Stefanie Akkerman moved from the Netherlands to Japan in 2013 with her Japanese husband and son. She jumped into the niche of Dutch tour guiding in Tokyo and Kamakura in 2015 and occasionally writes articles about all the great sights and activities Japan has to offer. She loves (Japanese) food, and to work that all off she goes diving, snorkeling, cycling, or hiking.
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One of the best parts of your stay in Japan will be the food. Japanese cuisine is not only one of the best in the world, but it is also one of the most varied kitchens with many regional specialties. Indeed, many international guests are impressed with the Japanese food scene and can’t stop raving about it! Most people enjoy the great food in Japan by eating at one of the many restaurants (did you know Tokyo is home to somewhere around 150,000 restaurants?) but how about street food? While street food is not as common as in, for example, Thailand, most larger cities in Japan do have a lively street food scene that deserves to be checked out. Let us show you the best spots to get street food in Japan!
▼Try some of Japan’s best street food on our Tsukiji Fish Market tour!▼
- 1. Nakasu (Fukuoka)
- 2. Hoppy Street (Tokyo)
- 3. Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo)
- 4. Sunamachi (Tokyo)
- 5. Utsunomiya Yatai Yokocho (Tochigi)
- 6. Kuromon Market (Osaka)
- 7. Nishiki Market (Kyoto)
- 8. Omicho Market (Kanazawa)
- 9. Okage Yokocho (Mie)
- 10. Takayama Sanmachi Street (Gifu)
- Enjoying a range of Japanese food
- Japan Wonder Travel Food Tours
- Other articles you might enjoy
1. Nakasu (Fukuoka)
Port city Fukuoka on the southern island Kyushu has one of the most iconic street food scenes in Japan. In Nakasu (中洲), the city’s infamous entertainment center, cozy ‘yatai’ food stalls open every night around 6 pm.
Street food in Nakasu
Locals love grabbing a bite and a drink or two in these stalls along the riverside, and you’re welcome to join! Try typical yatai dishes like yakitori, oden, and tempura. If you’re a bit adventurous and like strong flavors, you can eat mentaiko as well, concentrated pollack roe. And of course, a steaming bowl of Hakata ramen should definitely be on the menu as well.
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2. Hoppy Street (Tokyo)
Most tourists don’t stray far away from Asakusa’s main street Nakamise Dori. But if you do decide to go 2 blocks west you will find Hoppy Street (ホッピー通り), a street chock-full of lively small restaurants with outdoor seating and a traditional atmosphere.
Street food in Hoppy Street
Named after the light beer that is served in cheap izakaya all over Japan, you can grab some delicious but affordable bites here. Famous dishes to try in Hoppy Street are motsuni (beef tripe stew) and sashimi including some less common ones such as horse. For less adventurous eaters there are yakitori, grilled fish, and deep-fried ham cutlets.
Asakusa Local Food Bar Hopping Tour is one of our best tours in Tokyo including sake tasting, a visit to a typical Japanese bar izakaya, and monjayaki restaurant which is Tokyo’s specialty food. Don’t you agree that you can truly get a local experience only when you are with one of the locals? A local guide can order what you should get in the area, and it’s a pleasant surprise that you get to eat something unexpected and it’s good.
▼Check out our bar hopping tour in Asakusa
3. Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo)
While the famous tuna auction and wholesale market have relocated to Toyosu, Tsukiji (築地) is still very much worth a visit for foodies. The outer food market is still there, and this is still one of Tokyo’s best places to eat fresh seafood and other types of street food. A small maze of little streets, it is fun to walk around while deciding what you’re going to be having.
Street food in Tsukiji Fish Market
We wholeheartedly recommend the tamagoyaki (Japanese style fried egg), menchi-katsu (fried hamburger), grilled scallops, an eel skewer, and the fresh sea urchin for the daredevils among us. If you really want to dive into Tsukiji’s delectable food heaven, we offer food tours to discover the treasures of Tsukiji Market with an expert fellow foodie to show you the best there is.
▼Discover Authentic Japanese Cuisine with Our Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Tour
Experience Tokyo like a local and immerse yourself in authentic Japanese food culture with our Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Tour! Explore the vibrant market with over 400 stores, try a variety of Japanese foods, and savor the freshest sushi at a local restaurant. Our expert guides will be there to assist you every step of the way, whether you’re a first-time visitor or have limited Japanese language skills. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable culinary adventure! Join our tour now.
Recommended article: 10 Best Foods to Try at Tsukiji Fish Market
4. Sunamachi (Tokyo)
Sometimes it is just fun to go to a spot that hasn’t been discovered yet by most tourists and get a feel of the local lifestyle. The Sunamachi Ginza (砂町銀座) is a perfect example of such a place. Situated in a quiet suburb of Tokyo, this local shopping street boasts many little food shops that have been there for generations.
Street food in Sunamachi
It feels a bit as if time stood still here, and many of the delicacies are typical Japanese dishes. We really love the juicy yakitori, the gyoza-related shapin, unagi eel, oden, and tempura. Do you want to discover Sunamachi with a local? We offer a great food tour here as well, including a ‘kanpai’ street party!
5. Utsunomiya Yatai Yokocho (Tochigi)
Stopping by Utsunomiya on the way to Nikko – one of the most popular (day) trips from Tokyo? This city is famous for its juicy and delicious gyoza, the fried or steamed dumplings traditionally filled with flavorful meat. If you want to try these together with other types of street food, Utsunomiya Yatai Yokocho (宇都宮屋台横丁) is a very atmospheric place to do so. With more than 20 small restaurants in a small street and a convivial mood, Yatai Yokocho prides itself on serving foods and drinks that are made with locally sourced products. Make sure to taste some sake, it goes well with the food!
6. Kuromon Market (Osaka)
The city of Osaka is famed for being the street food capital of Japan. With a large street food scene offering delicious snacks you must try, Osaka is a must-visit for foodies! Food markets in Japan are always a good place to see what the locals like to eat. Because many shops also hand out food samples, you can see if you like it before you buy it. There are many shops and small restaurants in Osaka’s covered Kuromon Market (黒門市場), and it is hard to decide where to start!
Street food in Kuromon Market
You should definitely come hungry, as you can devour delicacies such as takoyaki, wagyu beef, and seafood like crab, tuna, and scallops. Osaka’s slogan isn’t ‘Kuidaore’ (eat till you drop) for nothing!
7. Nishiki Market (Kyoto)
Just like Osaka’s Kuromon Market, the Nishiki Market (錦市場) in Kyoto gives visitors a great idea of how varied the diet is in Japan’s beautiful former capital. This 400-year old market is very popular, which is no wonder with more than 130 stalls and small shops and enough variety in available dishes to make even the pickiest eater happy.
Street food in Nishiki Market
Street food that can’t be missed in Nishiki Market is yuba (tofu skin), Japanese-style croquette, Japanese-style omelet, and crunchy sesame crackers. Our Nishiki and Gion Food Tour takes you to Nishiki Market for a bunch of different local snacks and sweets before exploring the narrow streets in the famous geisha district Gion.
8. Omicho Market (Kanazawa)
Kanazawa is an interesting town on Japan’s west coast with one of the country’s most beautiful landscape gardens Kenrokuen and charming traditional town districts. One of the other highlights is the Omicho Market (近江町市場) with some of the most incredible seafood in the country!
Street food in Omicho Market
The freshness of the kaisendon (raw seafood over rice) available here is unparalleled and you will certainly have one of your best meals in Japan here. There are also other popular street foods available such as oden, curry bread, and Kanazawa’s special gold flake sweets like the famous golden ice cream Kinpaku. Are you getting hungry already? We offer a fun Kanazawa food tour where you will visit Omicho Market and one of the traditional districts with a local food lover.
9. Okage Yokocho (Mie)
Often skipped by foreign tourists but very much worth a visit is Mie Prefecture with its pilgrimage paths in nature, Ama divers, an actual Ninja village, and the well-known Ise Grand Shrine which is the principal shrine of Shinto religion.
Street food in Okage Yokocho
Near the gate of the shrine is Okage Yokocho (おかげ横丁), a lively street that is lined with food stalls catering to the many people visiting the shrine. You can get typical local snacks here like dango, seasonal fruit juices, different varieties of tofu, grilled cakes with a red bean filling and fried oysters. There are also delicious meals to enjoy like sushi, soba noodles, curry rice, and seafood over rice. Okage Yokocho is a great place for lunch before or after you visit Ise Grand Shrine!
10. Takayama Sanmachi Street (Gifu)
Sanmachi Street (さんまち通り) in Takayama is one of Japan’s most famous townscapes. This preserved town still has many wooden buildings that are more than 100 years old and strolling around here will make you feel like you’re back in the Edo Period.
Street food in Sanmachi Street
You can enjoy traditional snacks here like croquettes, dango, senbei, and gohei mochi (rice cake), but the center stage is taken by the local wagyu, Hida beef. You can eat the beef that melts in your mouth in different variations: as sushi, in a fluffy bun, and on a skewer. And don’t forget to pair your street food feast with a good glass of local sake!
Enjoying a range of Japanese food
No matter where your trip to Japan takes you, there is always a good spot to grab some delectable street food in the area! Japan is renowned for its high quality cuisine that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds! And if you want to get the best possible experience, booking one of our many food tours will get you exactly that. You will get the chance to taste things you normally might have not tried if you don’t know what it is, and you don’t need to worry about any language barriers. You will be surprised by the large range of different food items that are available and how good they are! Also if you have dietary requirements, having a bilingual guide by your side will be very helpful in navigating the Japanese street food scene.
Japan Wonder Travel Food Tours
Japan Wonder Travel is a travel agency that offers guided tours throughout Japan.
From private walking tours to delicious Food and Drink tours, we can help organize the best tours just for you! If you want to explore Japan and learn more about the history and backstories of each area you are traveling in, our knowledgeable and friendly guides will happily take you to the best spots!
In addition, we can provide you with any assistance you may need for your upcoming trip to Japan, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need some help!
▶Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Tour
Explore the most lively and popular fish market in Tokyo where you will have the chance to try some of the local’s favorite street foods and sake along with your friendly English speaking guide!
▶Shinjuku Bar Hopping Tour: Experience Tokyo’s Nightlife in Izakaya
Check out the best spots in Shinjuku while bar hopping through the lively and vibrant area. Try some delicious local food and drink as you explore the narrow yet photogenic alleys that the town has to offer. Experience Japanese izakaya culture and drink in Shinjuku like the locals!
▶Explore Nishiki Market: Food & Culture Walk
If you’re looking to learn more about the culture and the local cuisine of Kyoto, this is the perfect tour for you! Take part in this Kyoto food and drink tour and explore the 400-year-old market and the surrounding areas.
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Happy traveling!
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