From The Pumpkin Patch

Japan is a must-visit spot on any foodie’s travel list, but what makes it so special?

Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to Japanese cuisine than sushi. There are countless traditional and not-so-traditional dishes just waiting to be devoured, from fresh sashimi to rich tonkotsu ramen and everything in-between.

I’ve been visiting Japan on a fairly regular basis for almost a decade, so I feel well-qualified in the art of the Japanese menu. If you’re planning a trip and need some inspiration on what to eat, I’ve got you covered.

Japanese curry

If you’re looking for a cheap, nutritious and delicious meal in Japan, look no further than a traditional Japanese curry.

Curry was brought to Japan by the British during the Meiji era, and has evolved into a Japanese take on a British take on an Indian recipe. As you can imagine, the resulting dish differs quite widely from the original (but is just as tasty!)

CoCo Ichibanya is easily my favourite curry chain – you’re guaranteed to be served a huge portion for a reasonable price and they even have a range of vegan options. I highly recommend adding a generous serving of the free pickled vegetables on the side for extra crunch and flavour.

Kake udon

A classic dish hailing from the Kanto region, kake udon is a light soup dish consisting of chewy udon noodles and a flavourful dashi broth.

It may sound a little boring, but it’s actually just the opposite. Japanese cuisine is known for its simple flavours and minimal ingredients while still delivering that umami kick, and kake udon is the embodiment of this description.

You can find this dish pretty much anywhere across the country, but I have a not-so-secret obsession for Marugame Udon. This chain of soup restaurants can be found in both Japan and the UK, and their house-made udon noodles are the best I’ve ever tried.

I love adding extra ginger and thinly-sliced green onion to my soup, but it’s also completely delicious by itself.

Sashimi

You have to stop by the Tsukiji Fish Market next time you visit Tokyo and try a delicious bowl of fresh sashimi served over rice.

Customers receive a range of high-quality raw seafood including various cuts of tuna, salmon, clam and sea urchin for a very reasonable price, and it’s a great way to sample the market fare without feeling overwhelmed.

If you’re a fan of tuna, you could opt for a bowl containing the three most common cuts – otoro (fatty tuna), chutoro (medium-fatty tuna) and akami (lean tuna). I warn you, it’s addictive.

Kaiseki

Kaiseki is often described as ‘the world’s finest meal’ and I can say from experience that this is not an exaggeration.

This form of Japanese haute cuisine is an entire experience, with multiple intricately-plated courses served alongside the finest selection of wines. I don’t even drink, and yet on my last trip to Japan I found myself drinking a tiny glass of fruity wine simply because it was so delicious.

The ingredients are often locally and seasonally-sourced, with fish caught the same day and vegetables gathered from the garden right before serving.

There are many places to experience a kaiseki meal, but my favourite would have to be the Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto. The setting is incredible, the service is impeccable and the food is the very definition of excellence.

Kitsune udon

Kitsune means ‘fox’ in Japanese, and legend has it that these deep-fried tofu pouches known as aburaage are a fox’s favourite dish.

When combined with chewy udon noodles and flavourful fish cakes in a rich, umami dashi soup broth, these pillowy clouds of tofu become kitsune udon – the perfect dish to enjoy on a rainy day in Japan.

We discovered a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant at Tottori station that served the most delicious kitsune udon. You could place your order without any human interaction – simply push a few buttons on a little vending machine outside, hand your ticket to the waitress and receive a steaming bowl of soup a few minutes later.

Tonkotsu ramen

This may be my favourite way to eat noodles.

Tonkotsu ramen is made by boiling pork bones for up to eighteen hours, resulting in a rich, creamy broth filled with flavour. Various toppings of your choosing can be added including chopped green onion, a perfectly soft-boiled egg and chāshū (sliced pork belly).

I ate this specific bowl in Sendai after meeting a Japanese man on a train who raved about the restaurant, but tonkotsu ramen can be found all across Japan – most notably in Fukuoka, where it is a speciality dish known as hakata ramen.

Sushi

It simply wouldn’t be a foodie’s trip to Japan without sampling the fresh, delicious sushi that the country is so well-known for.

Even if you don’t like raw fish, I highly recommend giving it a try. Each piece is perfectly formed, the fish is extremely high-quality and most importantly, it’s all served at room temperature.

Japan is home to hundreds of sushi restaurants, from conveyor-belt style to more formal sit-down establishments. It’s fascinating to watch the chefs at work, deftly shaping balls of rice and slices of fish like they were born to do it.

Yaki imo

Possibly the most underrated dish in Japan, yaki imo translates to ‘roasted sweet potato’ which sounds delicious, if a little boring.

But it’s so much more than that.

Sweet potatoes in Japan are far superior to our regular run-of-the-mill orange variety. Purple on the outside, golden on the inside and so sweet they’re often served as dessert, these potatoes are slow-roasted to perfection until the natural sugars are caramelised and sticky.

If you ever wondering what to eat in Japan, find yourself a yaki imo stall – you won’t regret it.

Wagyu beef

Japan is famous for their wagyu beef, and for good reason.

The pink marbled meat is incredibly tender, with a distinctive marbled effect and buttery flavour. It’s something that you absolutely have to try in Japan, even if you’re not much of a meat-eater.

We were lucky enough to sample wagyu beef on a visit to Kyoto – the restaurant served us thin slices that we grilled ourselves at the table, dipped into yakiniku sauce and savoured for as long as possible (which wasn’t long at all, as the meat literally melts in your mouth).

It’s definitely not a cheap meal, but it’s worth it for a special occasion.

Gyoza

Gyoza are probably my favourite type of dumpling as they bring the best of both worlds – soft and juicy on the top, crispy and golden on the bottom and stuffed with a combination of meat and vegetables.

I have fond memories of eating these delicious pan-fried dumplings in Tottori, where we stopped into a vibrant and busy local restaurant for dinner on a whim.

The staff didn’t speak a word of English, but my husband used his Japanese skills to order a range of little dishes that I still dream about to this day. I hope we can find it again in the future!

Although this is definitely not an exhaustive list, it’s a great starting point if you’re planning to visit Japan for the first time.

It can be a little scary to step out of your personal food comfort zone, and there’s a chance you may not like everything you try. But I can guarantee that you will find at least a handful of new foods in Japan that will become firm favourites.

I never thought I would be someone who would slurp down a bowl full of pork broth, let alone enjoy it. But when in Rome… (or in this case, when in Tokyo!)

I’ve written extensively about Japanese food here on my blog – you can learn more about the traditional Japanese diet, pick up some simple and delicious homemade ramen recipes or find out how to eat vegan and healthy in Japan.

Enjoy your trip, and itadakimasu!