Japanese cooking is based on Rice with Miso Soup and other dishes, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Fish is common, often grilled, but also served raw as Sashimi or in Sushi. Seafood and Vegetables are also deep-fried in a light batter as Tempura. Apart from Rice, staples include Noodles, such as Soba and Udon.
Tag: Cooking
Coffee as Dessert? The History and Recipe for Coffee Jelly
Some people think of Japanese food as sushi and ramen, but the cuisine of Japan has been influenced by the West since its first connection in the 16th century. At that time, the Portuguese introduced bread to Japan, which is why bread is known by…
Noda: A City of Soy Sauce on the Outskirts of Tokyo
Noda is a small city north of Tokyo in Chiba prefecture easily accessible by train from Tokyo and is known as “the city of soy sauce” because of the city’s longstanding relationship with the soy sauce industry. It is the home of Kikkoman, the world’s…
Charm, History, and White Mirin in Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture
Nagareyama: Birthplace of White Mirin Nagareyama Honcho 流山本町 is the heart of a group of towns in Chiba Prefecture — including Noda, Kashiwa, and Matsudo — that used to be a single town and major center of trade for the Edogawa River. As the nation’s…
Cultural and Culinary Fusion in Nagasaki
Sponsored by Kyushu District Transport Bureau At the height of the Fall season, I recently had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful southern port city of Nagasaki for two days of culinary and historical exploration. Nagasaki served as the sole gateway between the Western world…
Discover Saga Prefecture’s World of Ceramics and Heritage
Sponsored by Kyushu District Transport Bureau Kyushu is renowned for being a real mix of cultures. Situated just 800km from China, it’s the closest point in Japan to the Asian mainland and home to Nagasaki, a historic port city that was once a crucial link…
Why My Heart Returns to Iiyama City
Why did I choose Iiyama city in Nagano as the place to take my mother visiting from America? The gorgeous landscapes, delicious foods and the warm hospitality of the people.
Higher Goals: A Guesthouse Sustaining Life in Murakami City
Sponsored by Murakami City Finishing off a day of exploring Murakami City, I checked into a guesthouse nestled in a quiet neighborhood on the edge of the city. This guesthouse was called Iromusubi and was opened by a man named Furubayashi Takuya who recently moved…
The Voyapon Ultimate Travel Guide to Northern Kumamoto
sponsored by Northern Kumamoto Administrative Headquarters In the heart of Kyushu, Kumamoto Prefecture is a natural paradise best known as the home of the world-famous active volcano, Mt. Aso, and the enormous caldera created by its eruption thousands of years ago. But the area boasts…
Northern Kumamoto: A Farm stay in Kikuchi
sponsored by Northern Kumamoto Administrative Headquarters When we travel, we often stay in hotels and hostels, but these styles of accommodations often feel isolated from local life and as though we are missing out on an authentic Japanese experience. These feelings can be more pronounced…
Specialties of Nankan: Somen Noodles and Fried Tofu
sponsored by Northern Kumamoto Administrative Headquarters Nankan, in northern Kumamoto Prefecture, is in the district of Tamana. Although it’s a small town, it has gained a reputation for two culinary specialties: age (fried tofu) and handmade somen noodles (very thin noodles). Traditional Somen Noodle Factory…