Food in Japan

In the food world, Japan is one country that has achieved food superiority in a broad range of varieties. The food processing methods have earned the Japanese a reputation as undeniably unique among the great cuisines of the world.

A course meal of tempura (天ぷら) with miso soup served in a Japanese restaurant
Photograph taken at a restaurant located in Kyoto[kio:to] (京都市、京都市、きおとし)

In a high cost living country, 'ramen' is one of the most preferred Japanese noodle dish. It is affordable and delicious. It consist of wheat noodles served in meat or fish-based broth, commonly flavored with soy sauce and topping with dried seaweed.

A fish-baed broth ramen flavored with miso served in a Japanese restaurant
Photograph taken at a restaurant located in Tokyo (東京、とうきょうと)

Apart from Japanese cooked dishes, their packaged foods are also widespread in the food industry. Japanese foods have long been regarded as forerunners in food safety, by having established stringent rules and regulations to maintain good quality and reputation of their global market.

A local food stall that selling package food
Photograph taken at Ryōan-ji, Kyoto. (京都市、京都市、きおとし)

Japan has the highest quantity of vending machines per capita due to relatively high cost of labor. In Japan vending machines are known as 自動販売機 (jidō-hanbaiki), where jidõ means automatic, and hanbai (vending), and ki(machine). There are various kinds of vending machines selling wide range of goods such as food, snacks, drinks, cigarettes, liquor bottles, bus/train ticket purchasing. 

Picture above shows a vending machine promoting a new series of heavy flavored ice-cream
Photograph taken in Tokyo (東京、とうきょうと)

A bowl full of traditional plum candies dip in caramel
Photograph taken in Nakamise street (仲見世、なかみせ)

Frozen Japanese marshmallow candy
Photograph taken in Nakamise street (仲見世、なかみせ)

A flag of a stall selling ice-cream with Matcha(抹茶、まっちゃ) flavor
Photograph taken in Nakamise street (仲見世、なかみせ)

Taiyaki (たい焼き), a fish-shaped Japanese snack commonly with red bean paste
Photograph taken in Nakamise street (仲見世、なかみせ)

Mini version of Japanese marshmallow
Photograph taken in Nakamise street (仲見世、なかみせ)