The one street in Japan every traveller should add to their itinerary
Love Japanese food? Us too.
When we think about taking a holiday to Japan, we're already dreaming of the steaming bowls of ramen, the fresh sushi, and the crispy tempura that we'll be feasting upon.
Beyond these classic dishes, however, there's a lot more to Japanese cuisine.
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Japanese food is legendary. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Cuponation's latest analysis shows Japanese is the most popular cuisine among Aussies when searching online both nationally and across Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth.
In fact, Australians search for Japanese food nearly four times more than any other cuisine, and it's translating into record trips to Japan.
The art of Japanese cuisine – washoku – is officially recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Property.
Despite this, many of the country's food regions and flavours aren't often part of a classic tourist's itinerary.
Venturing outside of Tokyo and Osaka, there are endless options for food-loving tourists to explore. Here are the must-try dishes in Japan, each from a different region.
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There are great street food options all around Japan. Getty
Beef and pickles (Kumamoto Prefecture)
We're not talking about a Quarter Pounder. In Aso, the region's grass-fed Akaushi beef is tender and delicious, paired perfectly with local pickled takana, which is grown in volcanic ash soil and packed with flavour.
Citrus (Ehime Prefecture)
Ehime is Japan's top producer of mikan citrus fruits, a unique variety of satsuma mandarin, typically sweet and seedless, which are trending on TikTok for their jelly-like texture. Pick your own in Yawatahama, enjoy juice fresh from the tap, or try them in everything from fruit sandwiches to parfaits.
Hakata ramen is creamy and packed with noodles. Getty
Ramen (Fukuoka Prefecture)
This region is famous for Hakata ramen, a tonkotsu-style version with a milky pork bone broth and firm, thin noodles.
If you're a foodie, Fukuoka is a must-visit. Head straight to the nightly street food stalls at Tenjin and Nakasu, beloved by locals for both the flavoursome food and the social vibes. Popular picks to try include Hakata ramen (of course), grilled chicken yakitori, goma saba (a mackerel dish with sesame), or local oden hot pot.
More noodles (Hokkaido Prefecture)
Ramen is also the order of the day in Sapporo, where travellers can taste some of the best noodles in Hokkaido in one tiny strip of street food stalls known as Ramen Alley.
Miso ramen is iconic here, but the region is also well known for its jingisukan, a grilled mutton dish with vegetables, soy sauce, and sake dipping sauce.
Ramen Alley in Sapporo is a must-visit. Getty
The country's best wagyu (Mie Prefecture)
Whilst less globally renowned than its wagyu rival Kobe beef, many Japanese locals consider Matsusaka beef as the country's best. In the area around Matsusaka Station you'll find restaurants dishing up the local specialty in every manner imaginable, from sukiyaki (thinly sliced beef simmered in a soy-based broth and dipped in raw egg) and yakiniku (grilled with mixed dipping sauces) to shabu-shabu, teppanyaki and sashimi.
Sweet octopus and eel (Aichi Prefecture)
Himaka Island is a small and cozy island known for its super-soft octopus with a slightly sweet flavour. Enjoy it boiled, raw, deep fried, or in a hot pot. Another local fave is grilled eel (unagi) atop white rice with an eel glaze - particularly good in summer.
You can't beat a simple, warming bowl of udon and broth. Getty
Simple udon (Kagawa Prefecture)
No visit to Kagawa Prefecture is complete without slurping down a bowl of Sanuki udon noodles. Simple and heartwarming, the dish is usually served with egg yolk or niboshi (dried sardines).
Smoky seafood (Kochi Prefecture)
For a dish that will have you feeling like you're stepping back in time, Kochi Prefecture's katsuo no tataki will hit the spot. Featuring bonito, a fish from the tuna family, which is seared over a straw fire to imbue a smoky flavour, the fish is served in thick slices with raw ginger and garlic, then dipped into a soy sauce and citrus dressing.
Don't eat directly from the communal platter. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Japan table manners to be aware of:
- Do feel free to slurp your noodles
- Do try your best to finish all your meal
- Do bring the serving dishes to your mouth, not vice-versa
- Do break food into manageable pieces before bringing it to your mouth
- Don't disregard how food is served or disassemble a dish – plating is intentional
- Don't put your elbows on the table
- Don't eat directly from the communal platter (put some onto a smaller plate to enjoy)
