Japanese food: what to eat and how
Eating is the number-one thing visitors say they came for. These guides explain how restaurants, ticket machines, izakaya and konbini work, what to try in each region, and how to eat with allergies or dietary needs.
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Food
What to eat in Japan: must-eat foods for 2026
What to eat in Japan in 2026: the must-eat foods visitors rate best, what Japanese people eat every day, regional dishes, prices and how to order.
Food
Japanese convenience stores: what to buy, prices
Japanese convenience store food and prices for 2026: what to buy at 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart, which chain is best, and how to pay, use ATMs and print.
Food
Ramen in Japan: prices, styles and where to eat
Ramen in Japan in 2026: what a bowl costs (about 620 yen in Tokyo), the regional styles to try, where to find the best ramen, how to order and pork-free bowls.
Food
Japanese snacks to buy: best picks and prices
The best Japanese snacks to buy in Japan in 2026: the most popular brands, where to buy them cheaply, prices in yen, Japan-only flavours and what you can take home.
Tools for this topic
Free tool
Allergy card generator
Tick your allergens and diet, get a polite Japanese card to show at any restaurant. Copy or print.
Free tool
Travel phrases
Forty phrases that cover trains, taxis, restaurants, shopping and emergencies, with audio and romaji.
Other sections
- Plan Money, trains, SIM cards, entry rules, luggage, hotels and the questions that come up before every trip to Japan — answered from official sources and dated.
- Shopping What visitors actually buy in Japan, where to buy it, how tax-free shopping works in 2026 and what you can and cannot take home.
- Culture Japanese etiquette, customs, festivals and traditions explained for visitors: what to do at a shrine, in an onsen, on a train and at the table.
- Things to do Ideas for what to do in Japan by interest: nature, hot springs, skiing, anime, temples, theme parks, day trips and seasonal experiences.