Chugoku is located in the western part of Honshu, facing the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea, and is rich in food from mountains and seas. From Tottori’s crabs to Hiroshima’s oysters, from Okayama’s white peaches to Yamaguchi’s puffer fish, each prefecture has its own unique delicacies.
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Tottori Prefecture
Tottori Prefecture — Japan’s least populous prefecture, but its crab and pear production is staggering.
###Must-eat food
– Matsuha Crab (かに) — Tottori is the prefecture with the largest catch of Matsuba Crab in Japan
– Twentieth Century Pear — Tottori pear production ranks first in Japan, and Twentieth Century Pear is a representative variety
– Tottori Wagyu — Branded Wagyu beef with delicate oily finish
– Sand Dune Onion ( Sand Dune ねぎ) — A unique species grown in Tottori Sand Dunes
### Recommended souvenirs
– Pear processed products — pear jelly, pear juice, pear jam
– Crab products — Canned crab miso, crab flavored senbei
– Tottori Sand Dune Painting Plate — Crafts
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Shimane Prefecture
Shimane Prefecture — Home to Izumo Grand Shrine, a land of myths.
###Must-eat food
– Izumo Soba (Izumo そば) — Made from buckwheat fruits with their skins ground together, it has a rich aroma
– Lake Shinchi Clam (しじみ) — Yamato clams from Lake Shinchi, the miso soup is excellent
– Matsue Mackerel Sushi — Shimane-style Mackerel Oshi Sushi
– Wagyu (Iwami beef) — Shimane brand Wagyu
### Recommended souvenirs
– Entrance Dessert — Dessert cookies with Izumo knot pattern
– Izumo Soba — Dry Noodle Gift Box
– Processed clam products — Clam miso soup dumplings, clam extract
– Izumo Magatama Jewelry — Traditional Craftsmanship
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Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture — The land of sunny skies, with the largest production of peaches and grapes in Japan.
###Must-eat food
– White Peach (White Peach) — White peaches from Okayama are sweet and juicy
– Muscat Grape (Mascuit) — Okayama is Japan’s largest producer of Muscadine grapes
– Okayama Udon — Okayama style soy sauce udon
– Marina Seafood — fresh fish and shellfish from the Seto Inland Sea
### Recommended souvenirs
– Kibi Dango (きびだんご) — Okayama’s most representative souvenir (The Legend of Momotaro)
– Peach Dessert — peach jelly, peach cake, peach daifuku
– Muscadine Jelly — uses whole Muscadine grapes
– Okayama Denim Products — Okayama is the mecca of Japanese denim
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Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture — A treasure house of seafood in the Seto Inland Sea, Hiroshima yaki is famous throughout the country.
###Must-eat food
– Hiroshima yaki (広島お好み焼き) — Unlike Osaka, the batter is thin and a lot of cabbage and noodles are added
– Oyster (カキ) — Hiroshima is the largest oyster producer in Japan. They are delicious raw or steamed and grilled
– Setouchi Lemon — No. 1 in lemon production in Japan
– Red leaves manju (もみじ manju) — Itsukushima Shrine specialty dessert
### Recommended souvenirs
– Momiji Manju — Hiroshima’s most representative dessert
– Processed oysters — Steamed canned oysters, smoked oysters
– Lemon products — Lemon cake, lemon juice, lemon dressing
– Setouchi Lemon Beer — local specialty drink
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Yamaguchi Prefecture
Yamaguchi Prefecture — The westernmost part of Honshu, famous for fugu cuisine.
###Must-eat food
– Puffer fish (ふぐ) — Shimonoseki is the holy land of puffer fish cuisine, including puffer fish sashimi and puffer fish hot pot
– Water Soba (Water Soba) — Grilled tea soba noodles on a hot tile with sliced meat and lemon
– Changzhou local chicken — Yamaguchi Prefecture brand chicken
– Iwakuni Sushi — Iwakuni-style Oshizushi
### Recommended souvenirs
– Processed fugu products — fugu flavored senbei, fugu seasoning
– Wa Soba — Dry noodle combination with lemon slices
– Shimonoseki shape souvenirs — puffer fish shaped cookies
– Hagi-yaki pottery — Hagi’s traditional pottery craft