Top 5 Popular Cooking Apps in Japan
Cooking challenges are something everyone encounters at least once. From struggling to plan daily meals to managing nutritional balance, dealing with busy schedules, or falling into a routine of repetitive dishes, many face these common issues. To address such challenges, numerous cooking apps have emerged, offering solutions like easy and delicious recipes, balanced menus, and a variety of make-ahead meal ideas. These apps provide recipes for everything from daily meals to delectable desserts, regional Japanese dishes, and popular international cuisines.
Below, we introduce the top 5 cooking apps in Japan based on the number of available recipes. In addition to recipe counts, we also cover features such as image and video availability, download options, and premium plan functionalities.
Ranking (Based on Recipe Count):
- Cookpad
- Rakuten Recipe
- Nadia
- Kurashiru
- DELISH KITCHEN
1. Cookpad (Over 3.8 million recipes)
Image Source: https://cookpad.com/
Cookpad is Japan's largest cooking app, featuring an extensive range of recipes. Users can search by dish name, ingredient, or tags, catering to beginners and advanced cooks alike. Recipes often include photos and videos, and users can post and record their own creations. While the basic features are free, the premium plan grants access to expert-curated recipes, making this app ideal for those seeking a wide variety of menu ideas.
2. Rakuten Recipe (Approx. 2 million recipes)
Image Source: https://recipe.rakuten.co.jp/
Rakuten Recipe offers all its features free of charge. While it lacks cooking videos, its robust search functionality allows users to search by ingredients and other criteria. Rakuten users can earn points through the app, making it a great choice for those who use Rakuten services or prefer a fully free app.
3. Nadia (Approx. 100,000 recipes)
Image Source: https://oceans-nadia.com/
Nadia stands out with its professional-quality recipes. Its advanced search features enable users to find recipes by dish name, ingredient, occasion, or setting. With plenty of video tutorials and free basic features, Nadia's premium plan adds access to popular recipes. This app is perfect for users seeking tailored recipes for specific occasions.
4. Kurashiru (Approx. 50,000 recipes)
Image Source: https://www.kurashiru.com/
Kurashiru, a close competitor to Cookpad, offers meal plans and menus curated by registered dietitians. Its comprehensive search feature provides ideas for main dishes, side dishes, and soups, helping users plan complete meals. Free features include recipe videos, with premium options unlocking more functionality. It’s an excellent choice for those looking to build meal ideas from scratch.
5. DELISH KITCHEN (Approx. 50,000 recipes)
Image Source: https://delishkitchen.tv/
DELISH KITCHEN's standout feature is that all recipes are supervised by registered dietitians. It boasts Japan's largest collection of recipe videos and offers purpose-specific searches for needs like diet-friendly or quick meals. The basic app is free, with premium plans unlocking unlimited access to exclusive recipes. This app is ideal for users prioritizing nutritional balance in their meals.
Conclusion
Japan’s diverse range of cooking apps caters to varying preferences, whether focusing on recipe quantity, nutritional balance, or advanced features. While each app has unique strengths, its free versions offer ample functionality to make daily cooking more enjoyable, efficient, and stress-free. By leveraging these tools, users can lighten the daily burden of meal preparation and even turn cooking into a delightful part of their routine.
