Traditional foods in Japan are very much a part of each citizen’s life and identity. Food is the touchstone of any country’s culture, and Japan is no exception. Most Japanese festivals and holidays are associated with certain special times of food. At the same time, Japan’s traditional foods are found on just about every dinner table in the country.

Japan’s foods are found not only with the Japan, but outside of Japan, as well. Japanese restaurants and cookbooks are very popular in many countries throughout the world. Travel companies advertise Japan’s food as being one of the chief reasons for visiting Japan.

Japanese traditional foods are known for being relatively low in fat and sugar, and yet still remaining very tasty to both the Japanese and tourists alike. Ancient Japan food traditions still survive today. Drinks and food in Japan that you find in restaurants today are often very similar to those you would have found 100 or more years ago.

Of course, the food preferences of Japan and its people vary by person and by region, and certainly you will come across some regional favorites. However, the various types of Japanese foods described below can be found in almost every part of the country, as well as in Japanese restaurants and personal kitchens abroad.

Here are some fun facts about Japanese food:

Rice Dishes

Rice is the staple of all of Asia, and Japan is no exception. While North America and Europe have wheat and Latin America has corn, for Japan it’s all about the rice.

Some of the most famous and popular rice dishes in Japan are:

Rice bowl: Most Japanese meals are served with a bowl of plain white rice. Sometimes, toppings like raw egg or soy sauce are added for flavor.

Domburi: These delicious bowl dishes are lunchtime favorites in Japan. It is essentially a rice bowl whereby the rice is covered by toppings such as egg and chicken, pork (katsudon) and beef (gyudon).

Kare raisu: Japanese curry tastes very different than Indian or other types of curry. It is milder and usually brown or yellow in color. Curry rice consists of curry sauce poured over rice. It is an inexpensive meal and is also very popular among school-age children.

Onigiri: “Onigiri” literally means “something you grab.” They are rice balls, usually lightly-salted and filled with meat or fish. You can find them very cheaply at Japanese convenience stores.

Fried rice: Also called chahan, fried rice is Chinese stir-fry. It is usually mixed with peas, onions, carrots, pork or other small food morsels while being fried.

Chazuke: This is a rice dish prepared with green tea and other ingredients.

Seafood Dishes

Being an island nation, the Japanese love seafood. It has been a part of their traditional diet for thousands of years. Today you can find literally hundreds of different varieties of fish and shellfish in Japan. Japanese seafood is served raw, boiled, dried, grilled, deep-fried or even steamed.

The varieties of seafood dishes in Japan are many, but here are three particularly popular ones:

Sushi: Sushi is probably the most well-known type of Japanese food among foreigners. It consists of raw fish that has been rolled together or bound (with seaweed) to rice, egg and other ingredients. Sushi is not eaten on a daily basis by most Japanese, but rather is often reserved for special occasions and celebrations.

Sashimi: Dozens of varieties of fish can be eaten raw. Sashimi is usually consumed with soy sauce and sometimes with the spicy green condiment called wasabi.

Yakizakana: This is simply grilled fish. Unlike in the West, in Japan grilled fish is often served with the bones and head intact.

Noodle Dishes

Next to rice, noodles are one of the most consistently-eaten staple foods in Japan. There are many varieties of noodles in the typical Japanese diet. They can be served hot or cold. Here are by far the most popular noodle dishes:

Soba: This is a noodle variety that is native to Japan. They are made with buckwheat flour (or sometimes with a mixture of buckwheat and wheat flour). They are a relatively thin noodle and can be served hot, cold, or fried.

Udon: This popular Japanese noodle variety is made with wheat flour. They are thicker than soba noodles and can also be served hot or cold.

Ramen: The Japanese originally borrowed ramen noodles from the Chinese but today have made it their own. It is a very thin noodle, usually served hot in a bowl with ingredients such as vegetables, fish cakes, and hard-boiled eggs.

Yakisoba: This is a deep-fried Chinese noodle dish served with vegetables, meat and ginger. This is a popular favorite among kids and adults alike.

Soy Bean Dishes

Soy (soya) beans are a high-protein vegetable that the Japanese use to make tofu, miso and other commonly-eaten foods. Here are some typical soy bean dishes found in the Japanese diet:

Agedashi: These are deep-friend pieces of tofu that are dipped in soy by the diner before consumption.

Miso soup: You will find miso soup served at any time of the day. It is often served as an accompaniment for a main dish.

Yudofu: These are pieces of tofu boiled in a clear sauce before being dipped in soy sauce upon eating.

Nabe Dishes

A nabe is a big, thick cooking pot. Nabe dishes are any of a variety of popular dishes prepared in a nabe pot. This could be seen as the Japanese answer to American comfort food. It is often served on cold winter days. Three of the most popular nabe dishes are:

Oden: This consists of fish cakes, Japanese radish (daikon), boiled eggs, konyaku, and seaweed boiled for a few hours.

Sukiyaki: Sukiyaki is a Japanese word many foreigners have heard before. This nabe dish consists of thinly-sliced meat, vegetables and noodles that are dipped into raw egg before eating.

Shabu-shabu: Like sukiyaki, shabu-shabu consists of thinly-sliced meat, vegetables and tofu. It is dipped into a hot soup and then into sesame seed sauce or vinegar.

Meat Dishes

In ancient Japan, meat such as pork, beef and chicken were not commonly consumed. However, since the late 1800s when Japan began to reconnect with the West, meat dishes began to become integrated into everyday Japanese meals. Here are some of the most popular meat dishes:

Yakitori: This is simply skewered chicken pieces, often basted with a brown, mildly-sweet sauce.

Tonkatsu: This dish consists of deep-fried pork and is usually served with shredded cabbage or on top of white rice.

Niku jaga: This is a home-style dish consisting of meat (niku) and potatoes (jagaimo).