english - Local Delicacies and Products

Gunma, Niigata, and Nagano all offer a unique range of mouthwatering delicacies, including konyaku, a great food for zero calorie diets, Japanese rice wine, commonly known as sake, and tasty soba noodles. There is also a vast array of traditional handicraft and fine products available that make perfect gifts or souvenirs.

Niigata

Rice: Niigata is Japan's most famous rice region, and produces rich harvests of high-grade rice.
Sake: Niigata's high-quality rice goes into producing some exceptional varieties of Japanese rice wine, or sake.
Sasadango: Wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed, this sweetened bean paste filled rice dumpling is a Niigata favorite.
Seafood: Located along the Sea of Japan, Niigata's cuisine is rich in succulent seafood.
Kimono and Lacquerware: Tsuishu (carved laquerware) and kimono are among 14 items from Niigata that are designated as significant traditional crafts.

Gunma

Udon: Wheat-flour noodles.
Konnyaku: Gunma is the largest producer of konyaku in Japan, a zero-calorie food popular among the health conscious.
Kiryu Ori: A traditional style of textile made in Gunma where the sericulture industry was traditionally highly prosperous.
Yakimanju: Small steamed buns that are grilled and eaten with a miso-based sauce.
Kindai Kokeshi: Delightful wooden dolls featuring delicate designs.
Takasaki Daruma: Traditional tumbling dolls that are said to grant the holder a wish.

Nagano

Soba: Soba, or buckwheat noodles, are a well-known Nagano delicacy.
Apples: Nagano produces a wide range of apples.
Oyaki: Buns generously stuffed with tasty vegetables.
Nozowana Pickles: A crisp wild vegetable, popular in its pickled form.
Straw and Bamboo Crafts: Traditional homeware made from natural materials such as straw and bamboo.
Kusakizome: Woven fabrics, colored with natural plant dyes, unique to Nagano.