Discover Japan’s secret epicurean destination
Japan’s Oita prefecture has not just crafted a perfect blend of flavours in its culinary scene but it’s also struck a perfect balance with nature – it’s a dream destination for eco-conscious, luxury clients seeking a gastronomic experience
Typically known for its hot springs, Oita is now emerging as a popular destination among tourists who love to visit long-haul destinations where they can experiment with different cuisines and indulge in culturally rich foodie experiences.
One might even call Oita a gastronomic haven, with the huge variety of dishes and drinks available here. Visitors can kick-start their culinary trip at a low-key, 130-year-old restaurant named Tomoshu, which caters to every palate but is specifically known for nihonshu sake (Japanese wine) and soba buckwheat noodles.
If your clients are a fan of tasting local flavours, don’t let them miss out on trying shiitake mushrooms, which are thought to have been brought from China to Japan in the 9th century. Famously known as Oita’s heirloom mushrooms, these delicacies can be found in many of the prefecture’s dishes and are famous for their peculiar “umami” taste. These fungi are packed with flavour, offer a meaty texture and are usually found in soups or sauteed with veggies.
OITA’S SUSTAINABILITY SELLING POINTS
- Unesco has designated Oita’s Kunisaki Penisula Usa region a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) for the efficient way it uses water from naturally protected ponds to irrigate paddy fields and aid the production of shiitake mushrooms.
- Oita’s locals use their traditional bamboo weaving skills to make cooking utensils from the natural resource. Tourists with an eye for art always fall for this craft, given there are a number of places to try it across the prefecture.
- Visitors who enjoy outdoorsy activities and want to have sustainable adventures can explore Oita sustainably by bike on the Maple Yabakei Cycling Road. This bicycle ride follows the Yabakei Gorge from Ao-no-Domon to Morizane Onsen along the old route of the single-track Yabakei Railway, along which trains once threaded their way up the valley until 1975.
Japan is also known for its chicken recipes, and so if clients are meat eaters why not suggest ordering toriten and karaage during their stay? The recipe for both involves marinating or flouring chicken chunks and deep-frying them, before serving with delectable sides and sauces. While the delicacies can be easily found across Oita, Soba Cafe Yuhi is a recommended place to enjoy some of the best tastes paired with a picturesque view of the Seto Inland Sea. The cafe is currently closed for renovation work, but is scheduled to reopen in May.
Meanwhile, the most popular locally brewed liquors in Oita are mugi-jochu, nihonshu sake and a selection of other wines and beers. Move in any direction and visitors will end up in a distillery or brewery, but they can begin with Kuncho, a brewery in Hita town centre and then travel to Sapporo Hita Brewery in its outskirts. Umeshu-gura Oyama, in the countryside south of Hita, is a great place to experiment with top-notch plum wines.
Make sure you tell clients to save space for dessert! Stopping by the roadside shack – and 40-year-old boutique parlour – named Izumiya, they can savour impeccable ice cream home-made by a husband-and-wife team. As well as a wide range of ice cream flavours the couple also serve Kujus – a new type of dairy product that's similar to yogurt and cheese. It originates from Kusumi Kogen, and is based on the traditional production method of the thick Icelandic skyr yoghurt.
There’s a close-knit relationship between food and sustainability in this prefecture (see box), so any traveller who seeks fine food in balance with nature will find Oita beyond perfect.
No matter how long they stay in Oita, they will always be tempted to come back, be it for the variety of food, the tranquillity of the countryside or for learning the sustainable way of life; the destination leaves its visitors yearning for more.
Click here to find out more about sustainable travel in Oita and here for more activities and attractions.
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