"Niji no Mart" is the kitchen of Hirosaki citizens, aiming to be a market that will last for 100 years! [Aomori Prefecture]

Just a 5-minute walk from Hirosaki Station, there is a parking lot next door, making it easily accessible. Did you know that there is a food market here that sells everything and is the kitchen of the Hirosaki citizens?

we will introduce Rainbow Mart in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture

What is Rainbow Mart in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture?

Rainbow Mart is the Hirosaki Food Cooperative and was founded in 1954.

In 1956, two years after the company was founded, ​​"creating a food market" was born, and the store opened as the first multi-purpose store in the Tsugaru area, moving away from the street stall format that was common at the time.

After two relocations and renovations, we have been operating at our current location since 1994

On February 28, 2024, the company the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the 33rd Outstanding Food Retailer Awards, which became a hot topic.

What is the 33rd Awards for Outstanding Management of Food Retail Stores?

The 33rd Outstanding Food Retailer Awards Program has been held since 1956 by the Food Distribution Rationalization Promotion Agency, a public interest incorporated association, to recognize small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have achieved outstanding business results. The program targets retail stores, shopping districts, and other organizations across the country. This is the first time a company in Hirosaki City has received this award, and the first time in 30 years that a company in Aomori Prefecture has received the award

I actually went to Rainbow Mart!

Rainbow Mart is a 5-minute walk from JR Hirosaki Station

There are over 20 stores that are unique to Tsugaru, including fishmongers, butchers, prepared foods, greengrocers, and florists. Many people come here for their daily shopping, as well as tourists

What is a rainbow stamp?

Rainbow Mart has a point sticker service called "Rainbow Stamp."

If you are a first-time visitor, please pick up a sticker backing at the service counter next to the south exit!

You will receive one sticker for every 200 yen you spend, and if you collect 150 stickers, you can spend 500 yen on shopping at Rainbow Mart

On Tuesdays and Fridays there is a "double sticker sale" where you get two stickers for every 200 yen you spend!

In addition, there is a sticker exchange event on the second Wednesday and fourth Friday of every month. If you bring 150 stickers on either day, you will receive 500 yen, as well as seasonal vegetables and fruits, and a shopping voucher to use at Rainbow Mart!

Rainbow Mart stickers have no expiration date. They can also be used for lotteries at events, so we recommend saving them up!

The handmade gachapon at Rainbow Mart - perfect as a souvenir?

There is a local gachapon machine at the service counter

Just ask the staff and pay 400 yen to spin the wheel! The lineup includes straps, a specialty of Rainbow Mart! Be sure to pick one up as a memento

What is the legendary soba you can eat at Akimoto Seimen?

There is a "phantom soba" at Rainbow Mart "Tsugaru soba"

Simply put, this "Maboroshi no Soba" uses more buckwheat flour than regular Tsugaru soba

Akimoto Seimen that sells this legendary soba , is a long-established company founded in 1888.The soba is sold in supermarkets for home use and is also served in school lunches, so it is a familiar taste

For those who can't eat soba, we recommend this "Japanese-style ramen"!

Popular seafood at Hamada Seafood Stores: Salmon roe

In Aomori Prefecture, which is said to have the highest consumption of herring roe in Japan, salted herring roe is so common that it is always on the dinner table

Here Hamada Seafood , salmon roe is extremely popular.

Amazingly, they also offer mail order, so even those who can't make it to the store can order

In addition to salmon roe, they also sell a variety of other delicious Aomori specialties

The online store has just as many different products as the ones in stores, so it's fun just to browse

Hamada Seafood Official URL: https://hamadakaisan.com/

You can eat Aomori's specialty "Igamenchi" at Okazuya Hamada!

At the delicatessen shop Okazuya Hamada the most popular items are Aomori's local dishes "Igamenchi" and "Natto Hanpen."

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

What is Hirosaki's local dish, "Igamenchi"? Restaurants and recipes [Aomori Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/35997

What kind of dish do you imagine when you hear the word "igamenchi"? Many people probably think of a minced meat cutlet made with squid instead of meat. However, "igamenchi," found in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, is a deep-fried dish made with squid tentacles, characterized by a crispy outside and fluffy inside. In this article, we'll thoroughly investigate "igamenchi" to help you understand the appeal of this dish, which has been loved for many years, especially in Hirosaki City! We'll also introduce restaurants where you can eat "igamenchi" and easy recipes to make at home. What kind of dish is "igamenchi"? We'll also introduce the origin of the name. "igamenchi" is a deep-fried dish made with squid tentacles...

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Igamenchi and natto hanpen may be sold out, but if you tell them the number of pieces and your name, they will reserve it for you and say "Come and pick it up in about XX minutes!", so we recommend that you don't give up and ask the staff! If you're eating it on the spot, you can eat it fresh!

We also recommend taking some home and having a party with the food

And many more! Rainbow Mart is full of local specialties

There are many more specialties at Rainbow Mart. We'll introduce some other delicious items that caught our eye!

There are many other local specialties. If you visit Hirosaki, why not stop by the treasure chest-like "Niji no Mart"? I'm sure you'll find something you like

Rainbow Mart <Information>

• Name: Rainbow Mart
• Address: 12-1 Ekimae-cho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, 036-8003
• Phone number: 0172-32-6411
• Business hours: 8:00-18:00 (closed on Sundays)
• Official URL: https://www.nijinomart.com/

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