Japan Food Guide for Tourists

Japan has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other country. But incredible food exists at every price point — from ¥700 ramen to ¥50,000 omakase.

Contents

1. Must-try dishes
2. Types of restaurants
3. How to order
4. Dietary restrictions
5. Food etiquette
6. Regional specialties

🍜 Must-Try Dishes

Ramen

Rich noodle soup with regional styles — Sapporo miso, Tokyo soy, Hakata tonkotsu. Every city has its own version.

¥800–1,500

Sushi / Sashimi

Japan's most iconic food. From ¥100/plate conveyor belt to ¥30,000+ omakase. Both are excellent in their own way.

¥100–50,000+

Tempura

Light battered deep-fried seafood and vegetables. Best at specialist restaurants.

¥1,500–5,000

Yakitori

Grilled chicken skewers at izakayas and street stalls. Perfect with a cold beer.

¥100–300 per skewer

Tonkatsu

Breaded deep-fried pork cutlet. Served as a set with rice, miso soup, and cabbage.

¥900–2,000

Takoyaki

Osaka's famous octopus balls — crispy outside, gooey inside. Sold at street stalls.

¥500–800

Udon & Soba

Thick wheat noodles (udon) or thin buckwheat noodles (soba) in hot or cold broth.

¥600–1,200

Onigiri

Rice balls with fillings like salmon, tuna mayo, or pickled plum. Buy at any convenience store.

¥100–200

🏮 Types of Restaurants

Type	What It Is	Cost
Izakaya	Japanese pub — order many small dishes with drinks. Very social.	¥2,000–5,000
Teishoku-ya	Set meal restaurant — rice, miso, main dish, pickles. Great lunchtime value.	¥800–1,500
Kaiten-zushi	Conveyor belt sushi — pick plates or order at the touchscreen.	¥1,000–3,000
Ramen-ya	Ramen specialty shop. Often ordered via vending machine at entrance.	¥800–1,500
Kaiseki	Multi-course Japanese fine dining. The ultimate food experience.	¥10,000–50,000+
Konbini	24/7 convenience stores. Hot food, sandwiches, snacks. Better than it sounds.	¥400–800

📋 How to Order

→Plastic food displays — Many restaurants display realistic plastic models outside. Point at what you want.

→Picture menus — Most tourist-area restaurants have English or picture menus. Just ask.

→Ticket vending machines — Insert cash, press the button for your dish, hand the ticket to staff. Common at ramen shops.

→Call the staff — Say "sumimasen" (すみません) to get attention. Waving is also acceptable.

→Pay at the register — In most restaurants, you pay at the front counter when leaving — not at the table.

🥗 Dietary Restrictions

Vegetarian / Vegan

Difficult

Dashi (fish stock) is in many dishes that appear vegetarian. Seek dedicated vegan restaurants (growing in Tokyo/Kyoto) or Buddhist temple cuisine (shojin ryori).

Gluten-free

Very difficult

Soy sauce contains wheat and is in most dishes. Plain rice dishes and sashimi are safer options.

Halal

Improving

Growing availability in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Use the Halal Gourmet Japan app to find certified restaurants.

Nut allergies

Manageable

Japan labels the top 7 allergens. Carry a Japanese allergy card (allergycard.jp) for communication.

🥢 Food Etiquette

✓Say "itadakimasu" before eating — a polite expression of gratitude

✓Slurping noodles is acceptable and actually considered a compliment

✓Finish your rice. Leaving rice is considered wasteful

✗Pass food chopstick-to-chopstick — this resembles a funeral ritual

✗Stick chopsticks upright in rice — also a funeral association

✗Walk and eat at the same time (except at festivals and street stalls)

🗾 Regional Specialties

Region	Must-Try Foods
Hokkaido	Miso ramen, crab, dairy products, soup curry
Tohoku	Gyutan (beef tongue) in Sendai, imoni stew, Morioka reimen
Tokyo / Kanto	Monjayaki, Tokyo ramen, nigiri sushi, tempura
Osaka / Kansai	Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu
Hiroshima	Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, oysters
Kyushu	Tonkotsu ramen (Fukuoka), mentaiko, chicken nanban
Okinawa	Champuru stir-fry, Okinawa soba, goya bitter melon

More travel guides:

💰 Budget Guide 💴 Cash or Card 🙏 Tipping in Japan 🛍️ Shopping Guide