[torakris]

Meibutsu is a word that can translate as a local speciality, you will hear this word often in Japan "such and such is a meibutsu from such and a such a place". At one time meibutsu could only be enjoyed in their place of origin or if you were lucky enough to receive an omiyage (souvenir) from someone. Nowadays local specialities are popping up in stores all over Japan and with the internet they can be ordered directly from the source.

I am going to use this thread to showcase the local specialities from all of the Japanese prefectures. We are going to run through the prefectures one by one and I will post links to information in English about the special foods and dishes of that region, I will then start a thread in the Japan forum so that everyone can discuss their favorite foods of the region there. If you know of any good links please send them to me to I can include them in THIS thread.

A small note on prefectures, Japan is divided in 8 to 11 regions (depending on who you talk to!) and within those regions are prefectures. Most prefectures are noticable by the word "Ken" following its name, of the 47 prefectures 43 have this designation but Hokkai-DO, Tokyo-TO, Osaka-FU and Kyoto-FU are the exceptions.

Now let's start exploring!

[torakris]

HOKKAIDO PREFECTURE (region= Hokkaido)

meibutsu from Hokkaido can be found here:

http://kanko.pref.ho.../e/trv_i002.htm

http://www.daisetsu..../e-tokusan.html

http://kanko.pref.ho.../e/trv_i001.htm


The Hokkaido thread:
http://forums.egulle...opic=19824&st=0

[torakris]

AOMORI PREFECTURE (region= Tohoku)

http://www.city.aomo...anako/main.html

http://www.jnfl.co.j...l-products.html

http://apti.net.pref...-en/taberu.html


Aomori thread:
http://forums.egulle...ST&f=19&t=50062

[torakris]

AKITA PREFECTURE (region= Tohoku)


http://www.city.akit...aji/default.htm

http://www.media-aki...ita-shokuE.html

and the thread on Akita can be found here:

http://forums.egulle...ST&f=19&t=50152

[torakris]

IWATE PREFECTURE (region= Tohoku)


http://www.pref.iwat.../food/food.html

http://www.tohoku-ep...t_s3/fo_iw.html


and the thread on Iwate can be found here:

http://forums.egulle...ST&f=19&t=50199

[torakris]

FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE (region = Tohoku)

http://www.kasei.ac....2/newpage3.html

http://www.city.aizu.../w_d/w_d010.htm


the thread to discuss Fukushima meibutsu can be found here:

http://forums.egulle...ST&f=19&t=50234

[torakris]

MIYAGI PREFECTURE (region= Tohoku)

http://www.miyagithe...taste/index.htm

http://www.kankou-mi...ntry=eng&flag=0

--Matsushuima City
http://www.town.mats...de/spe/spe.html

To discuss the foods of Miyagi go to this thread:

http://forums.egulle...ST&f=19&t=50314

[torakris]

YAMAGATA PREFECTURE (region = Tohoku)

http://www.pref.yama...k/srygb005.html

http://www.marujyu.c...gt/meibutu.html

http://www.tohoku-ep...t_s3/fo_yg.html


to discuss your favorite foods, go to the Yamagata thread:

http://forums.egulle...ST&f=19&t=50409

[torakris]

IBARAKI PREFECTURE (region= Kanto)

http://web-japan.org...pe_ibaraki.html

To discuss the foods of Ibaraki (sometimes pronounced IbaraGi) please go to this thread:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=51153

[torakris]

KANAGAWA PREFECTURE (region = Kanto)

Ok I can't find a single link (in English) for Kanagawa.....

let's look at the discussion:

http://forums.egulle...showtopic=51206

[torakris]

TOKYO-TO (region= Kanto)

http://www.tourism.m...ra/to_gift.html

to discuss the foods of Tokyo, please go to this thread:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=51966

[torakris]

CHIBA PREFECTURE (region= Kanto)

http://www.kanko.chu...t_sangyo-e.html


Narita City
http://www.city.nari...elcome/special/

to the discuss the foods of Chiba please go here:

http://forums.egulle...showtopic=52153

[torakris]

SAITAMA PREFECTURE (region= Kanto)

http://www.sainokuni...ialties/sp.html

to discuss the foods of Saitama go to this thread:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=52222

[torakris]

TOCHIGI PREFECTURE (region= Kanto)

http://www.tochigiji...h/culinary.html

to discuss the foods of Tochigi go here:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=52517

[torakris]

GUNMA PREFECTURE (region = Kanto)

http://www1.tcue.ac....lass08/group01/

http://www.pref.gunm...ustry/index.htm
middle of the page under agriculture


to discuss the foods look here:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=52614

[torakris]

YAMANASHI PREFECTURE (region= Chubu)

http://www.pref.yama...o/shogyo/TASTE/

talk about the foods over here:

http://forums.egulle...showtopic=52364

[torakris]

NAGANO PREFECTURE (region = Chubu)

some people call this region Koshinetsu or Shinetsu as well and you may hear of things from Nagano with the name Shinshu, this is the name of the old province that covered parts of Nagano, Niigata and Yamanashi.

http://www.outdoorja...re-nagano1.html
scroll down to food

http://www.city.ueda...urist/local.htm

http://www.avis.ne.j...i/localfood.htm

http://www.mofa.go.j...tlas/j-7-2.html

http://www.city.naga...ee/miyage-e.htm

go here to discuss the foods of Nagano:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=52734

[torakris]

NIIGATA PREFECTURE (region = Chubu)

Some people refer to Niigata as together with Nagano as the Shinestu region, others time it is grouped into a region often called Hokuriku, the sometimes the Hokuriku region and Shinetsu region are combined to make the Hoku-shinetsu region...

http://www.city.niig...delicacies.html

to discuss the foods look here:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=52859

[mikeczyz]

this thread may be of some use for my project! excellent! i'm am so fascinated with the culture of the far east. wish i was still fluent in mandarin...
mike

[torakris]

SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE (region= Chubu)

Shizuoka is often also referred to as part of the Tokai region.

http://www.shizuoka-...travel/food.htm

http://www.pref.shiz...ods/tea_har.htm

http://www1.tcue.ac....24/a2/shizuoka/

to discuss your favorite foods go here:

http://forums.egulle...showtopic=53705

[torakris]

GIFU PREFECTURE (region= Chubu)

Gifu is sometimes also part of the Tokai region with Shizuoka and the northern part of the prefecture (combined with part of Toyama prefecture) is called the Hietsu area.

http://www.kankou-gi...p/en/07/01.html

http://www.pref.gifu...okuhin/english/

Hida Takayama

http://www.hida.jp/e...ku/e-mikaku.htm

http://www.hida.jp/e.../06_cuisine.htm


to discuss the foods of Gifu go here:

http://forums.egulle...showtopic=53902

[torakris]

TOYAMA PREFECTURE (Chubu region)

Toyama is also considered to be a part of the Hokuriku region (along with Ishikawa and Fukui) and parts of Toyama are combined with parts of Gifu to be called Hietsu region.

http://www.pref.toya.../kairou/aji.htm


to discuss the foods of Toyama go here:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=54930

[torakris]

ISHIKAWA PREFECTURE (region = Chubu)

also considered part of the Hokuriku region (with Toyama and Fukui)

http://www.hot-ishik...ku/e_mikaku.htm

to discuss the foods of Ishikawa go here:

http://forums.egulle...showtopic=55889

[torakris]

FUKUI PREFECTURE (region = Chubu)



also considered part of Hokuriku region along with Toyama and Ishikawa prefectures

http://www.fukui-tab...list.asp?dest=5

to talk about the foods of Fukui go here:

http://forums.egulle...st=0&p=504680&#

[torakris]

AICHI PREFECTURE (region = Chubu)

Aichi is also considered part of the Tokai region with Shizuoka and Gifu
The city of Nagoya is located in Aichi prefecture

http://www.aichi-kan...glish/regional/


Nagoya
http://www.ncvb.or.j...u_e/mei_b1.html


To discuss the foods of Aichi and Nagoya look here:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=56896

[torakris]

SHIGA PREFECTURE (region = Kansai/Kinki)

http://www.pref.shig...nko/mika-de.htm

http://www.wschool.n...t_shiga2_e.html

http://www.japantime...v20031226a1.htm

to discuss the foods of Shiga look here:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=58656

[torakris]

MIE PREFECTURE (region= Kansai/Kinki)

http://www.kankomie....kanko/discover/

to discuss the foods, check here:

http://forums.egulle...showtopic=59007

[torakris]

NARA PREFECTURE (region= Kansai/Kinki)

http://www.pref.nara..._e/info/05.html

http://www.kcn.ne.jp.../e/eafuco3.html
scroll a bit to get to the foods

discuss the foods here:
http://forums.egulle...showtopic=59296

[Kiem Hwa]

An interesting article discussing the foods of Kansai, particularly Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe:
http://www.kippo.or....an/teidan1.html

Also links to articles discussing foods from various prefectures in Kansai.
http://www.kippo.or....yoku/index.html

[Culinista]

Nice thread. Can anyone recommend a good book on meibutsu? I can read Japanese but would have to mail order the book.