Traditional 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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Yamaguchi
Kawara soba (瓦そば)
【What is Kawara soba?】 Kawara Soba (瓦そば) is a traditional Japanese dish of Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Locals make this by placing the cha soba and ingredients on a heated tile and eating it in warm noodle soup. Kawara... -
Mie
Matsusaka Beef (松阪牛)
Japanese Wagyu beef is one of the most prized proteins in the culinary world and is deemed as luxurious as caviar and black truffles. The stunning marbling of fat, tantalizing texture, and umami-rich wagyu is what all steak lovers dream ... -
Shizuoka
Kinako Mochi (きな粉餅)
What if I told you that there is a Japanese dessert that can make you live longer and happier? It is called kinako mochi, and it consists of chewy rice cakes dusted with roasted soybean powder. Kinako mochi has a nutty and slightly sweet... -
Tokyo
Unadon (うな丼)
Today, eel is a very popular food and fish not only in Japan but also overseas. Unadon is a traditional Japanese food that uses grilled eel. It is one of Tokyo’s specialty cuisines from the Edo period, and locals usually served this by p... -
Tokyo
Chanko Nabe (ちゃんこ鍋)
Chanko-nabe is a rich Japanese stew that is frequently consumed by sumo wrestlers as part of their weight-gain regimen. This dish is also well-liked in eateries run by retired sumo wrestlers who specialize in it. Let's delve into the det... -
Kyoto
Inari zushi (いなり寿司)
Should you be visiting Kyoto or another part of Japan, or even trying out a sushi night in your own home, then Inarizushi must be on your list of things to try. The wonderful flavours of this type of sushi is worth the trip to Japan. 【E... -
Tokyo
Hishi mochi (菱餅)
【Introduction to Hishi Mochi】 In Japan, they have this custom or festival in which they celebrated it for the growth of girls. They call it "Hinamatsuri" and they always held it on March 3rd. One of the indispensable items on this day ... -
Kyoto
Hina-arare (ひなあられ)
【Introduction to Hinaarare】 The Hinamatsuri in Japan is celebrated with chirashizushi, clam soup, rice cakes, and Hina-arare. Hinamatsuri has been popular as a celebration for the growth of girls since the Edo period. Locals held this ... -
Tokyo
Chirashizushi (ちらしずし)
【Introduction to Chirashizushi】 Did you know that Japan has many types of sushi including Edomae sushi, Bekko sushi, Sasa sushi, Hatahata sushi, and Saba sushi? And today, we will add another type of sushi to the list. It is the Chiras... -
Gunma
Yaki Mochi (やきもち)
Yaki Mochi is a traditional cuisine from Gunma. Although the name suggests it as grilled rice cake, the dish is quite far from it. As a matter of fact, it is somewhat closer to "Oyaki". If you want to know more about this local favorite,...