Soup is a crucial component of Japanese cuisine. While miso soup is the most well-known, there are numerous other soups that are humble and have a mild flavor. In this roundup, I will be sharing a collection of my 15 favorite Japanese soup recipes!
1. Authentic Homemade Japanese Miso Soup
![homemade Japanese miso soup in a dark wooden soup bowl with red and black chopsticks](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/homemade-miso-soup-8.jpg)
This recipe for homemade miso soup brings the warmth and comfort of a Japanese kitchen into your home. Made with classic ingredients and various types of miso, this soup is versatile and perfect for daily enjoyment.
It is a comforting companion to any meal, and a heartfelt invitation to explore the rich umami world of miso soup!
2. Kenchin Jiru (Traditional Japanese Vegetable Soup)
![Japanese vegetable soup "kenchin jiru" served in a wooden bowl and topped with chopped spring onions](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/kenchin-jiru-5.jpg)
Kenchin Jiru is a traditional Japanese soup that’s entirely plant-based, rich in umami flavors, and nutritious. It’s a simple dish made with carefully selected vegetables and vegan-friendly dashi broth.
Perfect for cold days or when you need something gentle and nourishing! I hope this recipe brings warmth and joy to your table, inviting you to explore traditional Japanese vegetarian cooking.
3. Tonjiru (Butajiru) Japanese Pork Miso Soup
![Japanese "Tonjiru" pork miso soup in a black and red bowl topped with shichimi togarashi (chili powder) and green onions](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tonjiru-3.jpg)
Tonjiru, a heartwarming Japanese pork miso soup with tender pork belly and root vegetables, creates a satisfying yet comforting soup. My recipe adds a personal touch with thicker cuts of pork and butter for added richness.
Perfect for winter evenings or fulfilling lunches, this dish is meant to be shared and savored!
4. Chicken Zosui (Japanese Rice Soup)
![Japanese chicken rice soup (zosui / ojiya) in a brown nabe topped with kizami nori](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/chicken-zosui-11.jpg)
Chicken Zosui is a simple, comforting, and sophisticated Japanese rice soup. While crafting this recipe, my aim was to take the humble Zosui to the next level by creating a unique and flavorful experience that includes crispy chicken skin.
The recipe is also practical as it uses leftover rice, making it an excellent choice for any occasion!
5. Chicken Miso Soup (Torijiru)
![Japanese Chicken Miso Soup (Torijiru) in a wooden bowl topped with green onion and strips of crispy chicken skin](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/chicken-miso-soup-2.jpg)
My Chicken Miso Soup is a comforting combination of tender chicken and vegetables, recognized for its rich flavor and topped with crispy chicken skin for an enjoyable crunch.
While creating this recipe, I aimed to explore the depth and comfort that combination of miso paste and chicken offers, by using chicken skin to infuse the broth with a unique richness. This dish represents my journey of discovery, proving that chicken miso soup can be just as good as its pork counterpart.
6. Easy Okayu with Egg (Japanese Rice Porridge)
![](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/okayu-6.jpg)
This “Easy Okayu with Egg” recipe offers a comforting Japanese rice porridge perfect for soothing moments. It’s easy to digest and prepare, and highlights the gentle richness of egg.
It is especially recommended for those seeking comfort food that nourishes both body and spirit, making it perfect for recovery days or when you crave something light yet fulfilling.
7. Mushroom Miso Soup (Kinoko no Miso Shiru)
![Mushroom miso soup made with 4 kinds of mushroom served in a wooden bowl top down view](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/mushroom-miso-soup-7.jpg)
This recipe for Mushroom Miso Soup celebrates the unique flavors and textures of four different types of mushrooms. It is a comforting soup that is easy to make and deeply satisfying.
I have explored the synergy between various mushrooms and miso to create a soup that is rich in umami and perfect for any occasion. If you are looking for a simple, wholesome soup, this recipe is for you!
8. Japanese Clear Soup (Osuimono)
![Japanese Clear Soup (Osuimono) in a black bowl with decorative lid, made with shiitake mushroom, kamaboko fish cake, dried wheat gluten (temari fu), yuzu peel and Japanese wild parsley](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/clear-soup-7.jpg)
Osuimono is a Japanese clear soup that is flavored with dashi, soy sauce, and salt. Unlike Sumashi-jiru, Osuimono highlights both the broth and the ingredients.
Try it at home for an authentic taste of simplicity!
9. Ginger Miso Soup (Plant-based)
![vegetarian homemade miso soup with ginger](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/miso-soup-with-ginger-3.jpg)
This recipe for Vegan Miso Soup with Ginger is a twist on the traditional miso soup, using a vegan-friendly dashi made from kombu and dried shiitake mushrooms and bursting with aromatic flavors of fresh ginger.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy the rich, umami flavors of Japanese cuisine, only using plant-based products!
10. Nagoya Style Ozoni (New Year’s Soup with Mochi)
![Nagoya style ozoni in a wooden bowl topped with slices of kamaboko (Japanese fishcakes) and bonito flakes](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ozoni-8.jpg)
Ozoni is a traditional Japanese soup eaten during the New Year’s celebration. It is made with dashi, vegetables, mochi, and protein. Each region in Japan has its own unique version of the dish.
Nagoya-style Ozoni is the simplest in Japan, focusing on the purity of ingredients. Try my authentic Nagoya-style Ozoni recipe that you won’t find anywhere else!
11. Red Miso Soup with Tofu and Seaweed (Akadashi)
![aka-dashi (red miso soup) in wooden bowl topped with chopped green onion](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/red-miso-6.jpg)
Akadashi is a type of miso soup made with red soybean miso (Hatcho miso and Nagoya miso are commonly used). It’s a popular soup in the Tokai region, especially Aichi Prefecture.
If you like regional Japanese food, this recipe is a must-try!
12. Corn Potage (Japanese Corn Soup)
![Japanese corn potage in a grey soup cup topped with fresh cream, homemade croutons and parsley](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/corn-potage-1.jpg)
Corn potage is a thick, creamy soup made with corn that is very popular in Japan. It is available in restaurants, hotels, pre-made packets, vending machines, and Japanese snacks.
This recipe uses fresh corn to unlock its natural sweetness and creaminess, creating a creamy texture that is hard to resist. Give it a try if you have access to fresh corn!
13. Japanese Egg Drop Soup (Kakitamajiru)
![Japanese kakitamajiru egg drop soup topped with spring onions](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Japanese-egg-drop-soup-5.jpg)
Kakitamajiru is a Japanese-style egg drop soup with a light dashi broth and thin, fluffy egg ribbons. It’s subtle yet packed with umami taste!
You can serve this soup as a side dish, perhaps alongside a meal of grilled fish or rice!
14. Chilled Chicken and Citrus Somen Noodle Soup
![Chicken and citrus somen noodle soup in a white bowl with slices of sudachi](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/somen-soup-7.jpg)
Somen is a thin wheat flour noodle commonly eaten cold in Japan during the summer. I transformed it into a chilled noodle soup-style dish and added sudachi, a citrus fruit, for a refreshing twist.
This might not be entirely a soup-soup recipe, but it offers a great cold citrus soup, perfect for hot summer days.
15. Zenzai (Japanese Red Bean Soup with Toasted Mochi)
![Zenzai (Japanese red bean soup) served in a black bowl and topped with toasted kirimochi](https://sudachirecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/zenzai-8.jpg)
Zenzai is a traditional Japanese dessert soup made by simmering adzuki beans with sugar. It’s served hot or cold with mochi or rice dumplings, and sometimes candied chestnuts.
It’s popular in Japan all year round, especially in winter after the New Year celebrations!
Leave a rating and a comment