So let’s see what the contesters are for our top ranking!

First up is the fancier dishes made by top chefs. This is the crème de la crème. Would this perhaps be what international visitors most desire?

There are so many different types of cuisine, but ramen is quite unique, and continues to evolve as we speak! From crazy feasts with everything stuffed into one, to thick and satisfying simpler ramen, each spot has its own characteristics that make it pretty much impossible to describe here alone! How will ramen rank among the visitors...?

Does Sushi always come to your mind first when being asked “What’s the most popular Japanese food among tourists?” It’s hardly an exaggeration to claim it as the face of Japanese food.

Another Japanese dish that is perhaps almost as well-known as Sushi. There are plenty of tourists who might not know much about Japan, but are well aware of the existence of Tempura.

Desserts nowadays are not only about being sweet! Each one is like an artwork in itself, with the appearance and presentation becoming equally as important as the taste. The bright colors and playful atmosphere of enjoying a dessert with friends or loved ones can make for a great memory on Japan travels. But is that enough to rank highly?

Though seeking out high-end restaurants and fine dining is unlikely to let you down, having some local Traditional Downtown Gourmet foods can add an element of fun and adventure to your trip.

The fact that the sweet and spicy Sukiyaki stock brings out the best of the beef’s taste, so it’s hard to resist. Sukiyaki is also one of the best choices on cold days—and it happens to be the day of our street survey. Will the cold weather boost Sukiyaki’s rankings?

The very local “Izakaya” Japanese pubs are not only supported by common Japanese people but also win the hearts of people all over the world. The Japanese-daily-life vibe that they make their own is particularly popular among those who have already been to Japan once before.

Since there are visitors from all over the world, we can’t rule out the possibilities that they might be coming for some specific dishes that we haven’t mentioned here. So, of course we added an “Others” option alongside the 8 dishes listed above for the survey. It’s always good to have a back-up!

We chose a few areas in Tokyo as our survey bases: Shibuya, Harajuku, Ikebukuro, Asakusa, Ginza, and Kamata.

Regardless of age, nationality or gender, we randomly invited 50 tourists to answer the question “What food do you want to eat in Tokyo?” by showing them a board with the food mentioned previously, and asked them to put a sticker on their most desired choice.

Among the participants were a twenty-something Indian couple, a sixty-something American couples, an Egyptian family, and of course, many others.

The American couple came all the way from Tennessee, and seemed pretty excited to answer our questions! The husband chose Ramen, while the wife was more interested in Traditional Downtown Gourmet.

Next up were these two Taiwanese ladies who we interviewed in Asakusa, who were on a gal’s trip. One chose Ramen and the other voted for “Kawaii” Dishes.

6 Locations, 50 interviewees.

Here are the much-awaited results of our survey...

Comments
・I'm looking forward to sampling a unique Ramen experience that differs from the one I had during my previous trip to Japan. (Asian/Male/20s)
・Despite having Ramen available in my home country, I'm eager to taste authentic Japanese Ramen! (European/Male/20s)

And the winner is Ramen! It garnered the support of approximately 30% of our interviewees. Renowned as one of Japan's most popular dishes, Ramen offers an extensive range of options, including vegetarian varieties. With repeat visitors seeking to "collect them all," it begs the question: Will this figure continue to rise?

Comments
・You absolutely can't miss out on trying sushi during your first trip to Japan! (Female/50s)
・During my last visit to Japan, I experienced conveyor-belt sushi, but this time I'm interested in dining at a non-conventional sushi restaurant. (Male/40s)

In a rather surprising turn of events, sushi secured the second position! However, the difference in votes was minimal, with just a single vote separating it from the top spot. As the quintessential representation of traditional Japanese cuisine, sushi undoubtedly ranks among the top dishes.

Whether you prefer the authentic ambiance of a counter sushi restaurant or the convenience of a conveyor-belt establishment, there are options to suit every budget. It's worth noting that sushi restaurants are increasingly catering to international palates, offering an extensive array of innovative dishes alongside the classics!

Comments
・Although I've tasted various Tempura dishes in the past, I've never had the opportunity to dine at an authentic Tempura restaurant. I'm eagerly looking forward to it! (Male/40s)
・I'm interested in visiting a traditional counter-seating restaurant where I can witness the Tempura chefs in action and savor the freshly cooked delicacy right then and there. It adds to the authenticity of the experience. (Female/40s)

Claiming the third spot on the list is Tempura. Known worldwide by its original name instead of a convoluted translation, Tempura enjoys a popularity that rivals even that of Sushi.

The allure of watching the skilled chefs prepare Tempura right before your eyes creates an almost live performance-like sensation. It appears that the number of tourists coming to Japan in search of this delectable fried dish is on the rise!

And now, to keep it concise, here are the rankings for the dishes that placed below fourth:

4th place: "Izakaya/Japanese Style Pub Dishes" - 6 votes
5th place: "Kawaii Dishes" - 3 votes
6th place: "Downtown Traditional Food," "Sukiyaki," "Others" - 2 votes each
9th place: "Fine Cuisine from Top Chefs" - 1 vote

Izakaya Dishes were particularly favored by repeat visitors from Asia, who expressed their delight in trying various items on the menu, aside from Yakitori (barbecued chicken on a stick).

The individual who chose "Fine Cuisine from Top Chefs" expressed a desire to savor "Wagyu" (Japanese beef). As for the two respondents who voted for "Others," their answers included "Yakiniku" (Japanese barbecue) and "Vegetarian food." Who knows? Perhaps these options will gain even more popularity in the future!

After asking a number of international visitors about what they’re most looking forward to trying, we got a good variety opinions. Ramen surpassed Sushi and Tempura and made it to the top. Nonetheless, there wasn’t a particular dish that won the overwhelming majority, and the votes seemed to spread fairly evenly across the options. It just goes to show the appeal of the delicious diversity of food in Tokyo. We’re pretty sure more and more visitors will be seeking out these tasty Tokyo treats!

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