Japanese food is popular around the world but specifically for two dishes - sushi and ramen. These two famous Japanese dishes have made their way around the globe and back again, leaving their culinary mark along the way.
Most people outside of Japan view sushi as a luxury food that they either adore or abhor based on their affinity toward raw fish. And who doesn't love ramen, the iconic Japanese noodle soup that's available in most global cities?
If you want to try sushi and ramen in Japan - you're in luck. These dishes are easy to find at markets and restaurants throughout the country. But we implore you not to stop there. Otherwise, you'll be missing out on some of the best foods of Japan as well as exciting aspects of Japanese cuisine.
Japanese food, an Asian cuisine that's developed over centuries, has roots entrenched in the concept of washoku. Literally translating to 'Japanese food', washoku is a harmonious way of eating simple, seasonal ingredients like rice, vegetables and seafood.
Evolving over the years, Japanese cuisine incorporates influences from other countries. Portuguese missionaries introduced tempura in the 16th century and, centuries later, the Chinese brought ramen noodles to the Japanese table. Today, both tempura and ramen are two of the most iconic foods of Japan.
More recently, Japanese cuisine has been broadened further to include American burgers, Italian pasta and French pastries. Not messing around, Japanese chefs have mastered these western cuisines with a precision bordering on perfectionism. As as a result, Tokyo has more than 200 Michelin-starred restaurants including a dozen with three stars.
Fun Fact: Some Japanese are so obsessed with French culture (including French food) that they experience a condition called Paris Syndrome when France doesn't live up to their lofty expectations.
After eating typical Japanese food for years in America, we finally made it to Japan in 2013. What a revelation! We ate our way through both Tokyo and Kyoto at multiple izakayas, the Takashimaya department store, two famous markets (Nishiki and Tsukiji) and two Michelin starred restaurants (Florilege and Bird Land), but it wasn't enough to quench our thirst for local Japanese food.
We returned to Japan in 2016 for a three-week stay in Osaka, a city aptly nicknamed Tenka no Daidokoro - Japan's Kitchen. Staying in Japan's most food-focused city for an extended time allowed us to dive deeply into the city's street food culture and eat our weight in ramen, sushi and other famous Japanese food favorites.
Returning a third time to Japan during an epic Asia cruise in 2018, we visited the port cities of Naha, Fukuoka and Nagasaki. After eating some of the best Japanese food in these disparate cities, we knew another return to the land of the rising sun was inevitable.
That fourth visit hasn't happened. yet. Until it does, we can easily satisfy our Japanese food cravings in our home city of Lisbon and all over the world. But mark our words - we will return to Japan sooner than later to eat at the source. It's inevitable.
Our guide outlines 37 the Japanese foods and drinks that you can't miss during your trip. Some are popular Japanese food favorites while others are more niche.
For ease of use, we've separated the guide into six categories:
We empathize with the temptation to only eat ramen and sushi when you travel to Japan for the first time. We love both of those dishes from Japan too. But don't stop at these two popular Japanese foods since you'd miss out on dozens of other amazingly unique Japanese dishes.
Visit 2foodtrippers to discover 37 Japanese food favorites you don't want to miss.
Join our email list and receive our free guide to eating like a local when you travel.