Sennenzake Kikkawa

In Murakami City, Niigata prefecture there are lots of restaurants and shops that specialize in Salmon products and one of those is Sennenzake Kikkawa. Kikkawa sells processed salmon products such as the local favorite gem that is “Shiobiki-zake” (salted salmon), along with over 100 other salmon products. The reason Kikkawa is famous is that at the back of the shop you can find around 1000 salmon hung up from the ceiling being dried for processing. At Kikkawa, which is located in a 130 year old typical Murakami city style merchants house (registered tangible cultural property), you can look at all the salmon hanging from the ceiling beams and the shopkeeper will explain the process to you. Please check out the techniques involved in supporting this traditional Murakami city food culture.