There are several different types of noodles in Japan. The flavors of the soup and the toppings differ very much depending on the region, and people enjoy traveling domestically to experience these differences in their own food. Japanese people slurp their noodles to show the owners that they are enjoying their food, so don't be shy, you can do the same!

Featured
Soba
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Soba
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Soba are thin noodles made of buckwheat flour, and can be served hot or cold. When eaten hot, they will come in a large bowl filled with soup and noodles with several toppings. Some of the popular toppings are: kitsune (fried, sweet tofu), green onions, wakame (a type of seaweed), tempura, tanuki (bits of fried tempura batter), or tsukimi (raw egg). When served cold, you will receive a small cup of sauce together with the noodles, in which you dip the noodles before eating. Small portions of toppings such as green onions and wasabi can go in the sauce if you like.

(Photo Copyright:©Matsumoto city/©JNTO)

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Udon
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Udon
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Udon are noodles made of flour and are much thicker and chewier than soba noodles. However, they are both served the same, hot or cold, along with similar toppings.

(Photo Copyright: ©JNTO)

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Somen
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Somen
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Somen is a very thin white noodle made of wheat flour, and is often preferred in the summertime when people lose their appetite from the humid heat. It has a very simple flavor and is easy to prepare. It is usually dipped in a sauce and eaten together with several toppings such as green onions, ground ginger, seaweed, cucumber, tomatoes, omelette, etc…

There is a summertime activity using these noodles called ‘nagashi somen’, which is where the noodles are washed down bamboo (cut in half lengthwise), and people try to catch the noodles with their chopsticks. It is a summertime fun for children and families.

(Photo Copyright: ©Saga Prefecture/©JNTO)

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Toppings and tips
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How to Eat Soba
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A step-by-step video on how to eat zaru-soba

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Tempura
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Tempura
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Battered deep fried foods

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Negi
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Negi
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Green onions

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Wakame
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Wakame
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A type of seaweed

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Tsukimi
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Tsukimi
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Raw egg

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Kitsune
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Kitsune
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A thin slice of fried, sweet tofu

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Tanuki
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Tanuki
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Tenkasu (bits of fried tempura batter)

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Curry
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Curry
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The soup is a blend of curry and fish broth

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Chikara
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Chikara
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Mochi 

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Shichimi Togarashi
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Shichimi Togarashi
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Seven flavored chili pepper. It contains red pepper, sansho, orange peel, black and white sesame seeds, hemp seed, ginger, and dried seaweed

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Wasabi
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Wasabi
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Horseradish

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Ramen

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Ramen
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Ramen
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Ramen is a noodle soup dish, using Chinese noodles. The soup is usually made from meat broth and/or fish broth, and the choice of toppings have a wide variety. The four main flavors of soup are: shio (salt), tonkotsu (pork bone), miso (soybean paste), and shoyu (soy sauce).

(Photo Copyright: ©Kagoshima Prefectural Tourist Federation/©JNTO)

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Tsukemen
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Tsukemen
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Tsukemen is a noodle dish where the soup and noodles come separately. Just like soba, you dip the noodles in the soup before eating. The soup is usually served hot, but noodles cold.

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Hiyashi Chuka
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Hiyashi Chuka
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Hiyashi chuka is a summertime noodle dish, and is served cold. The noodles come on a dish with chopped ingredients on top: cucumber, ham, omelette, tomatoes, seaweed, imitation crab, etc.

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Different Flavors and Side orders
Shoyu Ramen
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Shoyu Ramen
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Flavored with Soy Sauce

(Photo Copyright: ©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/© JNTO

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Shio Ramen
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Shio Ramen
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Flavored with Salt

(Photo Copyright: ©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/© JNTO

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Miso Ramen
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Miso Ramen
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Flavored with miso (bean paste)

(Photo Copyright: ©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/© JNTO

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Tonkotsu Ramen
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Tonkotsu Ramen
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Flavored with pork bone broth

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Gyoza
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Gyoza
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(Photo Copyright: ©HVCB/©JNTO

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Fried Rice
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Fried Rice
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Nitamago
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Nitamago
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Boiled egg cooked in soy sauce

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Regional
Sapporo Ramen
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Sapporo Ramen
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Sapporo City, Hokkaido - Miso base

(Photo copyright: ©Guilhem Vellut via Flicker)

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Asahikawa Ramen
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Asahikawa Ramen
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Asashikawa City, Hokkaido - Shoyu base

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Hakodate Ramen
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Hakodate Ramen
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Hakodate City, Hokkaido - Salt base with bamboo shoots, roasted pork fillet, onions, spinach etc...

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Shiretoko Ramen
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Shiretoko Ramen
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Shiretoko City, Hokkaido - Seafood

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Kitakata Ramen
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Kitakata Ramen
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Kitakata City, Fukuoka - Shoyu base, with thick noodles

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Tokyo Ramen
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Tokyo Ramen
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Tokyo - Shoyu base (The flavor is stronger than typical shoyu ramen)

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Yokohama Iekei Ramen
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Yokohama Iekei Ramen
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Yokohama City, Kanagawa - Tonkotsu and Shoyu blend

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Kyoto Ramen
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Kyoto Ramen
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Kyoto - Shoyu base with Kujo green onions (The flavor of the soup is extra strong and robust)

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Hiroshima Ramen
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Hiroshima Ramen
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Hiroshima City, Hiroshima - Shoyu and Tonkotsu blend, or Shoyu base

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Hakata Ramen
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Hakata Ramen
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Kyushu area/Hakata City, Fukuoka - Tonkotsu base

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Kumamoto Ramen
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Kumamoto Ramen
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Kyusyu area/Kumamoto, Kurume, Tamana City, Kumamoto - Tonkotsu base with fried garlic (Extremely heavy)

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