
Oden is something you want to eat during the cold winter. You can readily eat oden at a Japanese restaurant or a pub.
Oden is...

It is a meal of boiling things like chopped radish and eggs, or tasty chikuwa fish cakes in a soy sauce or kombu soup stock for a long time to gain flavor. The ingredients inside oden are called "odentane".
History

Oden originated back to dengaku, that is the meal of cutting tofu into rectangles and eating with miso on top. The popular way of putting "o" at the beginning of every word the court ladies used inside the Imperial Court in the Heian period and dengaku were mixed together and it became the name "oden".
Differences in areas

Mainly in eastern Japan people use the concentrated taste of soy sauce to cook oden so the color of the soup looks darker and in western Japan, people use the light taste of soy sauce to cook oden so the color of the soup looks paler. In Kyushu or Okinawa, a richer taste is popular and the soup has the flavor of chicken or flying fish. In Kyoto, a delicate taste is popular and the soup has the flavor of shaved dried mackerel and kelp.
Convenience store oden

Convenience stores sell oden from autumn until spring. Lawson, one of the biggest convenience stores, uses a base soup of katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) from Yaizu and kelp from Hokkaido. For the Chubu region they add a flavor of muroaji-bushi (horse mackerel flakes). And for the Kyushu region, they add a flavor of beef, chicken and flying fish. There are different kinds of flavors depending on the area.
A unique canned oden

You can even buy oden from some vending machines. The ingredients inside are almost the same as regular oden, but the odentane are not anything fragile like tofu. It can be preserved for a long time and can be used as emergency food in case of a disaster.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
Recommended places for you
-
Bagelkun-to Odenchan
Japanese Stew (Oden)
Gion, Kawaramachi, Kiyomizu-dera Temple
-
Appealing
Rukku and Uohei
Izakaya
Sapporo / Chitose
-
Goods
Yoshida Gennojo-Roho Kyoto Buddhist Altars
Gift Shops
Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace
-
ISHIDAYA Hanare
Yakiniku
Kobe, Sannomiya, Kitano
-
Kambei Sannomiyahonten
Yakiniku
Kobe, Sannomiya, Kitano
-
Kanzenkoshitsuyakinikutabehodai Gyugyu Paradise Sannomiya
Yakiniku
Kobe, Sannomiya, Kitano
-
Best Things to Do and See Around Tokyo in September: Events and Festivals in Kanto
-
Safe and Comfortable Summer in Japan! Sunscreen, Cooling Hacks & Other Child-Friendly Summer Essentials
by: Chehui Peh
-
Half-Day Getaway from Tokyo: Cherry Blossoms, Local Culture and Samurai Vibes at Odawara Castle
-
The Ultimate Guide to Mitsui Outlet Parks in Japan (2025 Edition) - Popular Tax-Free Malls & Coupon Info for Travelers
by: Guest Contributor
-
Spray Your Shirt Cold?! Japan's Smartest Sweat-Fighting Hacks You Can Buy at Don Quijote
by: Chehui Peh
-
[Shinjuku] 10 Hotels Balancing Cost Performance and Comfort | Perfect for Both Business and Tourism!
by: Flurina YOC
-
Feast on 'Kansaidaki' Oden at This Legendary Osakan Restaurant - as Seen in Manga!
-
Koiwai Farm Guide: Explore, Dine, and Play at Iwate's Top Agritourism Spot
-
Inside Kobe Tower: Fun Things to Do at the Symbol of Kobe
-
Secrets to Shopping in Japan: Guide to Annual Sales in Japan & Where to Shop
by: Miyu Shimada
-
38 Best Things to Do in Sendai & Miyagi: Sightseeing, Food, Shopping & Souvenirs
by: Guest Contributor
-
5 Must-Visit Nara Temples and Shrines: Discover the Timeless Beauty of Japan's Ancient Capital
by: WESTPLAN
- #best sushi japan
- #what to do in odaiba
- #what to bring to japan
- #new years in tokyo
- #best ramen japan
- #what to buy in ameyoko
- #japanese nail trends
- #things to do japan
- #onsen tattoo friendly tokyo
- #daiso
- #best coffee japan
- #best japanese soft drinks
- #best yakiniku japan
- #japanese fashion culture
- #japanese convenience store snacks