Akita Prefecture is famous for its agriculture, rice production that is one of the biggest producing areas in Japan; especially many famous delicious local foods are made of rice.
Summary
Akita is famous for its delicious food. Today, we will introduce three types of popular local food from Akita, such as Kiritanpo Hot Pot, Inaniwa Udon, and Hnai Chicken, among which we would introduce the origins of Kiritanpo. The traditional Kiritanpo cuisine has made a local festival popular with more than 130,000 people come to visit. Kiritanpo Festival takes place around October where you can taste different kinds of Kiritanpo cuisines and have cultural experiences.
Three Types of Popular Local Food from Akita
1. Kiritanpo Hot Pot
Kiritanpo is a dumpling-like texture of rice cake, the mashed rice is wrapped around the stick and when you eat it, you need to cut the Kiritanpo into small pieces in the Hot Pot. The rice cake soaks the soup. Nowadays, people usually eat Kiritanpo after the first crop harvest based on the tradition to celebrate the hard work of the year.
Kiritanpo is a dumpling-like texture of rice cake, the mashed rice is wrapped around the stick and when you eat it, you need to cut the Kiritanpo into small pieces in the Hot Pot. The rice cake soaks the soup. Nowadays, people usually eat Kiritanpo after the first crop harvest based on the tradition to celebrate the hard work of the year.
2. Inaniwa Udon
Inaniwa Udon was created during Edo-Period. It is recognized as the top best three Udon in Japan. The feature of the Udon is that it is slightly thinner than the regular one. You can experience making Inaniwa Udon in some local workshops in Akita Prefecture.
Inaniwa Udon was created during Edo-Period. It is recognized as the top best three Udon in Japan. The feature of the Udon is that it is slightly thinner than the regular one. You can experience making Inaniwa Udon in some local workshops in Akita Prefecture.
3. Hinai Chicken rice bowl
It is said that Hinai Chicken is a “Kobe beef” for chicken. One of the top ranking chicken meat in Japan. It was originally bred in Akita Prefecture. The texture is robust with less fat. In the past, the only aristocracy was allowed to eat it. Now, Hinai Chicken is used in a variety of Japanese cuisines.
It is said that Hinai Chicken is a “Kobe beef” for chicken. One of the top ranking chicken meat in Japan. It was originally bred in Akita Prefecture. The texture is robust with less fat. In the past, the only aristocracy was allowed to eat it. Now, Hinai Chicken is used in a variety of Japanese cuisines.
Kiritanpo Hot Pot Is One Of The Symbols Of Local Food In Akita
Kiritanpo is a local traditional food from Akita that is made of rice mashed into a dumpling-like texture. "Kiritanpo" is known as a specialty of Akita around Tohoku area, especially in Odate city where “Kiritanpo” originally came from Hokusaka region.
The food is named after its shape and the way to eat it. It was an originally local food for woodcutters. In the past, when woodcutters worked in the mountain, they mashed the leftover rice and wrapped them around the long sticks. They dip it with miso sauce. Since the shape of rice wrapping around the stick is similar to cover of the blade of the spear, that is why it is called “Tanpo” (the cover in Japanese). Also, when you put the Kiritanpo in the hot pot, you need to cut it by pieces and that is the reason why it is called “Kiri” (meaning cut in Japanese) + “Tanpo.”
The food is named after its shape and the way to eat it. It was an originally local food for woodcutters. In the past, when woodcutters worked in the mountain, they mashed the leftover rice and wrapped them around the long sticks. They dip it with miso sauce. Since the shape of rice wrapping around the stick is similar to cover of the blade of the spear, that is why it is called “Tanpo” (the cover in Japanese). Also, when you put the Kiritanpo in the hot pot, you need to cut it by pieces and that is the reason why it is called “Kiri” (meaning cut in Japanese) + “Tanpo.”
Kiritanpo Hot Pot Is A Traditional Local Home-made Food.
Kiritanpo cuisine was originally made at home, and you eat with the family. Each family has its way of cooking Kiritanpo Hot Pot. The mother passes down her special recipe to their next generation. This is why there are so many different recipes of Kiritanpo cuisine.
However, since its reputation has attracted many tourists in Akita Prefecture, so you can easily find many Kiritanpo restaurants now in Akita.
However, since its reputation has attracted many tourists in Akita Prefecture, so you can easily find many Kiritanpo restaurants now in Akita.
Odate Kiritanpo Festival Has Attracted More Than 130,000 People In 2017.
Odate Kiritanpo Festival takes place in the first weekend of October for three days when the first rice crop of the year is released. Many local restaurants attend the festival not only to promote their own special Kiritanpo cuisine but also to introduce Akita local food to other parts of Japan or international visitors. More than ten local Kiritanpo restaurants participate in the grand Prix competition. They serve Kiritanpo in the soup with different styles.
You can expect the famous Akita Kiritanpo food here; meanwhile, there are some unique cultural experiences in the festival, such as making your chopsticks, cooking Kiritanpo, learning how to make Japanese coaster…etc. It is suitable for a family trip, especially kids before junior school.
You can expect the famous Akita Kiritanpo food here; meanwhile, there are some unique cultural experiences in the festival, such as making your chopsticks, cooking Kiritanpo, learning how to make Japanese coaster…etc. It is suitable for a family trip, especially kids before junior school.
Vote For The Best Kiritanpo And Get A Reward By Participating!
At the end of the festival, the “Kiritanpo Grad Prix” takes place. You can decide which restaurants make the best Kiritanpo cuisine. You can vote for your favorite Kiritanpo cuisine you have on the day. In fact, not every restaurant attends the competition so before you choose which one to taste, make sure to try the one that is part of the competition.
However, you can only vote unless you have the early bird ticket.
Last year, the best prize was a two days trip to Hot Spring hotel with accommodation plan for two people. The second prize is Kiritanpo set for twenty-four people. Besides that, there are other small gifts that you might be able to win and bring them home as souvenirs!
However, you can only vote unless you have the early bird ticket.
Last year, the best prize was a two days trip to Hot Spring hotel with accommodation plan for two people. The second prize is Kiritanpo set for twenty-four people. Besides that, there are other small gifts that you might be able to win and bring them home as souvenirs!
Information
Address: Nipro Hachiko Dome (Jukai Dome), 1 Chome−16−7 Koushin bld., Shibadaimon, Minato, Tokyo 105-0012
Phone: +81-186-48-7400
Odate Kiritanpo Festival usually takes place in the first weekend of October from Saturday to Monday. The opening time from 10:00 to 18:00. It is free to enter but you need to pay for the food and drink in the venue. There is an early bird ticket available for 1000 JPY, which includes the same amount of 1000 JPY coupons that you can pay for food, drinks and servies. If you purchase more than 5000 JPY of the early bird ticket, they will give you an official Kiritanpo festival guidebook as a special gift!
Where to purchase early bird ticket?
Unfortunately, the early bird tickets are only sold in the local area in Akita Prefecture. If you would like to purchase one, it is recommended to contact the hotels, local guide or travel agents to purchase.
If you need to park your car, there is free parking but a bit far from the venue. From the parking lot, you can use free shuttle bus to get to the venue.
Phone: +81-186-48-7400
Odate Kiritanpo Festival usually takes place in the first weekend of October from Saturday to Monday. The opening time from 10:00 to 18:00. It is free to enter but you need to pay for the food and drink in the venue. There is an early bird ticket available for 1000 JPY, which includes the same amount of 1000 JPY coupons that you can pay for food, drinks and servies. If you purchase more than 5000 JPY of the early bird ticket, they will give you an official Kiritanpo festival guidebook as a special gift!
Where to purchase early bird ticket?
Unfortunately, the early bird tickets are only sold in the local area in Akita Prefecture. If you would like to purchase one, it is recommended to contact the hotels, local guide or travel agents to purchase.
If you need to park your car, there is free parking but a bit far from the venue. From the parking lot, you can use free shuttle bus to get to the venue.
Access
By Shinkansen (Bullet train)
From Tokyo Station, the most convenient way is to take the Shinkansen (Komachi) bound for Akita with a flexible schedule. It takes about 3 hours and fifty minutes. The price of the one-way ticket is 17,800 per person.
By Airplane
If your priority is the time, the fastest way to go to Akita from Tokyo is taking the flight; it takes about 1 hour and ten minutes. There are about five flights per day from Tokyo to Akita. The price of the flight ranges from JPY20,000 to JPY45,000 depends on the airlines.
By JR Train
The cheapest way is to take the local train; however, it takes more than 14 hours to arrive in Akita, but if you have time with a limited budget, it might be the best solution for you. The transportation fee is about 9,500 JPY one way.
Good news for international travelers! If you have a foreign passport, you can purchase JAL Tohouku Pass. It costs around 16,000 JPY for round-trip from Haneda airport to Akita Airport.
When you arrive in Akita airport, take the JR line to Odate Station, it is ten miuntes ride by bus.
Pass. It costs around 16,000 JPY for round-trip from Haneda airport to Akita Airport.
When you arrive in Akita airport, take the JR line to Odate Station, it is ten miuntes ride by bus.
From Tokyo Station, the most convenient way is to take the Shinkansen (Komachi) bound for Akita with a flexible schedule. It takes about 3 hours and fifty minutes. The price of the one-way ticket is 17,800 per person.
By Airplane
If your priority is the time, the fastest way to go to Akita from Tokyo is taking the flight; it takes about 1 hour and ten minutes. There are about five flights per day from Tokyo to Akita. The price of the flight ranges from JPY20,000 to JPY45,000 depends on the airlines.
By JR Train
The cheapest way is to take the local train; however, it takes more than 14 hours to arrive in Akita, but if you have time with a limited budget, it might be the best solution for you. The transportation fee is about 9,500 JPY one way.
Good news for international travelers! If you have a foreign passport, you can purchase JAL Tohouku Pass. It costs around 16,000 JPY for round-trip from Haneda airport to Akita Airport.
When you arrive in Akita airport, take the JR line to Odate Station, it is ten miuntes ride by bus.
Pass. It costs around 16,000 JPY for round-trip from Haneda airport to Akita Airport.
When you arrive in Akita airport, take the JR line to Odate Station, it is ten miuntes ride by bus.
