Toyama Pref., Hokuriku Region

Toyama Prefecture, located in the east of Hokuriku Region ( above ), is famous for seafoods. In addition, they have freshwater fishes, high-grade beef and so on. So Toyama Prefecture is one of the best prefectures for tourists to enjoy eating various kinds of local specialty dishes.

Toyama-Wan ( Toyama Bay ), Toyama Prefecture facing, is famous for various kinds of seafoods. So many sushi restaurants serve Toyama-Wan Sushi sets ( above ) consisting of 10 types of sushi, all of which are made from fresh seafoods caught from Toyama-Wan.

Melted snow pours from Tateyama mountain range into Toyama-Wan. It makes Toyama-Wan rich in minerals and one of the best fising grounds in Japan. In addition, fishing grounds are near to fishing ports in Toyama. So sushi restaurants in Toyama Prefecture offer fresh seafoods caught from Toyama-Wan, which is called "nature's fish tank".

Buri ( Yellowtail, Japanese Amberjack - above ) is one of the most popular seafoods among tourists who visit Toyama Prefecture, which is so famous for Buri caught from Toyama-Wan ( Toyama Bay ). Especially in winter, " Kan-Buri " is so famous and popular. " Kan " means cold. " Kan-Buri " is Buri caught in winter. It is said that higher fat makes " Kan-Buri " more delicious.

Many eat sashimi slices of raw Buri ( above ) as well as boiled with daikon radish, broiled, sushi, shabu-shabu, seared or preserved in miso.

Ama-Ebi ( Deep-water Shrimp, Alaskan Pink Shrimp or Northern Pink Shrimp ) is also popular and famous in Toyama, where so many people eat Ama-Ebi - sashimi ( above ), sushi, tempura, deep fried, miso soup and so on.

The above shows a bowl of rice topped with Shiro-Ebi ( Japanese Glass Shrimp or Broad Velvet Shrimp ) and laver served in Toyama Prefecture where various kinds of Shiro-Ebi dishes - tempura, sashimi, sushi, dumpling, kobujime and so on are popular as well. Toyama-Wan ( Toyama-Bay ) is the best Shiro-Ebi fishery.

Tourists travelling in Toyama Prefecture could see Beni-Zuwai-Gani ( Red Snow Crabs - above ) except Jun-Aug, during which it is not allowed to catch ones from Toyama-Wan. Beni-Zuwai-Gani dishes are sashimi, sushi, grilled, hot pot, shabu-shabu and so on.

Lots of Bai-Gai ( Japanese Babylon or Japanese Ivory Shell ) are caught from Toyama-Wan ( Toyama-Bay ). So there in Toyama Prefecture are many sushi/seafood restaurants serving Bai-Gai dishes - sashimi ( above ), boiled, grilled, steamed with sake - especially in Spring-Summer. Rice boiled with Bai-Gai served in Uozu sity is delicous as well.

Toyama-Wan is the best fishing ground of Hotaru-Ika ( Firefly Squid ) in Japan. So tourists could have lots of opportunities in Toyama Prefecture to eat Hotaru-Ika dishes such as sashimi, tempura, salty fermented, boiled, dried, and served with vinegared miso ( above ). Hotaru-Ika is caught through March-June.

Toyama Prefecture is rich not only in seafoods but also in river fishes such as Masu Trout. Masu-no-Sushi ( above ), vinegared rice topped with vinegared Masu Trout, is so popular among local people and tourists. It is said that Yoshimune Tokugawa, the 8th shogun of Tokugawa Shogunate, liked Masu-no-Sushi in the 18th century.

Masu-no-Sushi, a variation of pressed sushi, is wrapped in bamboo leaves and wooden round container. Masu-no-Sushi is one of famous Eki-Ben.

Ayu ( Sweetfish ) is caught from rivers flowing Toyama Prefecture especially in early summer and some restaurants serve Ayu dishes. The above shows lots of skewered Ayu being broiled with salt over charcoal, which is the most popular way to preparing Ayu in Japan. Ayu dishes are not only broiled but also boiled, fried, marinated and so on.

In mountain villages such as Gokayama, tourists would have opportunities to eat Iwana ( Charr ) dishes such as grilled with salt over charcoal ( above ) and fried through spring-summer.

In Toyama Prefecture tourists could enjoy eating Himi-Gyu ( Himi Beef ) dishes such as yakiniku ( above ), steak, sukiyaki, shabu-shabu and so on. Himi-Gyu is one of high-branded Wagyu beef.

Nishida area in Takaoka City has been and is famous for Takenoko ( Bamboo Shoot ) and there in the area are several restaurants who specialise in Takenoko dishes ( above ) such as sashimi, boiled with miso, tempura, miso soup, salad, marinated, rice boiled with Takenoko. They offer Takenoko dishes through late March - early May.

Toyama Prefecture has been famous for pharmaceutical industry for a few hundred years. There in the prefecture are several dozens of pharmaceutical companies, one of which is Ikedaya Yasubei Shoten, who runs a restaurant specialising in Yakuzen ( Medicinal Cooking ). Tourists could enjoy eating various kinds of Yakuzen dishes such as the above in the restaurant.