Where and What to Eat in Japan

 Japanese cuisines

If you have been to Japan or are planning to visit Japan, it is likely that you have eaten or heard of Japanese sushi, ramen, and miso soup! Interestingly, these cuisines are just a microcosm of what Japan offers. Many of the menus that you’ll sample have no English translation. These may make you feel a little lost, but take it easy because it will be part of the fun of visiting Japan!

I will try to briefly highlight some more Japanese eats and where you can get them, ranging from the famous ones to some you’ve never heard of. The bottom-line is that when you’re in Japan, eat as much Japanese food as you can, lest you regret it when you’ve already left the country!

Seafood in Japan

About 7000 islands make up the archipelago that is Japan. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise to learn that fish and seafood make up a significant portion of the national diet. If you enjoy seafood, there are many meals to try while visiting Japan.

Freshwater eel (Unagi), sea urchin (Uni), Sashimi, Sushi, and Kaisendon are some of the seafood options available in Japan.

Unagi

Unagi melts in your mouth and has a uniquely delicate flavor that is similar to fish. It is always cooked because raw unagi can be poisonous. Unagi is typically served with a special eel sauce that is essentially a thick and sweetened sauce.

Most sushi restaurants will have it on their menu. There are also a number of restaurants that specialize in unagi.

Uni

Uni is seafood that makes many people obsessed. You can actually order a bowl of rice topped only with these sea urchins. Uni can be obtained at a fish market near you or from a sushi restaurant. When I last visited Japan, I saw them on sale at the Kanazawa Fish Market.

Sashimi

Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy, which is raw meat sliced thinly and served with soy sauce for dipping. Sashimi is a good option for gluten-free travelers. You can get your sashimi meal at any sushi restaurant in Japan.

Sushi

Sushi is a must-try when you visit Japan! It actually refers to vinegared rice served with other ingredients. Sometimes, sushi has raw fish, while other times it does not. Sushi chefs must go through years of intense training to be able to detect anything that could be wrong with a fish.

There are various types of sushi in Japan. These include Maki, Uramaki, Nigiri, and Temaki. Maki is the most common type of sushi. A seaweed sheet is wrapped around rice and fillings before being sliced into dicks.

Uramaki is essentially the same as maki rolls. It is made inside out with the rice on the outside. Nigiri is one ingredient, typically fish or prawn, served atop sushi rice.

You can get your sushi meal at any sushi restaurant near you in Japan or at any of the family restaurants in Japan. If you are staying in Nozawa Onsen, you don’t have to worry about the possibility of getting your sushi meal because most Nozawa Onsen restaurants serve sushi.

Temaki, which is also known as “hand rolls”, is a type of sushi made by rolling the fillings inside a nori (seaweed) sheet into a cone shape.

Other types of food available in Japan

Besides seafood, you will also find other types of cuisine in Japan. These include classic Japanese dishes like Tonkatsu, Japanese Curry, Wagyu, Tempura, Miso Soup, Okonomiyaki, Gyudon, and Lotus Root.

You can also get Japanese noodles, including Ramen, Udon, Soba, Yakisoba, Kaiseki, Bento Box Meal, Shabu-shabu, Yakiniku, Kombini Meal, and Karaage. You can get these foods at any of the family restaurants in Japan or at your favorite conveyor belt restaurant, among others.

Where can I get a Nozawa Onsen guide?

You need a Nozawa Onsen Guide to help you with your operations when you visit the area. For more information about where and what to eat while in Nozawa Onsen, consult the Nozawa Onsen Food Guide. Connect with us today for help with the Nozawa Onsen Guide.