11 Different Types of Sushi: Find Your New Favorite

When you open up a sushi-ya (sushi restaurant) menu, you may be confused by the variety of sushi. From the well-known maki sushi (rolled sushi) to delicate nigiri pieces, it can be hard to remember which is which. 

It’s time to explore sushi types beyond the Westernized California roll and brush up on your sushi knowledge so you’ll be an expert the next time you enjoy a delicious sushi meal. 

To learn more about the variety of seafood used in your favorite sushi dishes, check out our beginner's guide to the types of sushi fish.

Any dish that includes rice seasoned with vinegar, sugar and salt, served alongside ingredients like seafood and vegetables, is considered sushi. The possibility for different seafood combinations with vinegared sushi rice is vast, spoiling sushi lovers with much choice and variety. 

Over time, both in Japan and beyond, there have been riffs on traditional Japanese sushi, leading to many different types of sushi to satisfy adventurous taste buds.

Possibly the most well-known kind of Japanese sushi is nigiri. This type of sushi is usually made using either raw fish, tamago (egg) or a vegetable. 

Nigiri is sometimes made with a cut of meat rather than seafood, but the majority of the time, it’s paired with raw fish such as salmon or tuna. The fish may be cooked or seared for a different, bolder flavor. The rice is also commonly topped with a dab of wasabi, but you can ask for it to be removed if you are spice-averse. 

In this Tokyo cooking class, you’ll master the art of preparing nigiri sushi. Start with the all-important rice, as you mix just the right amount of vinegar to make delicious sushi rice before forming it into the recognizable nigiri oval shape. 

Top your nigiri with fresh seafood for a mouthwatering plate of sushi filled with flavor and variety. Complete your meal with a cup of tea or sake. You’ll leave with the recipes in hand to make nigiri sushi again, no matter where you are. 

Maki sushi is probably the type of sushi you recognize the most, with various combinations of fish, vegetables and sushi rice rolled up with a sheet of nori (seaweed). 

Sometimes it’s made with just one ingredient for filling; this specific type of maki is called hosomaki. While it’s known as the traditional sushi roll, you would be surprised by the many different types of rolls that are available.

Enter a Japanese local’s kitchen to learn how to craft maki in this sushi-making class in Osaka. Practice your sushi rolling skills using ingredients like seafood, egg and cucumber for colorful and delicious maki.  

You’ll also make tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet) and miso soup using your host Yoko’s homemade miso. With an included dessert, you’ll enjoy a delicious and filling maki sushi meal while chatting with your friendly host about her experiences teaching Japanese cooking in Japan and abroad. 

There are different types of maki sushi, one being futomaki, translating to "fat rolled sushi." As direct as the name is, it is literally a thick rolled maki sushi that’s usually vegetarian. 

It uses ingredients like cucumber, tamago (egg) strips and shiitake mushrooms. It is the most classic maki roll in Japan and a popular sushi roll to make for festive events, add to a daily bento box, or bring to gatherings.

Hosomaki is considered the most basic maki sushi type. Rather than having a combination of fillings, it only contains a single filling, normally consisting of an ingredient like cucumber, salmon, tuna or crab. It is the smallest kind of maki sushi and is enjoyed for its simplicity.

Temaki (hand roll) sushi is another type of maki that is easy to make at home. It is rolled with a variety of ingredients, often including a type of fish, into a cone shape. Temaki sushi is eaten by hand, as picking it up with chopsticks would be cumbersome and messy.

Uramaki, known as the "inside-out" sushi, is maki in reverse, as the rice is on the outside, with the nori wrapped around the filling. 

Interestingly, the uramaki originates from Los Angeles, and it is not a surprise that this maki sushi is the most popular type of sushi in America. Even if you are quite new to the Japanese food scene, you must have heard of the famous California roll. However, in Japan, uramaki is overshadowed by its more traditional peers.

Chirashi sushi (scattered sushi) is a sushi bowl that consists of a base of vinegared rice with raw fish and other ingredients on top. The types of raw fish used vary, but the most popular choices are salmon and tuna. 

It is often garnished with kinshi tamago (shredded egg crepe), nori and salmon roe for a mouth-watering and colorful finishing touch. Chirashi sushi is popular as a party food, as a big platter can be easily made and shared.

Make a colorful bowl of chirashi sushi alongside several side dishes in this Tokyo cooking class. You’ll learn the secrets of crafting delicious sushi rice and master the art of making shredded egg crepe.

Top your bowl with ingredients like cooked seafood, thinly sliced sashimi, pickled vegetables and garnishes. Complete your meal with miso soup and kakiage (vegetable and seafood tempura) for a delicious and filling meal.

Inari sushi is a less recognized but still popular type of sushi in Japan. Differing from your typical maki or nigiri, inarizushi consists of sushi rice in a pocket of aburaage (thin, deep-fried tofu). 

Rather than being savory, inari sushi is quite sweet, though it is not regarded as a dessert in Japan. It is a popular side dish and a great addition to a bento box.

What better way to delve into the world of sushi than to learn how to make a variety of types? In this sushi-making class in Tokyo, you’ll make inari sushi alongside several other favorites like nigiri, hosomaki and even the western favorite California roll. 

Learn about the history of sushi and expand your knowledge of the many different sushi types with guidance from an experienced instructor as you make your mouthwatering lunch. 

Another traditional type of sushi is temari sushi. Temari directly translates into "hand ball" in English. The name is inspired by a traditional Japanese toy called temari, an embroidered ball that people use to play with. Nowadays, the temari ball is more of a decorative ornament than a ball game. 

Temari sushi is a smaller, rounder, cuter form of nigiri and is normally topped with raw fish. It is a popular type of sushi to serve during special celebrations. 

Want to learn how to make temari sushi? Join our temari sushi-making class in Asakusa, Tokyo!

Gunkan maki is another common type of sushi that may not look like the typical maki, though it is still wrapped in seaweed. It gets its name, which translates to "battleship," from its boat-like shape. 

Typical toppings include tobiko (flying fish roe), ikura (salmon roe) and uni (sea urchin). However, there are no limits to what you can top gunkan maki with.

Want to learn how to make gunkan maki? Join our Kyoto cooking class for gunkan, nigiri, and maki sushi making!

Fermented foods are known for their gut health benefits, but did you know that the original sushi was a fermented dish? Narezushi is regarded as the first kind of sushi in Japan, and its history dates back over 1,000 years. 

People preserved fish using fermented rice, which they would later throw out in favor of just eating the preserved fish. They began to eat both of them together, paving the way for the sushi we know today to start taking shape. 

Narezushi is not commonly eaten nowadays but can still be found in several areas of Japan. Shiga Prefecture is one of the most well-known places that still serves the ancient sushi. 

Japan is a country with diverse regional cuisines. One type of sushi that comes from Osaka is the oshi sushi, meaning "box sushi" or "pressed sushi." This type is actually one of the oldest forms of sushi, the successor to nare sushi, which sprang from the method of preserving fish by packing it tightly in boxes of fermented rice.

Want to learn how to make oshizushi (pressed sushi)? Join our Nagoya cooking class, where you'll make sushi with an authentic Japanese grandma!

The last type of sushi we'll cover is sasa sushi, one that you've likely never heard of. It is a local, rustic style of sushi from Niigata and Nagano prefectures. 

It’s often made with wild vegetables presented on a bed of sushi rice with a bamboo leaf standing in as a plate. This is yet another healthy and fresh type of sushi that incorporates fresh produce from the local area.

Hidden away in the Kitano Hotel, Sushi Oumi is the creation of Chef Einosuke Oumi, welcoming you into a world of exceptional Edomae-style sushi. Known as "Sanpei-san" by regulars, you’ll feel right at home at this cozy and personable Tokyo restaurant.

It’s also the perfect place to ease your way into the indulgence and unexpected nature of omakase chef's choice sushi menus, with two to choose from.

Opt for the Lunch Omakase Course between 11:30 am and 2 pm for a sumptuous feast of fresh fish and seasonal ingredients, featuring three light dishes, 10 pieces of nigiri sushi and miso soup.

Or come back for a decadent dinner between 5-10 pm for their Dinner Omakase Course, serving six light dishes, 10 pieces of nigiri sushi, maki sushi and miso soup. Either way, both come with tantalizing conversation and an unforgettable journey for your taste buds.

Taste over 100 years of history at the first sushi restaurant in the Otemachi district of Tokyo. Originally opening in 1912, Imayoshi Otemachi Sushi is now run by the third generation chef. 

Combining the knowledge inherited from older generations along with fresh ideas, the restaurant has become a wonderful blend of old and new. 

Anago (conger eel) is one of their specialties, as they use a mixed boiling and grilling cooking method for a delightful texture and flavor. Enjoy their luxurious omakase course for lunch or dinner with 15 types of nigiri sushi alongside seasonal appetizers, miso soup and a dessert. 

Discover your new favorite type of sushi during your trip to Tokyo by visiting some of the best sushi spots in Shibuya and Shinjuku. If you don’t want to break the bank, there are many affordable sushi options in Tokyo as well.

In contrast to other countries, the most popular type of sushi in Japan is nigiri sushi. 

Sushi is generally healthy. There are many nutritious components of sushi, such as fish, which contains many healthy proteins and vitamins, and nori, which is rich in nutrients. 

The healthy qualities of sushi depend on the ingredients used, so steer clear of fried ingredients like tempura and limit the amount of rice if you are on a low-carb diet or trying to limit your calories. 

Nigiri and maki are the two most common types of sushi you can find in Japan. 

Sushi incorporates sashimi, but it needs to be served on a bed of rice to be considered sushi. Sashimi is sliced raw fish served on its own, with no rice required.