Udon/Soba (3)

When it comes to Japanese noodles, ramen may have the biggest international following, but let's not forget other delicious noodles like udon and soba. Enjoy the savory broths of udon and soba in a relaxed and casual atmosphere.

Okonomiyaki/Takoyaki (3)

These are both typical Kansai street food. Takoyaki is grilled into creamy meatball-sized spheres with a single octopus chunk in it. Okonomiyaki is made from a batter of wheat and water mixed with shredded cabbage and cooked on a griddle. Both are served with a sauce and and very much part of Kansai's popular everyday culture.

Sushi/Sashimi (5)

The quintessential Japanese cuisine, sushi is a meal that consists of a small palmful of lightly vinegared rice that a sushi chef carefully squeezes into a platform for a topping of sliced raw fish -- usually fresh tuna, squid or some other type of seafood. Sashimi refers to thin slices of seasonal or local raw fish served with soy sauce. The key is in enjoying the natural flavors of the fish, which is the essence of Japanese dining.

Ramen (2)

This is on the list of foods international tourists say they want to try when they visit Japan. It is a bowl of Chinese noodles in a broth with a variety of meat and/or vegetable options. Ramen is the most popular fare also among the Japanese. The noodles vary in thickness, and the broth base ranges from soy, miso, and salt to pig bone marrow.

Meats (4)

Meat dish that's enjoyed the world over.
Restaurants that serve beer with sausages and bacon, gourmet cuisine with wine, motsunabe containing plenty of collagen, juicy charcoal-broiled beef tongue -- recommended to all meat lovers.

Curry (1)

This is a popular dish in Japan with both children and adults. Originating in India as a dish that blends many different spices, the curry has evolved over time into a Japanese household staple, bit it is also ubiquitous in restaurants all over the country.