Nikko is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and is renowned for its scenic beauty and cultural attractions. While Nikko has plenty to offer visitors in terms of sightseeing and exploration, it is also known for its fantastic local cuisine.
The local food culture of Nikko is heavily influenced by the traditional Japanese diet, which consists of fish, rice, vegetables and seaweed. Nikko’s distinctive dishes are made using fresh ingredients that have been harvested and grown locally. One of the most popular dishes in Nikko is Yuba-don, which features a thin layer of soy milk skin called ‘yuba’ on top of steamed white rice. The yuba is usually served with an assortment of vegetables such as carrot, daikon radish and shiitake mushrooms.
Nikko’s famous seafood specialties include hotaru-ika (deep-fried firefly squid) and unagi (eel).
Hotaru-ika is often served with ponzu sauce or grated daikon radish and unagi can either be grilled or served as kabayaki (unagi marinated in sake). Other seafood dishes include sashimi (raw fish slices), takoyaki (octopus balls) and hijiki (seaweed).
One of the most iconic dishes from Nikko is Kiritanpo Nabe, a hearty hotpot dish made from pounded rice cakes called ‘kiritanpo’ cooked in a miso-based broth with vegetables such as carrots, mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Kiritanpo Nabe is typically served with a side dish of grated daikon radish mixed with soy sauce for dipping.
Nikko’s unique food culture also extends to sweets such as Manju (sweet buns filled with red bean paste), Ningyo-yaki (small cakes shaped like dolls) and Chirola Pudding (a type of custard pudding flavored with green tea). These treats are best enjoyed at one of the many confectioneries located around town.
Conclusion:
Nikko has become renowned for its fantastic local cuisine which draws heavily on fresh ingredients grown locally. Popular dishes include Yuba-don, Hotaru-ika, Unagi Kabayaki, Kiritanpo Nabe and various types of sweets such as Manju and Chirola Pudding. Visitors to Nikko should definitely sample some of these local delicacies if they have the chance!