10 Best Japanese Rice in the UK 2024 (Nishiki, Yumenishiki and More)

Grown in the Uonuma area of Niigata prefecture, which is famous for the quality of its rice crops, this koshihikari is perfection in a bowl. It's fluffy, chewy, and fragrant - everything that Japanese rice should be! 

We think the 2kg bag is also a very cost-effective option for households that eat Japanese cuisine on a regular basis. Enjoy this top-quality rice alongside grilled tofu and veggies as a main meal or mixed with a little salt and shaped into onigiri for a quick bite - yum!

Yumenishiki is a very popular rice brand in the UK, so we had to include it on our list! Grown in Italy, this is a new variety of koshihikari rice that has been cultivated by farmers trained in traditional Japanese growing methods. It's ideal for eating with a katsu curry or shaping into sushi and rice balls. 

This 1kg bag should suit most households, but if you want even more rice, you can also buy 5kg and 10kg bags. We love that this product offers premium Japanese quality with a lower carbon footprint - you get the best of both worlds!

Nishiki is one of the top producers of Japanese rice in the USA, and this bag of medium-grain musenmai rice comes all the way from sunny California. Suitable as an accompaniment for main meals or for making snacks like rice balls, it's a great all-rounder. 

This is an incredibly affordable packet that is readily available to buy online. If you really love it after trying a smaller bag, you can find it in large catering-size sacks too!

Grown in Toyama prefecture in Japan, this koshihikari rice provides just the right amount of fluffiness and stickiness to suit a variety of dishes, from gyudon rice bowls to sushi. Flavour-wise, it's a little sweeter than other brands but it still complements savoury cuisine.

This is one of the more expensive brands of rice available, but you get a huge amount of grains for your money. Plus, it's like a fine wine - definitely worth paying a bit extra for!

If you've never made fresh sushi at home, you’re missing out on a taste sensation! Heat this rice in the microwave for two minutes, leave it to cool for five minutes, and you'll be ready to roll.

This pre-cooked product is a handy staple to have in your cupboard for when you get a sudden sushi craving. While it's certainly more expensive than many other rice brands, it offers the elusive combo of convenience and quality.

This organic brown rice is incredibly sticky, so it's a must-buy for those who love sushi and onigiri! Grown in the Piemonte region of northwest Italy (which is well-known for its cultivation of risotto rice), this is a high-quality product with a slightly nutty flavour. 

While this is technically selenio rice, which is an Italian grain rather than a Japanese one, it still does the job and we reckon your dinner guests won't be able to tell the difference - unless they happen to be rice farming experts!

This is a good all-rounder that offers the nutritional benefits of brown rice and is quick to cook too. Plus, it's versatile so can be used as part of your main meal or moulded into onigiri and sushi.

Offering both convenience and a deliciously nutty flavour, this USA-grown rice is ideal for those who are trying to eat a bit healthier. The only downside is the high price, but at least it'll last you a while!

The Yutaka brand (meaning "good harvest") has been a pioneer of Japanese food in the UK for decades, and this rice has been grown in Italy with making sushi in mind. Yielding a sticky, yet fluffy grain when cooked, it's perfect for rolling into maki or shaping into onigiri.

This packet is just the right size for trying sushi-making for the first time, but it's a little small and not very cost-effective if you make Japanese food regularly. 

This premium-grade rice from Italy is intended for sushi and onigiri rice balls, but can be used in all kinds of main meals too! So you'll be able to try out a multitude of dishes with this bag and perhaps only have made a dent. 

The price for this bag of rice is very reasonable considering the quantity, particularly as it's such high quality. However, we reckon most households would struggle to get through 10kg of rice unless Japanese food is on the menu every night!

While brown rice undoubtedly offers more fibre and nutrition than white rice, it does take a lot longer to cook. Toyo Rice uses the latest milling technology to bring you brown rice that's super quick to prepare! Snap up these pre-measured microwavable packs and you can have soft, fluffy rice ready in just two minutes! 

It's a shame that these packets are expensive and use a lot of plastic. However, they’re handy to have in the cupboard on days when you need a hot meal fast!