5 Underrated food destinations in Japan (that aren’t Tokyo)

It’s no secret that Tokyo is a gastronomic haven. Home to the highest number of Michelin restaurants to its name (234 in total as of 2017) and some of the world’s most loved foods, people flock to the city in droves each year for the likes of sushi, udon, ramen, and more.

For a true taste of the full Japanese culinary experience, we recommend moving beyond Tokyo’s bustling streets and venturing to its other lesser-known cities. Here you’ll find local specialties unique to each area: like the kozuuyu broth dish in the town of Aizu Wakamatsu in Honshu island.

1. Hiroshima, Honshu Island

The okonomiyaki pancakes are, without doubt, the soul of Hiroshima’s food. You can typically customise how you’d like your pancakes to be cooked when it comes to its toppings and fillings, but they’re typically served with pork, prawns, white cabbage, dried bonita flakes and sauce.

2. Kawagoe, Honshu Island

You can most certainly find yakitori elsewhere in the country, but it is said that the best yakitori is found in Kawagoe. Located just 30 minutes from Tokyo, you can thankfully make a quick day trip to the city if you’re pressed for time. Equally mouthwatering is their sweet potato dishes that run the gamut from sweet potato beer, ice cream, and even melt-in-your-mouth cakes. That the city boasts of an old-world charm with its Edo-era architecture and temples is an added bonus.

3. Takamatsu, Shikoku Island

In this idyllic city, the prized culinary dish is their sanuki udon, which is a staple dish for the locals. You’ll find countless fast-food style family-run restaurants serving the surprisingly healthy dish all-day for breakfast, lunch, and supper.

4. Aizu Wakamatsu, Honshu Island

This scenic town sits on the banks of Lake Inawashiro, and is famous for its stellar sake brews and a local specialty dish known as kozuyu. It’s essentially a broth made from dried scallops, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, taro, and konnyaku. There’s also the silky milk-miso ramen noodles, distinctive from other ramen renditions by its refreshing flavour.

5. Kunisaki and Beppu, Kyushu Island

The small, coastal towns of Kunisaki and Beppu might be famous their onsen and charming streets, but their foods are certainly what gives the city that added character. In Oita, you’ll find dango-jiru – a simple thick wheat noodle cooked with sliced shitake mushrooms in a miso soup.

Hungry yet? Check out the dishes in the galley above.

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

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