What are the most "interesting" traditional Japanese foods that you would recommend?

Question:

If I ever go to Japan, I would like to really experience the best of it. I would like to eat such foods that I could never forget about them. I have seen in Japanese recipe books that many of them look very interesting and use unknown ingredients. So, what do you think?

Answer:

There are so many that it would fill a good size book just to name them all.

For people outside of Japan, the word sushi usually conjures up either a roll with raw seafood or a block of rice topped with raw seafood. However, this is only one style of sushi call Edo-mao sushi, and it was invented (so the story goes) in Edo which is the feudal name of Tokyo. Other parts of Japan have different styles of sushi. For example, in and around Kyoto the sushi is made with cured fish and a variety of vegetables and tofu.

But, you also need to understand that even the Edo-mae sushi you get outside of Japan is very different in terms of the kinds of fish or seafood that is used. There are many many kinds of ingredients that is not available in the US or at least very rarely served. For example, shakko (mantis shrimp) sushi is not easily found.

And it's not just sushi. The flavor of even the lowly ramen is very different and such everyday dishes such as katsudon-donburri are just soooo good. It's like the difference between Chinese food in the US and real Chinese food. When you go to Japan, try out something you had in the US and you will not regret it.

If you really want to go for it, the most "high class" and expensive Japanese cuisine is call Kaiseki Ryori. This is style of cooking originated from the ZEN monks would lived frugally in terms of quantity but very evidently never gave up quality. It is a multi-course meal and like everything in Japan, done with a flare and style that is very unique.

There are also fugu and Kobe beef, but personally I find that the only reason visitors to Japan eat them is to have the bragging rights that they did so when they go back home and not because the food itself are all that tasty.