Appeal of Nagano Prefecture

Hi everyone who wants to go or is going to Japan, 

Today, I want to introduce apple of Nagano to you. I lived in Nagano for almost 10 years. I have felt that Nagano has lots of great things (places, foods and others) for tourists, but it is not as much popular and famous as other prefectures. So I want you to discover apple of Nagano though this article and have some good feelings to Nagano.

Nagano is located at high altitudes in the centre of Japan, west of Tokyo, the north of Nagoya. It is surrounded by high mountains, not faced to any sea. You can enjoy viewing beautiful landscape, climbing a mountain in summer and doing skiing or snowboarding in winter. 

"Kami Ko-chi" in Matsumoto City

The Southern Japanese Alps

Ski and Snowboard in a snowy mountain

Then, as one of the most famous sightseeing place, there is a beautiful Japanese castle "Matsumoto Castle" in Matsumoto city, which is located in the centre of Nagano. The Matsumoto castle's keep is designated as a national treasure.  

And, there are two inn towns in the Edo era in south of Nagano prefecture. They are called "Narai-jyuku" (in Japanese "奈良井宿") and "Tsumago-jyuku" (in Japanese "妻籠宿". Narai-jyuku is located in Shiojiri city, and Tsumago-jyuku is located in Kiso-gun. You can enjoy the ambience of old Japanese town. In addition, there is great looking wooden bridge near Narai-jyuku, which is called "Kiso-no o-hashi". It is not an old historic piece of architecture, but you can enjoy good atmosphere with the bridge. 

Narai-jyuku "奈良井宿"

Kiso-no o-hashi "木曽の大橋" near Narai-jyuku

Tsumago-jyuku "妻籠宿"

Finally, I'm talking about food in Nagano. Nagano has lots of great foods. First, I'm starting off Japanese traditional noodle "Soba". There are many soba restaurants in Nagano. Then, have you ever seen a soba field? It is very moved! There are white flowers as far as the eye can reach. The season that you can see it would be in summer. 

Soba

Soba Field in Summer 

And, Wasabi, which is Japanese horseradish, is one of specialty of Nagano. Wasabi need pure water kept the temperature constant, and there are some place to fulfill the demands in Azumino city or others, Nagano prefecture. So you can enjoy eating fresh wasabi with tasty soba.    

Nagano is famous for delicious fruits. It's because there is big difference in temperature between daytime and night-time, especially in spring and autumn, and the different in temperature make fruits sweet. Let me tell you 3 of Nagano fruits that I want you to try during Nagano trip. 

Grape: In August until the end of October in season (according to type of grape and area). There are a verity of grapes: Taste, size and colour are different. My favorite grape is "Kyoho" (巨峰). It's very fleshy and good sweet. Also, some farmers produce grape for wine and have a winery. So you can enjoy have a taste of many types of wine of Nagano at a winery.  

Kyoho "巨峰"

Apple: In the end of August until the middle of December (according to type of apple and area). There are a verity of apple: Taste and colour are different. My favorite apple is Sanfuji (サンふじ). The type of apple has honey-core. so it's very tasty, sweet and good crisp. The Sanfuji with honey-core's season is from the middle of November until the end of December.

Sanfuji "サンふじ" with Honey-core

Water melon: In the middle of July until the end of Aug. There is a special water melon in hata, Matsumoto. It's called "Shimoppara Suika" (下原スイカ). The water melon is very tasty, sweet and good crisp. You can get the water melon in a just particular place in Matsumoto city. If you come to Matsumoto in summer, I really recommend to you that you try it. you shouldn't miss it!!

How was appeal of Nagano prefecture? Do you want to go to Nagano? Actually, I love Nagano nature, historical architectures and foods. Especially, I love above 3 of fruits in Nagano. They are really amazing and impressive. When you come to Nagano, you can enjoy eating soba and tasty seasonal fruits, seeing beautiful landscape and architecture. Moreover, there are lots of tempting things, such as hot spring, temple, special fried chicken and other, in Nagano. If you want to ask me about good place to visit in Nagano, please feel free to do that.    

Enjoy your trip in Japan! And see you in the next article of the blog!! 
"The ordinary for Japanese" must work to spice up your trip!

Special Condiment/Seasoning in Nagano prefecture, Japan

Hi everyone who want to go or is going to Japan,

At this time, I am going to introduce some Japanese spicy condiments "Shichimi/ichimi to-garashi", which are a special ground mixture of red pepper and aromatic spices or just or ground red pepper, to you. However, It is not the ordinary for all Japanese, for some Japanese and people who live in Nagano prefecture, Japan. By the way, do you know of Nagano? I guess that some of you know of Nagano, and most of you don't. So I will tell you of Nagano in another article. Let me explain about the special spicy condiments in Nagano in this article.

The special spicy condiments "Shichimi/Ichimi to-garashi" are produced by "Yawataya Isogoro" company that has headquarters in Nagano city, Nagano and have started business since 1736. It is one of historic company in Nagano. Then, they offer other kinds of spicy condiments, such as Japanese pepper and garam masala. In addition, You can make a unique and exclusive spicy condiment to visit the main shop of "Yawata Isogoro" in Nagano city and ask a staff there. 

Entrance of the main shop

1. Ichimi To-garashi, in Japanese "一味唐辛子"

• Made with just ground red pepper. It is very spicy, and you can feel great aroma of it. "Ichi" means one in Japanese, so the condiment is made with just red pepper. This is for a person who want feel just aroma of just red pepper and super spicy!!
  
  
  
   

  

  Refill for Ichimi To-garashi

2. Shichimi To-garashi, in Japanese "七味唐辛子"

• Made with ground mixture of red pepper and six aromatic spices: black sesame, dried citrus peel, Japanese pepper, Shiso leaf (Japanese herb), white ginger and hemp seed. "Shichi" means seven in Japanese, so the condiment is made with total seven spices. You can feel excellent and complex aroma of the spices. It is more mild than Ichimi To-garashi because of other non spicy spices.  
  
  
  

  

  Refill for Shichimi To-garashi

3. Yuzu Shichimi

• I didn't mention this condiment in the above sections. However, I would definitely like to tell you this, because this is my favorite one from the company in these days. It is made with ground mixture of red pepper, yuzu and six aromatic spices: black sesame, white sesame, dried citrus peel, Japanese pepper, Shiso leaf (Japanese herb), and ginger. The condiment is made with total eight  spices including Yuzu. You must think "what a fragrant aroma of yuzu flavor" first and feel complex aroma of others afterward. Level of spicy would be the same as "Shichimi To-garashi"'s one.
  
  

Refill for Yuzu Shichimi To-garashi

Three of the condiments are very compatible with many types of Japanese foods, such as Udon, Soba, Miso soup, beef-on-rice dish "Gyu-Don", Yakitori, Yakisoba and others. It absolutely bring out the flavor of the other, don't mask the flavor of dishes. You may know some condiments by the same name from other company, but I swear to my mother that the condiments from "Yawata Isogoro" company is completely different from others! Those are excellent in taste and aroma!! Actually, I used to buy and be satisfied with other Ichimi/Shitimi To-garashi from other company before I met ones from "Yawata Isogoro". However, I have never ever changed them to others since I savored them once. Moreover, I carry around with one of them when I go eating some Japanese foods at a restaurant. I love the condiments that much!!  

 

This is one of the ordinary for people in Nagano. I would like you to visit to Nagano prefecture and savor the taste of those condiments from "Yawata Isogoto". As a matter of fact, you can purchase those condiments at a supermarket in Nagano prefecture and don't need to go to the main shop all the way. Anyway, I want you to try them with any Japanese food once. You must find out that "this is the best Japanese spicy condiment in Japan!!".

Enjoy your trip in Japan! And see you in the next article of the blog!! 

"The ordinary for Japanese" must work to spice up your trip!

Popular Cookies From Bourbon Cooperation

Hi everyone who want to go or is going to Japan,

At this time, I will introduce some of popular cookies and biscuits in Japan. The cookies are produced by Bourbon Cooperation. The company produces many varieties of cookies, chocolate and others. I know that there are an incredible number of type of them in the world. However, Those are very great and popular in Japan You can buy them at reasonable price, such as around JPY100, at a convenience store or supermarket. You can try and enjoy them very easily during your travel in Japan!! 

Cookies from Bourbon Cooperation

1. Lumonde: Butter cookie has very thin crepe texture but very crisp. The cookie is coated with chocolate cream but not too sweet. It is made by layering thin sheets of puff pastry on top of each other, and you can feel light texture! You must not be able to stop eating until it's all gone!! It has been started to be sold since 1974. And, there is Lumonde ice cream: Wrapped in soft wafers, and Lumonde is in the ice cream.    

Lumonde Ice Cream

2. Baum Roll: Mini roll cake coated with milk-flavored cream. You can feel good combination with palatable texture and milk-flavored cream. It has been started to be sold since 1978. Then, Bourbon Co. provides value pack of Baum Roll in which milk-flavored ones and coffee-flavored ones is contained.

Value pack

3. White Rollita: Tasteful Cookie covered with milk-flavored cream. It is crispy and not too sweet. It has been started to be sold since 1965; the first treats from Bourbon Co. There is premium White Rollita: It has richer taste, lighter crisp and easily melt-able texture than original one.

Premium White Rollita

4. Alfort: Digestive biscuit made with wheatmeal and milk chocolate on top of it. The combination of Good roasted biscuit and milk chocolate is excellent!! It has been started to be sold since 1994. It is kind of new face against above ones. 24 years is long enough, though. There are a variety of Alfort: Value pack, premium Alfort, Disney Alfort and others. You must enjoy to find many types of Alfort out at a convenience store or supermarket in Japan!!

Premium Alfort: Strawberry Flavor  

Premium Alfort: Matcha Flavor  

Bourbon Cooperation offers many other varieties of sweets else: Chocolates, Cookies, Biscuits and others. I guess Almost all Japanese know about the company and sweet from it. So If you have Japanese friends or acquaintances, why don't you ask him or her that "what sweets from Bourbon Co. do you like?" and enjoy it with them for afternoon tea. Or you bring one of sweets from the company as a small gift to your friend of yours and have a good tea time with them!! That must be great! 

Enjoy your trip in Japan! And see you in the next article of the blog!! 

"The ordinary for Japanese" must work to spice up your trip!