JAPANESE BEACH CULTURE   By TID, Autumn 2010 update

The extremely hot summer is coming to an end, and fall is just around the corner. Fall is my favorite season in Japan because it’s known for great tasting food and delicacies. Hyogo’s diverse environment offers a variety of fresh local ingredients, making the arrival of fall that much more exciting.

Once again, I asked my trusted fellow TID members about their favorite fall delicacy, and all of them answered “chestnuts.” It may seem a bit strange, considering that chestnuts don’t appear on your everyday dinner table, but a lot of people in Japan associate fall with chestnuts (I am also one of them). One of the popular ways to prepare chestnuts is by putting them in rice and cooking them together. The sweetness of chestnuts matches very well with white rice, and it’s actually one of my favorite dishes to eat in fall. Chestnuts are also widely used in variety of sweets, from traditional Japanese confections to Mont Blanc.

The next on the list was matsutake, or pine mushrooms. These mushrooms grow under Red Pine Trees in Japan and because of their rarity, they are extremely valuable. But the sweet and pleasant aroma, along with firm texture, is loved by many and it has become one of the popular fall delicacies in Japan. They are usually prepared grilled or in a broth. Members of the TID all agreed that matsutake is their favorite fall delicacy.

You can’t talk about Hyogo’s fall delicacies without mentioning botan-nabe, or boar hot pot. It’s a famous dish especially in the Tamba/Sasayama region. The word botan is actually the Japanese word for peony, a type of flower. It was named botan-nabe because the meat is sliced very thinly and served on the plate resembles the peony flower. The boar meat is cooked in a hot pot with other local vegetables, making it the perfect dish for a chilly autumn night.

I think one of the most exciting things about traveling is trying the local food. If you’re ever in Hyogo during fall, I highly recommend you try out at least one of these delicacies. I know I will.

*Feature

-Farm Experience in Hyogo-

While you’re in Hyogo, why not harvest fall delicacies yourself! Here are some places where you can enjoy a day in the sun while gathering great tasting food. Reservation required.

Awaji Island (Sato-noen, Oranges)

A great place to go and enjoy a day in the sun. Families welcome. Try the freshest oranges, all-you-can-eat!

Open:	10/3 – 11/23
Hours:	10:00-16:00
Fee:	Adults: ¥700; Children: ¥400; 1kg bag of oranges: ¥400
Location:	174-2 Yamada, Awaji-shi, Hyogo 656-1553
Access:	25 minute car ride from Tsuna-Ichinomiya Interchange
Contact:	Awaji Satonoen TEL:0799-86-0291

Hanshin Area (Konishi Kanko-en, Matsutake mushrooms)

Located near a beautiful stream, this park offers variety of fun events. One of them is matsutake picking. It comes with a mouth watering matsutake meal.

Open:	Late September to early November
Fee:	¥10,000 (matsutake picking + sukiyaki + matsutake rice)
Location:	1804 Kogaki, Sanda-shi, Hyogo 669-1401
Access:	30 minute drive on Chugoku Expressway from the Kobe Sanda Interchange
Contact:	Konishi Kanko-en TEL:079-569-1191

Tamba Area (Tamba Inomura, Chestnuts)

Not only can you enjoy picking chestnuts in the beautiful nature of this region, Tamba Inomura offers a variety of facilities such as camping sites, barbeque areas, and athletic parks.

Open:	Mid-September to mid-June
Hours:	9:30 – 17:00, closed on Tuesdays
Fee:	¥300 entrance fee, ¥1200 for chestnut picking (reservation required)
Location:	1154 Shitsukawa-kami, Sasayama-shi, Hyogo 669-2422
Access:	Transfer from the Hankyu Line to the Nose Line at Kawanishi Noseguchi Station. Get off at Nissei Chuo Station and catch the bus for Shitsukawa and get off at Inamura Bus Stop.
Contact:	Tamba Inamura TEL:079-556-2680

Himeji Area (Yume-saki Yume-no-sato Agriculture Park, Sweet Potatoes)

Dig for your very own, delicious sweet potatoes at this agricultural park. They also offer chestnuts picking as well. The plan comes with a meal.

Open:	Late September – early November
Hours:	9:00-17:00, Closed on Mondays
Fee:	¥1,575 (with meal)
Location:	1281-2 Konokusa, Yumemae-cho, Himeji-shi, Hyogo 671-2105
Access:	Catch the Shinki Bus from JR Himeji Station and get off at Maenosho Bus Stop. 35 minute walk from the bus stop.
Contact:	Yume-yakata TEL:079-336-1585