Local food and restaurants across Japan

Hokkaido · Sapporo

Sapporo

What to eat in Sapporo · Soup curry · Crab and seafood · Miso ramen · Jingisukan grilled lamb

Sapporo is known for soup curry, but seafood from around Hokkaido reaches the city too. If you are craving seafood, look for crab dishes or seafood rice bowls. Soup curry pairs a spiced broth and chunky vegetables with rice; miso ramen and grilled lamb give you two very different meals to try.

Nearby sights

Odori Park · Susukino

Transport nearby

Sapporo Station · Odori Station · Susukino Station

Sapporo Station is handy for a meal on arrival; Odori and Susukino work well after exploring the city. On snowy days, keep the walk from your hotel or station in mind.

Hokkaido · Otaru

Otaru

What to eat in Otaru · Seafood sushi · Ankake yakisoba

Sushi may be your first thought for Otaru, but ankake yakisoba is another local favourite. Stir-fried noodles are topped with a thick sauce containing ingredients such as vegetables and seafood. It is a warming alternative to a sushi meal.

Nearby sights

Otaru Canal · Sakaimachi Street

Transport nearby

Otaru Station · Minami-Otaru Station

Fit lunch around the canal and Sakaimachi Street, then leave time to get back to Otaru Station if you’re returning to Sapporo.

Hokkaido · Hakodate

Hakodate

What to eat in Hakodate · Hakodate shio ramen · Seafood rice bowls

Hakodate is known for shio ramen, with a clear, salt-seasoned broth. Seafood rice bowls at the morning market offer a different meal. Toppings and prices vary, so start with the seafood you actually want to eat rather than the biggest-looking bowl.

Nearby sights

Hakodate Morning Market · Motomachi

Transport nearby

Hakodate Station · Mount Hakodate Ropeway

The morning market near Hakodate Station is a natural stop for breakfast. For dinner, decide whether you’ll eat before or after Motomachi and the night view from Mount Hakodate.

Hokkaido · Prefecture-wide

Hokkaido

What to eat in Hokkaido · Jingisukan grilled lamb · Soup curry

Jingisukan brings lamb and vegetables together on the grill, making it a good meal to share in Hokkaido. Sapporo’s soup curry is quite different: a spiced broth with chunky ingredients and rice served alongside.

Look for restaurants in the Hokkaido city where you’ll be staying. Prefecture-wide results can include places well beyond a practical outing from Sapporo, Otaru, or Hakodate.

Miyagi · Sendai

Sendai

What to eat in Sendai · Sendai beef tongue · Seri hot pot

Gyutan is a Sendai speciality made from grilled beef tongue, not a generic beef barbecue. Seri nabe is a different option: a hot pot featuring Japanese parsley. It is particularly associated with colder months, so check whether it is on the menu during your visit.

Nearby sights

Sendai Castle Site · Ichibancho

Transport nearby

Sendai Station · Kotodai-Koen Station

For a meal before your train, stay close to Sendai Station. If you have the evening free, look around Ichibancho or Kotodai-Koen instead.

Aomori · Prefecture-wide

Aomori

What to eat in Aomori · Apple dishes · Ichigo-ni seafood soup

Apples are an obvious place to start in Aomori, but leave room for its seafood cooking too. Ichigo-ni is a clear soup made with sea urchin and abalone. An apple-based sweet makes a very different finish to the meal.

An apple-sweet break fits a stroll around Hirosaki. If ichigo-ni is on your wish list, look for it on the restaurant’s menu before making plans.

Iwate · Prefecture-wide

Iwate

What to eat in Iwate · Wanko soba · Morioka jajamen

Iwate’s noodle dishes offer very different meals. Wanko soba comes in tiny servings, while Morioka jajamen combines thick noodles with a minced-meat miso topping and cucumber.

In Morioka, choose the kind of noodle meal you want: the small, repeated servings of wanko soba or a bowl of jajamen. That gives you a useful starting point for picking a restaurant.

Miyagi · Prefecture-wide

Miyagi

What to eat in Miyagi · Sendai beef tongue · Seri hot pot

Sendai beef tongue is one of Miyagi’s best-known dishes: sliced beef tongue cooked on a grill. For a hot pot instead, seri nabe features fragrant Japanese parsley. It is seasonal, so check the menu for your travel dates.

A Matsushima day trip from Sendai could mean lunch by the bay and dinner back in the city. Leave a Sendai meal free if grilled beef tongue is on your list.

Akita · Prefecture-wide

Akita

What to eat in Akita · Kiritanpo · Inaniwa udon

Akita’s kiritanpo starts with mashed rice shaped around a skewer and grilled; it can then be added to a hot pot. Inaniwa udon offers a contrasting texture, with slender, smooth noodles.

If dinner comes with your onsen stay, Inaniwa udon can be a lunch option. Save a restaurant meal of kiritanpo hot pot for a day when dinner isn’t already arranged.

Yamagata · Prefecture-wide

Yamagata

What to eat in Yamagata · Imoni stew · Niku soba

Yamagata’s imoni is a taro stew whose meat and seasoning vary across the prefecture. Niku soba is another local favourite, with chicken and buckwheat noodles. The well-known cold version is worth considering if you usually order soba hot.

Ask which meat and seasoning a restaurant uses for imoni. The recipe varies across Yamagata, so trying it in more than one area can be part of the trip.

Fukushima · Prefecture-wide

Fukushima

What to eat in Fukushima · Kitakata ramen · Sauce katsudon

Food in Fukushima is often tied to a particular city: Kitakata for ramen, and Aizu for sauce katsudon. The latter puts sauce-coated pork cutlets over rice rather than cooking them in egg. Match the dish to the part of the prefecture you are visiting.

Look around Kitakata for a ramen meal, or Aizu for sauce katsudon. Keeping the dish and its city together makes it easier to work a food stop into your trip.

Tokyo · Shinjuku

Shinjuku, Tokyo

What to eat in Shinjuku, Tokyo · Ramen · Izakaya dishes

In Shinjuku, the useful question is whether you want one bowl or a meal to share. Ramen suits the first; an izakaya gives you several small dishes to order together. Menus vary widely, so choose a place for its food rather than the label alone.

Nearby sights

Shinjuku Gyoen · Kabukicho

Transport nearby

Shinjuku Station · Shinjuku-sanchome Station

In Shinjuku, the station exit matters almost as much as the restaurant address. Pick the side that suits your plans for Kabukicho or Shinjuku Gyoen so you don’t have to double back.

Tokyo · Shibuya

Shibuya, Tokyo

What to eat in Shibuya, Tokyo · Yakitori · Ramen

Ramen makes a straightforward meal during a day in Shibuya. For a more leisurely evening, yakitori means grilled chicken skewers, usually ordered in several kinds. Deciding between a noodle meal and skewers helps narrow down the neighbourhood’s many restaurants.

Nearby sights

Shibuya Scramble Crossing · Omotesando

Transport nearby

Shibuya Station · Harajuku Station

Stay near Shibuya Station for dinner after shopping, or eat in Harajuku or Omotesando if your day takes you farther north.

Tokyo · Ginza

Ginza, Tokyo

What to eat in Ginza, Tokyo · Edomae sushi · Tempura

Ginza is a place to consider Edomae sushi or tempura for a meal you want to take your time over. Sushi focuses on seafood and seasoned rice; tempura on freshly battered and fried ingredients. If you want a course meal, settle on a budget and allow enough time before booking.

Nearby sights

Ginza · Kabukiza Theatre

Transport nearby

Ginza Station · Yurakucho Station

Plan a meal around shopping in Ginza or a performance at Kabukiza. Ginza and Yurakucho stations give you two useful starting points for finding a place nearby.

Tokyo · Asakusa

Asakusa, Tokyo

What to eat in Asakusa, Tokyo · Tempura · Grilled eel

After visiting Senso-ji, two classic Asakusa meals to consider are tempura and grilled eel. Choose between crisp battered seafood or vegetables, and eel served with rice. If you have already stopped for street snacks, keep your appetite in mind when ordering.

Nearby sights

Senso-ji Temple · Sumida River

Transport nearby

Asakusa Station · Tawaramachi Station

After Senso-ji, look around the temple area or toward Asakusa Station for a meal. If a Sumida River walk is next, choose somewhere on that side of the neighborhood.

Tokyo · Ueno

Ueno, Tokyo

What to eat in Ueno, Tokyo · Yakitori · Sushi

After Ueno Park or Ameyoko, yakitori and sushi offer two different meals. Chicken skewers let you order a few varieties, while sushi makes sense when you want a seafood-and-rice meal. Choose a restaurant that suits the time you have, whether it is a short stop or dinner.

Nearby sights

Ueno Park · Ameyoko

Transport nearby

Ueno Station · Okachimachi Station

Take a meal break near Ueno Station after the park, or look toward Okachimachi if you’re continuing through Ameyoko’s shopping streets.

Tokyo · Tokyo Station

Tokyo Station

What to eat in Tokyo Station · Ramen · Edomae sushi

Ramen and sushi are both options around Tokyo Station, but neither guarantees a quick meal. If you have a train to catch, check the queue and leave time to reach your platform. A place close to the right station exit may be more useful than one across the complex.

Nearby sights

Marunouchi · Nihombashi

Transport nearby

Tokyo Station · Nihombashi Station

For a meal before the Shinkansen, choose somewhere in or close to Tokyo Station. Marunouchi and Nihombashi are options when you have more time, but allow for the trip back to your platform.

Kanagawa · Yokohama

Yokohama

What to eat in Yokohama · Shumai dumplings · Iekei ramen

Shumai are Yokohama’s familiar steamed dumplings. Iekei ramen goes in a richer direction, combining pork-bone broth and soy sauce. Decide whether you are in the mood for Chinese dishes or a noodle bowl before searching around Chinatown or the station.

Nearby sights

Minatomirai · Yamashita Park

Transport nearby

Yokohama Station · Minatomirai Station

Eat near Minatomirai or Yamashita Park while exploring the waterfront. Yokohama Station is a practical alternative if you’re about to head back to Tokyo.

Ibaraki · Prefecture-wide

Ibaraki

What to eat in Ibaraki · Anko hot pot · Hitachi beef

Anko nabe is Ibaraki’s monkfish hot pot, a good option when you want a warming seafood meal. Hitachi beef is the prefecture’s local beef brand.

For an anko hot pot reservation, ask how many people the order serves. If you choose Hitachi beef instead, decide on the cooking style and budget before booking.

Tochigi · Prefecture-wide

Tochigi

What to eat in Tochigi · Utsunomiya gyoza · Nikko yuba

Utsunomiya is known for gyoza, while Nikko is a place to try yuba. Made from the delicate skin that forms on heated soy milk, yuba has a different texture from tofu.

Leave time for a yuba meal while exploring Nikko. If your trip also takes you through Utsunomiya, gyoza gives you another local meal to look forward to.

Gunma · Prefecture-wide

Gunma

What to eat in Gunma · Mizusawa udon · Okkirikomi noodles

Gunma has more than one kind of noodle meal to try. Alongside Mizusawa udon, look for okkirikomi: wide wheat noodles simmered in the same pot as vegetables.

Search for the hot-spring town by name, such as Kusatsu, when choosing a restaurant. A Gunma-wide search can also show places in Takasaki, far from where you are staying.

Saitama · Prefecture-wide

Saitama

What to eat in Saitama · Kawagoe sweet-potato snacks · Waraji katsudon

Kawagoe’s sweet-potato snacks suit a break between walks, while Chichibu’s waraji katsudon is a full meal of large pork cutlets over rice. Both belong to Saitama, but they come from different towns. Pick the one that fits where you are going.

Leave some room at lunch if you want to try Kawagoe’s sweet-potato snacks. In Chichibu, waraji katsudon is more of a substantial meal than a quick bite.

Chiba · Prefecture-wide

Chiba

What to eat in Chiba · Namerou · Peanut dishes

Chiba’s namerou mixes finely chopped fish with miso and aromatics, giving it a different texture and flavour from sliced sashimi. Peanuts are another local speciality, appearing in both foods and sweets.

If you see namerou on a seafood menu, ask which fish is used. This chopped fish dish includes miso and aromatics, so the flavour varies with the ingredients.

Tokyo · Prefecture-wide

Tokyo

What to eat in Tokyo · Edomae sushi · Tempura

Edomae sushi and tempura are two classic Tokyo meals. One pairs seasoned rice with seafood; the other turns seafood and vegetables into crisp, battered bites. Both can range from a straightforward meal to a longer course, so decide on your budget and time first.

Start with the neighborhood you’ll visit, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza. If you already have a restaurant in mind, plan nearby sightseeing for the same day.

Kanagawa · Prefecture-wide

Kanagawa

What to eat in Kanagawa · Shumai dumplings · Iekei ramen

A stop in Yokohama brings two familiar Kanagawa specialities: steamed shumai dumplings and Iekei ramen. The ramen combines a rich pork-bone broth with soy sauce.

For a Hakone ryokan stay, check which meals are included before booking restaurants. If dinner is already arranged, use lunch for something you want to try outside the inn.

Yamanashi · Kawaguchiko & Mount Fuji

Kawaguchiko & Mount Fuji

What to eat in Kawaguchiko & Mount Fuji · Hoto noodle stew · Yoshida udon

Hoto is a warming meal around Kawaguchiko, with wide noodles cooked together with vegetables. Nearby Fujiyoshida is known for Yoshida udon, whose noodles are much firmer and chewier. Pick by the texture you prefer rather than treating them as the same dish.

Nearby sights

Lake Kawaguchi · Mount Fuji viewpoints

Transport nearby

Kawaguchiko Station · Mount Fuji Station

A lakeside meal fits a day around Lake Kawaguchi. If dinner is included at your accommodation, save the dish you want to try for lunch.

Aichi · Nagoya

Nagoya

What to eat in Nagoya · Hitsumabushi eel · Miso katsu · Tebasaki chicken wings

Hitsumabushi and miso katsu are two dishes to plan around in Nagoya. With hitsumabushi, you eat grilled eel over rice, then vary later helpings with condiments or broth; miso katsu is a breaded pork cutlet with rich miso sauce. Tebasaki chicken wings are another option to share at dinner.

Nearby sights

Nagoya Castle · Osu Shopping District

Transport nearby

Nagoya Station · Sakae Station

Nagoya Station is useful for a meal before a train or near your hotel. If you’re spending the day in Sakae or Osu, there’s no need to return to the station just to eat.

Ishikawa · Kanazawa

Kanazawa

What to eat in Kanazawa · Jibuni duck stew · Kanazawa seafood

Omicho Market is a familiar starting point for seafood in Kanazawa. For a different local dish, try looking for jibuni, a gently thickened stew often made with duck. It offers a warm alternative to another sushi or sashimi meal.

Nearby sights

Kenrokuen Garden · Higashi Chaya District

Transport nearby

Kanazawa Station · Hokutetsu-Kanazawa Station

Leave room for a proper meal during a day around Kenrokuen and Higashi Chaya. On departure day, eating near Kanazawa Station makes it easier to keep an eye on your train time.

Niigata · Prefecture-wide

Niigata

What to eat in Niigata · Hegi soba · Tare katsudon

Hegi soba gets its smooth, springy texture from seaweed mixed into the buckwheat dough. For a rice dish in Niigata, tare katsudon tops rice with pork cutlets coated in a sweet-savoury sauce.

Search Niigata city and Sado Island separately. A restaurant you want to try on Sado may fit better on a full island day than between ferry connections.

Toyama · Prefecture-wide

Toyama

What to eat in Toyama · Masu sushi · White shrimp

Toyama’s masu sushi is pressed trout sushi, quite different in shape and texture from individual nigiri. White shrimp from Toyama Bay is another local speciality.

If you want to take masu sushi with you, look for takeaway options; if you’d rather sit down, check that the shop serves meals on-site. The dish alone doesn’t tell you the type of place.

Ishikawa · Prefecture-wide

Ishikawa

What to eat in Ishikawa · Jibuni duck stew · Kanazawa seafood

Ishikawa is known for seasonal seafood, but its cooking is not all about fish. Kanazawa’s jibuni is a gently thickened stew, often made with duck.

If you’ve planned several seafood meals in Kanazawa, leave one for jibuni. It offers a different way to try local cooking without making every meal about fish.

Fukui · Prefecture-wide

Fukui

What to eat in Fukui · Echizen soba · Sauce katsudon

Grated daikon gives Fukui’s Echizen soba a peppery edge. It is worth trying if you already enjoy soba and want a regional variation. Sauce katsudon, with sauce-coated pork cutlets over rice, is another well-known local meal.

Can’t decide between Echizen soba and sauce katsudon? See whether a restaurant offers a way to try both, and ask about portions before ordering.

Yamanashi · Prefecture-wide

Yamanashi

What to eat in Yamanashi · Hoto noodle stew · Yoshida udon

Hoto is Yamanashi’s warming bowl of wide noodles cooked with vegetables. Fujiyoshida’s Yoshida udon has a notably firm, chewy bite instead.

Hoto makes a warming lunch after exploring around Mount Fuji. For Yoshida udon, plan a meal during a visit to Fujiyoshida.

Nagano · Prefecture-wide

Nagano

What to eat in Nagano · Shinshu soba · Oyaki dumplings

Shinshu soba is Nagano’s regional buckwheat noodle speciality. Between meals, oyaki are worth a look: dough wrapped around fillings such as vegetables or sweet red beans. Check the filling before choosing, as they can be savoury or sweet.

Oyaki can fill a snack break while exploring Nagano, Matsumoto, or Karuizawa. Check the filling first so you get the savoury vegetable or sweet red-bean version you’re in the mood for.

Gifu · Prefecture-wide

Gifu

What to eat in Gifu · Hida beef · Takayama ramen

Hida beef and Takayama ramen are two specialities to know for Gifu’s Hida region. The beef suits a meal built around meat, while Takayama ramen features thin, curly noodles.

If Hida beef is part of your Takayama plans, decide how much you want to spend on that meal. Keep another lunch free for Takayama ramen if you want to try both.

Shizuoka · Prefecture-wide

Shizuoka

What to eat in Shizuoka · Grilled eel · Shizuoka oden

Hamamatsu is known for eel, while Shizuoka City has its own style of oden. Its ingredients simmer in a distinctly dark broth.

Look in Hamamatsu for eel, or Shizuoka City for its local oden. Including the city with the dish is especially helpful when your trip covers several stops along the coast.

Aichi · Prefecture-wide

Aichi

What to eat in Aichi · Hitsumabushi eel · Miso katsu

Two Nagoya dishes are well known across Aichi: hitsumabushi and miso katsu. Hitsumabushi serves chopped grilled eel over rice, with condiments and broth to vary each helping. Miso katsu pairs a breaded pork cutlet with a rich miso sauce.

Give hitsumabushi and miso katsu their own meals if your group wants to try both. Look around Nagoya Station, Sakae, or Osu according to where you’ll spend the day.

Osaka · Namba & Dotonbori

Namba & Dotonbori, Osaka

What to eat in Namba & Dotonbori, Osaka · Takoyaki · Okonomiyaki

In Namba and Dotonbori, takoyaki is the small octopus-filled snack, while okonomiyaki is a more substantial griddled dish with cabbage and other fillings. If you want both Osaka favourites, share a portion of takoyaki and leave room for a sit-down meal.

Nearby sights

Dotonbori · Kuromon Market

Transport nearby

Namba Station · Nippombashi Station

Decide whether you want to snack around Dotonbori and Kuromon Market or sit down for a full meal. If you’re heading to Kansai Airport afterward, plan around your train from Namba.

Osaka · Umeda

Umeda, Osaka

What to eat in Umeda, Osaka · Okonomiyaki · Kushikatsu

Umeda has places serving Osaka favourites such as okonomiyaki and kushikatsu. Okonomiyaki is a full griddled dish, while kushikatsu lets you order different skewers of breaded, fried ingredients. Choose between one main dish and several small bites.

Nearby sights

Grand Front Osaka · Umeda Sky Building

Transport nearby

Osaka Station · Umeda Station · Kitashinchi Station

Osaka Station and Umeda have restaurants in connected buildings and underground malls. Save the building name and floor as well as the address to make the place easier to find.

Kyoto · Kyoto

Kyoto

What to eat in Kyoto · Yudofu tofu hot pot · Obanzai home-style dishes

Yudofu is a simple Kyoto lunch: warmed tofu with a dipping sauce. Obanzai offers a different way to eat, with several home-style dishes using ingredients such as seasonal vegetables. You can plan one meal around tofu and another around a selection of small dishes.

Nearby sights

Gion · Nishiki Market · Arashiyama

Transport nearby

Kyoto Station · Gion-shijo Station

Plan meals in Gion and around Nishiki Market separately from an Arashiyama day. Eat near the area you’re exploring, and consider Kyoto Station when you’re about to leave the city.

Hyogo · Kobe

Kobe

What to eat in Kobe · Kobe beef · Akashiyaki

Kobe beef is the obvious starting point for a meal in Kobe. For another Hyogo speciality, akashiyaki comes from neighbouring Akashi, not Kobe itself. These soft, egg-rich octopus dumplings are dipped in broth and make a very different food stop.

Nearby sights

Kitano Ijinkan · Kobe Harborland

Transport nearby

Sannomiya Station · Kobe Station

Look around Sannomiya after visiting Kitano, or Harborland after a waterfront walk. Once you’ve chosen a restaurant, check which station makes the most sense for getting there.

Nara · Nara

Nara

What to eat in Nara · Kakinoha sushi · Chagayu rice porridge

After a walk around Nara Park, look for kakinoha sushi or chagayu if you want a local meal. Unwrap the persimmon leaf before eating each piece of sushi; chagayu is rice porridge cooked with tea.

Nearby sights

Nara Park · Todai-ji

Transport nearby

Kintetsu-Nara Station · Nara Station

The area around Kintetsu-Nara Station works well for a meal after Nara Park and Todai-ji. If you’re taking a JR train, remember that JR Nara is a different station.

Mie · Prefecture-wide

Mie

What to eat in Mie · Ise udon · Tekone sushi

Ise udon is known for soft noodles rather than a firm, chewy bite. Tekone sushi, another Ise-Shima speciality in Mie, combines marinated fish with vinegared rice.

An Ise udon or tekone sushi meal fits before or after a shrine visit in Ise. For a Toba or Shima stay, compare restaurant plans with any dinner your accommodation offers.

Shiga · Prefecture-wide

Shiga

What to eat in Shiga · Omi beef · Funazushi

Omi beef is a familiar place to start with Shiga’s food. Funazushi is a more unusual choice: fish fermented with rice, with a pronounced sourness and aroma. Despite its name, it is very different from fresh-fish sushi.

Search Otsu, Hikone, and Omihachiman individually rather than using Lake Biwa alone. Including the town name helps avoid choosing a restaurant on the wrong side of the lake.

Kyoto · Prefecture-wide

Kyoto

What to eat in Kyoto · Yudofu tofu hot pot · Obanzai home-style dishes

Yudofu is a simple Kyoto meal of warmed tofu eaten with a dipping sauce. Obanzai brings together home-style dishes, often featuring vegetables and other seasonal ingredients. Both are worth knowing alongside the city’s more elaborate course meals.

Kyoto Prefecture listings can include places in Uji or Amanohashidate as well as Kyoto city. If your trip is based around Kyoto Station, check the town and address before booking.

Osaka · Prefecture-wide

Osaka

What to eat in Osaka · Takoyaki · Okonomiyaki

Takoyaki and okonomiyaki are two Osaka classics, but they suit different appetites. Takoyaki are small, round bites with octopus inside; okonomiyaki is a griddled cabbage-and-batter dish with added fillings. One works as a snack, the other as a sit-down meal.

Look around Namba while visiting Dotonbori and Kuromon Market, or Umeda during a shopping day around Osaka Station.

Hyogo · Prefecture-wide

Hyogo

What to eat in Hyogo · Kobe beef · Akashiyaki

Hyogo is home to Kobe beef and to Akashi’s akashiyaki. The latter are soft, egg-rich dumplings containing octopus, dipped in broth before eating. They are quite different from sauce-topped takoyaki.

Plan a Kobe beef meal in Kobe or try akashiyaki during an Akashi stop. If the trip includes a Kinosaki onsen stay, leave room for any meals served by your ryokan.

Nara · Prefecture-wide

Nara

What to eat in Nara · Kakinoha sushi · Chagayu rice porridge

Kakinoha sushi is wrapped in persimmon leaves; unwrap each piece before eating. Nara also has chagayu, rice porridge cooked with tea. It is a warm, simple alternative when you want something other than sushi.

After Nara Park, take a meal break around Kintetsu-Nara Station. If you need a JR train for the journey home, make sure you’re heading to JR Nara rather than the similarly named station.

Wakayama · Prefecture-wide

Wakayama

What to eat in Wakayama · Wakayama ramen · Mehari sushi

Wakayama ramen is known for its pork-bone and soy-sauce broth. In the Kumano area, mehari sushi wraps rice in pickled mustard leaves.

Leave time for a mehari sushi meal while exploring the Kumano area. It gives you something to try beyond the more familiar Wakayama ramen.

Hiroshima · Hiroshima

Hiroshima

What to eat in Hiroshima · Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki · Oysters

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki includes noodles, with batter and other ingredients built up in layers. It makes an interesting comparison with Osaka’s mixed-batter version. If oysters are also on your list, check which dishes are available for the season of your trip.

Nearby sights

Peace Memorial Park · Hondori

Transport nearby

Hiroshima Station · Genbaku-dome-mae Station

Hondori is a useful area for a meal break after Peace Memorial Park. Choose somewhere near Hiroshima Station if you’re leaving for another city afterward.

Tottori · Prefecture-wide

Tottori

What to eat in Tottori · Matsuba crab · Gyukotsu ramen

Matsuba crab is a winter speciality in Tottori. If you are visiting in another season, or simply want noodles, gyukotsu ramen uses a beef-bone broth. It is a useful alternative to the pork-bone ramen found in many other regions.

If Matsuba crab is the reason for your trip, ask whether the restaurant serves it during your travel month. Confirm the menu as well as the date before reserving a winter crab meal.

Shimane · Prefecture-wide

Shimane

What to eat in Shimane · Izumo soba · Lake Shinji clams

Izumo soba and Lake Shinji’s small shijimi clams are two names to know in Shimane. Soba makes a full noodle meal, while the clams often appear in soups and side dishes. Look for “shijimi” on English or Japanese menus.

Try a soba meal in Izumo, then look for Lake Shinji clams while visiting Matsue. For an Oki Islands trip, make sure any restaurant you choose is actually on the island you’re visiting.

Okayama · Prefecture-wide

Okayama

What to eat in Okayama · Barazushi · Horumon udon

Okayama’s barazushi combines vinegared rice with a variety of toppings. Tsuyama’s horumon udon takes a different direction, stir-frying noodles with offal.

If you enjoy offal, leave time for horumon udon in Tsuyama. If it’s not your taste, barazushi gives you a different local dish to plan a meal around.

Hiroshima · Prefecture-wide

Hiroshima

What to eat in Hiroshima · Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki · Oysters

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki layers batter, vegetables and noodles on the griddle rather than mixing everything together. The layers are easy to see when it is cut. Oysters are another regional speciality, with dishes varying by season and restaurant.

Browse the toppings when choosing a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki restaurant. If you also want oysters, ask which oyster dishes are offered during your visit.

Yamaguchi · Prefecture-wide

Yamaguchi

What to eat in Yamaguchi · Fugu · Kawara soba

Fugu is one of Yamaguchi’s best-known foods, but kawara soba is another distinctive meal. Noodles and toppings arrive on a heated roof tile. It looks very different from a bowl of soba in broth.

For a fugu meal, read how the fish is prepared in the course you’re considering. If you want kawara soba, menu photos of the tile-served noodles can help you find the right dish.

Tokushima · Prefecture-wide

Tokushima

What to eat in Tokushima · Tokushima ramen · Sudachi citrus dishes

Tokushima is known for regional ramen with a pork-based broth, though its colour and flavour vary between shops. Sudachi, a small citrus fruit, adds a tart, fragrant note to other local dishes.

Use the photos and menu descriptions to choose a Tokushima ramen shop, as the broth differs between places. A dish with sudachi on the side lets you try another local flavour.

Kagawa · Prefecture-wide

Kagawa

What to eat in Kagawa · Sanuki udon · Anmochi zoni

Sanuki udon is Kagawa’s familiar favourite, known for its firm, chewy noodles. Anmochi zoni is a less familiar local dish: soup containing rice cakes filled with sweet red bean paste. Its sweet-savoury combination is quite different from an udon meal.

Plan a Sanuki udon meal during a Takamatsu or Kotohira visit. If you’re also taking a ferry, give lunch enough time rather than squeezing it in just before departure.

Ehime · Prefecture-wide

Ehime

What to eat in Ehime · Tai meshi sea-bream rice · Jakoten fish cake

Tai meshi is Ehime’s sea-bream rice dish, but the style depends on the area: the fish may be cooked with the rice or served raw on top. Check which version you are ordering. Jakoten, a fried fish cake made from small fish, is another local speciality.

Before ordering tai meshi, ask whether the sea bream is cooked with the rice or served raw. Choose the version you want rather than relying on the dish name alone.

Kochi · Prefecture-wide

Kochi

What to eat in Kochi · Katsuo tataki · Imokenpi sweet-potato sticks

Kochi’s katsuo tataki is bonito seared on the outside and sliced, leaving a contrast between the cooked surface and the centre. For something sweet afterwards, imokenpi are crisp, sweetened sweet-potato sticks.

Make a katsuo tataki stop while exploring Kochi city, and save imokenpi for a sweet snack later.

Fukuoka · Hakata

Hakata, Fukuoka

What to eat in Hakata, Fukuoka · Hakata ramen · Mentaiko spicy roe

Hakata ramen is a natural first meal in the area, with thin noodles in pork-bone broth. For a rice-based meal instead, look for dishes featuring mentaiko, the seasoned spicy roe associated with Fukuoka. Planning one of each gives you some variety during your stay.

Nearby sights

Hakata Station · Canal City Hakata

Transport nearby

Hakata Station · Gion Station

If you’re staying near Hakata Station, dinner nearby keeps the trip back to your hotel simple. On a shopping day, look in and around Canal City instead.

Fukuoka · Tenjin

Tenjin, Fukuoka

What to eat in Tenjin, Fukuoka · Hakata ramen · Motsunabe hot pot

Motsunabe is a good dish to consider for a shared dinner in Tenjin: a hot pot of offal and vegetables. Hakata ramen offers an individual bowl of thin noodles and pork-bone broth instead. Choose with your group size and appetite in mind.

Nearby sights

Tenjin Underground Shopping Center · Nakasu riverfront

Transport nearby

Tenjin Station · Nishitetsu-Fukuoka Station

Stay around Tenjin Station or the underground shopping area for dinner after shopping. If you’re planning a riverside walk in Nakasu, look for a place along the way.

Nagasaki · Nagasaki

Nagasaki

What to eat in Nagasaki · Nagasaki champon · Sara udon

Choosing between champon and sara udon in Nagasaki? Champon brings seafood, vegetables and noodles together in broth; sara udon puts a thick sauce over noodles. For sara udon, check whether the restaurant serves the crisp thin-noodle or thicker-noodle version.

Nearby sights

Dejima · Glover Garden

Transport nearby

Nagasaki Station · Dejima Station

Lunch fits naturally between Dejima and Shinchi Chinatown. For an evening with a night-view stop, decide whether dinner comes before or afterward so you don’t have to rush.

Kumamoto · Kumamoto

Kumamoto

What to eat in Kumamoto · Basashi horse sashimi · Karashi renkon

Kumamoto’s basashi is raw horse meat, while karashi renkon is a cooked dish of lotus root filled with mustard miso and fried in a coating. The latter combines crunchy lotus root with a sharp mustard flavour. Knowing the ingredients helps you choose what you are comfortable eating.

Nearby sights

Kumamoto Castle · Sakuramachi

Transport nearby

Kumamoto Station · Torichosuji Station

After Kumamoto Castle, look toward the Kamitori and Shimotori shopping streets for a meal. Leave time to get from downtown back to Kumamoto Station if you have a train to catch.

Miyazaki · Miyazaki

Miyazaki

What to eat in Miyazaki · Chicken nanban · Miyazaki beef

Chicken nanban is an approachable Miyazaki meal: fried chicken with a sweet-and-sour dressing, often paired with tartar sauce. If you would rather plan dinner around beef, look for Miyazaki beef.

Nearby sights

Aoshima · Miyazaki Shrine

Transport nearby

Miyazaki Station · Miyazaki Airport Station

For a city dinner, start around Miyazaki Station or Nishitachi. On an Aoshima day, you could have lunch on the coast and dinner back in town.

Fukuoka · Prefecture-wide

Fukuoka

What to eat in Fukuoka · Hakata ramen · Mentaiko spicy roe

Hakata ramen pairs pork-bone broth with thin noodles and is one of Fukuoka’s signature meals. Mentaiko, seasoned spicy roe, appears with rice and in a range of other dishes.

Leave a meal free for rice or another dish with mentaiko as well as your Hakata ramen stop. Look near where you’ll be shopping or staying in Hakata or Tenjin.

Saga · Prefecture-wide

Saga

What to eat in Saga · Saga beef · Yobuko squid

Saga beef is a starting point for a meat-focused meal, while Yobuko is known for squid, particularly sashimi.

Plan a squid meal as part of a Yobuko visit. If you’d rather try Saga beef, set a budget for the meal before comparing menus.

Nagasaki · Prefecture-wide

Nagasaki

What to eat in Nagasaki · Nagasaki champon · Sara udon

Nagasaki champon is a noodle soup with seafood and vegetables. Sara udon serves a thick sauce over noodles instead, with both crisp thin-noodle and thicker-noodle versions. The choice is as much about texture as it is about ingredients.

For champon or sara udon during a Nagasaki city stay, start with city restaurants. Prefecture-wide results also cover Sasebo and the Goto Islands, so check the location.

Kumamoto · Prefecture-wide

Kumamoto

What to eat in Kumamoto · Basashi horse sashimi · Karashi renkon

Two Kumamoto menu names are worth learning before you order: basashi is raw horse meat, while karashi renkon is lotus root filled with mustard miso, coated and fried. The mustard gives karashi renkon its distinctive sharpness.

Basashi is raw horse meat; karashi renkon is lotus root filled with mustard miso. Check that everyone is comfortable with raw meat or a sharp mustard flavour before ordering.

Oita · Prefecture-wide

Oita

What to eat in Oita · Toriten chicken tempura · Dango jiru soup

Toriten is Oita’s chicken tempura, worth trying if you usually order karaage and want a different style of fried chicken. Dango jiru is a warming soup with wheat-flour dough and vegetables.

After an onsen visit in Beppu or Yufuin, consider toriten or dango jiru for your next meal. Choose by whether you’re in the mood for something fried or a warming soup.

Miyazaki · Prefecture-wide

Miyazaki

What to eat in Miyazaki · Chicken nanban · Miyazaki beef

Miyazaki’s chicken nanban combines fried chicken with a sweet-and-sour dressing, often finished with tartar sauce. For a beef meal instead, look for the regional Miyazaki beef brand.

Menu photos can help you choose the sauce and accompaniments you’d like with chicken nanban. Save a Miyazaki beef meal for a day when you want to take your time over dinner.

Kagoshima · Prefecture-wide

Kagoshima

What to eat in Kagoshima · Kurobuta pork · Keihan chicken rice soup

Kagoshima is known for kurobuta pork, but Amami’s keihan offers a different kind of meal. Chicken and other toppings go over rice, followed by hot chicken broth.

Decide how you’d like your kurobuta pork, whether as a cutlet or a grilled dish, before choosing a restaurant. For keihan, look specifically for the Amami dish on the menu.

Okinawa · Okinawa Main Island

Okinawa Main Island

What to eat in Okinawa Main Island · Okinawa soba · Goya champuru

On Okinawa’s main island, soba means a wheat-noodle soup rather than buckwheat noodles. Goya champuru is a stir-fry built around bitter melon. If you enjoy a bitter note in your food, it is a good dish to order with rice.

Nearby sights

Kokusai-dori · Chatan

Transport nearby

Naha Airport Station · Kencho-mae Station

Choose meals in Naha separately from those around Chatan or the north of the island. Check the map before booking so dinner doesn’t mean a long detour from your hotel.

Okinawa · Ishigaki

Ishigaki Island

What to eat in Ishigaki Island · Yaeyama soba · Ishigaki beef

Yaeyama soba is Ishigaki’s regional wheat-noodle soup and a useful idea for lunch. Ishigaki beef gives you a different plan for a meat-focused dinner.

Nearby sights

Ishigaki Port · Kabira Bay

Transport nearby

Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal · New Ishigaki Airport

A meal near Ishigaki Port fits a day using the island ferries. For a Kabira Bay outing, decide whether you’ll eat nearby or return to town for lunch.

Okinawa · Miyakojima

Miyakojima

What to eat in Miyakojima · Miyako soba · Mozuku seaweed

Miyako soba is the island’s local wheat-noodle dish. For something alongside it, look for mozuku, a fine-stranded edible seaweed used in Okinawan cooking.

Nearby sights

Yonaha Maehama Beach · Irabu Bridge

Transport nearby

Miyako Airport · Hirara Port

Plan lunch near the beach you’re visiting, then look around Hirara or your accommodation for dinner. Keep the drive back in mind when choosing an evening restaurant.

Okinawa · Prefecture-wide

Okinawa

What to eat in Okinawa · Okinawa soba · Goya champuru

Despite the name, Okinawa soba uses wheat noodles rather than buckwheat. Goya champuru is a stir-fry featuring bitter melon, with a distinctly bitter note.

Before booking, check whether the restaurant is on the main island, Ishigaki, or Miyakojima. Being in Okinawa doesn’t mean it’s on the island where you’re staying.