🕓 2024/10/27
#Gourmet
About Wakayama Prefecture’s Gourmet Cuisine
Wakayama Prefecture is a region blessed with abundant nature and traditional culture, where a unique food culture has developed thanks to its scenic four-season landscapes and mild climate. Characterized by its terrain surrounded by mountains and sea, the bounty of the Pacific Ocean and fertile mountain areas nurture an abundance of fresh seafood and agricultural products.
In particular, “Wakayama Ramen,” “Mehari Sushi,” and “Whale Cuisine” are famous local specialties. When visiting Wakayama Prefecture, be sure to savor these dishes and enjoy the region’s rich food culture.
Top 3 Must-Try Gourmet Foods in Wakayama
Wakayama Ramen
Source: Tabelog
● The Appeal of Wakayama Ramen
Wakayama Ramen is a regional ramen from Wakayama Prefecture, characterized by its rich tonkotsu (pork bone) soy sauce broth, medium-thick straight noodles, and the unique pairing with “hayazushi” (quick-pressed sushi). Its distinctive flavor and the welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere of local shops make it beloved by both locals and tourists alike.
The broth is the star of the show. Wakayama Ramen is broadly divided into two styles: “soy sauce-based” and “tonkotsu soy sauce-based.” The tonkotsu soy sauce style, in particular, offers a rich and hearty flavor, with a creamy mouthfeel and soy sauce aroma that create an exquisite balance.
● History of Wakayama Ramen
This regional ramen developed from post-war street stall ramen, with a unique food culture of enjoying soy sauce or tonkotsu soy sauce-based broth paired with “hayazushi.” Established during the Showa era at local ramen shops and food stalls, this ramen gained nationwide popularity from the 1990s onward and is now one of Wakayama’s most iconic foods.
● The Best Place to Try Wakayama Ramen!
- Restaurant: Ide Shoten
- Appeal:
Ide Shoten is an essential name when talking about Wakayama Ramen, and its charm lies in the “simplicity” and “depth of flavor” that has been cherished by locals for decades. When it was founded in 1953, clear soy sauce broth was the mainstream, but through years of trial and error with regular customers, it gradually evolved into the rich tonkotsu soy sauce style it is known for today. This flavor, born from close collaboration with loyal patrons, has become the representative “Ide-style” of Wakayama Ramen. - Access: 7-minute walk from JR Wakayama Station West Exit
- Address: 4-84 Tanaka-cho, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6jBf31kqrNRn2Evc8
Whale Cuisine
● The Appeal of Whale Cuisine
Whale cuisine in Wakayama Prefecture holds a special place as a food deeply rooted in history and culture. With its unique taste and texture, along with a variety of cooking methods, you can enjoy nutritious whale dishes in many different forms. Centered around the town of Taiji, whale cuisine remains a source of pride in Wakayama’s food culture and is beloved by many tourists.
The lean red whale meat has a pleasant firmness and rich umami when chewed, while the fatty portions offer a distinctive sweetness and depth. Different cuts provide varying flavors and textures, and whale can be enjoyed in many ways including sashimi, bacon, tatsuta-age (Japanese fried whale), and dishes made from whale heart or tongue.
● History of Whale Cuisine
The history of whale cuisine stretches from ancient times when beached whales were consumed, through the development of the whaling industry in the Edo period, all the way to the present day. In areas such as Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture, whale cuisine culture is deeply intertwined with the region’s identity, and a uniquely Japanese whaling tradition of utilizing every part of the whale has been cultivated. Even today, whale cuisine is treasured as part of Japan’s traditional food culture and is proudly carried on as a regional heritage.
● The Best Place to Try Whale Cuisine!
- Restaurant: Kujira-ya
- Appeal:
Located in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture — a place that could be called the holy land of whale cuisine — Kujira-ya is a charming restaurant where you can enjoy a wide variety of whale dishes. With a diverse menu including whale sashimi, tatsuta-age (Japanese-style fried whale), and steak, the restaurant offers fresh and deeply flavorful whale cuisine to every visitor. The “Whale Tatsuta-age Set Meal” is especially popular, featuring a perfect match between the robust flavor of red whale meat and the crispy batter coating, delivering a satisfying, juicy experience reminiscent of hearty meat dishes. - Address: 2902-115 Tsunewatari, Taiji-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
- Access: 1,459m from Taiji Station
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PCN2bMpbqtpf9fnVA
Mehari Sushi
● The Appeal of Mehari Sushi
Mehari Sushi is a local specialty of Wakayama Prefecture that offers a surprisingly deep flavor despite its simplicity. The exquisite balance between the pickled mustard greens leaf and vinegared rice, along with a homey warmth, makes it a truly special dish. Highly nutritious and easy to carry, it has been loved since ancient times as a dish so satisfying it will make your “eyes pop wide open” — which is how it got its name.
Made with simple ingredients, the degree of salt-pickling of the leaves and the seasoning of the vinegared rice create a remarkably complex flavor. The mustard greens leaf gently wraps around the vinegared rice, offering a moist texture and subtle tartness in perfect harmony.
● History of Mehari Sushi
Mehari Sushi has its roots as a working-class meal born in farming villages and mountain areas during the Edo period. Easy to carry and convenient to eat, it has been enjoyed from those times right up to the present day. The impact of “sushi so large it makes your eyes pop open” combined with its simple, rustic flavor are what make it so appealing. Different regions and families have added their own variations, and it has been passed down as a treasured part of traditional food culture.
● The Best Place to Try Mehari Sushi!
- Restaurant: Sohonke Mehariya
- Appeal:
This specialty shop lets you savor “Mehari Sushi,” a local delicacy of the Kumano region, in a warm atmosphere that feels nostalgic even on your first visit. After relocating to a newly built location in August 2018, it now offers the authentic local flavors in a fresh new space.What makes this restaurant special is that while it is a Mehari Sushi specialty shop, it also offers a rich menu including kushiage (deep-fried skewers), oden, and salad. In addition to the classic Mehari Sushi, they also serve an original “Tenmusu Mehari Sushi,” offering simple yet perfectly seasoned delights. It is a restaurant where you can enjoy traditional local flavors with a modern twist while still savoring that sense of nostalgia.
- Address: 5-6 Yakushi-cho, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture 647-0006
- Access: 1,000m from Shingu Station
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5zRzhZ8i3qhVrHwM6