Japan is famous for its distinct culture and a taste of Japanese cuisine can immediately tell the country’s culture, tradition, and even beliefs. Millions of tourists flock to this eastern territory just to have a go with the most unusual, never heard yet tasty foods only found and normally eaten in Japan. Eating Japanese food is what actually completes ones visit to Japan; not trying any one of the listed food below equates to not going to Japan at all. So ready your palates to a one of kind gastronomic trip that can only be fulfilled in Japan.
Before heading to Japan, you first need to know whether you belong to one of 67 nations exempted from securing a Japanese tourist visa. If you do belong to one of these nations, then you do not need to apply for a visa. However if you are not a citizen of any of the exempted nations, then you will need to apply for a Japanese tourist visa. Here are the requirements to secure a visa:
- Completed visa application form
- Filled out letter of guarantee
- Filled out letter of reason for invitation
- Full itinerary in Japan
- List of visa applicants
- Overview of company (if invited for a business trip)
- Current passport
- Couple of passport picture
A Taste of Japanese Cuisine:
Japanese cuisine reflects the culture, traditions, and even the beliefs of the entire nation. The locals strictly follow the quality over quantity rule when serving local dishes. For this reason, a lot of traditional restaurants serve in small portions but promises its customers a gastronomic journey with every bite.
Tempura:
Probably the most familiar Japanese food in the list, tempura is deep fried seafood or vegetable coated with a light, cold batter. The most common type of tempura is the “ebi” or the shrimp tempura which a lot of Japanese restaurants all around the world serve.
Tempura is a dish that is believed to have been passed on by some Portuguese traders that went to Japan during the ancient times to barter goods. Now, there are many existing restaurants in Japan that specializes in all kinds of tempura. Go to one of these restaurants and order both ebi and kakiage (vegetable) tempura.
Sashimi:
Another familiar Japanese food that is so unique to the country is sashimi. Sashimi is any raw, thinly sliced fish served with a side of soy sauce, pickled ginger, and a dollop of wasabi. Japanese take there sashimi seriously; in fact, it is one of the most expensive seafood dishes in the country.
The freshest catch with the best meat warrants a hefty fee. There are even some local hole-in-a-wall restaurants that serve limited supply of sashimi because the owners only want to serve the best. The most popular type of sashimi is made from tuna. Selling and purchasing tuna in Japan is a serious business. The best quality of tuna can cost to about $1,000 or even more. When in Japan, do try different types of sashimi like tuna, salmon, and sea bass. You have not had a taste of Japanese cuisine if you have not tried sashimi.
Udon:
Japanese love to eat noodles and one of their several noodle dishes is udon. This thick noodle is made from wheat flour combined with water and egg that is kneaded to perfection.
The best udon is still handmade and a lot of local restaurants in Japan serve this until now. Udon can be served as a soup or as a dry noodle dish cooked with soy sauce and spring onions. The best udon restaurants in Japan are usually small stalls with countertops where customers slurp their bowl or plate of udon standing up.
Soba:
Another popular noodle dish amongst the locals, Soba is a slightly dark-colored noodle made from buckwheat. Unlike udon, soba noodles are thin and long. Soba can be served hot or even cold which a lot of foreigners find odd.
Locals love to eat cold soba after a night of drinking or to cool down after a long day in the office. Soba is usually served with soy sauce and a sweet dipping sauce.
Okonomiyaki:
If pizza is a famous snack in Italy, okonomiyaki is a famous snack in Japan. This pancake-type of dish is made from thinly sliced vegetables, seafood, and even meat that are put together in a wheat flour batter.
This pancake is cooked on a hot plate and topped with a generous serving of a special okonomiyaki sauce, finely chopped green onions, and bonito flakes. This affordable dish can be shared by two or three people, depending on your appetites.
Unagi:
Japanese love to eat river eel and when you are in Japan there is no perfect place to try this exotic dish that in the country itself.
This slivery fish is perfectly filleted and cooked fresh over charcoal while being brushed by a special Japanese sweet sauce. Unagi may be an acquired taste for most foreigners but it is quite an experience to try it even just once. At least at the end of your trip, you can have bragging rights and say that you have tasted an exotic fish in Japan.
Yakitori:
This is Japan’s version of kebab instead yakitori is chicken, beef, or pork skewered on Japanese bamboo which gives the meat a unique taste. Yakitori is famous in Osaka where a lot of local street food stalls can be found.
Do spend an evening in one of the many yakitori stalls in Japan and sample all sort of chicken, beef, or pork parts. Why not try chicken liver or pork intestines for a change?
A Taste of Japanese Cuisine – A Palatable Treat!
Are you excited to try all these unique Japanese eats? Then prepare your documents and apply for your short-stay, tourist visa and you will surely have a gastronomic time of your life! Should you have any questions or need any assistance is getting a visa or getting an itinerary for the visa application, you may contact us through our website or Facebook page.
Enjoy your sumptuous and delectable trip as you have a taste of Japanese cuisine.
