3 Must-Visit Food Facilities in Fukui Prefecture to Experience Making Local Specialties with Your Family or Friends

Located near the center of the Japan Sea Coast, Fukui Prefecture is famous not only for fresh seafood from the sea such as Echizen Crab but also as a place where various Japanese food cultures have been cultivated including fermented foods that were born because of its stable climate and Japanese Buddhist Cuisine which was spread out from Eihei-ji Temple with a history of over 700 years. Therefore, this time, we focused on facilities with the theme of Fukui Prefecture’s Food. Here is 3 recommended spots allowing you to learn Fukui’s history and cultures through making Kamaboko, Soba or Miso.

Try your handmade fish cake with a chewy texture! －”Yasuda Kamaboko” giving you an experience that is rare in Japan

Reference from Japan Hoppers “Yasuda Kamaboko Dojo“

There are various theories about the birth of fish cake (called Kamaboko in Japan), but it’s said that the fact of that the empress of the 14th emperor ate fish cake rolled on a bamboo skewer when she stayed in Tsuruga located in the southwestern part of Fukui Prefecture is the beginning. At such Fukui known as the origin of fish cake, “Yasuda Kamaboko (安田かまぼこ)” was founded in 1807. They gather many attentions with workshops named ‘Kamaboko Dojo (かまぼこ道場)’ which give a chance of making 4 types of fish cake by using paste into which fresh seafood is kneaded. They have 3 kinds of courses, the required time is between 30 minutes and 2 hours and the fee ranges from 540 yen to 2160 yen. Why not eat chewy fish cake with a rich flavor of fish to feel differences from other ones?

Opening Hours	Morning Program  From 10:00AM／Afternoon Program From 1:30PM Closed on Wednesday and from 16th December to 15th January *Reservation is required to join a workshop. *Currently, workshops accept only those who live in Fukui Prefecture to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please check the official website for more information.
Address	1-2512 Takayanagi, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture
Access	A 3-minute walk from Kenmin Seikyo Bus Stop where it takes 24 minutes by bus from Fukui Station／10 minutes’ taxi-ride from Fukui Station
URL	http://www.yasuda-kamaboko.com/

Noodles you make by yourself become Fukui’s local dish! －”Echizen Soba Dojo” telling you how to make it and its history and effects

It’s different from Soba in other areas because buckwheat husks are ground with buckwheat nuts and strong flour is used instead of wheat flour. Thus, the flavor of buckwheat has a strong presence, and the texture is chewy. It seems that these 2 events are the beginning of Echizen Soba’s history: Soba cultivation which was started to prevent famine around the 1400s and putting grated radish suggested for the poor in the early 1600s. At “Echizen Soba Dojo (越前そば道場),” you can learn its history and effects and savor your handmade Soba as Echizen Soba. The Soba made by your own kneading and cutting must be a taste that you will never forget.

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 5:00PM　Irregular Holiday *Reservation is required. Please check more information on official website.
Address	31-1-9 Fuku-machi, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture
Access	A 7-minute walk from Monzenkita where it takes 17 minutes by bus from Fukui Station／10 minutes’ taxi-ride from Fukui Station
URL	http://www.pilliken.jp/soba-dojo/

Make, Eat or Buy Miso at a long-established shop with over 180 years of history! －”Komego Misoraku” whose souvenir reminds you of memories of your trip through the taste

Founded in 1831, ‘Komego no Miso (米五のみそ)’ is the only miso shop which is a purveyor to Eihei-ji Temple known for its exquisite Japanese Buddhist Cuisine. They have been making authentic miso with high-quality rice grown in this prefecture, carefully selected domestic soybeans and sun-dried salt for more than 180 years at a small warehouse. You can feel their politeness and elaboration through miso because they evolve with the times as well as use the traditional method. Anyway, “Komego Misoraku (米五 みそ楽)” is a facility opened by them in 2018. Here, you can experience and observe the process of making miso and try a little unusual dishes and desserts using miso, enjoy shopping at a shop with a variety of fermented products and something like that. What you should pay attention to is ‘Handmade Miso Class.’ Staff who has miso sommelier qualifications teach you how to make miso by mixing boiled soybeans and malted rice, salt and water. After participating in this workshop, take it home and ferment for about 10 months. Miso grown by yourself will give you a gentle taste every time you put it into your mouth and let you remember memories of your trip.

Opening Hours	Shop 10:00AM – 6:00PM Cafe Lunch Time 11:00AM – 2:00PM／Cafe Time 2:00PM – 5:00PM *Handmade Miso Workshop is available during winter. Please check the official website.
Address	2-25-1 Haruyama, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture
Access	A 5-minute walk from Nishimatsumoto where it takes 6 minutes by bus from Fukui Station／7 minutes’ taxi-ride from Fukui Station
URL	https://www.misoraku.com/