Category: Japan

Hakata’s Little Chick Egg Cakes, originating from Fukuoka in Kyushu, were founded in 1912 by Yoshinodo, located in Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. However, their widespread popularity, especially in Tokyo, began to surge around the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when they were sold at Tokyo Station and Haneda Airport, leading many to mistakenly believe they were a Tokyo specialty. Subsequently, a company was established in Tokyo as well, cementing the dessert’s status as a specialty of both Hakata in Kyushu and Tokyo.

In the past, traveling to Hakodate meant taking the slow JR train, making transportation inconvenient.
So, many delicacies were best enjoyed in Japan itself.
Now, with the Hokkaido Shinkansen, getting around Hakodate is much easier.
Moreover, you can buy it at the domestic terminal on the second floor of Hakodate Airport, so there’s no need to carry it all the way from the city to the airport.

In the Kyoto Nishiki Market, there are many delicious snacks, such as soy milk donuts and small octopus. One popular spot is the Kyoto-style Takoyaki – “カリカリ博士”. It emphasizes the Kyoto-style takoyaki, where the broth is mixed into the batter, making it delicious even without adding sauce.

Since the closure of Kaiten-Sushi Nemuro Hanamaru at New Chitose Airport, I haven’t had the chance to enjoy this sushi chain for quite some time.
This time, staying near Hakodate Station, I found a Kaiten-Sushi Nemuro Hanamaru right across the street.
So, I decided to give it a try.
Kaiten-Sushi Nemuro Hanamaru is located in the “Kiralis Hakodate” building, B1 floor.

Established in 1954, Hokkaido Kushiro Washo Ichiba Market is the kitchen of Kushiro residents.
It started as an open-air market and was later converted into an indoor market.
However, despite being indoors, there is no strong fishy or foul smell.
The signature dish of Washo Ichiba Market is Katte Don. You can buy your favorite ingredients from any store in the market to make a special seafood bowl.
This is similar to the Nokke Don at Aomori Furukawa Fish Market.

Tokushima Ramen, also known as one of the famous ramen in Japan. Among them, this ramen shop is called Inotani (Chinese Soba Inotani) and is a well-known ramen shop in Tokushima Prefecture. It became even more popular after they introduced a limited edition ramen at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum in 1999! The Naruto branch that we are visiting is definitely a must-try. It even comes highly recommended by the tourism officials of Naruto City.

This article is a tribute to the legend of “Golden Legend”! Because I often see the protagonist, Masaru Hamaguchi, from “Golden Legend” going around to gather food and occasionally encountering kind-hearted people who would give him a free catch or something unexpected. And guess what? We also encountered the same thing here in Naruto! So, what did we get as our spoils of war? Drum roll, please… seaweed wakame!

Every time I come to Asahikawa, I must eat at Daikokuya and Ichikura Ramen.
Daikokuya is truly delicious.
Ichikura, surprisingly, has also become a must-eat ramen spot for me every time I visit Asahikawa.
I still remember in 2012, driving from Sounkyo to Asahikawa just to have a bowl of Ichikura Ramen, and then driving back to Sounkyo to sleep.

When it comes to ramen in Hokkaido, the three most famous flavors are Hakodate salt, Sapporo miso, and Asahikawa soy sauce.
When visiting Hakodate, you must try the renowned Hakodate Ramen Kitchen Ajisai.
Hakodate Ramen Kitchen Ajisai originated in Hakodate, Hokkaido, with its main store located in Goryokaku.
I visited the “Red Store,” which is right next to the famous hotel, La Vista Hakodate.

Breath Chocolate (呼吸チョコ), when translated into Chinese, is called “呼吸巧克力”. This product has been on the market for a long time and is not a new product that just recently appeared. Breath Chocolate is mainly categorized by four regions in Kansai: Kitashinchi, Osaka – Cocoa flavor; Gion, Kyoto – Matcha flavor; Nara – Soybean powder flavor (きな粉); Kitano, Kobe – Coffee flavor. This time, they have also added a limited edition strawberry flavor, but it does not belong to any specific region.