{"id":17907,"date":"2018-01-19T12:00:41","date_gmt":"2018-01-19T12:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=17907"},"modified":"2020-01-28T14:08:36","modified_gmt":"2020-01-28T14:08:36","slug":"food-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/19\/food-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Food in Japan: 8 dishes you need to try!"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17907&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17907\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17907&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17907&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17907%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17907\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17907\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Travel consultant, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/staff-profiles\/travel-consultants\/139\/dan-campbell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dan<\/a>\u00a0shares his top tips to eat your way around Japan. Get a pen and paper ready &#8211; you&#8217;ll want to make a checklist.<\/strong><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Food in Japan<\/h2>\n<p>I believe that Japan has some of the best food on the planet. So much thought, care and love goes into Japanese cuisine, which is probably why Tokyo has more Michelin starred restaurants than any other city in the world.<\/p>\n<p>While I do enjoy refined dishes such sushi or a <em>kaiseki<\/em> dinner, I love the often overlooked and less refined options. Here is a list of my favourite food in Japan.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Mochi<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17925 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Mochi - Food in Japan\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/mochi.jpg 1079w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p><em>Mochi<\/em> are small rice balls which have been repeatedly pounded, shaped, and then topped with a flavoured powder or sauce. They can be found all over Japan and are usually served sweet. The texture of <em>mochi<\/em> is unlike anything found in the West, and they make for the perfect sightseeing snack.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>mochi<\/em> pictured above are called <em>Gohei Mochi<\/em> and hail from Nagano prefecture. <em>Gohei Mochi<\/em> is a little different to regular <em>mochi<\/em> as the rice is not so heavily pounded; it is simply shaped into a ball and then coated in a walnut, sesame and soy sauce. It is then grilled until it starts to caramelise. You\u2019ll smell <em>Gohei Mochi<\/em> before you see it. Be sure to try it if you\u2019re walking on the Nakasendo Road.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Soba<\/h2>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17923 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Soba noodles - food in Japan\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/soba.jpg 1380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p>Soba (buckwheat) noodles are a delicious dish in any season. Slurp down a cold bowl in summer, and in winter warm up with the hearty clear broth. Buckwheat flour makes the noodles light, so they\u2019re great for a second lunch or a sightseeing pit-stop. Although soba can be found all over Japan, Matsumoto is particularly famous for it.\u00a0If you are going to the city, join the experts and try your hand at making some!<\/p>\n<h2>3. Ramen<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17919 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Ramen - food in Japan\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-1440x810.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ramen.jpg 1548w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Many hours, if not days, go into creating ramen broth. This warming dish comes in hundreds of varieties, from light, clear soups, to thick heavy broths that pack a meaty punch. The noodles are often handmade, and the best are cooked al dente. Best of all, a standard serving only costs around 700 yen ($8\/\u00a35). Top tip: Ramen is hugely regional, so try it everywhere you visit!<\/p>\n<h2>4. Japanese curry<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17914 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese curry - Food in Japan\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/curry.jpg 1065w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Japanese food doesn\u2019t tend to be spicy and their curries are no different. The slightly sweet, rich sauce matches Japanese rice perfectly. Curries are usually topped with a lightly breaded pork cutlet (<em>katsu<\/em>) and pickled ginger. I recommend getting a cheese topping too, don\u2019t knock it until you\u2019ve tried it! It may not look like much, but Japanese curry has great depth of flavour and can be a welcome break from more conventional Japanese food.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Gyoza<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17917 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Gyoza - food in Japan\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/gyoza.jpg 1172w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Gyoza, or Japanese dumplings, are a cheap countrywide staple. Usually filled with pork, a little ginger, and cabbage, these potstickers can be dangerously addictive. In many restaurants you\u2019ll have the option of making your own dipping sauce from soy sauce, vinegar and chilli oil. They go very well with a cold beer and are a tasty reward after a hard day\u2019s exploration.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Takoyaki<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17910 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Takoyaki - food in Japan\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/takoyaki.jpg 1380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Takoyaki<\/em> or octopus balls may not sound like the most appealing dish in the world, but once you bite through the crisp batter and into the tender centre you\u2019ll be wolfing them down in no time. <em>Takoyaki<\/em> are most famous in Osaka and can be bought from many of the city\u2019s street stalls. They are topped with a slightly sweet sauce, mayonnaise and fish flakes, and make a great snack on the go.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Yakitori<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17913 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Yaki-Tori - Food in Japan\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/yakitori.jpg 1102w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Literally meaning grilled chicken, <em>yakitori<\/em> highlights Japan\u2019s mastery of simple, yet delicious food. <em>Yakitori<\/em> makes the produce the star of the show, whether you\u2019re eating Japanese beef or regional vegetables. The only seasoning is usually a sweet sauce or just some salt and pepper. Eat <em>yakitori<\/em> at the counter to watch the masters of the skewers at work.<\/p>\n<h2>8. Shabu Shabu<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17922 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Shabu Shabu - food in Japan\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/shabu-shabu.jpg 1251w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Last on my list is the hands-on dining experience of <em>Shabu Shabu.<\/em> The name <em>Shabu Shabu<\/em> comes from the Japanese onomatopoeic word of dipping food in and out of a hotpot. You\u2019re given a plate of meat and local vegetables to cook in a pot of boiling water, adding any of the dipping sauces and other tasty accompaniments as you go. After cooking everything, you have a flavoursome broth to finish with an extra order of noodles.<\/p>\n<p>My list of top food in Japan is a little bit different from the usual fare. Remember it\u2019s hard to get a bad meal in Japan, so try everything you can!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Feeling hungry? We have a team who will fight to tell you where to find the best ramen in Tokyo, soba in Matsumoto or <em>takoyaki<\/em> in Osaka. <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/contactusJapan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Get in touch to plan your trip<\/a>\u00a0around food in Japan. Or if you&#8217;re a real foodie, check out our <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/IJTGastronomicAdventure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gastronomic Adventure<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! Travel consultant, Dan\u00a0shares his top tips to eat your way around Japan. Get a pen and paper ready &#8211; you&#8217;ll want to make a checklist. Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2366,2355,2360],"tags":[1521],"class_list":["post-17907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-food-and-drink","category-first-trip-to-japan","category-travellers-tales-from-japan","tag-food-in-japan"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17907"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23702,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17907\/revisions\/23702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}