Local Food in Japan is based on fresh, local ingredients, with minimal processing, highlighting instead the natural flavors of the food. Fish, rice, noodles, and vegetables are some staples that make up the basis of most Japanese diets. Some popular traditional dishes include sushi, ramen, tempura, soba, tonkatsu and okonomiyaki.
Japanese cuisine emphasizes variety and balance. This is achieved through the use of five colors (black, white, red, yellow, and green), five cooking techniques (raw food, grilling, steaming, boiling, and frying), and five flavors (sweet, spicy, salty, sour, and bitter). These principles can be found even in a single meal of one soup and three sides paired with rice.
Sushi is one of the most famous foods to come from Japan. It originated from the process of preserving fish in fermented rice. Today it’s made with vinegared rice and fresh fish. Tempura is a dish of battered and fried fish or vegetables. Special care is given to the way the ingredients are cut as well as to the temperature of the batter (ice cold) and oil (very hot) for deep-frying.
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Hokkaido
Ikameshi (いかめし)
Aside from beef, squid is another crowd favorite in Japan. In fact, squid is the main star of a local food in Hokkaido. The food's name is Ikameshi "いかめし". If you love squid cuisine, then continue to read on. Origin of Ikameshi Just ... -
Hokkaido
Jingisukan (ジンギスカン)
Do you love grilled meat? If yes, do you prefer grilled pork or beef? But have you tried grilled sheep meat? Have you ever heard of Jingisukan? Jingisukan is certainly a sought-after local food in Hokkaido. It is a hot pot dish but the c... -
Saitama
Chuushiti Meshi (忠七めし)
Chuushiti Meshi is a local food in Japan since more than one hundred years ago. It is a rice dish that incorporates three important Japanese tradition. Therefore, Chuushiti Meshi is one of the Five Great Meals of Japan. So how magnificen... -
Gifu
Sayori Meshi (さより飯)
Meshi "めし" is a staple in Japan. Meshi refers to rice cooked by steaming or boiling. The water needs to be dried out after. Many local foods contain meshi as its primary ingredient. Rice dish is so popular all over the country. Sayori ... -
Kagoshima
Shirokuma (しろくま)
Shirokuma Dessert Shirokuma directly translates to "white bear". However, Japanese have a favorite dessert that comes in the same name. The dessert originated in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. There are different theories on how t... -
Miyazaki
Miyazaki Jitokko (宮崎地頭鶏)
Miyazaki Jitokko is sometimes referred as “Miyazaki Jidori”. This grilled chicken is a traditional food in Japan that originated in Miyazaki Prefecture situated in Kyushu Island. Jitokko is a type of chicken that has its own branding tha... -
Hokkaido
Sapporo Ramen (札幌ラーメン)
One of the representative dishes of Hokkaido’s food culture is Sapporo ramen. The rich miso soup and the thick curly noodles create a perfect harmony that you will never forget once you taste it. We will introduce you to the history, fea...