{"id":100423,"date":"2024-03-13T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=100423"},"modified":"2024-03-27T19:37:31","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T10:37:31","slug":"samurai-castle-town-oita-unesco-city-of-gastronomy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/samurai-castle-town-oita-unesco-city-of-gastronomy\/","title":{"rendered":"Eat as the Samurai Did 400 Years Ago in this UNESCO City of Gastronomy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Picture yourself in a time machine, traveling 400 years ago to the Edo era in Japan. You find yourself in the presence of Lord Inaba, the feudal lord of the Usuki domain in present-day Oita Prefecture, who has just popped a mouth-watering treat into his mouth \u2014 the Usuki ginger cracker. As you journey with the lord during the Sankin-kotai (\u53c2\u89b2\u4ea4\u4ee3) procession, a march of samurai lords making their annual trip to the shogunal capital, you can’t help but want to savor the taste of these preserved ginger treats yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fast-forward to the present day, and the Usuki’s gastronomical heritage is alive and well<\/a>, with these ginger crackers<\/strong> and the city’s 400-year-old brewing tradition of miso, soy sauce, and sake<\/strong>, among many others, that has earned the city the coveted recognition of a UNESCO Creative City, and as a City of Gastronomy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we visit three locations that have helped earn Usuki the UNESCO Creative City<\/a> title. We’ll try making Usuki ginger treats, taste soy sauce ice cream, and even indulge in dishes that recreate the dishes eaten by feudal lords during the Edo period<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before beginning our Usuki culinary journey, let\u2019s talk about what makes a UNESCO “City of Gastronomy”. This coveted title is awarded to cities with an unparalleled passion for preserving and promoting their unique culinary traditions. Currently, there are more than 30 cities across the globe that have earned this prestigious recognition. And Usuki, with its centuries-old breweries and unchanged recipes, has rightfully earned a spot on this prestigious list. <\/p>\n\n\nWhat is the UNESCO “City of Gastronomy”?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n