Loading...

Feb 10, 2024

Not to be missed culinary experiences

I'm thinking about my next travel destination in Japan and culinary or local produce that I ought to try to savor authentic flavors and preparations. What foods or cuisines do you recommend where you live?

Food
0 8
Report as spam
TonetoEdo

TonetoEdo

Living between the Tone and Edo Rivers in Higashi Katsushika area of Chiba Prefecture.

Follow

8 Answers

Best Answer

  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Feb 18

    This site might also be of interest to you: https://dining.japan.travel/en/ It's from the JNTO, and it's got some good food-themed inspiration from different spots around the country.

    1
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Feb 11

    Great question! I definitely think culinary-based journeys are fun, and every prefecture really has something unique and different to enjoy. Niigata is famous for a few things -- hegi soba and sasadango are the first two that immediately came to mind. If you like more earthy sweets flavors I think sasadango is delicious, and the presentation is fun, too – the bamboo leaf wrapping is cool from an eco-friendly standpoint. Of course, local rice (koshihikari) and sake are also must-try items here. Hakkaisan sake is really well known even outside of Niigata Prefecture, and it's a Minamiuonuma specialty. A good winter warmer is noppe, which is a stew packed with different veggies, konnyaku, and sometimes meat or fish in a broth made from dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and some other seasonings depending on the place you get it from!

    1
  • TonetoEdo

    TonetoEdo

    on Feb 11

    @genkidesu I alternate between Chiba-grown rice and Koshihikari from Niigata Prefecture. I'm no rice expert but it's fluffy and pearly. I looked up noppe jiru and found some recipes. Thanks!

    0
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Feb 11

    @TonetoEdo My husband has turned into a massive rice snob and is convinced that local koshihikari is better than everything ;) In saying that I do think most Japanese-grown rice is exceptional quality compared to what I was used to back home. Hope you like noppe if you try it!

    1
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Sep 13

    We recently went to Nagano (Obuse area) for a day trip, and the local specialty there is chestnuts! I'd definitely recommend a visit there for anyone who likes them, they're at their best here from mid-September to mid-October so if anyone is looking for something to do over the next month go check it out! Lots of stores selling all manner of chestnut sweets, and there's a Hokusai museum in the town for anyone who likes art!

    0
  • TonetoEdo

    TonetoEdo

    on Sep 24

    @genkidesu I tripped over another resource - https://kyoudo-ryouri.com/en/ You can search by genre or region. I'm having fun with this!

    0
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Sep 24

    @TonetoEdo I love that it offers those search categories! Would love to explore some more of the noodle options across the country, and the nabe suggestions are great as we head into the cooler months. Nice resource!

    0
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Dec 10

    https://soranews24.com/2024/12/10/japans-top-10-food-travel-destination-prefectures%E3%80%90survey%E3%80%91/ Saw this when I was looking at the news this morning, it might interest you!

    0

Awaiting More Answers

2 Answers

How do you keep track of your product reviews?

I have noticed over time that the search function on City-cost doesn't pick up certain things, particularly the 'fields' in product reviews. So, for example, if I search for a product by its brand or product name it won't come up in the search results, unless it's also written in the body or heading of the post. That is why recently I put the brand or product name in the title of the product review too, so I can find it more easily when I search. Otherwise, I won't know if I have already reviewed a product or not. Its hard to remember every review I've ever written! Have you any other hints on how to find product reviews or how to keep track of the ones you've written? I have thought about a spreadsheet, but its far too much effort!

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

20 hours ago

2 Answers

2026 songs that turn you on or off?

What Japanese pop, alternative, or novelty songs did you turn up or turn off so far this year? I'm a fan of 打首獄門同好会 - Uchikubi Gokumon Dokokai. The name, loosely translated, is Severed Heads at the Prison Gate. They came out with a novelty song earlier this year, in anticipation of their US tour, "I Wish I Could Speak English", hard rock with AI lyrics. A chill song I like is ブルーアワー "Blue Hour". The song comes from the project adieu headlining Kamishiraishi Moka. How about you? What Japanese songs or musical projects appeal to you in 2026?

TonetoEdo

TonetoEdo

on Sep 5

13 Answers

"How To" Posts for the pick-up

City-cost are great for taking our recommendations on board. Now that the first thing you see when you click is on to the blog section is "popular" posts, maybe next we can get the "How To" section refreshed! Its been stuck with the same old "How To" posts for more than two years now. Have you any "How To" posts that you would like to see highlighted in that section? Or have you written any "How To" posts recently? I am dreadful for remembering so while I think of it, my most recent post is "How to Turn Your Home Toilet Into an Emergency Toilet" https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/GbeN9-living_saitama

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Sep 1

7 Answers

Favorite Japanese artists, past or present

With Yayoi Kusama's passing being covered in the media today, I wanted to know about your favorite Japanese artists, past or present. Obviously Kusama is one of mine, but I always like hearing about other artists that I haven't been introduced to before.

genkidesu

genkidesu

on Aug 27

10 Answers

What do you most associate with Shizuoka?

Today, is also Shizuoka Citizen's Day, so - the same as Fukushima - what first comes to mind / do you most associate with Shizuoka Prefecture?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

10 Answers

Car Essentials for a Road Trip?

I feel like this may have been asked before, but I can't find it through a search. Or maybe I thought of asking it and never did! Either way, tell us what things you like to have in your car when you are going on a road trip?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

4 Answers

What do you MOST associate with Fukushima Prefecture?

Given that today is Fukushima Prefecture Citizen's Day; what is the FIRST thing that comes to mind when you hear Fukushima? And / or what do you most associate with the prefecture?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

3 Answers

Throwback Thursday - Sustainability blogs

@Genkidesu posted about the desire for simpler packaging this week. This reminded me of our blog theme about sustainability back in 2022. A little sleuthing turned up the main link: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/search/tag/SustainableLife Have you kept up your good habits? In the last few years, what have you observed about how you use resources or reduced waste? Me? The photo is a takeout bento box I will reuse for lunch!

TonetoEdo

TonetoEdo

on Aug 20

5 Answers

Summer Festival Changes - Yay or Nay?

Earlier I wrote about how my neighborhood's "summer" festival has been moved to autumn. I also wrote a separate post about a summer festival in Kasukabe that has been moved indoors. I know there is a bittersweetness about these changes, but some would argue that something needs to change in the face of rising temperatures. So, I am curious, what would you vote for: 1) Leaving Summer Festivals exactly as they are - same date, same set up etc. 2) Shifting the time of day the festival is on, say for example, from afternoon until after dark 3) Moving the festival from summer to another season or at least to earlier in summer, such as June 4) Moving summer festivals indoors - not really possible for the larger festivals especially those with large floats etc. but maybe they could shift some elements indoors

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 3

10 Answers

Favorite Noodles

Chilled noodles because it's summer, hot noodles are also accepted. Is it somen or chukasoba or zarusoba? Reimyun or pasta salad? Chanpon or udon or ramen? Pad Thai or Pho?! This year I made somen for the first time! I'm a soba fan. I used to love ramen and tsukemen but for some reason I'm not as into the rich and oily noodles anymore.

helloalissa

helloalissa

on Jul 30

11 Answers

What are the pros and cons of Japanese Citizenship for you?

Most of the people I know here are foreign residents, have foreign family members, or have foreign coworkers, friends or employees. A handful of those have become Japanese citizens. We've been chatting about things like ethnic identity and Japanese citizenship. I don't plan to become a citizen, but it made me wonder, what are the pros and cons for changing your citizenship? Is it something you've given any thought to? (What might make you consider it?)

helloalissa

helloalissa

on Jul 30

5 Answers

Which movie will you see this summer?

I am not a movie-goer at all, but every year I bring the kids to see a film (and they often go with their friends too) during the summer holidays. There seems to be a good choice this year, including Toy Story 5, the Chiikawa movie, the real live action adaption of Moana and the usual annual Crayon Shinchan movie among others. Which movie are you planning to see this summer? Or have you already been to see one (or more)? If so, which one?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Jul 30