Update-date: Mar 29 2022
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Fukui
Fukui prefecture is located in the Chūbu region of Honshū facing the Sea of Japan. Characterized by its rich land, mountains, and sea, the landscape of Fukui is decorated perfectly with the grace of each season―beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, green lively trees in summer, fall foliage in autumn, and elegant snow in winter. In fact, on the Japan Research Institute’s biennial research of prefectural happiness report, Fukui has been the number one, four times in a row since 2014. The area has also been the 4th place in Japan’s average life expectancy. Supposedly, in an area surrounded by nature and tradition, residents and tourists are bound to have a pleasant peaceful time.
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With abundant natural resources, Fukui has countless delicacies from both the sea and mountains. As it is an agricultural area, varieties of delectable local specialties exist. Besides the popular Echizen crab and Wakasa beef, what would be the area’s recommended food? This time, we picked two out of many foods in Fukui.
ICHIGOOOJI | Strawberries Nurtured with Love and Care
As the geography of Japan is long and narrow, farmers all over Japan cultivate strawberries carefully according to the area’s climate. In such an environment, each strawberry farm has unique characteristics. Famous strawberry brands in Japan are, Awayuki from Kumamoto and Saga prefecture, Amaou from Fukuoka prefecture, and Tochi-otome from Tochigi prefecture.
There are varieties of strawberry brands in Fukuoka, and this time, we picked ICHIGOOOJI. This local strawberry brand is growing in popularity among Fukui residents for providing the popular Akihime and Beni-hoppe varieties and experience-based events. The owner who runs the brand utilizes his young senses and attentively creates experience-based events such as all-you-can-eat to provide a sense of community with residents and visitors.
Because the sun in Fukui tends to set early compared to the Pacific Ocean side, to make the brand strawberry with stability, the owner has built a large greenhouse to control the right temperature, humidity, CO2 level, and daylight.
Cone-shaped Akihime strawberry at ICHIGOOOJI is a soft and sweet variety. Thus, when eaten with bitter chocolates, the sweetness of Akihime blends perfectly. This kind of strawberry is perfect for desserts such as strawberry sandwiches, strawberry chocolate fondue, and yogurt.
Beni-hoppe, which is also cultivated at ICHIGOOOJI is a big, moderately sweet, and sour variety. This strawberry will match greatly with strawberry daifuku (soft red bean rice cake). Only in Japan will you be able to taste the chewiness of daifuku and the juiciness of strawberry together.
Even if you don’t cook, you are bound to enjoy ICHIGOOOJI’s strawberry. Producing strawberries takes a tremendous amount of care and effort. ICHIGOOJI’s goal is to share the happiness of harvesting.
Even if you don’t cook, you are bound to enjoy ICHIGOOOJI’s strawberry. Producing strawberries takes a tremendous amount of care and effort. ICHIGOOJI’s goal is to share the happiness of harvesting.
Fukumusume | Sweet Potato Like Desserts
Among other Asian countries, Japan was very early to farm sweet potatoes. For this reason, Japan is rich with varieties of sweet potatoes. The most popular variety is the widely cultivated “Beniharuka.” This delicious and sweet variety is known for its quality of having a light-yellow, thin, and soft body and being rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber.
There is a sweet potato of Echizen called “Fukumusume” belonging to the Beniharuka breed. This sweet potato is cultivated in the unique sandy atmosphere of Arawa city and with its excellent water retention, mass cultivation is made possible with a little amount of organic fertilizer.
Perhaps the most notable quality of Fukumusume is its sweetness. In fact, the sugar concentration is so high that it can be eaten as a dessert and even puts professional chefs to shame. A very popular way to eat sweet potatoes in Japan is by baking them or steaming them in rice. With the natural dessert’s rich and sweet taste, drying it and using it for bread or dessert might also be the choice.
If you are used to living in the bustling city, relaxing and enjoying dishes in a local area will definitely relieve you from the stress! Especially at Fukui which faces the Sea of Japan, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful landscape of mountains and sea to your heart’s content.
In the near future, shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) directly from Tokyo to Fukui will be in operation. So let’s go to Fukui. The delicious dishes and beautiful scenery of Fukui will surely welcome you!
In the near future, shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) directly from Tokyo to Fukui will be in operation. So let’s go to Fukui. The delicious dishes and beautiful scenery of Fukui will surely welcome you!
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
