Tokai region is located on the Pacific side of central Honshu. From the aroma of tea in Shizuoka to the rich miso of Nagoya, to the mountain delicacies of Gifu and the seafood of Mie, the food is rich and diverse. — Shizuoka Prefecture Shizuoka Prefecture – Japan’s number one tea producer, and also ranks first in tuna and bonito fishing.
### Must-eat food – Shizuoka Kurowa (Shizuoka Kurowa) – dark soy sauce soup base, served with beef tendon, fish plate, black half flat – Matcha and Sencha – Shizuoka tea is one of the three major teas in Japan and has a rich aroma –Shizuoka Oden – Special oden using black fish plate and beef tendon – Sakura shrimp (桜えび) – a small shrimp specialty of Suruga Bay ### Recommended souvenirs – Shizuoka Tea — Premium Sencha Gift Box – Matcha Desserts – Matcha Cookies, Matcha Chocolate, Matcha Cake – Eel Pie (うなぎパイ) – Hamamatsu’s specialty Western-style dessert – Sakura shrimp senbei — Aichi Prefecture Aichi Prefecture – Nagoya City is the center and the birthplace of the rich miso culture.
### Must-eat food – Miso pork cutlet (Miso カツ) – Hatcho miso sauce drizzled on the fried pork cutlet – Fried Chicken Wings (Teha-san) — Originated from Nagoya, grilled chicken wings with sweet and spicy sauce – Three ways to eat eel with rice (ひつまぶし) — Three ways to eat eel – ういろう（外郎） — steamed cake made of rice flour with a springy texture – Red Miso Stewed Oolong (Miso Stewed込みうどん) — Stewed in an earthenware pot ### Recommended souvenirs – ういろう（外郎） — traditional wagashi, various flavors – Miso Sauce Packets – Bring Back Homemade Miso Pork Chops – Nagoya コーチン (Nagoya Cochin chicken) – high-end egg products – NAGOYA MIX — miso seasoning set — Gifu Prefecture Gifu Prefecture — Located in central Honshu, it is rich in mountain ingredients and alpine culture.
### Must-eat food – Hida beef (Hida beef) – Gifu brand’s top quality Wagyu beef that melts in your mouth – Hackberry Miso – miso grilled on hackberry leaves, served with vegetables and meat – Takayama Ramen – soy sauce soup base, thin noodles, special barbecued pork – Chestnut dessert from Onsuan – a specialty of Gero Hot Spring Area ### Recommended souvenirs – Hida beef processed products – beef curry buns, beef jerky – Wild leaf miso – perfect for picnics or gifts – Crafts of the Takayama Festival – Hida Crafts Wood Carvings –Kuri きんとん (Kurijinton) — Gifu’s classic chestnut dessert — Mie County Mie Prefecture – home to Ise Jingu Shrine, is particularly famous for its seafood and beef.
### Must-eat food – Ise Udon (Ise うどん) – soft thick noodles topped with thick sweet soy sauce – Matsusaka beef — together with Kobe beef and Omi beef, it is also known as Japan’s three major Wagyu beef – Ise Lobster (Ise Ebiro) — Premium lobster caught in Ise Bay – Hand sushi (hand sushi) — bonito sushi marinated in soy sauce ### Recommended souvenirs – Akafuku Mochi – a specialty of Ise, red bean paste mochi with a history of 300 years – Matsusaka beef products—beef curry, beef seasoning pack – Ise Tea — Mie Prefecture is also a tea producing area – Ise Lobster Crackers – Lobster flavored senbei