Takezaki Crabs from Saga Prefecture in Japan

Tara city is located on the southernmost tip of Saga Prefecture on a fan-shaped landform toward the eastern Ariake Sea. The tidal flats that this creates provide a unique ecosystem for many different forms of life. The Takezaki crab is the local specialty of Tara. Known for its rich flavor, Takezaki crabs are available almost year around for you to enjoy!

Summary

View on Facebook

The Secret of Delicious Takezaki Crabs

Saga is a prefecture in the northwest part of the island of Kyushu and touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea a body of salt water surrounding the island of Kyushu in Japan. A mix of salt water and fresh water, it is the largest bay in Kyushu and consists of over 100 rivers, both small and large. Tara city includes Mount Tara, the highest mountain in the prefecture, and Tara city is known as a place of abundant nature, with great seafood and food from the mountain. The ancient document about Tara city proves that the Japanese Emperor gave it the name Tara, which means abundance of food and nature. Tara city is not only famous for Takezaki crabs but also Takezaki oysters, seaweed, tangerine, pork, and wasabi.The tidal flats that the ebb and flow of the Ariake sea creates
provides a unique ecosystem for many different forms of life. Because of such a nutrient-rich environment, there is an abundance of plankton for the crabs to feed on. The environment here in the Ariake Sea allows a wide range of marine products to be harvested, and these are then delivered across the country. A blessing of nature, the Ariake Sea truly is the perfect environment for all marine products.When you are in Tara city, you can see the Ariake Sea from anywhere. The Ariake Sea has different faces throughout the day, such as the peaceful scene at the time of a high tide or dream-like atmosphere at the time of low tide. When the setting sun sinks into the Ariake Sea, poles from the frames for collecting nori rise up from the tidal flat as backlit silhouettes, creating a landscape unique to the Ariake Sea.

Wide Variety of Takezaki Crab Dishes

takezaki crabs saga Found in the fertile Ariake Sea, the Takezaki crab is the local specialty of Tara, and is well-known for its rich flavor. Takezaki crabs are available almost year around. From summer into fall the male crabs are delicious, with the females and their eggs most delicious during the autumn and winter. You could even try one of each! You can enjoy this wide variety of crab dishes including fried crab, grilled crab, crab dumplings, crab chawanmushi (a Japanese egg custard dish), stir-fried crab, creamy crab risotto, crab gratin, and steamed crab. The crabmeat gives you sweetness with every bite. The best way to end a nice steamed crab is with “shell sake,” where you drink sake from the crab shell. You should try this with hot sake, which lets you enjoy the crab flavor more and warms your body.

Soak in Takezaki Hot Springs!

takezaki crabs saga Hot springs used to be a sacred place where people could cure their injuries and diseases when they had little knowledge of health and had little medication. In the Edo period, people with disease started to stay for weeks or more at a hot spring area to be cured, creating the inns we have nowadays. Tara Takezaki Hot Springs are known for the sodium hydrogen carbonate contained in the spring water that helps make your skin hydrated and smooth. The hot springs are said to be effective against nerve pain too. If you visit, you will be relaxed, recovered, and could have a treatment like the one at beauty salon! When visitng Takezaki, you have to savor the special bathing experience while also watching the spectacular view of the Ariake Sea change as daytime turns to dusk, and then to nigh.

How to visit?

Route 1: Fly from Narita Airport (NRT) to Kyushu-Saga International Airport (HSG) for 2 hours. You will see a bus stop after you go out of the entrance of the airport. Take the Saga airport line bus bounding for Saga station bus center (BC) for 30 mins. Then take the Nagasaki main line for Nagasaki for an hour and get off at Tara station.

Route 2: Fry from Narita Airport (NRT) to Fukuoka International Airport (FUK) for 2 hours. Fukuoka airport is only 5 minutes and 2 stations away from Hakata station. Take the limited express train Midori No.17 for Sasedo from Hakata station to Saga station for 45 mins. Then transfer for the Nagasaki main line for Hizen'oura for an hour and get off at Tara station. Or take the Kagoshima Line Sub Rapid for Kurume from Hakata station to Tosu for 30 mins. Transfer to Nagasaki line for Hizen'oura, and take the local train for about 1 hour and half to get Tara station.