Signature Foods and Gourmet Guide of San'in
The San'in region is a food lover's paradise, filled with fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan and agricultural products grown in fertile soil. Here are the representative specialties you should not miss when visiting each city.
Yonago Signature Food Guide
The joy of traveling in Yonago lies in tasting local food made with fresh ingredients. Here are the four signature specialties that locals take pride in.
1. Saba Shabu (Mackerel Shabu-shabu)
Yonago has the highest concentration of restaurants serving Saba Shabu in Japan. Since freshness is key for mackerel, the fish is thinly sliced and lightly dipped in warm broth.
- Features: It has no fishy smell. You can enjoy the rich, savory fat and soft texture of the mackerel at the same time.
- How to enjoy: Dip the lightly cooked mackerel into wasabi ponzu sauce and eat it with crispy onions for the best flavor.
2. Gyukotsu Ramen (Beef Bone Ramen)
Unlike typical ramen that uses pork or chicken bones, this is Tottori Prefecture's soul food, made by simmering beef bones for a long time.
- Features: The clear broth is known for its natural sweetness and deep umami unique to beef.
- Recommendation: There are many traditional beef bone ramen shops in Yonago City, so it is fun to compare the different depths of broth at each restaurant.
3. Sakaiminato Snow Crab
Sakaiminato Port, located right next to Yonago, boasts the largest catch of Red Snow Crab in Japan.
- Features: During the peak winter season (November to March), you can enjoy fresh-caught crab at affordable prices.
- Top Menu: The Crab Meat Bowl, featuring a whole crab, or freshly steamed crab are the most popular choices for travelers.
4. Daisen Dairy Products
Fresh milk and dairy products come from cows raised in the clean nature of Mt. Daisen, often called the 'Mt. Fuji of San'in.'
- Features: The 'Shirobarai' (White Rose) milk brand is famous for its rich and creamy flavor.
- Must-visit: The Milk Soft Serve Ice Cream at Daisen Farm melts in your mouth and is perfect for refreshing yourself after travel.
Matsue: Wagashi and Matcha for the Senses
Since the Edo period, Matsue has developed a strong tea culture, making it one of Japan's top three cities for traditional sweets, alongside Kyoto and Kanazawa.
1. Matcha and Wagashi
At traditional tea houses near Matsue Castle, you can enjoy exquisite wagashi (Japanese sweets) that reflect the changing seasons. The balance between bitter matcha and sweet wagashi is the highlight of a Matsue trip.
2. Shijimi (Corbicula Clams)
The clams caught in Lake Shinji are large and have a rich flavor. They can be enjoyed in various dishes, such as clam soup or clam pasta.
Tottori: The Sweet Temptation of Pears
Tottori is famous across Japan as a producer of high-quality pears. Thanks to the clean air and water, the pears here have high sugar content and a great texture.
- Tottori Pears (Nashi): The 'Nijisseiki' (20th Century) Pear is the most famous, known for its crunchy texture and abundant juice. Be sure to try freshly harvested pears while in Tottori.
- Pear Desserts: Besides fresh fruit, soft-serve ice cream, puddings, and sorbets made with pears are local favorites. We recommend trying these cool, sweet desserts.
Izumo: Deep-flavored Buckwheat Noodles and Sweet Red Bean Soup
The Izumo region, steeped in Japanese myth, boasts a unique food culture. In particular, soba with a strong buckwheat aroma and the warm dessert 'Zenzai' are essential parts of an Izumo trip.
1. Izumo Soba
Izumo's buckwheat noodles are made by grinding the whole buckwheat husk, which gives them a darker color and much stronger aroma than other regions. The noodles are chewy and highly nutritious.
2. Wariko Soba (How to Eat)
'Wariko' refers to a round tiered box, a unique way of serving Izumo Soba. It usually comes in three tiers, and there is a traditional way to eat it.
- Pouring the Sauce: Directly pour the sauce (tsuyu) and add toppings like green onions or ferns onto the noodles in the first tier.
- Moving Between Tiers: After finishing the first tier, pour the remaining sauce into the next tier. This is the traditional way to eat it. Finally, mix the remaining sauce with warm noodle water (sobayu) to finish your meal.
3. Izumo Zenzai (Red Bean Soup)
Izumo is known as the birthplace of Zenzai, a Japanese red bean soup. It is said that the word 'Jinzai' (meaning 'gathering of the gods') eventually changed to 'Zenzai.'
- Features: A sweet dessert made of soft-boiled red beans with chewy rice cakes (mochi).
- Recommendation: Many Zenzai shops are located along the shopping street in front of Izumo Taisha. We recommend relaxing with a bowl of warm, sweet Zenzai.
Kurayoshi: Stone-ground Coffee and Sweet Bean Cakes
The Shirakabe Dozo Group in Kurayoshi is a great place to rest and enjoy the old-fashioned atmosphere.
- Stone-ground Coffee: Many cafes allow customers to grind their own beans using a stone mill. Adding sweet red bean paste (anko) instead of sugar is Kurayoshi's unique coffee culture.
- Utsubuki Park Dango: These are small, cute rice dumplings in three colors. A representative snack of Kurayoshi with over 100 years of tradition, they are chewy and sweet.