Visiting Japan without trying traditional Japanese food is like walking through the Louvre with a blindfold on. From sushi and ramen to lesser-known regional specialties, Japanese food is more than just a meal – it’s a deep dive into the country’s rich history, traditions, and culture. Each dish tells a story, reflecting centuries of craftsmanship and a deep respect for ingredients and seasonality.

Whether you’re planning your first trip or returning for more, here is the Expat Explore list of 15 Japanese foods you absolutely must try in the Land of the Rising Sun. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you!

1. Shabu-shabu

Sitting down to a nabemono (hotpot) dish of shabu-shabu is one of the most quintessential things to do in Japan. The name of the dish is onomatopoeic and refers to the sound the ingredients make when diners around the table stir thinly sliced meat and vegetables in a central dish of boiling water to cook it piece by piece. Served with an array of dipping sauces, this type of meal is one of the best social dining experiences in Japan, best enjoyed with a group of friends or fellow travellers. 

2. Yakitori

Craving a quick, flavourful bite while exploring Japan? Look no further than yakitori, Japan’s answer to the classic kebab. These delicious charcoal-grilled chicken skewers are a local favourite, often found sizzling away at street stalls, izakayas, and bustling food markets. Perfect as a snack on the go or a casual meal, yakitori is affordable, satisfying, and full of smoky flavour. This must-try street food in Japan delivers big taste with every bite.

3. Sushi and sashimi

Okay, fair enough, this one is rather obvious, but you can’t travel all the way to Japan without trying one of the most famous Asian specialities. While sushi’s ancient roots trace back to Southeast Asia and evolved through China, it’s in Japan where this culinary art truly flourished. However, the Japanese are really, really good at making it, so it’s still worth your while to put it on your culinary bucket list for Japan.

Keen to get a little experimental? Forgo traditional salmon and tuna sushi in favour of aji (horse mackerel), kurage (jellyfish), or uni (urchin). 

4. Gyoza

Closely modelled on jiaozi, a type of Chinese dumpling that forms an important part of the Chinese New Year food line-up, Japanese gyoza are dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables and wrapped in a thin dough. Your typical gyoza features a combination of ground pork, nira chives, green onion, cabbage, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil, but there are endless varieties to choose from.

5. Wagyu beef

Wagyu beef from Japan is the most prized beef in the world. One cow can be sold for as much as $30,000. Pronounced ‘wag-you’, the term literally means Japanese cow. Wagyu beef is popular around the globe because of its higher levels of intramuscular fat, or marbling, and fine meat texture, which results in a wonderfully flavoursome eating experience.

6. Mochi

Got a sweet tooth? Head straight for the mochi! Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice that is ground, steamed and pounded into a sticky ball. This pretty, round confection is bite-sized, pillowy soft and often sweetened with sugar and coconut milk. YUM. Try it with green tea for a true Japanese dessert experience. 

7. Onigiri

Onigiri is a traditional Japanese comfort food that basically consists of steamed rice shaped into a triangle, ball, or cylinder and wrapped in nori (dried seaweed). This dish truly pays testament to the inventiveness of Japanese food artists; it can be stuffed with anything from salmon to veggies, or eaten plain, and often feature in children’s lunch boxes in the shape of adorable characters like panda bears, etc. 

8. Melonpan

More sweet stuff! A melonpan is a type of Japanese sweet bun made from enriched dough covered with a thin layer of crisp cookie dough. It’s said to resemble a rockmelon, which accounts for the name. Get it hot from a bakery and get ready to have your dessert-loving mind blown. 

9. Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish that consists of a breaded, deep-fried/tempura pork cutlet. The locals love it! Head straight for the superbly comforting, deliciously devilish tonkatsu sandwich if you encounter it somewhere on a menu in Japan. Think soft, white, crustless bread, filled with layers of crispy fried pork, shredded cabbage, and tonkatsu sauce (something resembling a combination of Worcestershire sauce and ketchup). Delicious!

10. Karaage

Almost every country around the world has their own special rendition of fried chicken, and Japanese karaage does not disappoint. Flavourful, juicy and ultra crispy, karaage is a staple of Japanese home cooking and a popular bento box filler. It’s made by coating pieces of chicken in flour, or potato or corn starch, and deep-frying it in hot oil. Often served coated in a tasty soy sauce, sake, ginger, and garlic marinade, it is bound to pop up on your craving roster pretty regularly once you’ve tried it!

Did you know? A bento box is a single-serving take-away or home-cooked meal popular in Japan, usually filled with rice or noodles, chicken or fish plus cooked or pickled vegetables. You’ll often find them sold at train stations across the country.  

11. Gyudon

Although it essentially boils down to good old beef on rice or noodles, gyudon is so flavourful and delicious that these little bowls of goodness will definitely have you pining for more. Normally topped with beef and onion simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavoured with dashi, soy sauce and mirin, it is sometimes also topped with a raw egg or soft poached egg for extra umami flavour. 

12. Okonomiyaki

In the United States, okonomiyaki is often referred to as Japanese pizza. However, this savoury pancake made with a wheat-flour based batter that normally contains shredded cabbage and a meat/protein, is truly a category on its own. The baked pancake is then topped with a variety of condiments and garnishes that are often a speciality of the restaurant or street vendor serving it to you. 

13. Takoyaki

Another well-known Japanese street food, these golden, bite-sized octopus balls originated in Osaka and have become a beloved staple across the country. Cooked in a specially moulded pan, each ball is made from a light wheat flour batter and stuffed with diced octopus, crunchy tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion. It is soft, moist and melts in your mouth as you chew to impart a savoury flavour reminiscent of a warm ocean breeze. 

14. Egg salad sandwich from a convenience store

Just trust us on this one. The Japanese egg salad sandwich is revered among true Japanophiles and is a well-guarded secret among travelling foodies. Best purchased from a 24-hour convenience store after a night out on the town, it is a true-blue hunger buster and lesser-known hangover cure to boot. It also happens to be disproportionately delicious in comparison to its very affordable price tag. Just do it!

15. Japanese curry

On a cold day, a nice steaming bowl of Japanese curry is just the ticket to drive away the chills. Unlike its spicier Indian counterpart, Japanese curry has a milder, slightly sweet flavour and is often enjoyed in three delicious forms: curry rice, curry udon (noodles), and curry bread (karē pan), a crispy, deep-fried bun filled with rich curry. Made with a variety of meats and vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions, this dish is both filling and affordable. 

Feeling a bit peckish yet? We don’t blame you! Keep this list handy and tick off these bucket-list eats as you make your way through this spectacular country. Go on – treat yourself. 

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Now all you need to do is book your tour to Japan, pack your bags (and at least one pair of trousers with an elasticated waist), and be on your merry way to sample all the deliciousness this East Asian country has to offer.