In Wakayama Prefecture, chagayu is affectionately called "okai-san" or "okayu-san.

流传地区

All over the prefecture

主要食材

Rice, Bancha (green tea) or Hojicha (roasted green tea)

In the southern region of the prefecture, where fishing and forestry are thriving, mehari-zushi became popular as an easy-to-eat lunch between busy fishing and mountain work.

流传地区

Southern region

主要食材

rice, leaf mustard

In 1249, Kakushin (Houtou Kokushi), a high priest in Yura, learned how to make Kaizanji miso in Sou (China), where he had trained, and brought it back to Japan.

流传地区

Chubu area

主要食材

Rice, wheat, soybeans, vegetables such as eggplant, cucumber, ginger, and perilla

Whales fed and fattened up in high latitude waters head for low latitude waters after summer to engage in breeding activities, passing through the Kumano-nada Sea in midwinter.

流传地区

Taiji Town

主要食材

Whale meat

Sanma-zushi was originally made to preserve rice and fish, and was a feast served at autumn festivals, New Year's, and other gatherings.

流传地区

Southern region

主要食材

Pacific saury, rice

“Sesame tofu” is said to have originated as one of the vegetarian Buddhist dishes eaten by monks practicing austere asceticism at Mount Koya, a temple settlement founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai)…

流传地区

Northern Wakayama Prefecture

主要食材

Sesame seeds, Yoshino arrowroot

Narezushi has long been a common sight at festivals as well as local and regional events.

流传地区

Arita Region

主要食材

Rice, mackerel

Commonly known as “budai”, igami (Japanese parrotfish) is a typical inshore fish that can be found in the southern regions of Wakayama Prefecture.

流传地区

Around Tanabe City

主要食材

Igami

Known as the “gangster of the sea”, the utsubo (moray eel) has an unpredictable temperament as well as sharp upper and lower teeth.

流传地区

Southern Wakayama Prefecture

主要食材

Utsubo, soy sauce, sugar, etc.

The high-quality umeboshi produced in this region came to be known as “Tanabe plums”, and were highly praised, even in Edo.

流传地区

Minabe Town, Tanabe City

主要食材

Plums

The Ito region in the Kinokawa River basin is famous for its persimmons, especially Kudoyama for Fuyu persimmons and Katsuragi for seedless persimmons.

流传地区

Katsuragi, Kudoyama

主要食材

Persimmon leaves, rice, mackerel, shiitake mushrooms, shrimp

In the Hidaka region, “kaki-made rice” has traditionally been served at celebrations, memorial services, Hina-matsuri, festivals, and other gatherings.

流传地区

Hidaka Region

主要食材

Rice, grilled mackerel, carrots, freeze-dried tofu, dried shiitake mushrooms, fried tofu, chikuwa (fish cakes), konjac, bamboo shoots

Kakimaburi, a chirashi-zushi dish made by mixing sushi rice with seasonal vegetables and other ingredients, is a local delicacy.

流传地区

Iwade city, Kinokawa city

主要食材

rice, dried tofu, dried shiitake mushrooms, carrots, bamboo shoots, etc.

‘Kokera-Sushi’ is a kind of sushi. Grilled fish flake, Shiitake mushroom, carrots and thin omelette are placed on the vinegared rice into a wooden flame, then pressed.

流传地区

North Area, South Area

主要食材

Rice, Fish, Shrimp, Vegetables

Whitebait fishing reaches its peak from late March until May. During that time, lots of young Japanese anchovy, Japanese sardine or round herring are caught.

流传地区

North Area, Central Area

主要食材

Whitebait, Rice

Wakayama Prefecture is one of the top mandarin oranges producing prefecture. Especially Arita area, origin of ‘Arita Mikan’, most mountains are covered with mandarin plantation.

流传地区

Arita City

主要食材

Glutinous Rice, Mandarin orange, Sugar

In the northern regions where rice cultivation was prosperous, there was a tradition of offering "Inoko Mochi," rice cakes coated with sweet red bean paste, to express gratitude for the harvest on…

流传地区

Northern and Southern Area

主要食材

Rice, Glutinous rice, Satoimo(=Japanese taro), Sweet red bean paste

Apart from "imomochi" (sweet potato rice cake), there are other local dishes using sweet potatoes, such as "ukeja" (sweet potato with tea), "imochagayu" (sweet potato rice porridge), "imogohan"…

流传地区

Southern Area

主要食材

Sweet potato, Glutinous rice flour

‘Uzumi’ is a clear soup made from ‘dashi’ soup stock from shiitake mushroom or kombu(=kelp) placed cooked rice at the bottom of a bowl berried by tofu and shiitake mushroom.

流传地区

Kozagawa Town

主要食材

Rice, Shiitake mushroom, Tofu, etc.

The size of ‘Usui Endou’ pea is big, and the pea has sweet taste and fluffy texture, and this pea is registered as a regional collective trademark ‘Kishu Usui’ in 2006. ‘Mame Gohan’ (=Green Peas…

流传地区

Central region

主要食材

‘Usui Endou’ (Green Pea), Rice

‘Gonbachi’ is officially called ‘Itadori’ and a Polygonaceae plant, and is a kind of wild vegetables grown in mountains in spring.

流传地区

Southern region

主要食材

Gonbachi

In sandy area with soft ground along the Kinokawa River (like Kasei and Nunohiki area in Wakayama City), ginger has been grown since early Era (early 20th century) to make most of its mild climate.

流传地区

Wakayama City

主要食材

Ginger, Rice

“Tachiuo”, are caught in many parts of Wakayama Prefecture.

流传地区

Arita City

主要食材

Tachiuo (=scabbard fish)

“Hata-gonbo”, is a Burdock, grown in the Nishihata district of Hashimoto City, located halfway up the 552-meter-high Kunishiro Mountain.

流传地区

Hashimoto City

主要食材

Hata-gonbo(=burdock root)

The villagers apologized for their rudeness, and as an act of atonement, they stopped making mochi for 600 years during New Year's and began eating "bouri", a dish made by boiling the mother tuber…

流传地区

Tanabe City

主要食材

Satoimo(=Japanese taro) (mother tuber of a taro)

"Wakame-zushi" is a type of sushi where fresh wakame is thinly spread and rolled with white rice like a sushi roll.

流传地区

Yura Town

主要食材

Wakame seaweed, Rice

In the Arita region, various types of sushi such as "Narezushi" and "Hayazushi" have been made for seasonal events like rice planting, Obon, and autumn festivals since ancient times.

流传地区

Aritagawa Town

主要食材

Wasabi leaves, Rice, Salted mackerel.