Famous Food in Japan: 5 Dishes to Try

What to eat in Japan, and what each dish is.

Quick answer

The food to try in Japan includes Ramen, Sushi & Sashimi, Wagyu Beef and 2 more.

Best time to visit Japan: March–May (Cherry Blossom) or October–November (Autumn Foliage).

Ramen

Japan's greatest gift to the world — wheat noodles in a broth that can take 18 hours to make, topped with chashu pork, soft-boiled egg, nori and bamboo shoots. Tonkotsu (Fukuoka), Sapporo miso, Tokyo shoyu and Kyoto shio are four completely different experiences.

Sushi & Sashimi

Japan's sushi is incomparably different from the global version — rice temperature, fish freshness and the chef's skill create something that barely resembles what you find elsewhere. The early-morning breakfast sushi at Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo is a rite of passage.

Wagyu Beef

Marbled to a degree that looks artificial, Japanese wagyu melts on contact with body heat and delivers a depth of flavour that makes all other beef seem unambitious. A proper wagyu meal in Kobe or Tokyo is a restaurant experience worth planning a trip around.

Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki

Osaka street food royalty: takoyaki (octopus-filled batter balls, topped with mayo, bonito flakes and sauce) and okonomiyaki (a savoury pancake packed with cabbage, pork and seafood, also dressed with mayo and sauce) are the city's most soulful comfort foods.

Kaiseki (Traditional Multi-Course)

Japan's ultimate dining experience — a seasonal tasting menu of eight to fifteen exquisitely presented courses, each ingredient at its peak, each flavour considered. The best kaiseki in Kyoto rivals any fine dining experience on earth, and the setting (often a 200-year-old machiya townhouse) is half the meal.

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Japan food questions

What is the most famous food in Japan?

Ramen is the dish most travellers start with. Japan's greatest gift to the world — wheat noodles in a broth that can take 18 hours to make, topped with chashu pork, soft-boiled egg, nori and bamboo shoots.

What should I eat in Japan?

Try Ramen, Sushi & Sashimi, Wagyu Beef, Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki, Kaiseki (Traditional Multi-Course).

Is it easy to find vegetarian food in Japan?

Tell us about dietary needs when you book. Trripah plans meals and restaurant stops around vegetarian, Jain and other requirements.

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