Tohoku gourmet

Did you know? Fukushima is constantly creating new local specialties! 3 recommendations [Fukushima Prefecture]

Tohoku is full of delicious foods! Fukushima Prefecture also has many delicious foods, such as peaches and sake, that can be proudly presented both nationally and internationally. While these classic specialties are wonderful, did you know that unique "new specialties" are constantly being born?

In this article, we will introduce three of Fukushima Prefecture's delicious new specialties.

Discover new flavors and enjoy your trip to Fukushima even more.

Giant freshwater prawn, a new specialty born from Tsuchiyu Onsen, a famous hot spring in the inner sanctum

Giant freshwater prawn

Tsuchiyu Onsen, located in the inner sanctum of Fukushima City, is a historic hot spring resort that has long flourished as a therapeutic hot spring resort. A new specialty of this hot spring resort is the giant river prawn .

Shrimp in the mountains? They are actually shrimp farmed using the cooling water generated by hot spring geothermal power generation.

Most shrimp consumed in Japan is imported. One reason why shrimp farming is rare in Japan is the cost of water temperature management, including utility bills. Of the rare domestically farmed shrimp, there are very few examples of giant river prawn farming. At Tsuchiyu, giant river prawns are farmed all at once, from spawning and hatching to rearing, by utilizing hot spring geothermal power generation.

These shrimp are nicknamed " Tsuchiyu Yume Shrimp ." They are raised in the waters of the Arakawa River, a first-class river that has been ranked number one in Japan for water quality for 12 consecutive years, and have no odor. Their shells are a transparent white color.

no Komise a cafe located near the center of Tsuchiyu Onsen , has a giant river prawn fishing pond inside the store.

The shrimp you catch can be grilled right there and then to enjoy. Freshly grilled shrimp are crispy and fragrant, and can be eaten from head to tail. Fishing is fun, and eating is fun too. This is a facility where you can enjoy the whole shrimp.

Information

  • Facility name: Orara Community Center
  • Address: 1 Kaminomachi, Tsuchiyu Onsen-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture
  • TEL: 024-573-9133
  • Business hours: 10:00-16:30 (shrimp fishing ends at 16:00, last order) *During peak season, evening hours are available, mainly on Fridays and Saturdays (17:00-21:00, last order 20:30). For more information, please see the official social media.
  • Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
  • Official website: https://genkiuptcy.com/%e3%83%9b%e3%83%bc%e3%83%a0-2/oraranokomise/
  • Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oraranokomise/

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The melting fat is the charm! "Melty Sheep" is a brand of lamb from Katsurao Village, raised in a rich environment.

Lamb (image)

Katsurao Village, Futaba County, Fukushima Prefecture is located in the Abukuma Highlands . The village's high altitude creates a harsh natural environment, with freezing cold winters. The mountains are lined with magnificent trees, and the villagers live surrounded by greenery. A new brand of lamb born in Katsurao Village is " Melty Sheep ."

Melty Sheep is raised in Katsurao Village using the know-how of Wagyu beef breeding. Its greatest features are its " melty " tenderness and lack of odor, just as its name suggests. It is used by famous restaurants in the city center, and its deliciousness is guaranteed by professionals.

This high-quality meat is the result of making the most of the experience and techniques gained from raising Japanese Black cattle. The cattle are carefully raised with thorough health management and special feed, and are raised with more care and time than regular lamb. In addition to raising the cattle, another distinctive feature is that the entire process from processing to shipping is carried out in one place, with freshness and quality controlled.

Melty Sheep

Melty Sheep can be purchased through the village's hometown tax donation program, Azeria Reconstruction Center . If you're interested, be sure to check it out.

Information

  • Facility name: Azeria Reconstruction Community Center
  • Address: 20-1 Ochiai, Katsurao Village, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture
  • TEL: 0240-23-7767
  • Business hours: 9:00-17:00
  • Closed: Every Monday
  • Official website: https://katsurao-azalea.jp/

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Aiming to become the king of pufferfish in the east! Soma City's wild tiger pufferfish "Fukutora"

Tiger pufferfish

Soma City, located on the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, is known for its rich fishing grounds. It is famous for its seafood, including small sardines and monkfish. A new local specialty that is gaining attention is the wild tiger pufferfish known as " Fukutora ."

In recent years, the catch of wild tiger pufferfish off the coast of Soma has been increasing rapidly. However, not all caught tiger pufferfish can be called Fukutora. It is clearly defined that only high-quality wild tiger pufferfish that are 35cm or larger and caught using " longline fishing ," which minimizes damage to the fish, can be certified as a "Fukutora" brand.

The fishing season for fukutora is usually from October to February, meaning it is a delicacy for autumn and winter. The city is promoting the area, hoping to become a representative production center of eastern Japan, on a par with Shimonoseki City in western Japan, which is famous for its pufferfish.

Fugu sashimi (tessa)

The appeal of Fukutora is undoubtedly its thick, elastic texture, unique to wild caught fish, and its deep flavor that spreads the more you chew it. When made into fugu sashimi (tessa), its firm texture stands out, and when made into fugu hotpot (tetchiri), the flesh takes on a plump, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Fragrantly deep-fried fugu and the delicately tasting fin sake are also excellent.

There are several restaurants in Soma City where you can try Fukutora, so be sure to check them out if you're visiting Fukushima in the fall or winter season.

Information (Soma Tourist Guide)

Experience Fukushima's "new flavors"!

In this article, we introduced three new specialties of Fukushima Prefecture.

These three new specialties are not just delicious gourmet food, but also embody the passionate energy of Fukushima, which is trying to carve out a new future by utilizing local resources and wisdom.

In addition to traditional local cuisine, be sure to check out the delicious foods of

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