Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Akita region.
Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Akita region.
When visiting the Akita region, be sure to enjoy the authentic local gourmet dishes at their best.
Table of Contents
Kiritanpo
Inaniwa Udon
Babahera
Junsai
Shottsuru Nabe
Yokote Yakisoba
Jumonji Ramen
Kazuno Horumon
Hinaidori Oyakodon
Kanten Cuisine
Kiritanpo
A beloved Akita hot pot, rich with umami and the aroma of charcoal-grilled rice
Kiritanpo nabe is a traditional local dish from Akita Prefecture. It is made with tanpo—cooked non-glutinous rice that is mashed, wrapped around the end of a cedar stick, and grilled—then simmered ...
Inaniwa Udon
Delight in its silky smooth texture and satisfying bite.
Inaniwa udon is a type of hand-stretched, dried udon made in southern Akita Prefecture. It is counted among Japan’s three great udon varieties. Its distinctive production method involves kneading t...
Babahera
A vendor shapes this refreshingly icy ice cream into a flower with a spatula.
Babahera is a roadside ice cream sold throughout Akita Prefecture, where it is widely known. It has a light, refreshing texture and gentle sweetness, and has been sold in the same distinctive way f...
Junsai
A prized Akita ingredient with a delightfully slippery texture
Mitane in Akita Prefecture is known as Japan’s leading producer of junsai. Junsai is a perennial aquatic plant in the water lily family that grows naturally in clear ponds and marshes and is harves...
Shottsuru Nabe
Rich, savory flavor from shottsuru fish sauce.
Shottsuru is a specialty seasoning from Akita. It is a fish sauce made by fermenting fish such as sandfish, horse mackerel, and sardines with salt. Its amino acids and peptides, produced as protein...
Yokote Yakisoba
Sweet sauce and a soft-cooked egg make this Yokote specialty a local favorite.
Yokote Yakisoba is a local specialty from Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, loved for its distinctive style and flavor. It is made with thick, straight boiled noodles stir-fried with cabbage and groun...
Jumonji Ramen
A local ramen favorite from Akita, alongside Yokote Yakisoba.
Jumonji Ramen is a local specialty beloved in the Jumonji area of Yokote, Akita Prefecture. It is known for its Japanese-style soy sauce broth made with dried sardines and bonito flakes, and its di...
Kazuno Horumon
A hearty Kazuno specialty, simmered and grilled in a Jingisukan pan
Kazuno Horumon, from Kazuno City in Akita Prefecture, is known for its distinctive cooking style: pork or beef offal marinated in a sweet-and-savory miso-based sauce is cooked with cabbage and tofu...
Hinaidori Oyakodon
A rich harmony of Akita’s prized Hinaidori chicken and silky egg
Hinaidori Oyakodon is a local specialty of Akita made with Hinaidori, one of Japan’s three great jidori chicken breeds. Raised free-range, Hinaidori is known for its firm texture and deep umami. Th...
Kanten Cuisine
Akita Prefecture – where almost anything can be turned into kanten jelly?!
Kanten Cuisine (寒天料理, Kanten ryouri) is deeply rooted in the food culture of Akita Prefecture. When you visit, you'll find a variety of kanten dishes wherever you go. Kanten is made by boili...
