Japanese national cuisine is one of the most original and peculiar in the world. Food here is very simple, heat treatment is minimal, and maximum attention is paid to preserving the natural appearance and flavor of the product. Sometimes the food is not cooked at all, but only sliced. And never too many ingredients are mixed together. A meal in traditional Japanese cuisine is a real ritual. The menu must vary according to the season, and everyone involved in the meal adheres to strict and complex rules.
The main national dish of Japan is boiled rice, which is not salted but is accompanied by a variety of sauces and seasonings. Rice is served in separate dishes as a side dish to almost all dishes, and is often used as an independent dish, changing the flavor with seasonings. Many other dishes are made with it.
Japanese dishes worth a tourist's try
Sushi. The dish is widely known both in Europe, the United States and us. Only in Japan it is prepared from raw fish of different varieties. There are about 200 kinds of sushi in total.
Onigiri. Rice balls that are cooked with a variety of sauces. They are eaten as a side dish or as a stand-alone dish.
Mochi. Rice flour patties with a variety of fillings. A favorite snack of the Japanese.
Soba. A specialty noodle made from buckwheat flour, served cold or hot, fried or boiled, in broth or with vegetables.
Norimaki. Rice cakes with raw fish and seaweed. The flavor is unusual, but definitely worth a try.
Soups. Japan has a great variety of them. Meat or fish nabe soup, seaweed miso soup, potato potato potatto soup, fish soups suimono, ramen, and many others.
Niku-zaga. Stew with potatoes is a borrowed dish in Japan and is not particularly popular.
As a soft drink, ground ice with kori fruit syrup is common in Japan. The Japanese are very fond of green tea, the consumption of which is also accompanied by the famous "sha-no-yu" tea ceremony. In recent years, black coffee is also popular in Japan. Among alcoholic beverages, rice vodka sake and beer, also rice-based, are traditional.
