Japanese mushrooms 日本のキノコ

Nameko mushrooms in noodle soup

A popular dish

In Japan, there are many kinds of edible mushrooms. They are enjoyed for their taste and health benefits, and the Japanese use all kinds of mushrooms in dishes for sometimes surprising tastes and textures.

Good for you


In Japan, there are between 4,000 and 5,000 kinds of mushrooms, of which, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, about 100 are edible.

You will very often see mushrooms on Japanese menus all year long, as they are very popular. Their health benefits have been proven for a long time - they're low calorie and have a detoxifying effect, as they are a source of dietary fiber, which is very important for healthy eating.

Mushrooms appear in various forms in all kinds of dishes, eaten in stir-fries, soups, as tempura, and of course, not forgetting the nabemono.


Related : Japanese vegetables

Nabemono with a variety of mushrooms

Preparation of nabemono with mushrooms

Wikimedia Commons

Shimeji mushrooms

  • Enoki : found in bunches of dozens of small white mushrooms, with very fine and long stalks. They remain firm when cooked, with a bit of bite.
  • Nameko : a brown, rather small mushroom with a gelatinous texture, often found in miso soup and soba.

Enoki mushrooms

  • Matsutake : The king of Japanese mushrooms! A symbol of luxury, it's expensive because it is rare and difficult to find. It's the equivalent of the truffle in the West. The matsutake hides under a carpet of leaves in the fall, under tall 30-40 year-old pine trees, so only specialists know how to find it. But its richness comes from its incredible fragrance and very particular texture. It is therefore very popular with mushroom connoisseurs and foodies, who are willing to pay a fortune (between 80,000 and 100,000 yen per kilo, or 700 to 880 US dollars) for it. Best enjoyed cooked simply to enjoy its flavor and unique bite, lightly grilled, or mixed with rice.

Matsutake mushrooms

Matsutake mushrooms

wikimedia Commons

Latest Articles

Original melon pan at Kagetsudo

Street food in Asakusa: Indulge in culture and cuisine

One of the most iconic locations in Eastern Tokyo is Asakusa, largely cited as the main hub of Tokyo’s “Shitamachi.” Shitamachi refers to one of the two major historic districts of Tokyo, and the n

Kanazawa, Japan

The Food Specialties to try in the Japanese Alps

Within the literal heart of Japan exist a series of mountain ranges that bisect the main island of Honshu.

Aomori apples

The food specialities to try in Tohoku

Bridging Japan’s major hub of Kanto and the most northern island of Hokkaido, the Tohoku region boasts some of the main island of Honshu’s most celebrated attractions, its unique culinary culture e

See All (173)