Top Japanese Rice Brands Worth Trying Today

Japanese rice has gained international acclaim for its unique texture and flavor, making it a staple in many households around the world. Whether you're looking for premium grains for sushi or everyday rice to complement your meals, the selection of top-notch brands offers a diverse array of choices. Renowned for their quality and commitment to authenticity, these brands ensure that you experience the true essence of Japanese cuisine. For those eager to enhance their culinary repertoire with the finest Japanese rice, explore our comprehensive list of the best brands below.

Illustration of japanese rice

Best brands of japanese rice in 2025

Nishiki

Nishiki, a premium medium-grain rice brand, is highly regarded for its quality and is the signature rice of JFC International Inc, a leading Japanese food vendor in North America. Grown in California's rich soil and crystal clear water, Nishiki rice is favored by sushi experts and is known for its consistent flavor and texture. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Nishiki has established itself as a top choice, available in white, brown, and quick-cooking varieties. Its brown rice offers a delicate texture and pleasant nutty flavor, while the Haiga rice combines the benefits of white and brown rice. Nishiki's popularity is evident in its widespread availability, even in local supermarkets. To learn more about Nishiki's 40th Anniversary, visit their special anniversary page.

Koshihikari

Koshihikari is renowned as one of the best producers of Japanese rice, dominating the market since 1978 and accounting for 30% of rice for human consumption in Japan from 1996 to 2019. It is prized for its superior quality, sticky consistency, and chewy texture, with 55 brands receiving the highest rank of Special A in the 2018 taste ranking by the Japan Grain Inspection Association. Koshihikari rice is cultivated over 535,000 hectares across Japan and is also grown in regions of California, Australia, and China. Despite its susceptibility to rice blast disease, its high quality and flavor have maintained its popularity. The variety has been cross-bred to create other top-ranked varieties like Akitakomachi, Hitomebore, and Nasuhikari. For more detailed insights, refer to the special report on Koshihikari brands dominating Japanese rice ranking.

Tamanishiki

Tamanishiki is a super premium short grain rice, developed through a partnership between JFC and a rice crop specialist, combining the qualities of Koshihikari and Yumegokochi rice for rich flavor and excellent texture. Grown by the highly praised Montna Farms of California, Tamanishiki rice is widely used in prestigious Japanese restaurants globally. It is known for its sticky texture when cooked, a characteristic of Japanese rice. Tamanishiki rice has gained popularity in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia, reflecting its high quality. This brand is a testament to the high standards of Japanese rice production, which has a self-sufficiency ratio of nearly 99% in Japan. For more details on Tamanishiki rice, visit their rice expert page.

Botan Calrose

Botan Calrose is a highly regarded brand for Japanese rice, particularly known for its high-quality medium-grain rice. Developed from Japanese rice varieties, Calrose rice, which includes Botan Calrose, makes up about 85% of California's rice production since its introduction in 1948. This rice is soft, slightly sticky, and mild, making it an excellent choice for sushi and other Japanese dishes. Botan Calrose rice is grown primarily in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, benefiting from California's suitable climate and soil. Its popularity has been reinforced by its widespread use as a substitute for traditional Japanese short-grain rice.

Tamaki Gold

Tamaki Gold is renowned globally as the signature of quality for Japanese rice, having been evaluated and ranked among the top Koshihikari grown in Japan by the Japanese Association of Rice Taste Appraisers. Produced in the Sacramento Valley near the Sutter Buttes, Tamaki Gold benefits from ideal soil characteristics, climate, and pure water from the Sierra Mountains. This combination ensures the perfect Koshihikari kernel with optimal moisture, stickiness, and flavor retention. Tamaki Gold is highly recommended for the finest sushi experience and other Japanese cuisines. With over 20 years of commitment to quality, Tamaki Rice Corporation maintains rigorous standards in every phase of production.

Shirakiku

Shirakiku is a renowned brand in the Japanese rice market, known for its high-quality products such as microwavable rice and Japanese rice cakes. Their microwavable rice, for instance, contains 318 calories, 71 grams of carbs, and 5.6 grams of protein per 7.05 ounces, and is praised for its fluffy and sticky texture, similar to freshly cooked rice. Shirakiku's Japanese rice cakes have a moderate calorie density with 110 calories per piece, consisting of 92% carbs, 0% fat, and 8% protein. The brand is also a major player in the global instant rice market, expected to grow steadily due to changing consumer preferences and the convenience of their products. Shirakiku's commitment to quality and ease of preparation has earned it a strong reputation among consumers.

Yume Nishiki

Yume-Nishiki is a highly regarded brand of Japanese rice, particularly the Koshihikari type grown in northern Italy under the supervision of Japan Food Corporation International (JFC). It is praised for its quality, tasting as good as most Japan-grown rice brands, and is reasonably priced, being between 2/3 to 1/2 the cost of imported Japanese rice. This brand is available as both white and brown rice, making it versatile for various dishes. Yume-Nishiki has gained approval from many, including the author's mother, who no longer feels the need to ship rice from Japan. It is a preferred choice for those seeking high-quality japonica rice without the high cost of importing from Japan.

Akitakomachi

Akitakomachi is a highly regarded Japanese rice brand, particularly noted for its quality and taste. In the 2023 rice ranking by the Japan Grain Inspection Association, Akitakomachi from Southern Akita was promoted to the highest rank of Special A, a distinction held by only about 30% of the 144 brands evaluated. This brand is a second-generation variety created through cross-breeding Koshihikari with other types of rice, showcasing its genetic superiority. Akitakomachi's promotion highlights its adaptability and quality, especially in regions that prepared for heatwaves by planting heat-tolerant varieties. The brand's success is a testament to Japan's rigorous evaluation process, which considers six factors including aroma, taste, and stickiness. For more details, explore their 2023 rice ranking results.

Hitomebore

Hitomebore is a highly regarded Japanese rice variety, particularly renowned for its cold weather resistance and flavor profile similar to Koshihikari. Produced mainly in southern Iwate, Hitomebore has earned the "Special A" title from the Japan Grain Inspection Association 23 times, highlighting its superior taste. It is known for its plump, glutinous grains and a pleasant balance of sweetness and aroma. Hitomebore is excellent in all aspects, including viscosity, sweetness, and texture, making it ideal for various dishes, even when consumed cold. Since 1991, Hitomebore from southern Iwate has been consistently evaluated for its quality. For more detailed information, visit the official Iwate Hitomebore webpage.

Yuki Tsubaki

Yuki-Tsubaki is renowned as one of the premier producers of Japanese rice, particularly the Koshihikari variety. It is produced in the Uonuma region of Niigata Prefecture, known for its premium water source from the Ryugakubo mountain stream. This brand stands out for its scarcity, with only 0.0007% of Koshihikari rice being Yuki-Tsubaki, and its availability is a mere 0.003% compared to other premium Koshihikari brands like Uonuma. Yuki-Tsubaki has consistently received the gold medal in Japan's largest rice evaluation contest for five consecutive years, reflecting its exceptional quality and the dedication of its rice masters. The rigorous soil preparation and fertilizer application processes further enhance the natural quality of the rice. For more information about their exceptional rice standards, visit the Yuki-Tsubaki partner page.