Sasazushi at Kajika-tei
Kajikatei : かじか亭
Try Northern Nagano’s Iconic Sasa-Sushi and Tomikura Soba at the Landmark Kajika-tei.
Northern Nagano
Description
Tomikura Soba is unique in that it uses the fibers from the leaves of a local burdock root called oyamabokuchi to hold together the (locally-grown) buckwheat.
With origins dating back over 400 years ago, Sasazushi has been a specialty of Iiyama City and surrounds for more than 4 centuries. Sasazushi is vinegared rice, 'sansai' edible wild vegetables, miso paste, walnuts, egg and pickled ginger wrapped in a bamboo leaf.
Recommendation
Legend has it that when Uesugi Kenshin, the famous samurai warlord from neighboring Niigata Prefecture, traversed the Tomikura Pass into modern day Iiyama City in northern Nagano Prefecture in the late 16th century, the locals scrambled to come up with something suitable for such a renowned samurai. They hastily prepared a type of sushi containing vinegared rice, edible wild vegetables from the mountains, miso paste, walnuts, shredded 'tamago' (Japanese omelet), and red pickled ginger wrapped in a green bamboo leaf. This concoction dubbed "Sasazushi" (=bamboo leaf sushi) became a hit and is popular to this day.
Details
30
20 people
- Hours
- 10:00-16:00
- Date(s)
- Closed Tuesdays
- Cost / Price of Admission
- Sasazushi: 700 (regular), 1,120 (large)
Soba: From 900. - Reservations
- Not required
Notes
Go careful with the sasa leaves -- it's easy to cut yourself. Tomikura is also famous for its unique soba that uses a local plant, Synurus pungens, to bind the buckwheat flour (instead of wheat flour).
Contact
tel : +81(0)269-67-2500fax : +81(0)269-67-2950
Access / Location
- By Train
- From Iiyama Station(JR Hokuriku(Nagano) Shinkansen), 20 min. by taxi.
- By Car
- From Toyota-Iiyama IC, Take Route 117 north into central Iiyama City, then Route 292 (the Iiyama Kaido Highway) towards Niigata (18km, 26 min.).
- Address
- 1769 Tomikura, Iiyama 389-2258
Nearby Attractions
Sightseeing Spots
- Nozawa Onsen Sparina : Year-Round Bath House with Onsen Pool
- St. Cousair's Winery & Vineyards : “Country Comfort” Winery and Garden Terrace
- Hokusaikan : Actual Works by Woodblock Print Master Hokusai
- Matsukawa Gorge : Picturesque River Gorge with 3 Waterfalls and 8 Hot Springs Districts
- Zenkoji Temple : The Legendary Temple at the Heart of Nagano City
Accommodation
- Ryokan Shikisai no Yado KANOE : Quiet Japanese-style Hotel in a Pastoral Setting Far from Civilization.
- Hotel Tangram : All-in-One Resort Hotel Offereing Year-Round Enjoyment
- Kawamotoya Ryokan : Modern Japanese-Styled Hotel with Natural Onsen in the Heart of Nozawa Onsen
- Nozawa View Hotel Shimataya : Hotel Overlooking the Nozawa Onsen Village.
- Address Nozawa : Boutique Apartment Hotel Featuring a Stylish Blend of Japanese and Western Design.
Restaurants
- Restaurant Kamakura-mura : Winter Fairy Tale-Like Igloo Restaurant.
- Cafe Satowa : New Style 'Michi-no-Eki' Road Station Serving Breakfast, too.
- Asabano-an : Secluded Sweets Shop Hidden in a Garden by Mystical Kosuge Shrine.
- Restaurant ST. COUSAIR : European-Style Restaurant Overlooking a Field of Wine Grapes.
- Chanko Cuisine Tamaya : Reasonably-Priced Healthy "Chanko" Stews.
Activities
- Cherish Nagano's Countryside through Mayumi Takahashi's Doll Art : Nagano’s Country Lifestyle as Expressed by Mayumi Takahashi’s Doll Art.
- Uchiyama Washi (Japanese Paper) Workshop in Iiyama : Japanese Paper Making Using this Distinct Deep-Snow Country Process.
- Metal Engraving with an Iiyama Master Craftsman : Have One of Iiyama’s Master Craftsmen Show How to Engrave Brass.
- Straw Craft Making : Deep Snow Country Iiyama's Wintertime Activity: Straw Craft Making.
- Uchiyama Washi (Japanese Paper) Making at Kamisukiya (Kijimadaira Village) : Kijimadaira’s Version of Snow-Country Uchiyama Paper Making.
