To avoid any issues (like your electronics getting damaged, or even catching on fire!), please check the voltage wherever you plan to use your new Japanese rice cooker and prepare the appropriate transformer. Thankfully transformers can generally be purchased relatively cheaply at most electronics stores and even on Amazon. Just make sure that the transformer steps down to Japanese voltage, and will be able to supply your Japanese rice cooker with sufficient wattage to power the device.
Once you have the appropriate transformer, you can be sure that you can operate your rice cooking device safely - assuming you can plug it in. Customers in the US and Canada can rejoice - the Japanese plug is the same as the one in (most places in) the States! Japan, the United States and Canada typically both use plug A (pictured below). You should just double check though, as some places may use type B plugs.
Customers in the UK and Ireland will need to purchase a type G plug adapter in order to use their rice cooker, while customers in Australia and New Zealand will need to purchase a type I plug adapter. Thankfully, plug adapters are quite cheap - please keep in mind that the adapter should be used in conjunction with a transformer, not on its own in most cases.
Top Recommended Japanese Rice cookers
Japanese-made rice cookers are available from many brands with a variety of functions. Even the same rice can be cooked differently depending on the rice cooker, so consider what you want to focus on when deciding which option suits your needs.
However before you can even get into the various function settings, unless you've studied the language before, the biggest issue is all the buttons being in Japanese!
As such, we've selected 8 of Japan's top rice cookers with English buttons and instructions, so check out our summaries of their various features and highlights, and choose your perfect option carefully!
HITACHI Pressure & Steam Rice Cooker IH 5.5 Cups [RZ-W2000Y-W]
![HITACHI Pressure Steam Rice Cooker IH 5.5 Cups [RZ-W2000Y-W]](https://static2.zenmarket.jp/upload/p1f4onf6jku0jamn1ahb13h2cc88.png)
This pot has Hitachi's special "Pressure & Steam" technology, a cast iron pot, and thermos bottle technology. "Pressure & Steam" produces pressurised steam to cook your rice evenly, even at high temperatures, and although it's a steam system, you don't need to add extra water or worry about the steam damaging the surrounding walls; this model has a two-stage heating system designed to quickly heat the center and then slowly heat the sides with a time delay, and also make use of the structural weight of the cast iron pot to assist with even cooking.
Key Points:
- Price: 39,000 yen~
- Summary: Induction heating rice cooker with cast iron pot and two-stage pressure and steam heating system
- Capacity: 5.5 cups
- AC: 220-230V
- LCD Display: English / Chinese
- Manual language: Japanese / Chinese / English
- Made in Japan
- Product Page: Yodoyabashi (JP Only)
Shop Hitachi RZ-W2000Y
TIGER IH Rice cooker with Ceramic Inner Pot [JKL-T10W / JKL-T15W]
The earthenware pot has been a standard cooking utensil in Japan for centuries. When cooking rice with a clay pot on high heat, there will be a layer of crispier rice around the edges that is even more flavorful and aromatic. This lightly toasted rice is called "okoge" and any rice-loving Japanese love see it at the bottom of their rice cooker.
This rice pot has a layered structure that behaves similarly to real clay. With this clay IH rice cooker, you can control 3 unique heating levels on the ceramic pot in particular, so you can also make okoge yourself! You can be sure the taste of rice from this cooker is just like what you would get from clay pot over a real fire!
And in addition to the basic cooking functions, there are 21 computerized cooking menu settings.
Key Points:
- JPY 58,000~ (JKL-T10W - 5.5 Cup Size)
- JPY 67,000~ (JKL-T15W - 8 Cup Size)
- Summary: 5-layer induction heating rice cooker with clay ceramic pot
- Capacity: 5.5 or 8
- AC: 220V
- LCD Display: English
- Manual language: Japanese / Chinese / English
- Made in Japan
- Product Page: Yodoyabashi (JP Only)
Shop 5.5-cup model
Shop 8-cup model
TOSHIBA Pressure Rice Cooker IH 10 Cups [RCDU18W-R]
![TOSHIBA Pressure Rice Cooker IH 10 Cups [RCDU18W-R]](https://static2.zenmarket.jp/upload/p1f4qh5r5kd3frl5rj0oal14nm6.png)
Compared to other products, this TOSHIBA rice cooker stands out with its 5mm thick wrought iron pot. This pot is designed to facilitate effective thermal convection like a traditional furnace.
Vacuum technology is used to cook quickly and evenly, and allows for a long "keep-warm" heating time of up to 40 hours without spoiling the taste. The heating system has various levels and settings that can be adjusted to your preference.
Key Points:
- JPY 29,000~
- Summary: Induction heating rice cooker with vacuum and pressure technology
- Capacity: 10 cups
- AC: 220V
- Manual language: Japanese / Chinese / Korean / English
- Made in Japan
- Product Page: Yodoyabashi (JP Only)
Shop TOSHIBA RCDU18W-R
HITACHI Pressure & Steam Rice Cooker IH 10 Cups [RZ-KV180Y]
![HITACHI Pressure Steam Rice Cooker IH 10 Cups [RZ-KV180Y]](https://static2.zenmarket.jp/upload/p1f4qj2jt65db1ppdelgqud2ho8.png)
Just like the earlier Hitachi model, this rice cooker uses pressure and steam technology to augment the IH functionality. Like normal pressure cookers, the pressure inside this cooker is high, reaching up to 1.3 atm and 107℃ to produce high temperature steam to cook rice quickly.
It is also equipped with a steam recycling mechanism, in which the trapped steam turns into water, which is then re-heated to become steam again, in order to reheat the rice periodically, keeping it warm and fresh for hours. The cooker is specially designed to prevent steam from escaping, keeping the rice properly steamed to bring out the natural sweetness. Where else would you find unique features like this other than Japan?
Key Points:
- JPY 37,000 yen~
- Summary: Pressure and steam rice cooker. Thick iron pot with gold fluorine coating, with thermal spray and far infrared ray charcoal
- Capacity: 10 cups
- AC: 220-230V
- LCD Display: English / Chinese
- Manual language: Japanese / Chinese / English / Korean
- Made in Japan
- Product Page: Yodoyabashi (JP Only)
Shop Hitachi RZ-KV180Y
ZOJIRUSHI IH Rice Cooker 5.5 Cups [NP-HLH10XA]
![ZOJIRUSHI IH Rice Cooker 5.5 Cups [NP-HLH10XA]](https://static2.zenmarket.jp/upload/p1f4tedig71c4fksji041ufbc5b4.png)
Today's first entry from Zojirushi, this rice cooker has a large steam vent, allowing for continuous high-power cooking. It also has an extended heating cycle, so that once cooked, the rice will always be tasty and ready to eat. The cover can be easily removed and washed. Among its special features is its ability to perfectly cook different types of rice, such as white rice, brown rice, mixed rice and others.
Key Points:
- JPY 37,000 yen~
- Summary: Induction Heating rice cooker with a large steam vent
- Capacity: 5.5 cups
- AC: 220-230V
- LCD Display: English
- Manual language: Japanese / Chinese / English / Korean
- Made in Japan
- Product Page: Amazon Japan
Shop Zojirushi NP-HLH10XA
TIGER Steam IH Rice Cooker [JKT-S10W / JKT-W18W]
![TIGER Steam IH Rice Cooker [JKT-S10W / JKT-W18W]](https://static2.zenmarket.jp/upload/p1f4qm5mcj4jnq7qatidjq1j0ie.png)
Modern IH-type rice cookers are often able to cook rice more evenly than their older counterparts. To prevent uneven heat distribution, the pot and the inner lid of this cooker are completely coated with ceramic. In addition, it uses a metal 5-layer long-range infrared double pot, which transfers heat to all sides equally so rice grains are cooked perfectly to produce delicious rice.
The cooker is easy to dismantle, making it easy to repair and wash. Also included is a foreign cooking plate that allows you to cook side dishes along with rice. This is known as the "tacook" synchro cooking mechanism. In addition, there are 12 computerized cooking menu settings.
Key Points:
- JPY 17,000~ (JKT-S10W - 5.5 Cup Size)
- JPY 54,000~ (JKT-W18W - 10 Cup Size)
- Summary: Induction heating rice cooker, ceramic-coated with 5 long-range infrared double-metal layers and "tacook" synchro cooking mechanism
- Capacity: 5.5 or 10 cups
- AC: 220-230V
- LCD Display: English
- Manual language: Japanese / Chinese / English
- Made in Japan
- Product Page: Tiger Website
Shop Tiger JKT-S10W 5.5-cup
Shop Tiger JKT-W18W 10-cup
TIGER Rice Cooker / Heater controlled by IH Micom [JKW-A10W / JKW-A18]
This pot has 3 layers, including a coated copper layer for far-infrared rays, allowing rice to be cooked uniformly. Apart from the basic settings, this cooker also has options for long grain rice common in Southeast Asia, which is cooked differently from short grain rice like that of Japan. There are 8 computerized cooking menu settings.
- JPY 27,000~ (JKW-A10W - 5.5 Cup Size)
- JPY 31,000~ (JKW-A18 - 8 Cup Size)
- Summary: An induction heating rice cooker with a 3-layer inner pot coated with far-infrared rays
- AC: 220V
- LCD Display: English
- Manual language: Japanese / Chinese / English
- Made in Japan
- Product Page: Tiger Website
Shop Tiger JKW-A10W 5.5-cup
Shop Tiger JKW-A18 10-cup
TIGER Pressure & Steam Rice Coooker [JPB-W10W / JPB-W18W]
If you want premium quality with a beautiful design, this could be the rice cooker for you. The high-heat Induction Heating technology and unique pressure cooking method maximize the taste and texture of the rice. With 11 specialised layers and a thickness of 3mm, the pot amplifies the induced heat, and with the far-infrared cordierite ceramic layer and the heat-retaining glass beads to imitate the heat from a clay pot, this cooker can produce rice with a perfectly sweet taste and chewy texture.
In terms of design, it is made with a simple and flat back to look beautiful and easy to store in any corner. The stylish, modern design will look great in any kitchen.
Key Points:
- JPY 83,000~ (JPB-W10W - 5.5 Cup Size)
- JPY 90,000~ (JPB-W18W - 10 Cup Size)
- Summary: Induction heating rice cooker with premium 11 layer inner pot
- Capacity: 5.5 or 10 Cups
- AC: 220V
- LCD Display: English
- Manual language: Japanese / Chinese / English
- Made in Japan
- Product Page: Tiger Website
Shop Tiger JPB-W10W 5.5-cup
Shop Tiger JPB-W18W 10-cup
Conclusion
No matter where you come from, chances are you want to eat delicious food. And when rice forms the basis of so many great meals from Asia and Japan in particular, having a quality rice cooker at home that you can rely on means that you can always indulge in perfectly-cooked rice with little effort at the touch of a button.
We have introduced some top-quality Japanese rice cookers and their characteristics (including English text for easy use!). What do you think? All of the models are cost-effective products that will give you the best cooking results for your budget. We hope this helps you find a rice cooker that suits your lifestyle, and enjoy satisfying rice meals.
