SMALL FOODS, SMALL DISCOVERIES
Start with something that catches your eye.
At a station shop, a convenience store or a neighbourhood stall, an unfamiliar shape can be the start of a good story. Here are the names, flavours and small details that make a first bite easier.
01 / RICE TO GO
A little parcel of rice.
Two familiar shapes. Two very different bites.
RICE BALL · SAVOURY
Onigiri
おにぎり
Rice shaped by hand, often with a filling and a wrap of nori seaweed. Triangle, round or something in between: there is more than one way to make an onigiri.
What is inside? Choose a label to read.
Salmon: savoury flakes of fish tucked into the rice.
How do I open the numbered wrapper?
- 1Pull the top tab down and around the rice ball.
- 2Gently slide the wrapper away from one side.
- 3Slide the other side out, leaving the nori around the rice.
This is for the familiar three-part triangle wrapper. Follow the numbers and instructions on your own package; other wrappers open differently.
University of Tokyo guide · p. 29 ↗
TOFU POUCH · SWEET & SAVOURY
Inari sushi
いなり寿司
Lightly vinegared rice tucked into a soft fried-tofu pouch simmered in a sweet soy sauce broth. The golden outside is tofu, rather than a pastry crust.
Look a little closer. You may find oblong or triangular shapes, with sesame seeds or vegetables mixed into the rice.
Inside inari sushi · Kikkoman ↗02 / WARM & SAVOURY
Follow the steam.
A soft bun or a little tray from the grill. Leave time to enjoy it.
STEAMED BUN · SOFT & SAVOURY
Nikuman / Butaman
肉まん / 豚まん
A soft steamed bun with a savoury pork filling. In Kansai, the region around Osaka and Kyoto, you will often see the name butaman.
The name is a clue. 肉 means meat; 豚 means pork. Vegetables and seasoning vary from shop to shop.
In Osaka, 551 HORAI is one name you may encounter: its pork buns pair diced pork and onion with a slightly sweet dough.
Osaka’s pork buns · Osaka tourism (Japanese) ↗551 HORAI pork buns (Japanese) ↗
OCTOPUS BITES · OSAKA FAVOURITE
Takoyaki
たこ焼き
Round bites of batter with octopus inside, cooked in a pan full of little hollows. Sauce, seaweed flakes and bonito flakes are familiar toppings; some versions add mayonnaise.
Take your time with the first bite. Freshly cooked takoyaki can be very hot inside. A small tray makes a lovely pause while exploring Osaka.
Some shops make a crisp outer shell; others keep it softer. Both are part of the fun of trying a different shop.
Osaka’s takoyaki · Osaka tourism (Japanese) ↗03 / A SWEET STOP
Something sweet, before the next stop.
A fish-shaped cake. A glossy skewer. Let the shape lead you in.
FISH-SHAPED CAKE · SWEET FILLING
Taiyaki
たい焼き
The fish is the shape. Inside this little cake, you will often find sweet red bean paste, called anko. Other fillings, such as custard, give you another reason to look at the menu.
A name to recognise. あんこ is sweet bean paste. It appears in many Japanese sweets, so this can be the first of several discoveries.
Japanese sweets · JNTO ↗
RICE DUMPLINGS · SWEET SOY GLAZE
Mitarashi dango
みたらし団子
Chewy rice dumplings on a skewer, coated in a glossy, sweet soy sauce glaze. The soy sauce adds a savoury note to the sweetness.
Look for the word. 団子 means dango. The golden-brown glaze tells you this is the mitarashi kind; other dango wear different toppings.
Mitarashi dango · Kikkoman (Japanese) ↗A MOMENT FOR YOUR FOOD
For the ride, or a stop along the way.
An onigiri is easy to bring along. For warm buns and takoyaki, make time for a pause near the shop before boarding: their aroma can be unwelcome to people sitting nearby. Choose a place where eating is welcome, and follow local signs.
Flavours, fillings and ingredients vary. Read the package or ask the shop about ingredients that matter to you.
ADD SOMETHING TO SIP
What goes with your first bite?
A green tea, a roasted tea or a coffee. Meet a few more everyday Japanese flavours in our drinks feature.
Sources & photo credits
These photos show examples, rather than the current menu of a particular shop. Follow the linked sources for more about the foods.
Food references
- Onigiri fillings · Embassy of Japan, p. 13 ↗
- Numbered onigiri wrapper · University of Tokyo, p. 29 ↗
- Inari sushi · Web Japan ↗
- Butaman · Osaka tourism (Japanese) ↗
- 551 HORAI ingredients (Japanese) ↗
- Takoyaki · Taste of Japan ↗
- Taiyaki · JNTO ↗
- Mitarashi dango · Kikkoman (Japanese) ↗
Photo credits
- onigiri — Ocdp. Original photo · CC0. Resized to a maximum edge of 1200 px and converted to WebP; no visual retouching. Shown with a responsive crop.
- inari — jetalone. Original photo · CC BY 2.0. Resized to a maximum edge of 1200 px and converted to WebP; no visual retouching. Shown with a responsive crop.
- nikuman — 鈴音雨. Original photo · CC BY 4.0. Resized to a maximum edge of 1200 px and converted to WebP; no visual retouching. Shown with a responsive crop.
- takoyaki — sayo ts. Original photo · CC0. Resized to a maximum edge of 1200 px and converted to WebP; no visual retouching. Shown with a responsive crop.
- taiyaki — SLPTWRK. Original photo · CC BY 2.0. Resized to a maximum edge of 1200 px and converted to WebP; no visual retouching. Shown with a responsive crop.
- Mitarashi dango — Ocdp. Original photo · CC0. Resized to a maximum edge of 1200 px and converted to WebP; no visual retouching. Shown with a responsive crop.