What Are Travelers Eating in Japan?

Japan is known for good service and even better food, but when it comes to what’s most popular among visiting foreign travelers, tastes change over the years. For those of us curious to know what’s big in 2025, the latest Inbound Consumption Trend Survey from the Japan Tourism Agency puts some clear numbers behind what visitors are loving most right now. In an open-ended, single-answer survey, foreign travelers were asked which meal in Japan they were most satisfied with, the most common answers included many obvious choices – soba and udon both ranked relatively highly – but also some surprising ranking results.

Third Place: Sushi

Although it might be what most of us imagine when we think of Japanese food, sushi came in at third place. Of course, that’s still a top spot, and when asked why they enjoyed the meal, visitors pointed to fresh ingredients and the fun of enjoying a traditional, distinctly Japanese meal during their trip. That tracks with most visitors’ experience of sushi in Japan: the fish always tastes fresh, the rice is cooked to perfection, and even casual conveyor-belt sushi spots can feel revelatory.

Second Place: Ramen

Second place belongs to ramen, a richly flavored favorite in a world of subtle Japanese cooking. Ramen is a magnet for food trends, but it’s also quick and convenient, and the perfect midnight snack after a night on the town. Travelers overwhelmingly cited taste as the reason why they loved their ramen, but the popularity is also a reminder of how practical and approachable the dish is – you can find a bowl in any neighborhood, at almost any price point, and know you’re going to get something delicious, whether you’ve stumbled upon a tiny shoyu ramen shop in Tokyo or lined up for famously fatty tonkotsu broth in Fukuoka.

First Place: …?

Meat!

While it may come as a surprise to all of us who think of Japanese food as a land of seafood and noodles, meat-centric food took the top spot when it came to customer satisfaction among foreign visitors dining in Japan in 2025! Of course, meat lovers are probably nodding their heads – if you’ve ever sat down for a meal of Japanese yakiniku barbecue, tried a superbly grilled wagyu steak, or watched a chef sear beef at a teppan counter, you already know that Japan knows how to cook red meat. The survey showed that fresh ingredients and decadent flavors were a big factor, but it wasn’t the only reason why travelers were so satisfied. Some respondents mentioned that they enjoyed the “uniquely Japanese” aspects of their meal, from the unbeatable “frosted” marbling of Kobe beef and other wagyu, to the precise cuts and cooking methods.

Use These Tips to Plan the Best Japanese Food Tour for You!

Japan’s culinary scene includes endless variety, and the country’s passion for regional flavors means there’s always something new to discover. But when it comes to the best of the best, and the most satisfying experiences for foreign travelers at large, these top three choices tell a simple story. Food is about more than fame – sometimes it’s the simple, delicious flavors and the uniquely Japanese atmosphere that make a meal! If you’re planning your own foodie trip to Japan, there are always trendy new spots to consider, but you can start with this edible itinerary: enjoy the freshest of fresh nigiri, slurp down some steaming noodles, and if you eat meat, don’t forget to indulge in some beautifully seared cuts of marbled wagyu while you’re in Japan!

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