigiri and green tea KitKat.

9. Okonomiyaki: Japan Food Guide Savoury Pancake

Okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake that hails from Osaka and Hiroshima, with each region boasting its unique twist. Osaka-style okonomiyaki mixes ingredients into a fluffy pancake, while Hiroshima-style layers them with noodles and a fried egg.

The dish is made from a batter of flour, egg, shredded cabbage, and various other ingredients like pork, shrimp, or even cheese. It’s then cooked on a griddle and topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and seaweed.

Pro tip: For a hands-on experience, visit a restaurant where you can cook your own okonomiyaki at the table, or watch as the chef skillfully prepares it in front of you.

Watching chefs in Japan prepare *okonomiyaki* is an entertaining experience.

10. Yakitori: Grilled to Perfection

Yakitori, or grilled chicken skewers, is a popular dish at izakayas (Japanese pubs) and street stalls across Japan. Cooks season the skewers with either salt or tare (a sweet soy glaze) and grill them over charcoal, infusing a delicious smoky flavour.

Pro tip: Don’t limit yourself to just chicken! Many yakitori spots offer a variety of skewers featuring different parts of the chicken, as well as other meats, vegetables, and even tofu.

Smoky, tender yakitori meat skewers grilled to perfection.

11. Katsu: The Crispy Cutlet Classic

Katsu is a breaded, deep-fried cutlet made with pork (tonkatsu), chicken (torikatsu), or beef (gyukatsu). Each variation brings its own flavour: pork is rich and juicy, chicken is tender and lighter, and beef, often served rare, is delightfully indulgent. Katsu pairs perfectly with shredded cabbage, rice, miso soup, and tangy katsu sauce.

A crispy *tonkatsu* cutlet served with a fresh cabbage side salad.

Variations include katsudon, where the cutlet simmers in a savoury egg sauce and is served over rice, and katsu curry, where the cutlet comes alongside fragrant Japanese curry for a hearty, comforting meal.

Katsu curry features crispy cutlet combined with savoury Japanese curry sauce.

Pro tip: Visit a katsu restaurant to savour expertly cooked cuts of meat, each with unique taste and texture.

Gyukatsu Motomura Sanjo Kawaramachi Branch in Kyoto overlooks Kamo river and serves incredible gyukatsu.

12. Soba and Udon: Japan Food Guide Noodle Staples

Soba (buckwheat noodles) and udon (thick wheat noodles) are two of Japan’s most beloved noodle dishes. Chefs serve soba cold with a dipping sauce or hot in a broth, while they serve udon in a hot broth with various toppings. Both dishes are simple yet incredibly satisfying and absolutely necessary to include in this Japan food guide.

Traditional soba set meal pairing cold soba noodles with pickled vegetables and tempura.

Pro tip: When in Tokyo, try a bowl of soba at a traditional soba shop where the noodles are handmade daily. In contrast, in the Kansai region, indulge in a steaming bowl of udon, known for its thicker, chewier texture.

Round noodle udon with beef, scallion and egg.

13. Takoyaki: A Taste of Osaka in this Japan Food Guide

Takoyaki, or octopus balls, is a popular street food originating from Osaka. Chefs craft bite-sized octopus balls with ginger and green onion, cooked in a special pan. They serve the takoyaki hot, topped with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and seaweed.

Pro tip: Takoyaki stalls are common at festivals and street markets across Japan, but for the classic experience, visit Osaka’s Dotonbori district.

Crispy takoyaki topped with sauce, seaweed and bonito flakes.

14. Uni: The Delicacy of Sea Urchin

Food lovers cherish uni, or sea urchin, for its rich, creamy texture and briny, oceanic flavour, making it a luxurious Japanese delicacy. Often served as sashimi or as a sushi topping, uni stands out with its vibrant yellow-orange hue and melt-in-your-mouth consistency. Its flavour can range from sweet and buttery to slightly bitter, depending on the freshness and type of sea urchin.

Found in high-end sushi restaurants and omakase menus, uni is an indulgent treat for adventurous food lovers seeking a unique taste of Japan’s marine bounty. For the freshest experience, try it at coastal towns where local catches are available.

Pro tip: Head to a fresh fish market like Tsukiji in Tokyo, where they bring in uni daily and prepare it on-site for the freshest flavour and texture.

Uni is the creamy, delicate roe of sea urchins, prized for its rich, briny flavour and smooth texture.

15. Japanese Sweets: A Delightful Finish

No meal in Japan is complete without indulging in traditional sweets, known as wagashi. Confectioners often make these delicate treats from ingredients like red bean paste, mochi (rice cake), and seasonal fruits to complement the flavours of green tea.

Whether you enjoy a simple dango (rice dumpling) or an intricately crafted namagashi (a moist, delicate sweet), Japanese desserts are a perfect way to end your culinary journey. The trifecta of pink, white and green hanami dango are often served together on a single skewer, symbolizing the transition from spring to summer.

Pro tip: Visit a traditional tea house to experience wagashi as part of a tea ceremony, or stop by a local confectionery shop to pick up a selection of sweets to enjoy on the go.

Traditionally, confectioners achieve the white, pink, and green colors of hanami dango using plain rice flour, cherry blossom extract, and matcha or mugwort powder, respectively.

What Foods Should I Try in Japan?

Japan’s culinary landscape is both diverse and delectable, offering a wide variety of dishes that extend well beyond sushi. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or are a seasoned traveller, there’s always something new to discover and relish. From robust bowls of ramen to intricate kaiseki meals, each dish tells a story of Japan’s rich cultural heritage and profound love for food.

So bookmark this Japan food guide for your next visit to Japan, and make sure to reference it to explore the full range of Japanese cuisine.

How’s your Japan adventure planning coming along? Whether you’re gearing up to visit the iconic city of Tokyo or seeking the birthplace of matcha green tea, I’m here to help you plan your trip whether it’s your first time travelling to Japan or you’re a full blown otaku.