Famous Japanese Food for Every Type of Traveller

Are you visiting Japan? Don’t miss the exceptional food it has. Japan’s cuisine is famous worldwide for its taste and artful presentation. From Tokyo sushi bars to yakitori street stalls, the range of flavours is huge. Many travellers praise Japanese dishes as fresh and healthy. UNESCO even honoured traditional Japanese food (washoku) in 2013. This guide explores top dishes, drinks and travel tips for enjoying Japan’s culinary scene.

Why is Japanese Street Food So Famous?

You might not have been to Japan, but you must have tried its food. That’s how much people love Japanese cuisine worldwide. From quality to flavours, these dishes are filled with great value. UNESCO even honoured traditional Japanese food (washoku) in 2013, showcasing the significance of its culture. Another best thing about having Japan food is that it suits everyone’s palate.

Best Japanese Food for Non-vegetarians

Japan offers rich meat dishes for carnivores. High-quality pork, chicken and beef are cooked with care to bring out savoury flavours. If you are a non vegetarian tarvelling to Japan, here is what you should try:

• Yakitori skewers: Yakitori skewers are a classic Japanese snack. Yakitori are bite-sized chicken pieces grilled over charcoal. Often sold at izakayas or street stands, they are seasoned with a salty-sweet glaze or simply salt. Each tender piece has a slight char and juicy interior. This popular Japanese street food pairs perfectly with a cold drink after sightseeing.

• Tonkatsu: It is a kind of comfort food for people. Tonkatsu is a breaded pork cutlet that is deep-fried. Once it turns golden and crispy, it takes on the famous texture that everyone likes. Tonkatsu is served with some tangy sauce and shredded cabbage by the restaurants.

• Karaage: It is a very famous bite size snack in Japan. people enjoy its tangy flavour that comes from the marination of soy, garlic and ginger. To make Karaage, small chicken pieces are marinated and deep-fried until they turn golden and crispy.

• Sukiyaki: After landing in Japan, the one thing that could help you with your trip Jet lag, is a hot pot filled with thin slices of beef, some tofu and a lot of vegetables with noodles. This is Sukiyaki, one of the most flavourful hotpots around the world.

• Unagi Kabayaki: Unagi Kabayaki features eel fillets brushed with a sweet soy glaze and grilled. The caramelised sauce gives the eel a deep umami flavour. It’s often served over rice (unadon) or as sushi.

Famous Japanese Dishes for Vegetarians

Japan’s cuisine also highlights vegetables. Cabbage, daikon and mushrooms often appear in meals. There are many options that prove that vegetarian and vegan eaters will find plenty to enjoy:

• Okonomiyaki: Okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake made from batter, shredded cabbage and toppings (like pork or seafood). Grilled on a hot plate, it’s drizzled with a sweet sauce, mayonnaise and bonito flakes. Each bite is hearty and satisfying.

• Yasai Tempura: Yasai Tempura means vegetable tempura. Assorted veggies (such as sweet potato, eggplant and peppers) are lightly battered and fried until crisp. The result is a fluffy, crunchy coating around tender vegetables. It’s usually served with a dipping sauce or a sprinkle of salt.

• Inari Sushi: Veg Japan Sushi are pouches of fried tofu filled with vinegared rice. The tofu skins are simmered in a sweet soy sauce, giving them a candy-like flavour. This convenient snack is a popular vegetarian lunch item.

• Agedashi Tofu: Agedashi Tofu features soft tofu lightly coated in starch and fried. It's served in a hot soy-dashi broth with green onions. The exterior is crispy while the inside remains silky.

• Hōtō: It is a regional udon noodle dish with vegetables and miso soup. It is warm and savoury, perfect for any cold day.

Top Japanese Cuisine for Vegan

Japan has vegan options too, so if you are travelling as a vegan, you don’t have to starve:

• Shojin Ryōri: Shojin Ryōri is Buddhist temple cuisine. It uses no meat or fish, only vegetables, tofu and grains. Meals are seasoned simply with miso, soy and sesame. Shojin ryōri emphasises balance and mindfulness in every dish.

• Edamame: It is a boiled soybean pod served with salt. Edamame are young soybeans boiled in the pod. Usually served lightly salted, they make a healthy, protein-rich snack. Pop each bean from its pod and enjoy its sweet, nutty flavour.

• Goma-ae: It is a very simple side dish that comes as a salad vegetarians enjoy. Goma-ae is a nutty and savoury dish made from blanched green vegetables with sesame sauce dressing. It is garnished with some soya sauce and sugar, giving it its unqiue flavour.

• Nasu Dengaku: If you like something sweet and savoury, you must try these eggplants topped with sweet miso. It is a famous vegetarian dish in Japan in which eggplant is grilled until it becomes tender, and then it is coated with caramelised miso paste.

• Zaru Soba: Zaru Soba is chilled buckwheat noodles served with a dipping sauce. The noodles are dipped into a soy-dashi sauce flavoured with wasabi and scallions. This refreshing dish is perfect for hot weather and lets the nutty soba flavour shine.

Refreshing Japanese Beverages You Should Also Try

Japan’s drinks range from earthy teas to fun sodas. Green tea is ubiquitous. Local favourites include sake (rice wine) and craft beers. Even soft drinks can be quirky. Here are a few highlights.

• Matcha: Matcha is a bright green powdered tea whisked with hot water. It has a strong, vegetal taste and a smooth, frothy texture. Enjoyed in ceremonies or lattes, matcha is rich in antioxidants.

• Sake: Sake is Japan’s traditional rice wine. Fermented from polished rice, it can be dry or sweet. Some sake is served warm, some cold. It's clean flavour pairs well with sushi and grilled foods.

• Ramune: Ramune is a lemon-lime soda famous for its glass Codd-neck bottle. To open, you push the marble down into the bottle. Ramune’s fizzy, mild flavour and unique bottle make it a fun summer treat in Japan.

• Mugicha: Mugicha is roasted barley tea served cold. It has a nutty, refreshing flavour and contains no caffeine. Often served over ice in summer, mugicha is very popular as a thirst-quencher.

• Amazake: Amazake is a sweet fermented rice drink (literally "sweet sake"). It’s thick and creamy with a mild sweetness. Amazake can be non-alcoholic, so children drink it too. Often enjoyed warm in winter or chilled in summer, it’s prized for its nutrients.

Bonus Travel Tips for International Travellers

Are you going to Japan? Take these important travelling tips with you to explore without any issue:

• When to go: The best time to visit Japan is around spring (Mar–Apr), and autumn (Oct–Nov). You’ll see cherry blossoms or fall foliage, and enjoy mild weather and seasonal treats.

• What to eat: Explore street stalls and markets for snacks. Try takoyaki (octopus balls), visit a Tokyo sushi counter or ramen stand, and taste convenience-store onigiri, all are cheap, tasty and widely available.

• Etiquette: Slurping noodles (ramen, soba) shows appreciation, so go ahead! But don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice (it’s bad luck). Also, many small shops prefer cash, so carry some yen.

• Stay connected: Buy a Japan eSIM before you go. Travellers from around the world can purchase a prepaid travel eSIM from trusted sites like eSIM Cards. It is cheaper than roaming.This way, you’ll have internet for maps and translation apps immediately.

Savour Every Bite of Japanese Cuisine

Japan’s food culture is wonderfully diverse; there really is something for everyone. Many travellers call it the best Japanese food because of its freshness and craftsmanship. Each dish tells a story of tradition and local pride. Enjoy discovering Japan’s rich flavours and happy eating! Don’t forget connectivity! A travel eSIM keeps your phone online for maps and photos. Get the best eSIM for Japan from esimcards.co.uk to avoid high roaming fees and share every delicious moment instantly.

FAQs

Q1. What is Japanese street food?

Ans. Japanese street food means casual snacks sold by vendors in public places. Popular examples include yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and takoyaki (octopus balls). These are usually affordable, portable bites showing local flavours.

Q2. When is the best time to visit Japan?

Ans. Generally, spring (Mar–Apr) or autumn (Oct–Nov) is best. You’ll catch cherry blossoms or fall colours, and enjoy mild weather. These seasons also have food festivals and seasonal specialities.

Q3. Do I need an eSIM for Japan?

Ans. Not strictly, but it’s handy. An eSIM is a digital SIM card in your phone. If you get an eSIM, for example, an eSIM Japan, before you travel, you’ll have data as soon as you land. It’s cheaper than roaming and lets you use maps and translation apps right away.

Q4. What are some must-try Japanese dishes?

Ans. Must-tries include sushi (fish on rice), ramen (noodle soup), tempura and wagyu beef. Also, try regional specialities like okonomiyaki in Osaka or miso ramen in Hokkaido; each region has its own unique dish.