Japanese Food Culture: More Than Just Sushi

Japanese cuisine is incredibly diverse and varies by region. While sushi is world-famous, everyday Japanese food includes ramen, udon, tempura, yakitori, okonomiyaki, and countless other dishes. Student budgets can comfortably cover meals, with a bowl of ramen costing around ¥800-1,200. Convenience stores offer high-quality bento boxes and onigiri for ¥300-500. Many cities have affordable 'gyudon' chains like Yoshinoya and Sukiya where a filling meal costs under ¥500.