Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Yamaguchi region.
Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Yamaguchi region.
When visiting the Yamaguchi region, be sure to enjoy the authentic local gourmet dishes at their best.
Table of Contents
Urume Iwashi Maruboshi
Mojiko Baked Curry
Sea urchin
Kawara Soba
Iwakuni Sushi
Tessa
Fugu Chiri
Iwakuni Renkon
Mikan Nabe (Citrus Hot Pot)
Turnip Zoni
Urume Iwashi Maruboshi
Enjoy them whole, packed with nutrients!
The name iwashi (sardine) is said to come from the fish’s delicate nature: it loses freshness quickly and dies soon after being caught. Urume refers to its eyes, which look moist. Compared with oth...
Mojiko Baked Curry
A local favorite, recommended by residents
Mojiko Baked Curry is said to have originated at Yamadaya, a Japanese restaurant in Mojiko. The story goes that the restaurant poured leftover curry into a clay pot and baked it in the oven, gratin...
Sea urchin
Natural, additive-free live sea urchin in the shell from Kitaura, among Japan’s finest!
The islands of Oshima and Mishima off Hagi, along with the Kitaura coast, are known for producing red sea urchin. The popular red sea urchin fishing season runs roughly from April to September. The...
Kawara Soba
Crisp underneath and chewy on top, this Yamaguchi specialty is grilled on a hot roof tile.
Kawara Soba is a distinctive local dish that originated in Kawatana Onsen, Toyoura, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Fragrant green tea soba is placed on a piping-hot roof tile and topped wi...
Iwakuni Sushi
Traditional pressed sushi, also known as “samurai lord’s sushi”
This pressed sushi is made in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is also known as “samurai lord’s sushi” because it was traditionally brought along when visiting Iwakuni Castle. Its preparation is ...
Tessa
Savor the blissful taste of Yamaguchi’s famed fugu.
In Yamaguchi Prefecture, fugu is called “fuku” as a way of wishing for good fortune. Because eating fugu could lead to poisoning, it was likened to a firearm, or “teppō”: the sashimi came to be cal...
Fugu Chiri
A delicious hot pot to warm you from the inside on cold days.
Fugu chiri is a hot pot in which pufferfish is the star ingredient. “Chiri” refers to hot pots made primarily with fish, and the name “fugu chiri” is used for this fish hot pot featuring pufferfish...
Iwakuni Renkon
Distinctively sticky with a crisp texture
Iwakuni City is one of Japan’s leading lotus root-producing areas. Iwakuni Renkon is known for its chewy texture and dense flesh; when sliced, it draws into threads. It is said that the lord of th...
Mikan Nabe (Citrus Hot Pot)
A delightful harmony of fresh seafood and locally grown mikan from Suo-Oshima!
Mikan Nabe (みかん鍋, Mikan Hot Pot) is a unique local dish combining the fresh seafood and the famous mandarin oranges (mikan) of Suo-Oshima, an island that produces 80% of Yamaguchi Prefecture’s ...
Turnip Zoni
A simple yet meaningful bowl, embodying the traditions of Yamaguchi
Turnip Zoni (かぶ雑煮, Kabu Zoni) is a heartwarming traditional dish widely enjoyed in Hagi City and surrounding areas in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Especially beloved as a New Year’s staple, it feature...
