“Chajiru” has been handed down from generation to generation by tea farmers as a meal that can be easily eaten outdoors. It is a kind of chazuke (rice with vegetables and dried fish, topped with sencha green tea), but the seasoning and ingredients vary from household to household. It has been recognized as a “100-year food” by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as a “local cuisine that has continued since the Edo period.” In Uji-Tawaracho, this chajiru is used in school lunches as part of efforts to convey the local food culture.
Because many families keep chickens in miyama, kashiwa no sukiyaki has been eaten at festivals, or any opportunity where people have congregated, since long ago. It is stewed with seasonal vegetables grown in Kyoto, like bamboo shoots and udo in spring, and matsutake mushrooms, kujo leeks and mizuna in autumn, as well as plenty of kashiwa chicken. Because most families in Kyoto keep chickens nowadays, it is a popular “hospitality” dish for welcoming guests.
In recent years, “gibier cuisine” has continued to take hold in Japan. Gibier cuisine means eating meat from wild board, deer, and bird game. In Kyoto Prefecture, from long ago there was a custom of eating wild boar, and the botan nabe from the Miyami region, known as “Kabayuki no Sato,” is a famous winter tradition. Wild boar meat is characterized by its fattiness, being rich in collagen, and its beautiful appearance, all of which makes botan nabe a dish you will want to try.
Kahoku Seri (Japanese parsley) is a GI registered crop with a history spanning over 300 years in the area. It has a crisp texture and can be enjoyed in zoni and with oysters in a winter speciality, Ishinomaki Seri Hotpot.
The area also takes pride in having the biggest catch of anago (sea eel) in all of Japan. Anago here is exceptional in size and rich in fat, making it perfect for sushi and rice bowls when paired with the high-quality local Sasanishiki rice.
Nanaho area in Taiki-cho is widely known for producing Matsusaka Gyu, or Matsusaka Beef. Matsusaka Beef has great marbling and is reared under strict quality control. When visiting Taiki-cho, try Sukiyaki with Matsusaka Beef – they literally melt in your mouth!
Masuda city’s unique local cuisine: Uzume-meshi. Shimane Prefecture is one of the leading areas that produce wasabi in Japan. Uzume-meshi is served in a bowl with vegetables and chicken broth underneath the warm white rice, garnished with wasabi on top. It is a must try when you are in the area!
Farming of Buri, or Japanese amberjack has been practiced in Taiki-cho. In recent years, they’ve created their own brand of Japanese Amberjack called Ise Buri, which is farmed by using a special blend of feed made with Shizuoka’s green tea, citrus fruits, and seaweeds. Bekko-Zushi, a sushi made with amberjack, is one of the traditional dishes in Taiki-cho. The name Bokko, which means tortoiseshells comes from how the glossy amberjack on the sushi rice resembles one.
Shimane Prefecture is in the northern Chugoku area. Masuda City is the westernmost city facing the Japanese sea in the north and the vast Chugoku area in the south. Throughout the Kamakura period and the Nara period, trading was booming. There are many historical documents on the Masuda clan, which governed the area back in the day. Shimane Prefecture is in the northern Chugoku area. Masuda City is the westernmost city facing the Japanese sea in the north and the vast Chugoku area in the south. Throughout the Kamakura period and the Nara period, trading was booming. There are many historical documents on the Masuda clan, which governed the area back in the day. Mascos Hotel, an iconic hotel that showcases the area’s culture, offers takeout Kyo-oh cuisine. Kyo-oh means hospitality serving alcohol and food to the guests.
Masuda city’s other iconic local cuisine: Ayu Zoni (Japanese soup with ayu, the sweetfish). Takatsu River is known for its clear stream, which is a perfect habitat for the ayu. In Japan, having zoni on New Year’s Day has been a tradition. Around the Masuda area, adding grilled ayu has been the norm. To make dashi stock for the soup, slowly grill the ayu and dry them. After putting the soup and mochi in the dish, garnish the soup with an entire ayu on top. Ayu’s dashi makes this zoni full of umami with a light aftertaste.
