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Japanese cuisine is my personal favourite cuisine in the world. I like many cuisines, but this is absolutely my favourite I have ever tried. The products are very pure and fresh. Of course, people will mostly think about sushi and ramen, but it has so much more. The different flavours are very impressive, and the constant smells in the street are perfect. Keep reading if you want to know which dishes and drinks you should try in Japan!

1. Sushi

Of course, sushi has to be eaten in Japan. You can eat sushi throughout the globe, but the freshness of sushi in Japan is unparalleled. They mostly eat nigiri and that is so tasteful. In many restaurants you can eat a tasting platter of 8 to 12 different nigiri. You cannot miss a nice sushibar in Japan.

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere, especially on markets.

2. Tempura

Tempura is another famous dish you have to try in Japan. Many restaurants have tempura options, so you will have many chances to try it. The dish is mostly fish and vegetables in light and airy batter, which will be fried. Try the different types throughout your visit in Japan.

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere

3. Japanese breakfast

You can eat western breakfast items, but you also have to try a Japanese breakfast. You can have fish, vegetables, sweet omelette, and so much more. You will have lovely small dishes to try, so you can taste as many as you want!

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere

4. Matcha

A hype in Europe, but very normal in Japan is matcha. The taste is not fantastic, but it is very healthy. After different teas and other beverages you will get used to the taste and will enjoy it. I would say that it is something you can miss.

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere

5. Gyoza

Gyoza is one of my personal favourites in Japan. The small bites can be made from chicken, beef, shrimp, vegetables or other ways. These dumplings are perfect to start a dinner and share some great ones. 

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere, a very good place to eat it is Harajuku Gyoza-Ro in Tokyo.

6. Yakitori

Yakitori is another famous dish from Japan. It is mostly meat on stick. I am only used to chicken on a stick, but in Japan there a lot of different types you can order. It is mostly meat, but also some vegetables. We have tasted vegetables, different types of chicken, beef, pork, organ meat, and it tastes great. Often you can get a tasting of several types.

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere, but in Kyoto there are a lot of options for it. In Tokyo a very good area to eat it is Ovoid Yakocho.

7. Japanese whisky

The countries that export the most whisky are Scotland and Ireland, right? Oh no, it is Japan! So this is a perfect reason to try some of the liquid gold. I am not a big fan, but you have to try it in Japan as they have a big culture for it. 

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere

8. Miso soup

Miso soup is my favourite soup in the world as they are very tasteful and you can eat it throughout the day. In Japan, you will often get a taste of it as you order other items. There is almost no day that I did not eat it, so that is great!

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere

9. Ramen

Ramen is another classic of the Japanese cuisine, which obviously should be tried. Ramen is a bowl of noodles, vegetables, spices, and often an egg and meat. The taste is very good and you have to try it at least once. 

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere, but especially in Fukuoka you have try it at the yatai.

10. Edamame

Edamame are beans that are often salted on the outside. These are the perfect dish to start a diner. There are often 2 or 3 beans to eat when having one. You will have these several times in Japan.

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere

11. Japanese nuts

Ok, this is absolutely not a dish, but a lovely snack when traveling a long distance. It is frowned upon to eat is public transport except on longer train rides, and exactly then is the perfect time to have local snacks as the nuts for example.

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere

12. Bento box

Another great and common thing to eat in a longer train ride is a bento box. These bento boxes can be filled with different food, so it mostly the concept that you should try. The box can be filled with sushi, meat or totally other ingredients and they taste great!

Where to eat this dish in Japan: During a train ride

13. Hotpot

A hotpot is not necessarily Japanese, but it a very nice dish. Hotpot can be filled with many different ingredients and that makes the fact that is not getting boring and you can try it several times. Of you have a dinner in a traditional ryokan, there is a good chance that you will have a hotpot as well. 

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere, but maybe more in rural areas.

14. Soba

Soba are noodles, which can be served cold or hot, so you have to try both ways, where I surprisingly  preferred cold. The noodles are often without ingredients on it, but you have to add them. This is a lovely dish, but not one of my favourites.

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere

15. Craft beer

If you have seen more of my pages, you know I like a good craft beer. Japan is an upcoming destination for craft beer and there are some good, creative breweries. In comparison to Europe it may not be a lot, but in every city you can find at least some good places that sell good beers. 

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Mostly in the cities

16. Hida Beef

Hida beef is another type of food you have to try in Japan. It is very soft food, and you can try it in so many places. In Takayama you can find many food stalls that sell the beef as sushi, and that is absolutely fantastic. This is as good as wagyu (I will talk about it later) and very tasteful.

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Takayama mostly

17. Sake

Sake is the famous rice wine of Japan. You can get it hot or cold, has a big width in taste, and it is perfect in combination with sushi, so the taste will be better. You can also find breweries to have tasting. You cannot visit Japan and not try some sake (as an adult).

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere, but the most breweries are in Takayama.

18. Fugu

Fugu is puffer fish, which you can almost only have in Japan or in very fancy restaurants. You need to have a large course to serve fugu as they can be poisonous to eat (can be lethal). The taste was very good, but as I ate it as a sushi, I have to admit that some others were better. 

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Everywhere there are some options, but the most are in Osaka. 

19. Gold leaf ice cream

One of the weirdest things to eat in Japan is gold leaf ice cream. Kanazawa boasts almost all production of gold leaf in the whole country of Japan, and you can taste it on an ice cream! It is a bit more expensive in comparison to normal ice cream, but it tastes very good and it is very cool!

Where to eat this dish in Japan: Kanazawa

20. Sashimi