If you’re anything like me, Japanese cuisine is a huge part of the attraction of a trip to Japan. There are so many different foods to try, far more than the sushi, tempura, ramen and miso soup that are so well known outside of Japan. As a companion to our A to Z of Japanese Food and Drink, this post shares ten Japanese food specialities worth travelling for and where to find them.
Chicken Nanban in Miyazaki Prefecture
A speciality of the Miyazaki Prefecture in Southern Kyushu, chicken nanban is a local adaptation of yoshoku (western style food). Fried battered chicken tossed in a vinegar-based sweet and sour sauce is served with a generous portion of tartar sauce. The dish is thought to be inspired by the Portuguese Peixe Frito de Escabeche (fried fish in a vinegar sauce) that was introduced to the region by merchant traders in the 16th century. It’s a popular staple of izakayas in the region.
Firefly Squid in Toyama Prefecture
A seasonal delicacy, firefly squid are fished along the coastlines of Toyama Prefecture during March, April and May. If you visit during the right month when the squid are spawning, you can take a night excursion out to see the squid luminescing a bright pale blue in the water, or see them washed ashore along the beaches. As these squid are usually eaten whole, the taste is quite strong as the squid’s liver has a lot of flavour. They are served cooked (usually steamed or boiled) or raw. A good place to try them is at Kanazawa’s Ōmichō market (located in neighbouring Ishikawa prefecture).
Jingisukan in Hokkaido
Jingisukan (“Genghis Khan”) is a Hokkaido style of yakiniku featuring mutton cooked on a charcoal grill. Yakiniku meats are often marinaded first and then grilled but in this Hokkaido dish the meat is grilled plain and then dipped in a sauce once cooked. An array of vegetables are arranged around the outside edges of a grill with the meat cooked on a raised central area, so that the juices and fats from the cooking meat run down into the cooking vegetables. The dish is said to have originated in the region when locals used the meat of sheep that had been bred for wool as a source of food.
Kabosu in Oita Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture in Shikoku is the main producer of yuzu, a distinctive citrus fruit used throughout Japan in condiments, dressings and garnishes. Whilst yuzu is becoming better known outside of Japan, there are many more citrus varieties to discover in Japan.
Citrus lovers should also head to Oita Prefecture in Kyushu, home of the related kabosu citrus. Yellow when ripe, the harvest begins in late August when the fruit is still green and continues throughout autumn as the fruit ripens fully to yellow. The sharp juice is used in cooking and as a condiment, as well as to garnish drinks.
Kitsune Udon in Osaka
Kitsune Udon is a simple home-style udon dish of thick udon noodles served in a light dashi broth with a large piece of fried tofu. Kitsune means fox, and the dish is so named because it’s thought that the fox loves fried tofu. The clever fox features in many Japanese stories, and it is also considered to be a kami (Shinto spirit) and messenger to Inari, the kami (or god) of fertility, agriculture and industry.
Kushikatsu in Osaka
A must-visit for foodies, Osaka is not only the spiritual home of takoyaki and okonomiyaki, but also the city to enjoy kushikatsu, skewers of meat and vegetables dipped in batter and panko and deep fried.
You can buy these ready-to-eat but it’s more fun to find one of the many local restaurants that let you select from a range of skewers to cook yourself at the table.
Melons in Sapporo
If you’ve heard about melons selling for incredibly high prices, chances are they were Yubari Kings, a much-prized cantaloupe melon cultivar. Farmed in Yūbari, near Sapporo in Hokkaidō, top-grade melons are a popular but very expensive gift.
Karashi Mentaiko in Fukuoka
Karashi mentaiko (literally spicy fish roe) is a much loved dish in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu. It originates in Korea and was brought to Japan by Toshio Kawahara who founded Japan’s oldest mentaiko company shortly after the second world war. The roe is most commonly from Alaskan pollock fish, a type of cod. The ovary is removed from the fish whole, and the fish eggs are kept within the membrane sac for curing in salt, before being served in a chilli seasoning.
Monjayaki in Tokyo
Okonomiyaki is hard to describe, as it falls somewhere between a pancake, a pizza and a frittata. A large thick fritter cooked on a hot plate, often in front of or by the diners, it consists of shredded cabbage mixed into batter with ingredients such as pork, seafood and vegetables added. Once ready, the fritter is topped with bonito flakes and generous zig-zags of mayonnaise and a thick brown sauce that is sweet, sharp and tangy.
Head to Nishinaka Street in Tokyo’s Tsukishima district to find a concentration of restaurants selling the unusual local variation of okonomiyaki – monjayaki. Made with a thin, runny batter and finely chopped ingredients, it remains sloppier than other types of okonomiyaki when cooked.
Oysters in Hiroshima
Hiroshima and nearby Miyajima are both great places to sample the oysters farmed in Hiroshima Prefecture. The main season runs from January to April, and the Miyajima Oyster Festival is usually held in February. Traditionally, they are served cooked rather than raw but these days they are sold to ready to eat raw, deep-fried, baked and grilled.
Pickles in Nara
An intrinsic part of the Japanese diet, there are umpteen styles of tsukemono (pickles), often specific to a region. Nara, a small town near Kyoto, is famous for narazuke, pungent deep brown pickles made from daikon (white radish), uri (a type of gourd) and kyuri (cucumbers). Nara pickles are made by soaking in sake lees (kasuzuke), often for several years.
Pork and Beef in Kagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu is famous for its high quality kurobuta (black pig) pork, descended from black-skinned Berkshire pigs imported to the area 400 years ago and kuroushi (black cow) beef, bred locally. These two meats are served in many ways, including thinly sliced to cook in nabemono (hot pots) such as shabu-shabu and sukiyaki.
Sea Grapes in Miyako, Okinawa
One of the specialities of Okinawa is umibudo, a type of seaweed also known as sea grape or green caviar. It’s usually served raw with soy or vinegar, and used in salads. Umibodo is prized for the little bubbles of seawater released when they burst in the mouth. The best place to try sea grape seaweed is in Miyako, where it is farmed along the coast.
Shirasu-don in Kanagawa
Shirasu are very small baby fish – what we call whitebait or fish fry in the UK – though they are fished much smaller in Japan. They are most commonly sardines or herrings, but can be other varieties of fish. They are enjoyed raw, dried or boiled, often with soy sauce. In shirasu-don, a speciality of Kanagawa, fresh raw shirasu is served as a rice bowl topping, often garnished with seaweed, fresh herbs and spring onion.
Squid Noodles in Hakodate, Hokkaido
Ika somen (literally, “squid noodles”) is a dish of raw squid cut into fine strips resembling noodles. Usually served with grated ginger and soy sauce or mentsuyu (a soup stock made with soy, sake, mirin, kombu and katsuobushi). Although this is a type of sashimi, it’s eaten by slurping up the strips just like noodles. Ika somen is a Hokkaido speciality, most strongly associated with Hakodate, a fishing port where large catches of squid have traditionally been fished.
Sweet Potato Dumplings in Kumamoto
Sweet potatoes are popular throughout Japan; no more so than in Kumamoto where they are considered a local speciality.
Ikinari dango are sweet treats comprising a sweet potato and anko (sweet azuki bean paste) filling in a chewy mochi (rice flour) wrapper that is steamed to cook. Ikinari means ‘suddenly’; and its believed the sweets are so named because they are a quick food to make when you have unexpected guests.
Tea in Uji
Green tea from Uji (near Kyoto) is prized for its high quality throughout Japan. Visiting Uji, you will find many local shops, restaurants and cafes selling both the tea itself and a variety of dishes incorporating it. You can buy different types of green teas to take home, and take a break by enjoying Uji tea with traditional wagashi (sweets) in one of the local cafes.
Wanko Soba in Iwate Prefecture
There are many origin-stories for the tradition of wanko soba, in which soba noodles are served in tiny bowls, one after the other until you are full. As you finish each bowl, the server will bring you another, resulting in growing stacks of empty bowls during your meal. Toppings are available to provide flavour. When you’ve had enough, quickly pop a lid on top of your last empty bowl to signify that you have eaten your fill. Ten to fifteen bowls are equivalent to a normal serving of soba noodles, but wanko-soba has become a competitive activity with volume and speed eating contents very popular.
Unagi in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka
Unagi (freshwater eel) is popular throughout Japan, but the best quality unagi is fished in Lake Hamana located in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka. There are many specialist restaurants surrounding the lake specialising a variety of unagi dishes. Unagi even has a day dedicated to eating it – the day of the ox, which falls in the heat of mid summer. The most popular way of cooking unagi is boned, brushed in a sweet-salty teriyaki sauce and grilled – more of the sauce is often brushed on during cooking to build up a rich layer of flavour. Unagi is often served on a rice bowl (known as unadon).
Yudofu in Kyoto
Although yudofu (hot tofu) is considered a Kyoto speciality, it is one you can find across Japan, especially in traditional kaiseki ryori where locally made tofu is often served in this way. Blocks of fresh tofu are served in a simmering broth, often vegetarian to reflect the popularity of the dish in shojin ryori (Buddhist cuisine). Ginger, sesame, soy sauce and spring onions are often served as garnishes.
You may also like our more comprehensive guide to Japanese Food from A to Z.
Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you!23 Comments to "Twenty Tasty Local Specialities to Seek Out Across Japan"
Your article made me so hungry! I would love to travel to Japan one day and try as much as I can from their traditional cuisine. It’s so fascinating that each area has its own traditional dishes. I would love to try an authentic Okonomiyaki. I make it sometimes as home, but I can imagine in Japan it’s so much better. I have been wanting to try Unagi for a while now as well… I really hope Japan will open its borders soon.
I am sure you will love Japan when you are able to travel there, not only is the food a wonder, with so many things to discover and enjoy, the country and culture are beautiful and fascinating, and people are very friendly and welcoming to visitors!
The sweet potato dumplings and pickle varieties look divine! As a vegan who occasionally eats fish, I’d be tempted to try some of these dishes!
Oh my what a trip down Japanese treats. I have not heard of some of these and would like to try, especially the prized melons. But I loved reminiscing about soba, unagi, and udon.
I’m not sure I can justify buying one of the top priced melons but we have been served small slices of exquisite melons in some of the higher end kaiseki meals we’ve had, and been seriously impressed!
I don’t eat fish, but I’d love to try the sweet potato dumplings…and I love udon noodles! They must taste amazing made fresh!
There are many dishes that don’t feature fish, so still plenty of delicious things to try!
Wow what an exclusive choice to choose from. I have always felt lost while choosing what to opt for when having Japanese cuisine. Thanks for educating.
I must admit I was surprised at how much I loved the food we found in Japan. Such variety and much more vegetables than I expected. We loved finding the different Hokkaido restaurants for freshly grilled treats. Sadly neither of us loves oysters so we missed these delicacies. Next time we will certainly go searching for sweet potato dumplings!
Hokkaido is on my wishlist for a future trip, not least for the seafood!
Ben and I really enjoyed reading through this together! Such incredible food, and loved the photos and descriptions too. Japan is certainly on my wish list..
I think you would love Japan, not just for the food but also for the beautiful scenery, and the culture, it’s a wonderful country to visit!
Japanese cuisine is one of the main reasons I want to visit Japan. I would spend most of my time enjoying this food—a great guide to Japanese delicacies. I want to try Firefly Squid in Toyama Prefecture, Jingisukan in Hokkaido, Sea Grapes in Miyako, and Sweet Potato Dumplings. All look as tasty.
There’s so much deliciousness to seek out!
Given that I am a foodie, I was really excited to read your post! Everything looks absolutely delicious, however I was particularly interested in the Chicken Nanban and Unagi. Thank you for including the photos — hoping to get to Japan one day and taste all of these!
I hope you get to visit soon!
I am bookmarking this in my Japan folder, thank you for doing all the research for me! I love citrus and am very curious about yuzu now. I am positive I would love kushikatsu and likely eat it and Okonomiyaki everyday if possible!
Yuzu is wonderful, and you can buy candied yuzu and yuzu flavour foods, so good!
Who ever thought that fox loves fried tofu? That’s a funny story behind Kitsune Udon in Osaka. The Chicken Nanban looks delicious, as well as the unagi. But I’m not sure if I want to try the squid noodles.
It’s a cute story isn’t it?!
That was a very interesting post on a platter of Japanese delicacies. Japan is a home to range of sea food treats like oysters, squids cooked in unusual ways. The monjayaki fritter, the unagi and the sweet potato dumplings look very tempting and so do the rest. Thank you for sharing such unique Japanese dishes with us!
There are so many more than these, I just shared a selection! 😁
Sushi, Unagi, Okonomiyaki, and Takoyaki are some of my favorite Japanese dishes; I never get tired of them.