Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Tochigi region.

Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Tochigi region.
When visiting the Tochigi region, be sure to enjoy the authentic local gourmet dishes at their best.

Table of Contents

Utsunomiya Gyoza
Sano Ramen
Kenchin-jiru
Shimotsukare
Sauce Katsudon
Tochiotome
Yuba
Imo Fry
Shio Mame Daifuku
Daikon Soba

No.1

Utsunomiya Gyoza

A classic favorite known to everyone!

Utsunomiya is synonymous with gyoza—and gyoza with Utsunomiya. There is even a gyoza statue in front of Utsunomiya Station. Utsunomiya gyoza is often vegetable-forward, with roughly seven parts veg...

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No.2

Sano Ramen

A comforting bowl of Sano Ramen, made with the skill of aoguchi bamboo-pressed noodles

Sano Ramen, a local specialty of Sano City in Tochigi Prefecture, is known for its hand-made noodles pressed with green bamboo and its clear soy sauce broth. By carefully stretching the dough with ...

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No.3

Kenchin-jiru

A warming soup filled with the flavors of Tochigi’s harvest

Kenchin-jiru, a local dish of Tochigi Prefecture, is a comforting soup made with plenty of fresh root vegetables and tofu. Several theories explain its origins: one traces it to the Chinese Buddhis...

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No.4

Shimotsukare

A traditional regional dish that is now relatively easy to find.

Shimotsukare is a ceremonial dish offered to Inari shrines with sekihan (red bean rice) on Hatsu-uma, the first Day of the Horse in February. It is traditionally regarded as an auspicious food for ...

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No.5

Sauce Katsudon

Sauce Katsudon originated in Ashikaga, Tochigi—the aroma of the sauce is sure to whet your appetite.

Tochigi is home to many different versions of Sauce Katsudon. Compared with the usual katsudon, where the cutlet is simmered with egg, each restaurant puts its own distinctive spin on the dish. Som...

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No.6

Tochiotome

A perfect balance of sweetness and tartness—Tochigi’s celebrated strawberry variety

Tochigi Prefecture is known as Japan’s strawberry kingdom and has ranked first in strawberry harvests for more than half a century. Among its varieties, Tochiotome is the country’s leading strawber...

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No.7

Yuba

An elegant ingredient with a beautiful appearance.

Yuba is a traditional ingredient in Nikko and is said to have existed as early as the Nara period. In Nikko, it is written 湯波, while in Kyoto the characters 湯葉 are used. Yuba is the thin film t...

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No.8

Imo Fry

Sano City’s soul food!

After World War II, vendors began preparing potatoes and selling them from handcarts to women working in Sano City’s silk-textile industry. The potatoes are steamed, skewered, deep-fried, and serve...

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No.9

Shio Mame Daifuku

A touch of salt brings out its gentle sweetness.

In Tochigi Prefecture, many shops that sell Japanese sweets, including daifuku, offer shio mame daifuku as a classic staple. As the name suggests, this daifuku combines beans in lightly salted moch...

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No.10

Daikon Soba

The refreshing crunch of daikon meets the aroma of soba in this Tochigi specialty.

Daikon soba is a local specialty of Tochigi Prefecture made with thinly sliced daikon and soba noodles. It is a regional dish from around Sano City that dates back to the Meiji era. The dish is sai...

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