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.

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

Located in the secluded area of ​​Fukushima City, Tsuchiyu Onsenkyo is a historic hot spring resort that has flourished as a therapeutic bathing spot since ancient times. Within this hot spring area, a new specialty has emerged: thegiant freshwater 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 Ebi" (meaning "dream shrimp"). Raised in the waters of the Arakawa River, a first-class river that has been selected as having the best water quality in Japan for 12 consecutive years, these shrimp have no unpleasant odor. Their shells are a translucent white.

Located near the center of Tsuchiyu Onsen, the cafe "Orara no Komise" surprisingly has a fishing pond for giant freshwater prawns inside.

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/

Google Map

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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.

is located in the AbukumaKatsurao Village in Futaba District, Fukushima PrefectureHighlands. Its high altitude results in a harsh natural environment, with freezing cold winters. Magnificent trees stand tall on the mountains, and the village is surrounded by greenery, a place where people live amidst nature. It is in this Katsurao Village that a new brand of lamb meat, "Melty Sheep," was born.

Melty Sheep are raised in Katsurao Village, utilizing the expertise gained from raising Japanese Wagyu beef. Their most distinctive features are, as the name suggests, theirmelt-in-your-mouth texture and lack of any unpleasant odor. This professional-grade beef is specifically requested and used by renowned restaurants in the city center.

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 can be purchased through the village's hometown tax donation program, as well as from the frozen vending machine in front of the "Azalea Reconstruction Exchange Center" in Katsurao Village. 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/

Google Map

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

Soma City, located on the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, is known for its abundant fishing grounds. Seafood such as small fish and anglerfish are famous here. A new specialty that is attracting attention in this area is "Fukutora" a wild tiger pufferfish.

In recent years, the catch of wild tiger pufferfish off the coast of Soma has increased dramatically. However, not all tiger pufferfish caught can be called "Fukutora." It is clearly defined that only high-quality wild tiger pufferfish that are 35 cm or larger in size and caught using longlinefishing, are certified as "Fukutora."

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.

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)

• List of stores that offer Fukutora:https://soma-kanko.jp/purpose/fukutora/

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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 Fukushima Prefecture's traditional local cuisine, be sure to check out the ever-evolving "delicious food of Fukushima." You're sure to enjoy a special trip to Fukushima, where your heart and stomach will be filled with new charms of the region.

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