Ryo Iwa– Author –
Ryo Iwa is the founder and editor of foodinjapan.org. Born and raised in Japan, he writes from regional travel, market visits, and Japanese-language primary sources that rarely reach English readers, including brewing institute publications and industry glossaries. Where a figure cannot be traced to a source, the article says so.
He has been a Google Maps Local Guide for over 10 years, with more than 1,800 reviews and over 41,000 photos viewed hundreds of millions of times. He previously spent two decades as an IT consultant in Japan, the US, and the UK.
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Gunma
Himokawa Udon (ひもかわうどん)
Kiryu City in Gunma Prefecture, centered on the Kiryu River, thrives as a “textile town” with flourishing textile industries such as weaving and sewing. This town, known for making many obi for kimonos, also boasts a flat udon noodle tha... -
Tochigi
Utsunomiya Gyoza (宇都宮餃子)
Utsunomiya gyoza is a local dumpling specialty from Utsunomiya City in Tochigi Prefecture. The wrappers stay thin, the filling leans heavily on vegetables, and the flavour comes out light. Shops serve them pan-fried, boiled, or deep-frie... -
Fukushima
Kitakata Ramen (喜多方ラーメン)
Kitakata ramen (喜多方ラーメン) is a regional ramen style from Fukushima Prefecture, known for flat wavy noodles, a clear soy sauce broth, and a breakfast ramen culture found nowhere else. The broth builds on pork bones, chicken, and dri... -
Akita
Kiritanpo (きりたんぽ)
Nestled in the heart of Japan's Akita Prefecture lies a culinary masterpiece that represents the absolute pinnacle of Japanese rice culture: Kiritanpo. Far beyond a simple regional dish, Kiritanpo is a profound culinary narrative that we... -
Japanese Ramen
Sendai Ramen (仙台ラーメン)
If you are a fan of ramen, you might want to try Sendai Ramen, a local dish from the city of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. This article will introduce you to the history and features of this delicious noodle soup that is flavored with soy... -
Iwate
Morioka Reimen (盛岡冷麺)
Morioka reimen is a cold noodle dish from Morioka, Iwate. It features chewy noodles, a chilled beef-based broth, and kimchi. It is one of Morioka's three great noodles. This guide explains what Morioka reimen is, where it came from, and ... -
Japanese Ramen
Sapporo Ramen (札幌ラーメン)
Sapporo ramen is Hokkaido's signature noodle dish. It pairs a rich miso broth with thick curly noodles, wok-fried vegetables, and a thin layer of hot lard that keeps the bowl scalding. Miso ramen itself was created in Sapporo in the 1950... -
Aomori
Towada Barayaki (十和田バラ焼き)
Towada Bara-yaki is a local dish that originated in Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture about 60 years ago. It is made by grilling thin slices of beef marinated in a soy sauce-based, sweet and spicy sauce, with plenty of sliced onions on an i...
