Where To Eat On A Trip To Japan: Best Places to Eat for an Authentic Experience

For many people Japan is a bucket list destination. There is so much to see and do in Japan, allowing you to immerse yourself in the culture. But, where should you eat to enjoy an authentic experience? In this article, we’ll guide you through the tips and tricks to find the best food in Japan. 

The Most Famous Foods In Japan:

If you’re planning a visit to Japan, you may want to take in some of the culinary classics of the country. Some of the most famous foods include:

•Ramen: While many countries have adopted ramen as a dish, authentic ramen is egg noodles in a soup made using pork bone or chicken broth. It may also be topped with vegetables, egg, nori seaweed or chashu pork. 

•Soba: This delicious dish traces its origins to the mountainous regions of Japan and it features a buckwheat noodle in a soy based broth, with egg, vegetables, or meat as a topping. 

•Udon: Depending on the season, this dish has thick wheat noodles that are served hot or cold, with or without a soup and topped with tempura shrimp, vegetables or tofu. 

•Yakiniku: You can barbecue vegetables and slices of meat over a hot plate on your table.

•Yakitori: This dish has almost any part of a chicken cooked on a skewer and flavored with sweet tare or salty shio sauce. 

•Okonomiyaki: Essentially, this is a savory pancake made with cabbage, pork or seafood and grilled. It is then topped with bonito fish flakes, aonori seaweed, mayonnaise and a dark sweet sauce. 

•Gyoza: These are often offered at street stalls and they are a pan fried or steamed dumpling that can be filled with vegetables, pork, cabbage, garlic and ginger. 

•Tonkatsu: This is a deep fried, breaded pork cutlet that is often served with boiled rice, cabbage, and a miso soup. You may also find it with egg or katsukare, a Japanese curry. 

•Sushi: This should need no introduction, but you may find several different forms including hand pressed or rolled sushi. 

The Best Places to Eat in Japan:

So, now we’ll get into where to find these and other great dishes when you visit Japan.

Tsukiji Market in Tokyo:

If you’re looking for authentic seafood, you should head to Tsukiji Market. This is a maze of tiny streets and you’ll find vendors offering some of the best cooked and raw seafood in Japan. You can find oysters, unagi (grilled eel,) gesu tempura (squid arm) and scallops. Some of the stand out dishes to look out for include Satsuma-age, which are sake, brown sugar and shochu seasoned deep fried fish cakes, and uni, the edible part of a sea urchin that is sold with sushi rice or natural. 

Monjayaki Street, Tokyo

Staying in Tokyo and well worth a visit is Monjayaki Street. Monjayaki is similar to okonomiyaki, so it is a savory pancake and there is an entire street dedicated to monjayaki restaurants in Tokyo. There are over 75 restaurants along this street and some even have self serve griddles, with spices and sauces supplied on your table. 

Nishiki Market, Kyoto:

Locally known as Kyoto’s kitchen, Nishiki Market in Kyoto is a narrow, long street with over 100 restaurants and shops. This area dates back 400 years and offers some of Japan’s best food. From seafood and sushi to sweets and crackers, you can find beef sushi and Senbei, a rice cracker seasoned to order and flavored with salt, spices, chili or even sweet seasonings. You’ll also find plenty of matcha flavored foods including ice cream and sweet treats. 

The Yatai Stalls in Fukuoka:

In the neighborhoods of Tenjin, Nagahama and Nakasu, you’ll find cute little food stalls nestled away selling authentic and inexpensive dishes. Look out for the busiest stall, as a queue and lots of customers is a good sign they are offering fresh, delicious food as these stalls don’t tend to have customers lingering over their meals. 

Ramen Alley in Sapporo:

The Ganso Ramen Yokocho or Ramen Alley was established in the 1940s in Sapporo and as you would expect you can find a massive choice of ramen restaurants. Each has its own flavor, but look out for houses offering classic sapporo miso ramen, particularly if they source toppings from the local producers in Hokkaido. 

Omicho Market in Kanazawa:

Omicho Market is the oldest and largest fresh food market in the area with a history dating back centuries. The market is a maze of streets lined with stalls, restaurants and shops specializing in seafood and local dishes. So, you can sample some authentic Japanese cuisine. Look out for seafood croquettes that are deep fried and stuffed with crab, shrimp or octopus and Kanazawa curry, which originates in the area and has a thick sauce served over rice. 

Truffle Bakery in Tokyo, Karuizawa or Nagano:

Originally established in Tokyo, Truffle Bakery now has three locations where you can enjoy some superb patisserie items and baked goods made with truffles. This is a distinctive bakeshop where you’ll be spoiled for choice. 

Kaiseki in Tokyo:

If you love the idea of eating in a Japanese Michelin Star restaurant, you need to check out Kaiseki. It is owned and operated by Shiro Yamazaki and you can enjoy a traditional Japanese multi course dinner. It is best known for its colorful dishes made with seasonal produce and the restaurant received its Michelin star after just three months of opening. 

Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura in Ginza:

This prestigious venue opened after years of delays due to the pandemic. However, it is well worth the wait. The menu is a fusion of local Japanese produce and refined Italian cuisine. One stand out dish is the parmigiana that wants to become a ramen.

Kura Sushi in Oshiage:

If you love the idea of a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, why not go to the biggest! Kura Sushi has the world’s biggest conveyor belt restaurant with a seating capacity for up to 277 people. It is near Tokyo Skytree and has an affordable, yet high quality selection including maki rolls and nigiri.