15 Japanese Foods to Try in Japan: Our Family’s Favourite Food Experiences

15 Japanese Foods to Try in Japan: Our Family’s Favourite Food Experiences

Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the food in Japan.

The variety caught me off guard. You’ve got sushi and ramen, sure, but also thick, steaming bowls of udon, pan-fried gyoza with that perfect crunchy lace, sizzling tabletop meats, and an endless parade of sweets. There really is something to satisfy everyone.

Still, eating here turned out to be about far more than just the flavours on our tongues.

Our favourite meals weren’t always culinary masterpieces. Often, it was the clatter of a tiny neighbourhood shop, the steam rising between our faces, and the simple joy of sharing a table together.

Tossing two kids into that mix made every meal an adventure in itself.

Regular readers already know the dynamic: Evelijn inspects every speck of food with deep suspicion. Anneloes, however, surprised us constantly by jumping headfirst into flavours she’d never seen before. Then you have me, ready to order anything that smells remotely promising.

Over three and a half weeks, we made our way through noisy sushi bars, smokey grills, tiny neighbourhood cafés, cartoon-themed Disney snacks, and even the quiet hush of a traditional tea ceremony.

A few dishes won us over instantly. Others were a hard pass. And plenty turned into running jokes we’ll still be laughing about years from now.

Here are 15 Japanese dishes you’ll want to track down, along with the meals that stuck with us long after we flew home.

1. Sushi 🍣

1. Sushi 🍣
Sushi belongs at the top of the list. We ate as much of it as we could during our trip, and it goes so far beyond the standard rolls back home. Between delicate tuna nigiri, fresh sashimi, and basic maki, there was plenty to pick from.

With our crew, though, we had to keep things grounded. Evelijn, our resident picky eater, had zero interest in raw fish. Instead, she happily stuck to cucumber rolls, bowls of edamame, and no surprise here plain steamed rice. The rest of us could order whatever caught our eye while she munched happily away. Popping those warm, salty soybeans right out of their pods kept her entertained and fed. That was our biggest takeaway for travelling through Japan with an unadventurous eater: you do not need to push them to try every single thing. A little rice and cucumber can save the day.

2. Ramen 🍜
Few things hit the spot like ramen after clocking twenty thousand steps. Sinking onto a wooden stool over a hot, rich broth filled with springy noodles, pork, greens, and a soft-boiled egg just melts away tired feet. Different regions lean into entirely different broth styles, too, which gives you every excuse to sample a new shop whenever you’re hungry.

3. Gyoza 🥟
These pan-fried dumplings quickly turned into a dinner staple for us. They come stuffed with minced meat and vegetables, with that irresistible contrast between a soft wrapper and a deeply crispy base. They land in the middle of the table, ready to share, making them a brilliant fallback when kids are feeling hesitant about the rest of the menu.

4. Tempura 🍤
Light, airy, and fried clean, good tempura never feels like greasy heavy junk food. The giant battered shrimp get all the attention, but the vegetables were our real favorites. Thick cuts of sweet potato and kabocha pumpkin turn wonderfully soft and sweet inside that golden crunch.

5. Yakitori 🍢
We smelled these smoky chicken skewers long before we saw them. Grilled over hot coals and finished either with a dusting of sea salt or brushed with a sweet, glossy tare sauce, they are straightforward and so satisfying. You’ll spot them everywhere from cozy neighborhood izakayas to tiny train station stalls, and they make an easy, familiar bite on busy evenings.

6. Okonomiyaki 🥞
If you find yourself in Osaka, go tracking down okonomiyaki. This thick, savory pancake comes packed with shredded cabbage, batter, pork, or seafood, finished off with sweet brown sauce, swirls of creamy kewpie mayo, and dried flakes that dance in the heat. It looks messy on the plate, but the flavor is pure comfort. Osaka takes its food seriously, and this dish is central to the city. Have a peek at our Osaka with Kids guide if you’re mapping out family spots there.

7. Takoyaki 🐙
Another Osaka classic you’ll see sizzled on massive griddles down every alleyway. Cooks rapidly spin these round batter balls stuffed with tender bits of octopus, then smother them in brown sauce and dancing bonito flakes. They are wildly fun to watch, but heed our warning: let them sit for a minute. The creamy batter inside stays boiling hot and will burn your tongue before you realize what happened.

8. Karaage 🍗
Japanese fried chicken simply does not miss. The meat is marinated, tossed in potato starch, and fried until the crust shatters while staying juicy inside. Whenever the kids hit a wall with new menus, a basket of karaage was our instant, guaranteed win.

9. Japanese Curry 🍛
Unlike fiery curries from elsewhere, Japanese curry is thick, savory, mildly sweet, and poured generously over sticky white rice. It feels like pure home cooking. When everyone was drained from walking all afternoon, sliding into a booth for a warm plate of curry gave us exactly the comfort we needed.

10. Onigiri 🍙
These triangular rice packets wrapped in crisp nori seaweed became our go-to fuel. Filled with everything from salmon and tuna mayo to pickled plum, they sit on every convenience store shelf across Japan. They cost pocket change, pack easily into a day bag, and kept hungry kids going on long train rides.

11. Udon 🍜
If ramen is all about the broth, udon is all about the noodle. These fat, bouncy wheat noodles have an incredible chew to them, served either piping hot in a dashi broth or chilled alongside a dipping sauce. Order a bowl of each during your travels and see which side of the noodle debate your family lands on.

12. Yakiniku 🔥🥩
This was hands down Anneloes’s favorite meal of the entire trip. We slid into a booth around a sunken tabletop grill in Tokyo, handed her the metal tongs, and let her take charge of dinner. Apparently, cooking her own supper makes all the difference when you are thirteen.

She turned surprisingly bold at the grill, too. When a cut of oxtail arrived, we braced ourselves for a skeptical frown. She took a bite, chewed, and shrugged: “What? It’s good.” Just like that, oxtail joined the rotation alongside the crunchy seaweed salad she couldn’t stop eating. Check out our Tokyo with Kids guide for the rest of our favorite city spots.

13. Shabu-Shabu 🍲
Much like the grill nights, shabu-shabu turns your meal into an event. A pot of seasoned broth bubbles in the middle of your table while you swish paper-thin ribbons of beef and crisp greens through the steam until they cook through. It keeps little hands occupied, slows the meal

Japan’s Most Fun Food Experiences

We didn’t just stick to the traditional spots, either. Looking back, some of my favorite meals had less to do with high-end cooking and everything to do with the sheer spectacle of dinner.

Take the night in Tokyo we spent being served by actual robots.

Was it the finest dining we had on the trip? Not even close. We ordered bowls of rice, noodles, and meat, and the flavors were totally standard. But the robots rolling up to our table stole the entire show. The kids were completely glued to them, eyes wide every time one whirred past.

Even better, the kitchen happened to have pasta on the menu a massive win for our crew. So while we slurped our noodles, Evelijn happily demolished her bowl of pasta without a single complaint.

No drama, just simple food brought over by machines and kids grinning from ear to ear. You really can’t ask for much more on a busy night in Tokyo.

A Long Potato Near Mount Fuji 🍟

We spent the whole day wandering around Mount Fuji, and as we strolled through the park, Anneloes stopped dead in her tracks. Something caught her eye immediately.

If you’re curious about how the rest of our day went, I put together a full [Mount Fuji with kids Guide] with all the details.

Right now, though? Let’s talk about the food.

Really, really long fries.

They looked amazing, sizzling hot, and the oily, salty smell drifting through the air had us hooked instantly. Anneloes was dead set on trying them, so we grabbed a serving of Long Potato, which you’ll often spot labelled as Toro Fries.

Except they caught us off guard.

The crunch on the outside was great, but the inside was surprisingly soft, almost mashed-potato fluffy. While that might sound pretty good on paper, it wasn’t what Anneloes had pictured when she set her heart on classic, crispy street fries. She had a couple of bites, chewed slowly, and politely confessed they weren’t really her style. Full credit to her for giving them a shot, though. Half the joy of travel is simply taking a punt on something unfamiliar. Sometimes you strike gold, and sometimes you just learn that extra-long Japanese fries aren’t your bag. 😄

A Cinnamoroll Café for Evelijn 💙☁️

Then came the Cinnamoroll pilgrimage. Anyone who’s read our stories before knows Evelijn is completely obsessed with him. Finding out there was an actual Cinnamoroll Café in Japan meant we had zero choice in the matter. We were walking through that front door, no questions asked.

To Evelijn, we might as well have walked straight into Sanrio heaven. Every square inch had his sweet face on it, from the pastel wallpaper down to the plates and foaming lattes. We didn’t trek across town for a culinary masterclass; we went purely for the magic of it. Seeing her eyes light up the second we walked in made every yen worth it. Sometimes family travel is just about indulging the little things your kids are wild about.

A Cat Café 🐱

We made a stop at a cat café, too. And I’ll be honest: nobody goes to these places for the drip coffee. We went for the paws. The girls barely glanced at the drinks menu, completely transfixed by the furry little residents snoozing on cushions and high wall shelves. You grab your cup, find a quiet spot on the floor, and just wait. With cats, you can’t rush things you simply cross your fingers that one deems you interesting enough to saunter over for a chin scratch. The cats run the show, and we all know it.

A Pig Café 🐷

Next up: a pig café. Yes, you read that right. A café where you sit on the floor and hang out with tiny, snuffling micro pigs. Did we expect Michelin-star snacks? Not for a second. We went purely because… piglets!

It was wonderfully strange, the kind of delightfully odd afternoon you just won’t stumble across back home. That’s the real charm of Japan for us. Right alongside ancient wooden shrines, stone castles, and neon-drenched alleys, you get these gloriously weird little pockets. Sipping tea while cats nap nearby? Sure. Sharing a room with micro pigs? Why not? Hunting down a cartoon pup because your daughter loves him to bits? Done.

A Magical Dinner at the Harry Potter Restaurant 🪄

Dinner at the Harry Potter restaurant was another level of fun. How could we pass this up?

Stepping inside felt like walking right onto a movie set, with spell-themed plates that made dinner feel like an actual event. The menu was packed with brilliant touches: Philosopher’s Stone Pancakes, Golden Snitch Pancakes, a fluffy Hedwig Omelet, and massive Hogwarts House Burgers. Picking our order was half the entertainment, honestly.

The drinks, though, stole the spotlight. We ordered the Expecto Patronum, a vivid blue concoction served with a giant, shimmering smoke bubble resting on the glass. The kids watched it like hawks, holding their breath until POP! It burst right at the table, sending up a tiny cloud of scented vapour. The kids went wild for it, and truth be told, the adults were just as charmed.

Was it the finest meal we had in Japan? Probably not. Did that matter? Not in the slightest. The mood was electric, the plates made us smile, and watching that smoky blue bubble pop made for a memory we’ll talk about for years. It was silly, fun, and completely unforgettable. 🪄💙

Want Even More Harry Potter Magic?

If your family loves the books and films, this dinner spot is a blast to throw into your plans. But if you want the full-scale, jaw-dropping version, you really have to head down to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.

The Wizarding World there operates on an entirely different level. Walking the cobblestones of Hogsmeade with Hogwarts Castle looming overhead pulls you right into the story. After having so much fun at dinner, making the trip out to the park in Osaka was the easiest decision we made all week. If you share that wizarding itch, pair the themed dinner with a day at Universal Studios Japan you won’t regret it. 🪄✨

Even McDonald’s Is Different in Japan 🍔🇯🇵

And then there was McDonald’s.

Whenever we travel, the golden arches are usually the dead last place on our radar. There are simply too many local street stalls and family-run spots to explore, so why waste a meal on something we could order on a Tuesday back home?

Japan, however, broke our rule.

The menu over here is practically its own universe, loaded with things that never make it anywhere near our local drive-thru. There was one item in particular that stopped Dad right in his tracks:

the Teriyaki Burger.

Not the kids. Not me, either.

Nope, this mission belonged entirely to Dad. 😂

He’d read about the Teriyaki Burger, a Japanese McDonald’s staple coated in that glossy, sweet-and-savoury sauce that makes it taste nothing like the standard burgers back home. And so, after endless bowls of steaming ramen, fresh sushi counters, sizzling tabletop grills, and pocketfuls of convenience-store snacks, there we were: sitting under the golden arches in Japan.

Honestly? Sometimes curiosity wins, and you just want to see how another country spins something so familiar. Plus, there was no talking Dad out of his taste test. 😉

Would we fly across the world just to hit up a drive-thru? No way. But would we suggest popping in for a quick peek at the local menu if you walk past one? You bet.

Definitely.

Even a place as familiar as McDonald’s hits a little differently once you’re halfway across the globe.

Eating in Japan with Kids

If I had one piece of advice after weeks of eating across Japan, it’d be this: take a deep breath and stop worrying about the food.

Before we boarded our flight, I spent plenty of nights wondering how the kids would handle it. One of ours isn’t exactly the most adventurous eater on the planet, so I was braced for mealtime battles. Turns out, feeding everyone was shockingly easy.

Between the simple noodle bowls, familiar bites, and convenience store shelves lined with warm snacks, we never went hungry. Even at traditional sit-down spots, we always managed to track down dishes that worked. Evelijn stuck happily to cucumber rolls, warm salted edamame, plain pasta, and steady bowls of steamed white rice. She also got her dream Cinnamoroll cafe fix and took whisking her own frothy matcha very seriously. Anneloes surprised us all by diving headfirst into tabletop barbecue, tender oxtail, and tangy seaweed salads. As for me? I found out that soft, chewy Disney Alien mochi was the snack I never knew I was missing.

That’s the real joy of family trips, isn’t it? Nobody has to eat off the exact same plate. You don’t have to love every single bite, and every dinner doesn’t need to be a grand cultural test. Sometimes you push outside your comfort zone, sometimes you stick to the safe favorites, and sometimes you tip over your green tea bowl, splash the counter, and turn bright red laughing. 😂

Planning Your Family Trip to Japan?

I know how overwhelming it feels to plan a family trip to Japan. Between the endless train routes, the sheer volume of things to do, and the food you want to try, figuring out an itinerary that won’t run your kids into the ground is tough.

That’s why we built our Travelicious Family Itineraries.

Instead of losing your evenings to dozens of open browser tabs trying to calculate travel times and find family-friendly hotels, you can take our route and adapt it to your own crew. Our Japan plan comes straight from our own three-and-a-half-week trip with the kids, covering Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka, and a few stops in between.

If Japan has been sitting on your bucket list forever, we can help you shape it into a vacation that actually runs smoothly.

Because traveling here isn’t just about rushing between famous landmarks. It’s really about the smaller memories that catch you off guard. Slurping hot bowls of broth together after walking ten miles. Whisking bitter green foam during a quiet Kyoto tea ceremony. Sitting around a smoky grill cooking our own dinner in Tokyo, or laughing over chewy little green Alien Mochi at Disney. And yes, figuring out in real time which Japanese dishes your kids will inhale and which ones they won’t touch with a ten-foot pole.

If you’re ready to get this trip on the calendar, let me help you build your plan.

Itadakimasu!

Read our How to Travel on for more tips and inspiration.

Read our Ultimate Japan Packing List for more tips and inspiration.

Read our Nara with Kids for more tips and inspiration.