15-Second Answer
Natto is fermented soybeans — sticky, strong-smelling, and divisive. It is a Japanese breakfast staple, but plenty of Japanese people do not like it either. You do not need to eat it. If you are curious, it is worth trying once — just go in without high expectations.
What Is Natto?
Natto is made by fermenting soybeans with a specific bacteria. The result is a sticky, stringy food with a strong smell and a complex flavour. It is high in protein and vitamin K, and has long been part of the Japanese diet — particularly at breakfast, served over rice.
It is one of those foods that tends to provoke a strong reaction either way.
What Does It Taste and Smell Like?
The smell is a strong fermented one — noticeable before you even open the container. If you eat aged cheese or other fermented foods without trouble, the smell may not be as jarring as it is for some people.
The flavour on its own is earthy and slightly bitter, but natto is almost always mixed with the sauce and mustard that come with the pack before eating. That combination changes the overall taste considerably — the sauce is soy-based and adds saltiness, while the mustard cuts through some of the fermented edge.
The texture — sticky and stringy, with long threads that form when you stir — is the part many people find most unfamiliar.
Is It Worth Trying?
If you are curious, yes. Go in without pressure and with realistic expectations — it is an acquired taste, and there is nothing wrong with trying it once and deciding it is not for you.
Japanese people are not universally fond of it either. There is also some regional variation in how familiar people are with natto — it is not equally eaten across the whole country.
If you want to try natto in a setting where it is easy to stop after one bite, a hotel breakfast buffet is a good option — it often appears alongside rice and other morning dishes, and you can take a small amount without committing to a full serving.
How to Eat It
Open the pack and add the included sauce and mustard. Stir — the more you mix, the stickier and stringier it gets. Spoon it over a bowl of plain rice.
Common additions: sliced green onion, a raw egg yolk, dried seaweed (nori), or a little extra soy sauce. Any of these are optional, but they are how many people prefer it.
Where to Find It
Natto is sold at every supermarket and convenience store in Japan, usually in multi-packs. It is inexpensive and easy to find. Hotel breakfast buffets frequently include it alongside other Japanese morning dishes.
Bottom Line
Natto is a Japanese breakfast food that divides opinion — even in Japan. You do not need to eat it. If you want to try it, pick up a small pack at a convenience store or take a spoonful at a hotel buffet. That is the right amount of commitment for a first encounter.
