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Japan is known for showcasing its local and seasonal ingredients. From tropical Okinawa to the snowy mountains of Hokkaido, Japan’s diverse landscape and long history have allowed each of the 47 prefectures and cities to develop their unique cuisine. With plenty of matsuri (festivals) and shoutengai (traditional shopping streets) you ought to find irresistible street food anywhere you visit Japan.
Osaka
Osaka is often referred to as "the nation's kitchen" and is one of the best destinations for street food.
is Osaka's best-known street food. These golden-brown balls of batter filled with grilled octopus are crispy on the outside and gooey in the centre and are topped with a sweet, tangy, savoury sauce, mayonnaise, and bonito flakes.
Okonomiyaki is another famous street food of Osaka you cannot miss. A savoury pancake with shredded cabbage, meat and assorted seafood drizzled with savoury sauce, mayonnaise, bonito and seaweed flakes. There are a number of variations to the okonomiyaki, but the Osaka or Kansai style is the most predominant. Try making one at home with .
Bubble and squeak okonomiyaki Source: Adam Liaw
Kyoto
While you can enjoy Kyoto's finest matcha traditionally in tea houses and restaurants, out on the streets there's an extensive array of matcha-inspired sweets, from ice cream to mochi, crepes, parfait, and even tiramisu and baumkuchen.
Kyoto is also famous for its yuba, a by-product of boiled soy milk high in protein and iron. While yuba is often used in shojin ryori or Buddhist meals, its versatility has allowed for creative street food in recent times, like yuba-cheese - a fish cake infused with cheese, wrapped with yuba and deep-fried.
Sapporo
Situated in Northern Japan, Sapporo is famous for its extensive local produce, from seafood to dairy, lamb and plenty of vegetables. Nijo Market will offer you the freshest seafood in town if you're a seafood lover. Crabs, sea urchins, prawns and salmon roe are some of the top picks, whether you have them as sushi, donburi (on a bowl of rice) or as straight sashimi.
Sapporo is also famous for its , and corn! If you're lucky to visit the town in summer, take advantage of the cobs of sweet Hokkaido corn at Odori Park. Slightly grilled with butter and soy sauce, children are sure to fall in love. There are plenty of corn-inspired snacks for souvenirs too.
Okinawa
Situated far south of Japan's main island, Okinawa is known for its enchanting fusion of diverse cultures. From the neighbouring Asian countries to the presence of an American Naval base on the island, Okinawan cuisine beautifully embodies the unique blend of influences. You cannot talk Okinawan cuisine without pork, and when discussing street food, Okinawan style onigiri with spam and egg is not to be missed.
is another popular Okinawan dish, originating from the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. On the other hand, is a deep-fried sugar doughnut influenced by Southern Chinese cuisine. Made of local black sugar, these are crunchy on the outside and cakey on the inside.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is renowned for its yatai or open-air food stalls, typically open for dinner until the early hours of the morning. Some of the top picks include (Japanese dumplings), oden (one-pot dish) and (chicken skewers), but Hakata ramen is what Fukuoka is famous for. The tonkotsu or pork broth-based ramen is one of the most famous ramen in Japan.
Hakata Ippudo ramen, Sydney Source: Yusuke Oba
