What to Eat in Japan on Your First Trip: Where to Try It

If you are deciding what to eat in Japan on your first trip, start with a mix: a noodle meal, something fried, a regional specialty and a slower sit-down dinner. Below are specific places to consider in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with the dish to look for and the booking details worth checking. Choose meals that fit your route and appetite.

Try different kinds of meals: ramen, tempura, tonkatsu, Kyoto sushi, okonomiyaki and a seasonal dinner.
Choose the exact branch before booking; restaurants under the same name can have different menus and rules.
Use a restaurant's online booking system when it answers your needs. Call when there is a specific question or the restaurant requests it.
Moshimo can call in Japanese for you when you need help checking a detail or requesting a reservation; the restaurant decides what it can accommodate.

What should you eat in Japan first?

Use this shortlist to choose a meal, then read the restaurant's current menu before committing. These editorial suggestions use the restaurants' published information; they are not a ranking or a personal dining review.

What to try	Specific place	Area	Best reason to consider it
Tempura	Shinjuku Tsunahachi Sohonten Bekkan	Shinjuku, Tokyo	A seated meal built around seafood and vegetables fried in batter
Tonkatsu	Maisen Aoyama Main Store	Aoyama, Tokyo	Breaded pork cutlets and a substantial lunch or dinner
Ramen	ICHIRAN Roppongi	Roppongi, Tokyo	A focused tonkotsu ramen meal
Kyoto-style sushi	Izuu Main Store	Gion, Kyoto	Its signature mackerel sushi and a taste of Kyoto food culture
Seasonal Japanese cuisine	HANA-Kitcho	Gion, Kyoto	A planned meal with time to enjoy the setting and courses
Okonomiyaki	CHIBO Diversity Dotonbori Building	Dotonbori, Osaka	An Osaka specialty at a branch presenting Muslim- and vegetarian-friendly options
Mizutaki	Hakata Hanamidori Shinsaibashi	Shinsaibashi, Osaka	A chicken hot-pot dinner that brings a Hakata specialty into an Osaka stay

You do not need a reservation for every meal. Pick the dinners you especially care about, arrange those through the appropriate channel, and leave room for spontaneous choices. The Japan National Tourism Organization's food and drink overview is a useful starting point for exploring beyond this shortlist.

What should you try in Tokyo?

Tempura at Shinjuku Tsunahachi Sohonten Bekkan

Tempura is a good choice when you want a seated meal centered on fried seafood and vegetables. Tsunahachi's Sohonten Bekkan branch page lists meals with shrimp, fish and vegetables, alongside chef-selected tempura options. This is the annex branch, so save that exact name rather than simply searching for “Tsunahachi Shinjuku.”

The branch lists both web and telephone reservations. Separately, Tsunahachi's own reservation request form says a request is not a completed booking until the restaurant confirms the details by phone; changes after confirmation should be made directly by phone. Follow the confirmation instructions of the channel you actually use.

Useful call request: “Please ask whether this branch can reserve a table for our date and party size, which meal we need to select, and how the booking will be confirmed.” If a Japanese phone conversation is the obstacle, you can give Moshimo those details and review the request before it calls. Do not assume an app request is a confirmed restaurant booking.

Tonkatsu at Maisen Aoyama Main Store

Tonkatsu is a breaded pork cutlet, making it a different meal from tempura. Maisen's restaurant directory identifies its Aoyama Main Store and explains that it also serves Japanese cuisine using seasonal ingredients. Choose this if a pork-cutlet meal sounds more appealing than another bowl of noodles.

There is a practical booking detail: as of October 2026, the directory says reservations on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are for banquet courses only. That does not mean an ordinary tonkatsu meal is unavailable; it means you should not assume you can reserve a seat for that meal under the same conditions.

Useful call request: “For our date, can we reserve for the regular tonkatsu menu, or would we need a course? If regular dining is walk-in, what is the process?” This is a worthwhile question before arranging the rest of your evening around a booking that may not be offered.

Tonkotsu ramen at ICHIRAN Roppongi

Ramen adds a casual noodle meal to the mix. ICHIRAN is an option if you specifically want its tonkotsu style; explore other shops too if you want a wider range of broths. JNTO's ramen guide explains the variety across Japan.

ICHIRAN's priority-entry page includes Roppongi among participating branches as of October 2026. Read the current terms carefully: this service is not a reserved seat, and reservations, changes and cancellations for it are not handled by telephone or email.

How to arrange it: use the official system if you want that service. A Moshimo call cannot replace its required process or secure a seat outside the restaurant's rules. This is a meal to arrange directly rather than adding a phone call just because you are traveling in Japan.

What should you eat in Kyoto?

Mackerel sushi at Izuu Main Store in Gion

Sushi does not have to mean an expensive chef's counter. Izuu specializes in Kyoto sushi and identifies its signature saba sugata sushi, made with mackerel, sushi rice and kombu. It also describes a place to eat at the main store, alongside takeaway offerings.

Consider it if you want to make sushi part of your Kyoto visit while trying something specific to the restaurant. Check the menu and format first: a shop selling takeaway sushi and a restaurant offering a long counter course are different plans.

Useful call request: “We would like to visit the Gion main store for mackerel sushi. Is eating in possible for our party on this date, and is it walk-in or can we reserve?” Ask rather than assuming seat reservations are offered. If you want takeaway instead, make that clear and ask about the appropriate collection arrangements.

A seasonal meal at HANA-Kitcho in Gion

For a meal you plan your evening around, consider HANA-Kitcho. It gives the shortlist a different pace from ramen or a quick takeaway purchase. Review its current menus before choosing it, including whether the course and total cost suit everyone in your group.

Kyoto Kitcho offers an online reservation form. Its reservation policy asks guests to disclose food allergies and disliked ingredients for everyone in the party when reserving. Use that form when it covers your request.

Useful call request: if you need clarification before booking, ask whether your preferred meal fits your party, dietary requirements and departure time. A call can help establish what the restaurant offers; it does not guarantee a menu adaptation. If you need general help with the process, see our guide to making restaurant reservations without speaking Japanese.

What should you eat in Osaka?

Okonomiyaki at CHIBO Diversity Dotonbori Building

Okonomiyaki is a savory griddle-cooked dish associated with Osaka, with ingredients and toppings varying by menu. JNTO's western Japan cuisine guide places it alongside other regional specialties, including Osaka's takoyaki.

The specific branch to check here is CHIBO Diversity Dotonbori Building, which presents itself as Muslim- and vegetarian-friendly and links to reservations. Its name and location matter: do not assume every CHIBO branch has the same offering.

Useful call request: “Which dishes on your current menu fit our requirements, and should we mention them when reserving?” Describe what you actually need rather than relying solely on the word “friendly.” Ask about ingredients and preparation when those details matter to your decision. Use the linked reservation route if it already answers your questions.

Mizutaki at Hakata Hanamidori Shinsaibashi

If you want a hot-pot dinner, Hakata Hanamidori Shinsaibashi is a specific place to investigate. The restaurant group specializes in mizutaki, a chicken hot pot associated with Hakata. It is a chance to try a Hakata specialty during an Osaka stay.

This restaurant has a clear reason for a possible call. Its official booking page directs guests with food allergies or other requests to telephone. It also says that contacting the restaurant directly may sometimes reveal seating when the web calendar does not allow a booking. That is a possibility, not a promise of extra availability.

Useful call request: “The online calendar will not let us book our preferred date. Could you check whether there is availability for our party, including these requirements?” Moshimo can make that inquiry in Japanese. Give an alternative time if you are flexible and wait for the reported outcome before treating the dinner as arranged.

How do you turn a restaurant idea into a dinner plan?

Choose the dish first, then the exact branch and date. Check the official menu, booking channel and cancellation terms. A famous name is not enough to tell you whether a restaurant fits your party or whether its reservation system supports your request.

For a useful call, prepare:

The exact restaurant and branch, ideally with its official page.
Your preferred date and time, plus alternatives you would accept.
Your party size, including children and their ages where relevant.
The menu or course you want, and any questions that affect whether you will book.
Specific dietary requirements and seating needs.
What to do if your first choice is unavailable: ask about alternatives, or report back without booking.

Some restaurants use telephone reservations, while others want you to use a particular online system. Our guide to phone-only restaurant reservations explains the first situation. Once a booking exists, follow its terms if you need to change or cancel your restaurant reservation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book every restaurant in Japan?

No. Build your plans around the meals that matter most to you and check those restaurants individually. Leave room for casual meals rather than treating every lunch as a reservation project.

Are these the best restaurants in Japan?

This shortlist helps you choose different dishes and specific places to try them. Compare the current menu, location and booking conditions with your own priorities.

Can Moshimo book a restaurant that only accepts online reservations?

A phone call does not override a restaurant's booking policy. Use its required online system; consider a call only for a question the restaurant handles by telephone.

Can I ask about food requirements before booking?

Yes, where the restaurant offers that contact route. Explain the precise requirements and wait for its answer before committing. A general label such as vegetarian-friendly does not establish whether a specific dish fits your needs.

Should I choose all my meals before arriving?

Choose a few priorities and keep alternatives nearby. The aim is to enjoy a range of food, not to complete every restaurant on this page.

Let Moshimo make the call

Found a dinner you want to try, but need to ask about a course, check a booking restriction or request a table by phone? Moshimo is a Japan travel phone concierge for iOS and Android. Describe what you need in your own language, review the request, and Moshimo calls the restaurant in Japanese. The outcome comes back in the app. Availability and accommodations remain the restaurant's decision, and a booking is not guaranteed. Get Moshimo when a phone call is the missing step in your dinner plans.

Sources

Last checked: 2026-10-19.