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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Ehime
Uwajima Taimeshi (宇和島鯛めし)
Eaten in Imabari City (Toyo) and Matsuyama City Hojo (Nakayo), "sea bream" (tai meshi) is a local dish made by cooking a whole sea bream in a clay pot or kettle. "Tai meshi" in Uwajima City (Nanyo) is a fisherman's dish in which sea brea... -
Kagawa
Sanuki Udon (讃岐うどん)
We often say "Speaking of udon, Sanuki udon in Kagawa Prefecture", but what is the difference between Sanuki udon and other udon? Have you ever wondered? In this article, we will introduce the characteristics of Sanuki udon and how it di... -
Okayama
Okayama Ramen (岡山ラーメン)
Ramen : A Staple in Japan Okayama Ramen is one of Ramen in Japan. Ramen is probably the most popular Japanes food. Travellers who will visit the country would probably eat ramen at least once or twice during the entire course of their tr... -
Hiroshima
Hiroshima Kaki (広島かき)
Have you ever heard of Hiroshima Kaki (oyster)? In fact, Hiroshima Prefecture ranks first in Japan in oyster production. In 2018, the total production of Japan was 29,846 tons (naked meat), of which 18,708 tons, or 62.7%, were accounted ... -
Shimane
Izumo Soba (出雲そば)
Shimane Prefecture's local dish "Izumo soba" is counted as one of the three major soba noodles Japan. The noodles are dark-skinned, chewy and fragrant, and have excellent nutritional value because the skin is ground when the buckwheat fr... -
Nara
Miwa Somen (三輪素麺)
Japan is known for different cuisines that originated hundreds to thousands of years ago. They are one of the countries that highly value their traditions that they are able to incorporate these with their daily lives. The most common tr... -
Wakayama
Wakayama Ramen (和歌山ラーメン)
Wakayama Ramen is one of traditional ramen in Japan that is served at specialty stores and popular cafeterias, mainly in the northern part of Wakayama prefecture. The Wakayama Prefecture has a warm climate facing the Pacific Ocean and th... -
Saitama
Kumagaya Udon (熊谷うどん)
Along with Kagawa prefecture, which is known as "Udon Prefecture", Saitama Prefecture is also the "Udon Kingdom". The production volume is the second largest in Japan. Since ancient times, udon has been eaten in various situations in the... -
Akita
Kiritanpo (きりたんぽ)
If you are interested in local cuisine from Akita Prefecture, you might want to try Kiritanpo, a unique dish made from mashed rice that is wrapped around a cedar skewer and grilled over charcoal. This article introduces the history and f...