What do Japanese eat for breakfast?

blog.japanwondertravel.com - Japanese Traditional Breakfast | Japan Wonder Travel Blog

Who won console of the year?

The PS5 offers the power you'd expect from a cutting-edge console but also delivers unique user features, such as the DualSense controller's...

Last updated Aug 8, 2019

Why minimalists are happier?

Overall, minimalists are happier because they have less worry, stress, and chaos in their lives. To a minimalist, material things are trivial...

Last updated Apr 19, 2018

Promotion

Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! It’s the first meal that you eat when you wake up in the morning, and it’s the first step in getting a jump start on your day. Like most countries, in Japan breakfast is considered people’s fuel to get them going in the morning which is why when making breakfast, a well-balanced meal consisting of a main dish and several side dishes is carefully crafted each and every morning. While breakfast takes many forms across the world, such as oatmeal, cereal, and bread, in this article, we will look at what a traditional breakfast in Japan looks like and what makes it truly unique.

▼The best place to try traditional breakfast in Tokyo: Tsukiji

What is a Traditional Japanese Breakfast?

Traditional Japanese breakfast usually follows the style of a Japanese set meal, with the staple being rice and miso soup and ohitashi (boiled vegetables) served as side dishes. Natto (fermented soybeans), pickles, and grilled fish are often also served on the side to help complement the rice. The harmonious pairing between carbohydrates, vegetables, and fermented foods is what makes the meal set well-balanced and nutritious. A Japanese breakfast set is based on the concept of “a simple meal with one soup and one side dish.” This concept refers to the idea that meals in Japan should always have a total of three dishes (one bowl of rice, one cup of soup, and one side dish). Let’s look at the individual aspects separately in order to get a better appreciation for the meal as a whole.

1. Rice

A simple bowl of white rice and seaweed

Rice is an essential part of not just a traditional Japanese breakfast, but of food here in Japan as a whole. Rice is rich in carbohydrates and provides a charge of energy to run the body and brain all day long. While white rice has traditionally been the backbone of the Japanese diet, recently, health trends have given a rise in the consumption of brown rice and five-grain rice as they contain many minerals and nutrients and have been said to be effective in suppressing increasing blood sugar levels.

2. Miso soup

A delicious bowl of miso soup

Miso soup is another dish that is always present in a traditional Japanese breakfast. Miso soup is made by boiling a number of raw ingredients in hot water and then dissolving the miso paste to make the broth. The typical ingredients for miso soup are tofu and wakame seaweed. Recipes vary by the household but other common ingredients include deep-fried tofu, eggplant, and mushrooms. There are many types of miso sold in supermarkets, including red and miso, and the taste varies completely depending on the types of miso that you use. The result is a rich Japanese soup that is enjoyed throughout the year and is sure to warm you up.

3. Natto

Natto on rice

Natto is another typical breakfast food in Japan and is made by fermenting soybeans. It is a sticky, almost paste-like food and is sold cheaply in supermarkets. Due to its sticky and stinky nature, not everyone is particularly fond of natto and in many cases, foreigners can have a difficult time enjoying this traditional Japanese treat. However, since natto is made from soybeans, it is rich in protein and incredibly healthy. It’s highly recommended that even if you don’t care for natto’s stickiness you at least give it a try for your health.

4. Tamago-yaki

Can a juice cleanse give you diarrhea?

You'll Probably Have Some Diarrhea "Liquids pass through the digestive tract much more quickly than solid foods," explains Shapiro. "You may find...

Last updated Jun 30, 2021

What is a survival budget?

A Personal Survival Budget details your average monthly income (like your salary or benefits payments) minus all the costs and expenses you would...

Last updated Nov 19, 2022

Promotion

hot and ready tamagoyaki

Tamagoyaki is a delicious breakfast egg dish served in Japan. It is made by repeatedly spreading a beaten egg solution in a hot square pan and then repeatedly rolling it up when it is lightly cooked. Mirin (sweet rice sake), soy sauce, sugar, and dashi (Japanese soup stock) are added to flavor the beaten egg solution, giving it a unique taste different than just regular eggs. Due to its sweet taste, tamagoyaki is a very popular dish among many people, especially with kids. However, if sweet things are not to your liking, dashimaki tamago is also an option. It is made by mixing dashi broth into a beaten egg solution and then baking it. Simply put, it is a non-sweet tamagoyaki. While tamagoyaki is a popular breakfast dish, If you cut the baked tamagoyaki into pieces, it can be used as a suitable filling for your lunch box. It goes well with rice, other side dishes, and can even be turned into a sandwich! The special square frying pan used to make tamagoyaki is called “tamagoyaki-ki (卵焼き器)” in Japanese, and is a cooking utensil that is widely found in most Japanese households. The process of making tamagoyaki is simple and easy, so if you get your hands on a tamagoyaki-ki, you should definitely give it a try.

5. Yakizakana

A nicely grilled fish to start the day

One of the most popular side dishes is “Yakizakana”. Yakizakana is fish that has been grilled well and eaten with rice. There are many types of fish cooked for yakizakana, and common fish include mackerel, horse mackerel, saury, atka mackerel, and salmon. Cooking yakizakana is very simple. Just sprinkle a good amount of salt on the open fish, whole fish, or a fish fillet and broil it on the grill or charcoal grill until well browned. The freshly grilled fish is delicious and the salt enhances the flavor of the fish. Although it is a very simple dish, you can still enjoy the depth of the flavor of the fish itself in its entirety. Grilled fish goes well with rice and is very tasty when eaten together. It’s not only good for breakfast but is also an excellent snack that pairs well with sake. The savory aroma of the fish in your mouth is gently quenched by the calmness of the sake, a reaction that causes you to crave for more of both.

6. Ohitashi

The vegetables in ohitashi often change with the season

Ohitashi is a Japanese vegetable dish made by dipping boiled vegetables in a seasoning solution of dashi stock and soy sauce (or dashi-tsuyu). Recently, the dish of boiled vegetables dipped in soy sauce or dashi-tsuyu is also often considered as ohitashi. Spinach and komatsuna are the most common vegetables used for ohitashi. They contain iron, which is said to be effective in preventing anemia. If you add dried bonito flakes to ohitashi, the flavor increases and makes your ohitashi even more delicious. It is important for your health to include vegetable dishes in a well-balanced meal set and so ohitashi is a must in the morning.

7. Otsukemono

A variety of different otsukemono

Otukemono is a dish of Japanese pickles made by fermenting various ingredients in a pickling liquid such as vinegar or salt for an extended period of time. Moreover, materials containing fermentative bacteria such as bran or koji mold are also often used as the pickling liquid in order to produce such pickles. Most of the ingredients used for otsukemono pickles are vegetables such as cucumbers, turnips, Japanese radish, and eggplants. The taste of otsukemono changes depending on the ingredients and pickling liquid you use and so while traveling in Japan, you’ll find different styles and flavors everywhere you go. Kombu (kelp) is also often added to increase the umami flavor of the pickles. Since otsukemono has a strong flavor, it is an ideal accompaniment to rice and you will not be able to stop eating until you reach the bottom of the bowl.

Does Ros will come back?

As of June 27, 2022, ROS ceased its operations, and players will no longer be able to access its game and its servers. ... Rules of Survival...

Last updated Sep 19, 2020

What is the most useful tool for survival?

Fire Starter A fire starter is perhaps the single most important survival tool you can have in your kit, because it will help you cook food, boil...

Last updated Apr 17, 2019

Promotion

The traditional set of a Japanese breakfast is not only well-balanced nutritionally, but also delicious when it comes to flavor. While cooking at home is one way to experience the flavors of a Japanese breakfast at home, we also highly recommend trying authentic Japanese food at a local restaurant as well. Many restaurants may offer teishoku set menus that lets you try a bit of everything, so be sure to check them out. With a traditional Japanese breakfast, you’ll always start your day off on the right foot!

Don’t forget to check out our tours!

Planning a trip to a foreign country alone is never easy! If you need some help organizing your trip to Japan and want to see Japan like a local, you should definitely check out our tours complete with an English guide! We’re glad to help you make your trip to Japan a safe, comfortable, and unforgettable memory!

1. Tokyo Private Tour [Customized, 7 Hours]

Visit the must-visit highlights in Tokyo with our friendly guide! This tour is flexible and destinations are completely customizable according to your requests.

2. Tokyo Fish Market Tour @Tsukiji – Enjoy Local Food and Drinks

Explore the world-famous fish market in Tsukiji with us and enjoy a wide variety of local food options and drinks!

What do Japanese eat for breakfast?

Who won console of the year?

Why minimalists are happier?

▼The best place to try traditional breakfast in Tokyo: Tsukiji

What is a Traditional Japanese Breakfast?

1. Rice

A simple bowl of white rice and seaweed

2. Miso soup

A delicious bowl of miso soup

3. Natto

Natto on rice

4. Tamago-yaki

Can a juice cleanse give you diarrhea?

What is a survival budget?

hot and ready tamagoyaki

5. Yakizakana

A nicely grilled fish to start the day

6. Ohitashi

The vegetables in ohitashi often change with the season

7. Otsukemono

A variety of different otsukemono

Does Ros will come back?

What is the most useful tool for survival?

Don’t forget to check out our tours!

1. Tokyo Private Tour [Customized, 7 Hours]

2. Tokyo Fish Market Tour @Tsukiji – Enjoy Local Food and Drinks

Happy traveling!

Other articles you might be interested in

Is the Game of Life luck or skill?

What foods do Judaism not eat?

What is a survival person?

Why does Google shut down music?