🕓 2025/3/15
#Gourmet
Table of Contents
About Tokushima Prefecture’s Gourmet Food
Tokushima Prefecture is blessed with rich natural environments and beautiful landscapes. Its unique food culture has developed by making the most of abundant water sources such as the Naruto Strait and Yoshino River. Thanks to its mild climate and the bounties of both sea and mountains, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of gourmet dishes made with fresh local ingredients.
In particular, “Naruto Sea Bream,” “Tokushima Ramen,” and “Awa Odori Chicken” are popular as the signature gourmet dishes of Tokushima Prefecture. When visiting Tokushima, be sure to savor these dishes and experience the region’s distinctive food culture.
Top 3 Gourmet Picks from Tokushima Prefecture
Awa Odori Chicken
Source: https://www.i-kko.com/
● The Appeal of Awa Odori Chicken
Awa Odori Chicken is a specialty of Tokushima Prefecture, renowned nationwide for its exceptional quality and rich flavor. Its rich taste and satisfying texture make it perfect for a variety of dishes.
For example, at “Bone-in Awa Odori Chicken Ikko,” the chicken is seasoned with a secret blend of 17 spices and seasonings, then slowly roasted in a special oven to create their signature “Bone-in Awa Odori Chicken.” This dish allows you to fully enjoy the rich depth of flavor, natural sweetness, and springy texture that is unique to Awa Odori Chicken.
● History of Awa Odori Chicken
Awa Odori Chicken was developed over more than 10 years starting in 1978 by the Tokushima Prefectural Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Technology Support Center’s Livestock Research Division, with official sales beginning in 1990. Its name is derived from “Awa Odori,” Tokushima’s traditional dance.
Awa Odori Chicken is carefully raised over a minimum of 75 days in the lush natural environments of western and southern Tokushima. The chickens are given plenty of room to exercise in spacious coops, ensuring healthy growth and premium meat quality. Thanks to these rearing methods, Awa Odori Chicken became the first free-range chicken to obtain the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standard) certification for free-range poultry.
● Where to Eat Awa Odori Chicken!
- Restaurant: Ikko Tokushima Station Branch
- Highlights:
“Ikko” in Tokushima City is a renowned restaurant where you can enjoy bone-in Awa Odori Chicken. Reservations are essential on weekends at this popular spot, bustling with both tourists and local regulars. Their signature “bone-in chicken” comes in two varieties – parent bird and young Awa Odori Chicken – each offering a different texture and depth of flavor. The young chicken is especially popular for its tender, juicy meat that releases incredible umami with every bite.The bone-in chicken is roasted to a crispy, fragrant exterior while maintaining a moist, succulent interior, with flavors that intensify the more you chew. Seasoned with a unique spice blend, it pairs perfectly with beer.
- Access: 2-minute walk from JR Tokushima Station
- Address: 3-12-8 Terashimahoncho-higashi, Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PqoUF7BrVnK7nRM7A
Tokushima Ramen
Source: https://funfun-tokushima.jp
● The Appeal of Tokushima Ramen
Tokushima Ramen is Tokushima Prefecture’s signature local ramen and one of Japan’s most famous regional ramen varieties, featuring a rich pork-bone-based broth with bold flavors.
The broth is the defining feature of Tokushima Ramen. The broths are sometimes classified as “White (Komatsushima style),” “Brown (Tokushima style),” and “Yellow (Naruto style).” White features a pork bone base with light soy sauce or white soy sauce; Brown uses pork bone broth seasoned with dark soy sauce or tamari soy sauce with thin noodles; Yellow is a light-colored broth made with chicken stock and vegetables with light soy sauce. Each shop adds its own original twist to these base styles.
● History of Tokushima Ramen
Tokushima Ramen originated in eastern Tokushima Prefecture and is now one of Japan’s most well-known regional ramen varieties. Its history dates back to the early post-war period and has developed in close connection with the region’s food culture.
The origin is believed to be a street stall that started around 1949 in Komatsushima City. At that time, passenger ships from Komatsushima Port were the main means of travel to and from the Kansai region, and the area saw heavy foot traffic. It was here that Mr. Hiroshi Futaki started a stall and, together with the first owner of “Kasai,” began serving ramen.
● Where to Eat Tokushima Ramen!
- Restaurant: Ramen Todai Omichi Main Branch
- Highlights:
“Ramen Todai Omichi Main Branch” is a renowned “brown-style” Tokushima ramen restaurant that draws ramen lovers from both locals and across the prefecture. Living up to its name, which aspires to be the “Todai (pinnacle)” of the ramen world, it serves bowls that showcase the full appeal of Tokushima ramen.The signature “Todai Ramen” features a rich broth slowly simmered from pork bones, chicken stock, and vegetables, enhanced with a secret soy sauce blend for deep, complex flavors. Generous portions of sweet-savory braised pork belly are piled on top, perfectly complementing the thin straight noodles. As a bonus, unlimited free raw eggs are available at each table, allowing you to add a creamy richness to your ramen or enjoy them with a side of rice.
- Address: 1-36 Omichi, Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture
- Access: About 15-minute walk from JR Tokushima Station
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/magSVimFAumDFgwa7
Naruto Sea Bream
Source: https://arashi-naruto.co.jp/
● The Appeal of Naruto Sea Bream
The Naruto Strait is known as one of the world’s three great tidal currents, famous for its powerful tidal flows. Sea bream raised in these strong currents develop firm flesh and rich flavor, making them a premium fish. Nurtured in the nutrient-rich environment created by the whirlpools, the fish has a sweet, fatty quality, and can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes including sashimi, grilled preparations, and simmered dishes.
The seasonal flavors are especially outstanding in spring as “Cherry Blossom Bream” and in autumn as “Autumn Leaves Bream.” Low in calories yet high in protein, and rich in DHA and EPA, it is considered an excellent food for health. Its delicious taste and high nutritional value have earned it acclaim throughout Japan.
● History of Naruto Sea Bream
The red sea bream raised in the Naruto Strait, commonly known as “Naruto Sea Bream,” has long been recognized as one of Tokushima Prefecture’s representative seafood products. In this region, fishing has been thriving since before the Edo period, and sea bream with firm flesh developed in the powerful currents of the Naruto Strait has been particularly prized. The Naruto Strait’s fast-flowing currents supply abundant plankton, making the bream raised here well-regarded for its rich fat and strong umami flavor.
● Where to Eat Naruto Sea Bream!
- Restaurant: Ajidokoro Arashi
- Highlights:
“Ajidokoro Arashi” in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture, is a beloved local restaurant where you can enjoy fresh seafood. Well-known among tourists as well, it’s not uncommon for the restaurant to be fully booked as soon as it opens. The interior buzzes with energy, filled with laughter and exclamations of “Delicious!” – making it the ideal place to enjoy a fantastic meal.The restaurant’s signature dish, the “Wild Naruto Sea Bream Sashimi Set,” is a luxurious way to savor the sea bream nurtured in the powerful currents of the Naruto Strait. The sashimi features firm flesh with a perfect balance of sweet fat and a satisfying, springy texture – truly exquisite. Beyond this, the wall-mounted menu boards offer an overwhelming array of delicacies including splendid alfonsino, amberjack, striped jack, bigfin reef squid, fresh sea urchin, and salmon roe.
- Address: 20-minute walk from “Naruto” Station on the JR Naruto Line
- Access: 813m from Imabari Station
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3zsgqci89ZhBiRmH7