Do you know some signature foods from/in Ibaraki, Japan? It has ocean, good weather for agriculture, and etc. there so that they have been producing a lot of good food such as Brand Beef, Melon, Sweet potato and so on.
Anglerfish Hot Pot
Talking about Ibaraki Food, this might be the first thing that comes up. Usually the soup of hot pot is soy sauce or miso soup based.
Anglerfish looks very scary but its taste is weaker than white fish, in my opinion. Also low calorie with collagen. A lot of woman likes it.
I have eaten this some times with my family, but I didn’t like when I was young.
You can eat an anglerfish from November to March in Ibaraki, and it is said delicious between December to February.
Hitachi Gyu (Beef)
Hitachi gyu beef is Japanese Black beef which strictly managed such as designated producers need to take care of them in specific way like selected food. and after 30 months they would be ranked as trading standard A/B and 4/5.
It is not as famous as Kobe beef yet, but getting famous more and more even in other countries too.
Hitachi Aki Soba
Ibaraki was already known for place for Soba noodle in Edo era.
Hitachi Aki Soba (常陸秋そば) is a soba noodle made by specific buckwheat’s seed. It is popular for its sweetness and rich aroma.
Natto (Fermented Soybeans)
In 1083, Minamoto No Yoshiie invented Natto unintentionally when he stayed in Mito, Ibaraki. He wrapped simmered beans for his horse with straw, and it got fermented.
Japanese people put natto on rice, or make natto rolls, and so on. Very ordinally food that Japanese people eat.
It has very unique smell, and some people say it stinks. On the other hand, other people eat it a lot since it has very good nutrition and cheap in Japan.
My husband still has not tried it yet, but he is ok with its smell like me eating it next to him. I am excited for him to try it in Japan some time soon!
Hoshi Imo (Dried Sweet Potato)
Ibaraki is the 2nd place for producing sweet potato in Japan, and 1st place for dried sweet potato!
About 90% of Hoshi Imo in Japan is from Ibaraki. Making Hoshi Imo had started in the later of Meiji era.
There is a lot of places that you can buy Hoshi Imo, and it is sweeter than you think!
Melon
It’s top number of producing melon in Ibaraki, it’s about 25% of all in 2017.
Andes Melon
It is short for Anshin desu which means “it is safe”, most of Japanese people don’t even know it.
They grow it in Ibaraki, Kumamoto and other prefectures too.
Ibaraking
The name is combination of Ibaraki and King, and an original melon from Ibaraki. They tried more than 400 ways to create this!
Local Sake (Jizake)
There are 42 Sake Factory which is the most number in Kanto Area in 2019.
Ibaraki Jizake Bar
It’s just a standing bar at corner of building, but they have “Nomi Kurabe Set” which you can drink to compare 3 kinds of local sake ( from Ibaraki )! *small amount
Tsukuba Station
https://goo.gl/maps/TFaEiYGxANu6U3TS9
Mito Station
Excel 2F, Mito Station Building, 1−1−1 Miyamachi, Mito, Ibaraki, 〒310-0015 Japan
Ibaraki is one of prefectures in Kanto Area, there is a huge park named Hitachi Kaihin Kouen (park) where you can visit there from bus or train as 1 day trip from Tokyo. Please visit there and enjoy local foods there 🙂
