HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style
    Travel >> Holiday Travel >  >> Travel Notes

Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them

Arriving in Japan, you've likely indulged in more sushi than ever before and are craving variety. Explore these iconic Japanese culinary classics—tempura, shabu-shabu, okonomiyaki, and more—without a trace of raw fish.

Tempura

Forget greasy, frozen prawn tempura from elsewhere. Authentic Japanese tempura features plump prawns, silky tofu, and fresh vegetables like okra and seaweed, lightly coated in airy batter and paired with dashi broth. Sample it at Tokyo's Tsukiji Outer Market, or venture to Honshū for Tenkin, a hidden gem in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. For 40 years, the dedicated owner has hand-dipped each piece into hot oil for perfect crispness.


Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them 'Veggie and prawn tempura' by Jessica Spengler. Creative Commons Attribution licence

Shabu-Shabu

Japanese shabu-shabu offers a light, fresh contrast to heavier hot pots. Thinly sliced meats and vegetables—including cabbage, nori seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms—are swished in flavorful broth and served with rice. Join the weekly hot-pot party at Nagano's 1166 Hostel, where you can try various styles for just ¥600-800.


Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them Untitled by Jim G. Creative Commons Attribution licence

Okonomiyaki

Meaning "as you like it," this Osaka and Hiroshima specialty is a customizable savory pancake, often called "Japanese pizza." Grilled fresh with fillings like octopus, vegetables, cheese, and wasabi, it's topped with otafuku sauce, mayonnaise, and bonito flakes. Compare styles: mixed batter in Osaka versus layered with udon noodles in Hiroshima.


Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them 'Ebi Okonomiyaki' by Alpha. Creative Commons ShareAlike licence

Gyoza

Japan's gyoza dumplings, inspired by Chinese originals, are lighter with thin skins encasing vegetables, squid, octopus, and more, served with dipping sauces and pickles. Visit Gora's Gyoza Centre in Hakone for fresh ones amid Fuji views, en route to the Hakone Open-Air Museum.

 
Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them 'Yaki gyoza' by Liline sur Flickr. Creative Commons Attribution licence

Noodle Soups

Noodle soups are a staple—ubiquitous, affordable, and satisfying. Enjoy ramen or similar at stations and stands. For an immersive experience, savor pork, tofu, bean sprouts, and veggies in rich broth at Osaka's Shin-Umeda Shokudo-gai station amid bustling crowds.


Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them 'Kamayude' by OiMax. Creative Commons Attribution licence

Yakitori

Craving grilled meat? Yakitori skewers of chicken or liver, roasted over coals, pair perfectly with beer. Tokyo's Yūrakuchō Yakitori Alley buzzes with after-work stalls offering affordable bites.


Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them 'Yakitori' by Su--May. Creative Commons Attribution licence

Miyajima Oysters

For seafood sans raw fish, try grilled oysters on Miyajima (Itsukushima) Island. Jumbo beauties sizzle over coals—far superior to burgers. Visit in February for the oyster festival, an hour from Hiroshima, with unbeatable prices.


Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them 'Grilled oysters' by Rog01. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike licence


Beyond Sushi: Must-Try Japanese Dishes and Where to Find Them


Travel Notes
  • Explore Hiroshima’s Signature Local Delicacies

    Hiroshima offers some local delicacies that, due to their ubiquity, visitors would probably chance upon even if they are not particularly searching. Popular dining places in the city include the area around Hiroshima Station and downtown Hiroshima. The following is a list of Hiroshimas specialty foods: Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki Hiroshimas most famous food is its own style of ok

  • Nagasaki Food Guide: Explore the City’s Global Culinary Heritage

    As the only major port open to international trade during Japans period of isolation, Nagasaki has a rich and cosmopolitan history that is also reflected in the citys cuisine. Many of Nagasakis specialties have their roots in different parts of the world including China and the West. Chanpon Chanpon is a noodle dish with Chinese roots that is synonymous with Nagasaki. The dish

  • Discover Kagoshima s Satsuma Cuisine: A Culinary Journey

    Kagoshimas cuisine is also known as Satsuma Cuisine (�F������, Satsuma Ryōri) after the old name of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is one of the most distinct local cuisines because of Kagoshimas isolated location at the southern end of Kyushu. Travelers may notice some influences of Okinawa cuisine, as Okinawa was controlled by Satsuma for a few hundred years in the past. A wide variety of restaurants can be found in downtown Kagoshima, for example along Gourmet-dori (Gourmet Street).