The Kansai region is the cultural and commercial center of Japan’s ancient capital. From the civilian cuisine of Osaka to the kaiseki cuisine of Kyoto, from the Western style of Kobe to the traditional flavor of Nara, the depth of food culture is unparalleled. — Osaka Prefecture Osaka — “Tianxia Kitchen”, Japan’s most famous gourmet capital.
### Must-eat food – Takoyaki (たこ焼き) — small octopus balls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, topped with sauce and mayonnaise – Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) — sizzling batter pancakes with various toppings – Kushikatsu (Kushikatsu) – a New World specialty, fried skewers dipped in sauce – Udon (きつねうどん) — Kansai-style clear soup ### Recommended souvenirs – 551 Horai Pork Bun – a specialty of Osaka Station – Pocky – a national snack originated in Osaka – Semba Pancake – Osaka Style Soy Sauce Pancake – Osaka Castle shaped desserts – various souvenir cookies — Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto – a thousand-year-old ancient capital with exquisite traditional cuisine and wagashi culture.
### Must-eat food – Matcha Desserts – Ice cream, cakes, daifuku made with Uji Matcha – Yudoufu (Soup Tofu) – Tofu simply boiled and served with soy sauce – Kyo Kaiseki – Multiple exquisite seasonal dishes – Channa cuisine (はも) – a classic summer Kyoto fish dish ### Recommended souvenirs – Matcha products – Matcha powder, Matcha cookies, Matcha chocolate – Yatsuhashi (raw eight bridges) — the most representative traditional dessert in Kyoto – Kyo-zuke—traditional pickles such as senmeizuke and sour stem pickles – Nishio Matcha – the best of Uji tea — Hyogo Prefecture Hyogo Prefecture – With Kobe City as the center, it is a gourmet place that blends Japanese and Western cultures.
### Must-eat food – Kobe beef (Kobe beef) – the world’s top Wagyu beef, marbled pattern, melts in your mouth – Akashiyaki (Aakashi Yaki) – small balls made of eggs and batter, dipped in soup stock – Awaji Island Onions—the largest onion producing area in Japan – Himeji Oden — Himeji’s specialty white miso oden ### Recommended souvenirs – Kobe pudding – the representative dessert of Kobe –Bunmingdo Honey Cake (Kasuru) — Nagasaki cake originated in Kobe – Akashi-yaki ingredient pack – easy to take home and make your own – Nada Gogo Japanese Sake — Kobe’s Nada District is the largest concentration of sake breweries in Japan — Shiga Prefecture Shiga Prefecture – a treasure trove of ingredients around Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan.
### Must-eat food – Omi beef (Omi beef) — one of Japan’s top three Wagyu beefs along with Matsusaka beef and Kobe beef – Sushi sushi (ふなずし) – Fermented sushi, a specialty of Lake Biwa, the oldest sushi in Japan – Lake Biwa trout (ビワマス) – a fish species unique to Lake Biwa – Duck cuisine – ducks raised around Lake Biwa ### Recommended souvenirs – Omi beef processed products – beef curry, steak sauce – Sushi sushi – traditional fermented food (try it for those who love a challenge) – Hubei Yaki (hubei ware) — Shiga’s traditional dessert – Shigaraki-yaki pottery – traditional pottery from Shigaraki-cho — Nara Prefecture Nara Prefecture — Japan’s first capital, famous for its ancient temples and deer herds.
### Must-eat food – Nara pickle (ならまち Pickle) – Vegetable pickles pickled in sake lees, with a long history – Persimmon leaf sushi (Kaki no leaf sushi) — Mackerel sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves – Tenri Ramen — Chinese style ramen originating from Tenri City, Nara – Miwa Somen — Japan’s oldest somen originating from Nara ### Recommended souvenirs – Nara pickles – a classic souvenir of sake pickles – Deer Senbei (Deer Senbei) – Biscuits specially made for feeding deer in Nara Park, popular souvenirs – Miwa Somen – Thin noodles perfect for summer – Big Buddha shaped dessert – Nara only