The Koshinetsu and Hokuriku regions are located from central Honshu to the Sea of Japan coast, and are rich in mountain and sea ingredients.This is Japan’s top rice producing area and is also famous for its handicrafts and traditional cuisine. — Niigata Prefecture Niigata Prefecture – Japan’s largest rice producer and the kingdom of Japanese sake.
### Must-eat food – Koshihikari (Koshihikari rice) — Japan’s most popular rice variety, Uonuma’s top quality – Japanese sake – There are more than 90 sake breweries in Niigata, and the quality of sake is the best in Japan.
– へぎそば (Kataki Soba) — Buckwheat noodles using nori as a binder – タレカツ丼 — Sauce-fried pork cutlet rice bowl ### Recommended souvenirs – Niigata Japanese Sake – Famous sakes such as Etsuno Sambune, Kubota, and Hakkaisan – Sasa Dango (笹だんご) — mugwort mochi wrapped in bamboo leaves – Persimmon seeds (かきのたね) – a famous rice cracker snack in Japan — Toyama Prefecture Toyama Prefecture — Facing the Sea of Japan, it is famous for its abundant fish and shellfish.
### Must-eat food – ますのすし (trout sushi) — a classic of Oshizushi, trout rice wrapped in bamboo leaves – White shrimp (白えび) – a specialty of Toyama Bay, crystal clear shrimp – Fluorescent squid (ホタルイカ) — a spring-only glowing squid – Toyama Bay Sushi – Made with fresh local fish ### Recommended souvenirs – Trout Sushi – a classic souvenir sold at the station – White shrimp products—white shrimp senbei, white shrimp tsukudani – Toyama Medicinal Food — Toyama is famous for its medicine and medicinal food ingredients — Ishikawa Prefecture Ishikawa Prefecture – Kanazawa City is a castle town with a long history and Kaga’s cultural heritage of millions of stones.
### Must-eat food – Kaga wild vegetables – Kaga traditional vegetables, such as Kaga lotus root, kimtoki grass, etc.
– Kanazawa Gold Foil Cuisine – Sushi, desserts and even coffee covered in gold foil – Jibu stew (じぶに) – a traditional dish of duck or chicken stewed in flour – Omi-cho Seafood – Fresh seafood from Kanazawa Omi-cho Market ### Recommended souvenirs – Gold leaf cosmetics and food – gold leaf skin care products, gold leaf sake – Kagafu (raw bran) – colorful traditional bran products – Kanazawa Wagashi – Kaga traditional wagashi, as exquisite as works of art — Fukui Prefecture Fukui Prefecture – a treasure trove of seafood on the Sea of Japan, also famous for its soba noodles.
### Must-eat food – Echizen Soba (Echizen そば) — Fukui-style soba noodles with an emphasis on the aroma of buckwheat ソースカツ丼(Pork cutlet rice bowl with sauce) — Western cuisine originating from Fukui – Echizen Crab—the top quality Matsuba crab only available in winter – Wakau pufferfish — pufferfish farmed in the Wakau area of Fukui ### Recommended souvenirs – Echizen Soba – Dry Noodles Gift Box – Ha Niju Mochi – Fukui’s traditional wagashi, as soft as feathers – Echizen Lacquerware – traditional craft bowls and tableware — Nagano Prefecture Nagano Prefecture — The plateau is rich in ingredients, and Shinshu soba is famous throughout the country.
### Must-eat food – Shinshu Soba (新水そば) — Nagano is the mecca of Japanese soba noodles – Nozawa Nazuke — Pickled vegetables special to the Nozawa area – Shinshu Miso – the most famous miso producing area in Japan – Horse meat cuisine – Sakura Nabe (horse meat hot pot), etc.
### Recommended souvenirs – Shinshu Miso – various miso gift boxes suitable for taking home – Nozawa Nazuke — vacuum packaging – Shinshu Apple Pie – a dessert made from local apples – Zenkoji Seven-Spice Powder – a seasoning mixed with various spices — Yamanashi Prefecture Yamanashi Prefecture – the fruit kingdom at the foot of Mount Fuji and the hometown of wine.
### Must-eat food – Tofu – wide flat noodles stewed with pumpkin and vegetables in miso – Grapes — Yamanashi is Japan’s largest