🕓 2023/3/23
#Gourmet
About Tochigi’s Gourmet Scene
Tochigi Prefecture is known for its stunning natural landscapes throughout the four seasons and the bountiful agricultural produce that comes with them. One of Tochigi’s great charms is the chance to enjoy seasonal cuisine unique to the region. Spring brings fresh wild mountain vegetables, early summer offers a variety of vegetables, summer delivers sweet and juicy fruits, and autumn features chestnuts and sweet potatoes–each season presents its own distinctive flavors.
Tochigi Prefecture also boasts a distinctive food culture born from its historical background and rich natural environment. “Shimotsukare” is a prime example–a traditional local dish created to endure the long winters. This hearty stew, made with ground fish, vegetables, and tofu, is perfect for warming up during the cold season.
3 Must-Try Gourmet Picks in Tochigi
Sano Ramen
● The Appeal of Sano Ramen
Sano Ramen captivates ramen lovers across Japan with its distinctive soy sauce-based broth, hailing from Sano City in Tochigi Prefecture. The secret lies in its broth, made with locally-produced soy sauce simmered slowly with chicken bones, pork bones, and vegetables, resulting in a deep flavor and smooth taste. The specially made medium-thick curly noodles have an irresistibly chewy texture that pairs perfectly with the broth.
Simple yet exquisitely balanced toppings of chashu pork, menma bamboo shoots, and green onions further enhance the flavor. Sano Ramen is a bowl that conveys deep flavor and local pride within its simplicity.
● The History of Sano Ramen
The history of Sano Ramen is deeply intertwined with the local culture of Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, dating back to post-war Japan. The first ramen shop in Sano City opened in 1947. During this period, Japan was in its post-war recovery, and there was growing demand for affordable yet nutritious meals. Sano Ramen was born under these social circumstances and quickly became a beloved food among locals.
The characteristic medium-thick curly noodles and soy sauce-based broth have remained unchanged since those early days. This distinctive style was shaped as numerous ramen shops developed their own unique recipes, competing with and learning from each other, building the unique flavor profile that defines Sano Ramen today.
● Where to Try Sano Ramen!
- Restaurant: Aotake Teuchi Ramen Yamato
- Highlights:
This ramen shop stands out with its stylish Japanese-modern exterior. The warm, wood-accented interior features counter seats, table seats, and raised tatami seating with a total of 42 seats, providing a comfortable dining experience for all guests. Yamato’s pride is their distinctive “next-generation Sano Ramen.” The light, clear chicken and soy sauce broth is layered with ginger fragrance, chicken fat umami, and hints of pork bone and seafood, creating a deeply complex flavor. Their soup, made with Oka Naosaburo Shoten’s “Nihon-ichi” soy sauce, is mellow and packed with umami, perfectly complementing the firm hand-kneaded bamboo-pressed noodles and melt-in-your-mouth pork belly chashu. Experience the new evolution of Sano Ramen at Yamato. - Access: 2,055m from Sanoshi Station
- Address: 4-8 Moroyama-cho, Sano City, Tochigi
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2iqJpdvLfxDnpd69A
Shimotsukare
● The Appeal of Shimotsukare
Shimotsukare is a traditional local dish from Tochigi Prefecture, known for its unique flavor and versatile ways of serving. It carries auspicious significance as a charm against evil, a ward against misfortune, and a prayer for good health, and also serves as an offering to Inari Shrine on the first Day of the Horse (Hatsu-Uma).
The basic ingredients are salted salmon head, soybeans, daikon radish, carrots, fried tofu (abura-age), and sake lees, with various regional and family variations. It can be enjoyed in many ways–eaten on its own, served over rice, enjoyed as a snack with tea, or paired with sake. Its nutritional value is highly regarded, containing abundant protein, calcium, B vitamins, and dietary fiber.
While some may find the appearance or distinctive flavor challenging at first, learning about its diverse preparations and the deep-rooted history and culture behind it may help you discover its charm.
● The History of Shimotsukare
Its history is ancient, with references appearing in literature from the Kamakura period. There are also accounts of it being offered to Inari Shrines during the Tenpo Famine as a prayer for abundant harvests. Various theories exist about the origin of its name, including that it derives from “the flavors soaking in” or “being eaten with vinegar,” or that it is a dialectal variation of “Shimotsuke Karei.” Shimotsukare is mainly composed of salmon head, soybeans, daikon radish, carrots, fried tofu, and sake lees, which are simmered together. It is particularly known as a ceremonial food offered to Inari Shrines along with red rice on the first Day of the Horse.
Various products and events inspired by Shimotsukare have also emerged, cementing its status as Tochigi Prefecture’s signature local dish. Examples include the local gourmet dish “Shimotsu-curry,” a short film based on Shimotsukare, and Calbee’s release of Shimotsukare-flavored potato chips, demonstrating its cultural influence far beyond the realm of food culture.
● Where to Try Shimotsukare!
- Restaurant: Michi no Eki Bato
- Highlights:
This roadside station in Nakagawa Town has been serving Shimotsukare for over 20 years. Generously made with fresh vegetables grown within the town, the dish is beloved by visitors for its lack of any strong odor and easy-to-eat flavor. Each year on the first Day of the Horse in February, free servings of Shimotsukare are offered to visitors, as part of efforts to honor local culture and introduce this traditional dish to more people. - Address: 181-2 Kitamukida, Nakagawa Town, Nasu District, Tochigi
- Access: 30 minutes by bus from Karasuyama Station (JR Karasuyama Line)
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oV61CLU89KzcUfMfA
Utsunomiya Gyoza
● The Appeal of Utsunomiya Gyoza
Utsunomiya City is home to a concentration of gyoza restaurants, with over 200 establishments serving these dumplings. While there is no strict definition of “Utsunomiya Gyoza,” the term generally refers to gyoza made within Utsunomiya City or at branch locations of Utsunomiya-based restaurants. The defining characteristic is a vegetable-forward, light flavor that is not greasy, easy on the stomach, and relatively inexpensive. A plate can be enjoyed for around 200 yen, and some shops serve nothing but gyoza.
● The History of Utsunomiya Gyoza
The origins of Utsunomiya Gyoza trace back to World War II. At the time, Japanese soldiers stationed in China brought back gyoza recipes. After returning home, these soldiers opened restaurants in Utsunomiya and shared the recipes they had learned. This led to the establishment of the Utsunomiya Gyoza Association, boosting gyoza’s popularity and making it a major source of revenue for the city.
Gyoza is so ingrained in Utsunomiya culture that “high school girls often grab gyoza on their way home from school.” However, Utsunomiya’s fame for gyoza is actually quite recent. A city official searching for regional revitalization strategies discovered that Utsunomiya had the highest gyoza consumption in Japan, inspiring the idea to use gyoza for community promotion. This led to initiatives such as the tourism association creating maps of gyoza restaurants and multiple gyoza shops forming the “Utsunomiya Gyoza Association.” Today, Utsunomiya is recognized as Japan’s top city for gyoza consumption.
● Where to Try Utsunomiya Gyoza!
- Restaurant: Masashi Miyajima Main Store
- Highlights:
Rooted in the heart of Utsunomiya City, “Masashi Miyajima Main Store” is renowned as one of the top Utsunomiya gyoza restaurants, drawing visitors not just from Tochigi but from far and wide. The menu is limited to pan-fried gyoza, boiled gyoza, and deep-fried gyoza–no rice or beer is served.
Their gyoza is known for its thin wrappers and generous vegetable-filled filling. The crispy skin and crunchy vegetables create a perfect match, with the natural sweetness of the vegetables melting in your mouth, making it impossible to stop at just one. Currently operating 4 locations within Utsunomiya City, each store centers around counter seating with limited seats but maintains high turnover and a lively atmosphere. - Address: 4-3-1 Baba-dori, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi
- Access: 11-minute walk from Tobu Utsunomiya Station (Tobu Utsunomiya Line)
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kch8ecTePfAmcGXi9