Rice is considered a staple in all Asian countries and Japan is no exception. When every second meal is centered around rice, you know that a brilliant rice cooker is a must-have in all Japanese households.
Japanese rice cookers are known for their high-tech functions, quick cooking time, and versatility. Although they are on the more expensive side, they’re definitely worth the investment.
If you eat rice quite often, you don’t want to be cooking it over the stove. That method is time-consuming, inconvenient, and often way too messy!
Getting the right Japanese rice cooker for your household will save a great deal of time and effort. And let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to show off a rice cooker that cooks multiple recipes whilst speaking to you in Japanese?
We know that it can be a little overwhelming looking for a Japanese rice cooker because the market is quite saturated. However, we’re here to help!
Below is a curated list of the best Japanese rice cookers that you should look into getting right now!
1. Zojirushi NP-VZ10-TA Rice Cooker
This Zojirushi rice cooker is considered an classic and is a staple amongst many Japanese households. It cooks rice to absolute perfection, looks stylish, and is long-lasting. What more could you want?
It uses an induction technique to continuously cook at high heat power to get right into the core of all rice grains. The result is super fluffy white rice that will elevate all dishes.
Sick of burning the bottom of your rice cooker every time you cook rice? Tired of dry rice? Make the switch to this superior Zojirushi rice cooker and you’ll never look back!
Summary
- Using the induction heating method
- Cooks by slowly absorbing water and releasing alpha from the grain’s core
Buy It Now: Zojirushi NP-VZ10-TA Rice Cooker
2. Tiger JNP-1000-FL 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker & Warmer
This Tiger rice cooker is considered another classic from the wonderful range of Japanese rice cookers readily available for you. You may recognize its distinct floral pattern from your childhood days when your parents would pull one of these bad boys and you know you’ll be having an A-grade dinner!
There’s a reason why so many people of the older generations stand by this rice cooker, and that’s because it’s one of the most reliable ones on the market.
Regardless of how many years you use this rice cooker, it will always pull through with warm, fluffy and moist rice for the perfect dinner.
It features a steam vent that can be removed and washed, an automatic warm function, and stainless-steel inner pot.
Summary
- Classic design
- No fuss cooking
- Removable and easy to clean
- Keep warm function
Buy It Now: Tiger JNP-1000-FL 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker & Warmer
3. Panasonic SR-HZ106 5 Cup Japanese Rice Cooker
This small and compact Panasonic Japanese rice cooker is the perfect addition for a small family. It’s simple to operate whilst still offering 13 different pre-set cooking functions. You can easily prepare multiple dishes such as white rice, quinoa, porridge, frozen rice, and even sticky rice!
It boasts a 7-layer inner cooking pan that helps to keep the rice warm for 12 hours whilst resting in the cooker. It turns off the cooking function so that the rice is never overcooked.
Summary
- Comes with a measuring cup, a label, and rice spoon
- Features 13 pre-set cooking functions
- Perfect for smaller households
Buy It Now: Panasonic SR-HZ106 5 Cup Japanese Rice Cooker
4. Zojirushi Mahobin STAN. NW-SA10-BA IH Rice Cooker
The Zojirushi Mahobin STAN. NW-SA10-BA IH had to make it to our list of the best Japanese rice cookers!
This sleek looking square-shaped rice booker is the perfect addition to any modern-style kitchen. It uses a special gourmet boiling IH method that efficiently and effectively cooks the rice at continuous super high heat.
It comes with pre-set cooking functions, some of which are made specifically for baby foods. If you’re an expecting mama or have a little one to feed, this will cut own your cooking time!
Choose to cook your rice normal, soft, or firm – it’s up to you.
Summary
- Sleek and stylish looking
- Cooks evenly with extremely high heat
- Pre-set cooking functions, including for baby food recipes
Buy It Now: Zojirushi Mahobin STAN. NW-SA10-BA IH Rice Cooker
5. Toshiba Low Carb Digital Programmable Multi-functional Rice Cooker
Health-conscious people will rejoice at hearing that Toshiba has developed a multi-functional rice cooker that cooks low-carb rice!
How is this possible, you ask?
It is because the technology built within this rice cooker can remove at least 37% of unwanted unhealthy digestive starch from the rice! As a result, you will be consuming rice that is lighter and healthier for your body.
It also features eight pre-programmed settings that will allow you to cook different rice types including brown, white, and mixed grains. You can also whip up a delicious bowl of soup, stew, and oatmeal if you’d like!
The inclusion of Toshiba’s Advanced Fuzzy Technology system means that the rice cooker will make necessary adjustments to the cooking method as required.
Summary
- Cooks low-carb rice by getting rid of unwanted digestive starch
- Features eight pre-programmed settings
- You can also cook soup, stew, and oatmeal
- Includes Toshiba’s Advanced Fuzzy Technology
Buy It Now: Toshiba Low Carb Digital Programmable Multi-functional Rice Cooker
6. Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker
This Japanese rice cooker is considered to be one of the best in the market right now. With a standard yet generous 5.5 cup capacity, it’s small enough to justify cooking for only 2 people, yet large enough to cook for an entire family.
A key feature of this cute little rice cooker includes the latest Neuro Fuzzy technology system. This basically means it’s smart functioning enough to automatically adjust the cooker’s temperature and cooking time to suit.
It’s also made from incredibly high-quality stainless steel, is non-stick, offers even heat distribution, and a clear LCD display. Using this rice cooker, you can cook different rice options including mixed, porridge, semi-brown, sweet, and quick cooking.
This rice cooker comes with two measuring cups, a rice scooper, a scooper holder, and a recipe booklet.
Summary
- 5.5 uncooked rice capacity
- Neuro-Fuzzy technology system
- Reheat, keep warm, keep warm extended function
- Cook various rice options including mixed, porridge, semi-brown, sweet
Buy It Now: Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker
7. Tiger JNP-1800-FL 10- Cup Rice Cooker & Warmer
Those with large families or looking to entertain – this is the one for you.
The Tiger JNP-1800-FL is a huge 10 cup capacity rice cooker that whips up fluffy moist rice in no time. Its wonderful keep-warm function allows you to keep your rice in the pot for up to 12-hours without it losing any moisture.
If you’re tired of having to cook rice over and over every day, you can cook enough for a few days in one go with this one
It comes with a removable washable steam vent, spatula, and measuring cup.
Summary
- Non-stick inner pan
- Retractable power cord
- Keep warm function for up to 12 hours
- Removable washable steam vent
Buy It Now: Tiger JNP-1800-FL 10- Cup Rice Cooker & Warmer
8. Yamazen YJE-M150 Rice Cooker
Are you more of a fan of the minimalist look? You’re in luck! This Yamazen rice cooker is a compact and adorable looking rice cooker whose basic exterior is a facade for its incredible cooking ability. It comes without the modern bells and whistles but can still cook a mean serving of rice!
Its compact size means that it’s perfect for those with limited space and need to make the most of whatever bench space they have. Its glass lid allows for visibility of the rice cooking, whilst its simple on/off switch makes ease of use a major advantage over others.
Summary
- Minimalist design
- Small, perfect for compact spaces
- Simple to use
Buy It Now: Yamazen YCJ-S025 Rice Cooker
9. Tiger JBV-A10U 5.5 Cup Micom Rice Cooker
This adorable rice cooker will have the compliments rolling in as you display it on your benchtop. Its clean and minimal exterior gives way to an extensive cooking menu that allows for different types of cooking, including plain rice, brown rice, and slow-cooking.
The non-stick pan allows for even heat distribution during the cooking process. The rice cooker comes with a spatula, cooking plate, measuring cup, and recipe cookbook.
Summary
- Features synchro cooking functions
- Offers four menu cooking settings
- Includes a recipe book with extensive ideas
Buy It Now: Tiger JBV-A10U 5.5 Cup Micom Rice Cooker
10. Zojirushi NP-NWC10XB Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker
This rice cooker boasts an incredibly powerful pressure induction heating style of cooking. With three pressure levels to choose from, you can go from soft and fluffy white rice to moist and flavorsome sticky rice with just one click.
The menu settings for this rice cooker goes beyond your imagination. Envision cooking with options such as white, umami cooking, jasmine rice, porridge, brown rice, sushi and sweet, oatmeal, rinse-free cooking, and even quick cooking options!
It also includes Zojirushi’s latest Fuzzy Logic Technology. This is when the machine knows to adjust the cooking process to produce perfectly cooked rice every time.
Summary
- Pressure induction heating style
- Three pressure levels to choose from
- Multiple cooking options to choose from in menu
- Includes Zojirushi’s Fuzzy Logic Technology
Buy It Now: Zojirushi NP-NWC10XB Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker
We hope you had fun reading about some of the best Japanese rice cookers on the market. Regardless of whether you’ve found your next rice cooker purchase or not, we’re sure some of these have stood out to you!
Japan’s technology has allowed for rice cookers to boast some incredible functions, such as having over 10 cooking options in the one pot. Another key feature in most Japanese rice cookers is the ability to use advanced technologies to freely adjust the cooking method mid-way to product the best rice outcome
Japan is way ahead of the curve when it comes to powerful, compact, and efficient rice cookers.
Let us know if you’ve decided on any Japanese rice cooker from this list, and if so, which one and why! Let’s discuss in the comments section below.
For similar articles, feel free to check out our posts about Japanese cookware (14 essential tools) and the best Japanese kitchen knives.