The 10 Best Places to Eat in Fukushima, Japan

The Fukushima prefecture is in the southern part of the Tohoku region. In the Fukushima prefecture which is an hour and a half-ride on a Bullet-train from the Tokyo station, there are a few relaxing hot-spring towns such as the Iizaka hot-spring, the Hanamiyama Park and Goshikinuma as well as the sightseeing spots with plenty of nature. I’m introducing the 10 exquisite gourmets which I’d like you to taste on your holiday trip to Fukushima! Please refer to this article and enjoy the delicious gourmet!

1. The Fukushima famous gourmet! The Hamburger looks like a ramen [Kitakata Ramenburger]

The [Kitakata Ramenburger] is one of the Fukushima local delicacies. Actually, the local ramen, Kitakata Ramen was hardened into a bun-burger. The fillings are a Naruto (steamed fish paste), a Menma (boiled and dried bamboo-shoot) as well as pork-meat and the sauce is the flavour of the ramen.

If you would like to sample such a [Kitakata Ramenburger], the [Furusato-tei] is the right place to go to. The Ramen-burger at the [Furusato-tei] which is a 20-minute-ride in a car from the Kitakata station contains a juicy chashu (roasted pork). Please try one!

2. The fishermen’s meal which has been passed on in the Fukushima prefecture [Dobu-jiru]

The [Dobu-jiru] is a local dish which has been eaten in the Ibaraki through the Fukushima prefectures.
It is, so to speak, the Anko-nabe (monk-fish hot pot) and it is a popular dish nationwide these days. The original Dobu-jiru was a hot pot dish cooked without any water, but nowadays, the dish has added water and is also called Dob-jiru.

If you would like to taste the Dobu-jiru, please visit the [Kappo Ippei] in the Iwaki-city in the Fukushima prefecture. It is a Japanese-styled restaurant full of Japanese charm. You can enjoy not only the Dobu-jiru but also the Kaiseki-ryori (traditional Japanese meal brought in courses), making the most of the products from the sea. Please drop in!

3. The dish which has been enjoyed unique to the inland area since ancient times. [Kozuyu]

The [Kozuyu] is a local dish which has been passed on in Aizu in the Fukushima prefecture.
A long time ago, people who lived in the inland area far from the sea could hardly have the fresh products from the sea, as the transportation was very limited. Therefore, for the celebration, the dried sea products were carried to the inland area. The dish which used those dried products is [Kozuyu]

When you try to taste the Kozuyu with its long history, the [Ryori Ryokan (cuisine inn) Tagoto] is highly recommended. It is a 7-minute-walk from the Shichinohe station and a 5-minute-ride in a car from the Aizuwakamatsu station. You can taste various types of the local dishes in Fukushima.
When you order a rice dish set, the [Kozuyu ] will come with it. I’m sure you can enjoy i

4. When people say Katsu-don in the Fukushima prefecture, this is it! [Sauce Katsu-don (pork cutlet on rice in a bowl)]

The Katsu-don in Fukushima means the [Sauce Katsu-don]. The crispy and juicy pork cutlet on the hot rice is very tasty. The sauce goes really well with the cutlet, so it encourages your good appetite.
It is on the menus at every western-styled restaurant in the Fukushima prefecture without any exceptions.

The [Kiri] is the recommended restaurant for it. This [Sauce Katsu-don] restaurant has been loved for 40 years in the Aizu area. The taste of the sauce which is an important deciding factor for the [Sauce
Katsu-don] differs depending on which restaurant. Please try the various tastes!

5. The traditional buckwheat noodles which have been passed on in the Fukushima prefecture [Takato noodle]

The [Takato noodle] is a noodle which has been passed on in the Akamatsu area. It has the old style of eating with the ground white radish and the grilled-miso. The [Misawaya] is the recommended restaurant to taste the [Takato noodle]. It is also a famous sightseeing spot.

A whole leek will come with the [Takato noodle]. You will be surprised at the novelty idea.
Even foodies must admire it. Why don’t you try one?

6. One of the three major ramens in Japan It is the [Kitakata Ramen] which is popular nationwide.

The Ramen is a Japanese soul-food. There are various characteristic local ramens at every corner all over Japan. This local ramen in the Fukushima prefecture is the [Kitakata Ramen]. This is one of the three major ramens, along with the Sapporo ramen and the Hakata one.

The flavour is the plain soy-sauce as well as the tonkotsu (pork bone) one and the wrinkled noodles are used. Please visit [Shokudo Hasegawa] for sampling the Kitakata Ramen. It is a popular
shop-restaurant among the numerable Kitakata Ramen ones in the Fukushima prefecture. If you don’t eat one, that’ll be a disappointment for you!

7. The filling thick noodles! The local Yakisoba (fried noodles) in the Fukushima prefecture [Namie Yakisoba]

The [Namie Yakisoba] is a local gourmet which was developed in the Namie town in the Fukushima prefecture. It looks like an ordinary yakisoba, but the thick noodles are characteristic. The ingredients are the popular pork-meat and the bean-sprout. People use a mixture of red pepper and other spices to put the accent on it.

The [Namie-meibutsu Ganso Yakisoba Nawa-noren] which is a 2-minute-walk from the Namie station is recommended. Actually, this shop-restaurant is the originator of the Namie Yakisoba. Would you like to come to Fukushima and try this original Namie Yakisoba?

8. The ramen in Fukushima prefecture is not just the [Kitakata Ramen]! [Shirakawa Ramen]

The [Shirakawa Ramen] was born in the Shirakawa-city in the Fukushima prefecture. The basic soup is the soy-sauce flavour using the chicken bones. The main characteristic of the noodles is the flat wrinkled one. I’ll recommend [Tanakaya] which is a 7-minute-walk from the Shirakawa station. I’d like you to visit there without any doubt!

9. Either for a side-dish or for a snack! [Ika-ninjin]

The [Ika-ninjin] is a local gourmet which was born in the northern area in the Fukushima prefecture.
As the name shows, it is a mixture of the thinly cut dried squid and carrot marinated with the soy-sauce, mirin and sake. It has an important role in the Fukushima local area as a good titbit for rice as well as sake.

Please go to the [Fukushima local cuisine and local sake Don] to taste this local gourmet. You can enjoy various local gourmets in the Fukushima prefecture. They also have a lot of different local sake, so please taste the comparison, nibbling the [Ika-ninjin].

10. You can eat the superb Gyoza (dumpling with minced pork and vegetables stuffing) even in the Fukushima prefecture!

Most people may recall the Tochigi prefecture when they hear of Gyoza, but the neighbouring prefecture, the Fukushima prefecture is also famous for a Gyoza. The characteristic of the Gyoza in Fukushima is that the Gyozas are arranged in a round shape just like a disc on the pan and then grilled. The [Hanashibe] which is close to the Fukushima station is the right place to taste the
[Fukushima Gyoza]!

These Gyoza dumpling sheets are very crispy. When you bite into the Gyoza, the meaty delicious juice comes out. Please enjoy wonderful Gyoza in the Fukushima prefecture not just only in the Tochigi prefecture!

Let’s try the delicious local gourmets in Fukushima!

What did you think about this article? I’ve introduced the 10 recommended gourmets which I’d like you to taste in the Fukushima prefecture. Every one of them samples the goodness of the Fukushima prefecture freely, doesn’t it? Have you found the food which you really want to taste? As there are many notable sightseeing spots in the Fukushima prefecture as well, please visit Fukushima, asking for enjoyable sightseeing and the delicious gourmet.