Wanna immerse yourself in local Japanese culture when in Japan? Try Japanese street foods! Japanese cuisine has some of the largest variety in all of the world, especially because of each region’s ability to make every dish their own.
With hundreds of festivals illuminating the streets of Japan each year, food vendors creep out of the shadows to spread the mouthwatering joy of their treasured street food through their roadside stalls. These dishes have held a legacy of affordable yet delicious dishes since the 20th century.
If you find yourself in Japan, you should definitely look out for these tasty eats and put them down on your eating list! Japan’s street food culture is a little bit different from the rest of the world, in that they aren’t as common in everyday sights, which is why we’ve also created a list of locations to narrow down your search.
Top 10 Japanese street foods you need to try:
- Yaki-imo
- Okonomiyaki
- Ikayaki
- Kakigori
- Taiyaki
- Senbei
- Dango
- Takoyaki
- Bento
- Nikuman
6 best places to to get a taste of Japan’s food culture:
- Tsukiji Fish Market – Tokyo
- Okage Yokocho – Mie
- Takayama Sanmachi – Gifu
- Nakasu – Fukuoka
- Tennoji District – Osaka
- Nishiki Market – Kyoto
What is Japanese Street Food?
Part of your cultural experience in Japan should cover its most delicious dishes. Besides ramen, Japan’s street food has a wide range, from skewered treats to traditional sweets, sold among lively stalls in markets and festivals.
What are some popular Japanese street food dishes?
1. Yaki-imo
Taste 100 years of tradition in every bite. Credits to Chris Gladis on Flickr
You hear a cheerful melody slowly drifting closer...“yaki-imo, yaki-imo, yaki-imo!” The seductive smell of roasted potatoes creeps into your senses leaving you no choice but to submit to the temptation. A customised cart with a potato-filled wooden stove stops in front of you. It’s here, your yaki-imo—small dishes of delicious roasted sweet potatoes!
Yaki-imo directly translates to baked potato, but is often used to refer to Japanese sweet potatoes, or Satsuma-imo, which takes its name from the Satsuma region on Kyushu Island. These potatoes provide an irresistible subtly-sweet and toasty scent that is especially popular in the country during the winter. If you ever hear the catchy tune from a yaki-imo man or woman, pay them a visit and engulf your taste buds with warm starchy heaven.
2. Okonomiyaki
It’s everything you love in one delicious pancake!
Pile all of your favourite foods together, add batter and make a pancake out of it. Bam! Now you have okonomiyaki! Well, not exactly, but try the same cooking method with ingredients like octopus, shrimp, pork, yam or kimchi, and you’ll be able to create this Japanese street food favourite that won’t be difficult to find in Japan at all.
With mayonnaise and sweet sauce drizzled on the top, the savoury pancake provides a hearty meal customised to your palette. Nab down the perfect combination of ingredients and allow okonomiyaki to live up to its namesake of providing “what you like,” which is exactly what ‘okonomi’ means, while ‘yaki’ translates to “grilled.” Our suggestion? Head over toOsakafor Japan’s best okonomiyaki.
Klook Tip: Save up on travel with a JR West Kansai Pass and enjoy unlimited train travels around Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and heaps more!
Need more reasons to book a Japan Rail Pass? Here’s a guide to help you decide:
3. Ikayaki
It might seem a little unconventional, but one bite of this yummy Japanese street food will change your mind!
Don’t flake out just yet! Vendors selling squid pierced through the length of its body with a wooden skewer stick is completely normal in Japan and particularly inOsaka. Vendors grill the skewered squid and then top it off with soy sauce. Its simple recipe leaves room for customers to experience the freshness and delightfully chewy texture of the squid. This yakitori may be a simple snack, but when cooked correctly, the slimy meat transforms into a plump and tender culinary work of art.
Wanna experience more of Osaka? Discover exciting things to do at Osaka:
4. Kakigori
We promise this isn’t just a regular snow cone!
Kakigori is a fine example of how Japan can take an existing invention and improve on it tenfold. This summer treat leaves snow cones in the dust with added condensed milk, sweetener and flavoured syrup. Sure, the add-ons are simple, but they change the course of the game. The typical shaved ice transforms into a feathery soft cloud of sweet holiness. You can taste the rich sweetness as you would with ice cream, but the light consistency of the kakigori leaves your body feeling guilt free!
This cool treat has been popular since 11th century Japan and even has its own day, known as Kakigori Day, every 25th of July. You can find Japanese shaved ice being sold by street food vendors, at summer festivals, and at Kakigori specialty stores.
5. Taiyaki
Don’t worry, there isn’t any actual fish in this yummy treat!
Don’t be fooled by the fish imprint in the sweet doe, Taiyaki has nothing to do with sea creatures. Particularly common in Tokyo (but any tourist towns will sell it) and eaten as a dessert or snack, vendors regularly fill these golden fish pieces with red bean paste, custard, chocolate or cheese.
Taiyaki is named after the red sea bream fish, ‘tai,’ the Japanese street food it’s shaped after. There’s continued debate in Japan about the proper way to eat the treat. Head first or tail first? It’s yours to decide.
6. Senbei
Don’t worry, there isn’t any actual fish in this yummy treat!
Pour yourself a cup of green tea and munch on one of these delectable rice crackers. Senbei come in a plethora of sizes, shapes and flavours. The crackers are usually baked or grilled, and are enhanced with soy sauce and mirin (a rice wine condiment). Senbei usually are savoury, but can also be sweet. They are made from baked or grilled non-glutinous rice and are one of the oldest and most popular foods in Japan, having been around since the Tang Dynasty.
Senbei is often offered to guests as a warm welcome, but in the ancient city of Nara, the sacred deer that roam the area have learned of these delicious treats, and might even bow for a cracker when offered one. If that doesn’t prove how delicious this simple snack is, we don’t know what will!
7. Dango
Don’t worry, there isn’t any actual fish in this yummy treat! Credits to @smallfamily88
Cleanse your palette from Japan’s fishy cuisine and treat yourself to a sweet skewer of dango. These spherical Japanese dumplings are made from mochiko (rice flour) and blanketed with a delectable layer of shoyu and sugar sauce. Most dango prefer to stay sweet, but the level of sweetness depends on the type of dango. If you’re feeling like a light sugary snack, try the kawaii colored hanami dango, which is pink, white, and green. For those craving a bite of something heavy, rich and gooey, take a shot at the sweet potato-filled ikinari dango.
8. Takoyaki
Watch the bonito flakes toppings dance on freshly-cooked Takoyaki
Sink your teeth into these warm luscious spherical treats. Takoyaki is a ball-shaped pancake made of a wheat flour-based batter. The fried dish is usually filled with seafood, such as octopus, and topped with mayonnaise, ginger pickles, and fermented fish flakes. These savoury balls have their own special griddles equipped with cast iron moulds that help create that classic spherical shape. With similar ingredients to okonomiyaki, Osaka is also a firm favourite for getting your takoyaki fix.
9. Bento
Bento boxes are beloved by children, students, employees, and tourists!
A hot lunch spot in the business districts in Japan, bento stands are super popular and usually sell out in less than an hour. These colourful boxes are full of an assortment of meat, rice, and vegetables, and altogether offer an easy and delicious way to consume multiple dishes from one compact box. Some bentos you might find include chicken teriyaki bentos, grilled salmon bentos, beef steak bentos and even some with eggs and tempuras!
With the fierce competition from surrounding restaurants, street vendors and convenience stores, these local stands depend on loyal customers. Bento also appeals to expats and visitors who prefer more affordable and convenient meals. There’s also no need to worry about struggling with the language when pointing at your preferred box is all that’s needed.
10. Nikuman
Nikuman is widely available—from street vendors to convenience stores to Chinese restaurants. Credits to masamunecyrus on Flickr
Prepare yourself for a texturally-pleasing steamy dough wrapped around a savoury pork onion mixture. Nikuman is the Japanese equivalent of Chinese bao (steamed buns). These classic buns are the perfect way to warm yourself up; hence, they are typically served during the frosty winter season.
Nikuman are warm, juicy, and filled to the brim with pork. Although ‘niku’ refers to meat, some stores offer a variety of special fillings, such as pizza, chicken, or hamburger. All in all, Nikuman are one of the less outlandish street foods in Japan, so everyone from picky eaters to children will love biting into the soft buns.
Ready to tackle more unique Japanese food? Take on the challenge with some unusual food combinations that actually exist in Japan!
Where are the best Japanese street foods located?
Ready your ‘buds for a hoppin’ food trip at the best street food locations in Japan!
- Tsukiji Fish Market – Tokyo
- Okage Yokocho – Mie
- Takayama Sanmachi – Gifu
- Nakasu – Fukuoka
- Tennoji District – Osaka
- Nishiki Market – Kyoto
1. Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo
Seafood lovers will have their fill, but there are also sweet treats and non-seafood options available. Credits to @rinappps
Just by its name, you can tell that Tsukiji Fish Market is a go-to spot for fresh seafood and street food. Although the inner markets had been relocated to Toyosu Market, the outer markets and restaurants are all still there. Drop by the quaint market for some tamagoyaki (Japanese-style fried egg), eel skewers, and grilled scallops. If eel skewers haven’t piqued your interest, a serving of fresh sea urchin will certainly capture your attention.
Klook Tip: Explore some more delicious seafood offerings at Tsukiji Fish Market, as well as the rest of Tokyo with JR Tokyo Wide Pass.
2. Okage Yokocho in Mie
Don’t forget to fill up before going into the shrine or right before leaving. Credits to @ichiban_japan
Mie Prefecture isn’t as widely visited as other areas in Japan, but it’s definitely a location you need to add to your itinerary. It’s home to the historical Ise Grand Shrine, the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes, the Meoto Iwa sacred rocks, among many more notable landmarks. Near the Ise Grand Shrine is the street of Okage Yokocho, which provides delicious treats for visitors of the shrine. Look forward to dango, grilled cakes with red bean filling, and fried oysters!
Travel through the city of Ise, as well as Kumano and Wakayama, with absolute ease when you have the 5-day JR Osaka to Nagoya Pass.
3. Sanmachi, Takayama in Gifu
Don’t worry, there isn’t any actual fish in this yummy treat! Credits to @nana.s.321
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a trip to the Sanmachi district of Takeyama. The area has preserved its traditional aesthetics, transporting you back in time to the Edo period. Examine the historic architecture as you munch on the star local delicacy: Hida-gyu or Hida Beef, which refers to the breed of black-haired Japanese cattle found in Gifu. They come in the form of sushi, in a fluffy bun, or pierced through a skewer.
4. Nakasu in Fukuoka
The streets are filled with so many delicious things to try! Credits to @yuyuu_k on Instagram
The oldest city in Japan has more than just rich history and beautiful beaches; it also has delicious treats! Freshly grilled chicken skewers, extra fine udon noodles, hearty hot pots (nabe) — call it a feast when you visit Nakasu in Fukuoka. Among the top go-to dining spots of locals, this lively neighbourhood is jam-packed with phenomenal dines and over 20 yatai (street food stalls) strung along the river banks. Here, you’ll get to drool over Hakata Ramen, a Fukuoka speciality, and Yakiramen, aka fried ramen, while enjoying the vibrant vibes around!
5. Tennoji District in Osaka
Good food and gorgeous sights combined! Credits to @meisuryanidewi on Instagram
Fun fact: Osaka is the tenka no daidokoro of Japan—aka the nation’s kitchen and culinary capital! With heaps of mouthwatering food all around, the city is every foodie’s dream destination. Visit Tennoji District in Central Osaka, and you’ll have a grand time filling your tummies with thinly sliced pork belly and cabbage cooked as okonomiyaki, and even a kitsune udon for some Kansai-style noodles. After which, you can stroll around the charming neighbourhood and visit the Abeno Harukas, the tallest skyscraper in Japan.
6. Nishiki Market in Kyoto
Try Kyoto’s famed dish: Tako-Tamago. Credits to @megmegrumegram on Instagram
Get ready to treat your taste buds with fresh seafood as you take a trip to Kyoto’s food central. The Nishiki Market lets you discover the city’s best chows. The traditional market has endless rows of stalls ranging from seafood to cookware and to Kyoto specialities, such as pickles and tako-tamago (skewered octopus and eggs).
Which city has the best street food in Japan?
Aaaand the winner of the best street food award in Japan? *Drumroll, please!* are Tokyo and Osaka! While each city in Japan has something special to offer, these two are the ultimate foodie paradise with heaps of streets that are brimming with all kinds of tasty dishes.
From traditional Japanese dangos and yakitori (skewered BBQ chicken) to izakayas that serve sake (rice wine), your tummies will be bursting with great food!
Klook Tip: Wanna make the most out of your food trip? Hit up all the legendary dining spots in Tokyo with the ultimate food tour, where you’ll savour monja-yaki pancakes and have an izakaya experience.
Do’s and don’ts of eating street food in Japan
Before you chow, here are some street food etiquette tips in Japan to help you avoid blunders during your trip:
Slurp away!
Common etiquette may tell you that loud slurping is rude, but in Japan, slurping is a show of appreciation. In Japanese culture, slurping your noodles shows how much you enjoy the meal, so the next time you eat in a ramen shop, feel free to slurp away!
Don’t eat while walking
You see it everyday: Aussies strolling along the streets, enjoying their food. However in Japan? It’s considered somewhat rude. Many food vendors will have signs that request customers to finish their food first before hopping on the next stall.
Itadakimasu!
Like any tourist hoping to visit Japan, learn the habit of saying itadakimasu before digging in your meals. The phrase means “I humbly receive,” and is a local custom for saying grace before eating.
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