4 : What do people eat for dinner in Japan?
In this series, I’ll be sharing questions that our customers have asked!
Q. What do people eat for dinner in Japan?
A. In Japan, dinner is typically a well-balanced meal, often consisting of a variety of dishes. The traditional style follows the “ichiju-sansai” (一汁三菜), which translates to “one soup and three sides.
- Rice (Shoku) :
The meal usually starts with white rice, which serves as the base of the dinner. Takikomi gohan, a seasoned rice with ingredients like vegetables, mushrooms, or seafood, is also commonly enjoyed, especially on special occasions.
- Main Dish (Shusai) :
A typical main dish could include grilled fish, such as salmon, mackerel (saba), or sardines (iwashi). The fish is often simply grilled with salt to highlight its natural flavors. Other popular options include teriyaki chicken, which is glazed with a sweet soy sauce, and tonkatsu, a breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet typically served with shredded cabbage and a tangy sauce.
- Side Dishes (Kobachi):
Side dishes are an essential part of Japanese dinners, often including:
– Pickles (Tsukemono): A variety of pickled vegetables like cucumbers, radishes, or plums.
– Kinpira gobo: A stir-fried dish made with burdock root and carrots, seasoned with soy sauce and mirin.
– Cold tofu (Hiyayakko): Tofu served cold, topped with green onions, grated ginger, and soy sauce.
- Soup (Shiru) :
Miso soup is the most common soup, typically made with miso paste, tofu, and seaweed, sometimes adding seasonal vegetables. There are also lighter clear soups, which may contain vegetables or fish, providing a refreshing contrast to the other dishes.
- Other Common Dishes :
– Curry rice (Kare raisu): A comforting dish made of curry sauce served over rice with meat and vegetables. This dish is often enjoyed once a week in many households.
– Sukiyaki or Shabu-shabu: These hot pot dishes, popular in colder months, involve thinly sliced beef or pork cooked at the table with vegetables in a flavorful broth.
- Noodles :
For variety, soba (buckwheat noodles) or udon (thick wheat noodles) are also common dinner items, typically served in a hot broth or stir-fried, especially during colder months.
- Beverages :
During dinner, green tea is the most common beverage, but people may also enjoy beer or sake with their meals, particularly for special occasions or when dining out.
Japanese dinners focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and aim to create a balanced, satisfying meal that includes a variety of tastes and textures. The idea is not just to eat but to appreciate the harmony and thoughtfulness behind each dish.
3 : What time do people eat dinner in Japan?
In this series, I’ll be sharing questions that our customers have asked!
Q. What time do you eat dinner in Japan?
A. In Japan, the typical dinner time generally falls between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., though this can vary depending on individual household routines and work or school schedules.
For families with young children, dinner is often served earlier, around 6:00 or 6:30 p.m., to accommodate children’s earlier bedtimes. In contrast, in households where adults have longer working hours or commutes—particularly in urban areas—dinner may be served later, around 8:00 or even 9:00 p.m.
Despite these variations, many Japanese families place importance on having dinner together when possible, as it serves as a valuable time for communication and family bonding at the end of the day.
2 : What time do children in Japan usually go to school and come home?
In this series, I’ll be sharing questions that our customers have asked!
Q. What time do children in Japan usually go to school and come home?
A. The times at which Japanese children go to and return from school vary slightly depending on the school and region. For elementary school students, the typical time to leave home for school is between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m., ensuring they arrive before classes begin. The time they return home depends on their grade level. Lower-grade students usually finish school around 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., while upper-grade students may finish around 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.
For junior high and high school students, the school day tends to start earlier. They typically leave home between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. Students involved in extracurricular activities, such as club practices, may go to school even earlier for morning training sessions. School ends around 4:00 p.m., but many students stay later—until 6:00 or 7:00 p.m.—for club activities.
In addition, a significant number of students attend cram schools (juku) or extracurricular lessons after school, which often results in them returning home even later than their school dismissal time.
1 : What do Japanese people eat for breakfast?
In this series, I’ll be sharing questions that our customers have asked!
Q. What do Japanese people eat for breakfast?
A. Generally, many people eat miso soup, white rice, grilled fish, natto, raw eggs or tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), and pickled or boiled vegetables.
In our house, my son and daughter often want to eat different things, but it’s too much work to cater to each of them individually. So, our typical breakfast includes miso soup with plenty of vegetables and silken tofu, tamagoyaki, and both bread and white rice. To keep things interesting, I switch up the types of bread and prepare the rice as onigiri with various fillings or as ochazuke. If I have extra time, I also add grilled salmon and fruit to the meal.
