Yasushi and Kinuko in Front of the Meoto Iwa Shrine in Mie Prefecture, Japan

After our adventures in Tokyo and Daisetsuzan, we traveled to Mei Prefecture, where we stayed with family friends Yasushi and Kinuko. These gracious and hospitable local hosts planned an itinerary filled with cultural and historical sites, museums, and their favorite restaurants. Each day, they introduced us to different types of Japanese cuisine and what Yasushi described as food “challenges,” which we eagerly took on!

Unlike many countries, Japanese restaurants typically feature one–and only one–specific style of cooking, meaning whatever variety they have is centered on a niche cuisine. For example, you might go to a restaurant specializing in tsukemen (dipping ramen), or to a restaurant dedicated to sushi, or to a restaurant that only serves tonkatsu; however, you wouldn’t often find a restaurant offering a combination thereof. Not only does this specialization allow chefs to fine-tune their skills, but it also results in a superb experience for any dish you’re interested in–assuming you find the right place … keep reading.

Here’s are the different types of food we had in Mie Prefecture and the restaurants recommended by locals Yasushi and Kinuko.

An Insider’s Guide to Eating Like a Local in Mie Prefecture, Japan – What to Eat and Where

• Order Tofu Dengaku (miso-glazed tofu) at Dengakuzawakaya Restaurant

Tofu Dengaku at Dengakuzawakaya Restaurant in Mie Prefecture, Japan

Corey and I had recently taken a tofu class in Tokyo, where we learned how to cook many dishes featuring tofu. Knowing our interest in tofu, our hosts took us to Dengakuzawakaya, a restaurant specializing in grilled miso-glazed tofu.

When you walk into the restaurant, you see the chef standing before a bin of smoldering charcoal. A narrow rod extends the length of the grill. The chef balances one end of the skewers on the rod and the other end on the side of the grill, cooking the tofu over the coals and infusing it with a rich, smoky flavor. The chef then adds miso glaze as a finishing touch.

The grilled tofu is sweet and savory with a gooey texture that melts in your mouth–definitely worth the trip! And the restaurant is beautiful, with vaulted ceilings and exposed wood beams. It’s a style of construction that you won’t find in many (especially urban) places–many of these wood-beam buildings have succumbed to fire or development over the years. If you’re looking for a good tofu spot in Mie, add this to your list!

• For a Unique Sushi Experience Check out Hamazushi Restaurant

Sushi on Conveyor Belt in Hamazushi Restaurant in Mie Prefecture

Hamazushi Restaurant is a chain restaurant in Japan known for serving its sushi on a conveyor belt! A constantly moving belt snakes through the restaurant, transporting a variety of sushi to diners, who can grab whatever they want as it passes by. It’s a great way to try many different kinds of sushi (and other dishes too).  They tally up your bill at the end based on the color and number of your plates, but it is surprisingly cheap.

Plate of Tuna Nigiri with Wasabi at Hamazushi Restaurant

Scallop Nigiri and Boiled Crab and Crab Butter Gunkan at Hamazushi

The boiled crab and crab butter gunkan was the first of many “challenges” put before us by Yasushi. Whenever there was a dish popular in Japan but new to us, he would order it for us to taste. I really appreciated this, as I love trying new things and it was a great way to discover new flavors (for better or worse).

The boiled crab and crab butter sit side-by-side atop sushi rice wrapped in seaweed. Crab butter is not what it sounds like, but rather a purée made from the organ meat of crabs! It’s similar in texture to pâté, but tastes of the salty sea.

Warabi Mochi (Bracken Starch Dumplings) at Hamazushi Restaurant

For dessert, we grabbed the warabi mochi. These dumplings were chewy and gummy–a popular texture in Japan–and drizzled with a sweet sauce. I especially liked the green tea one.

Go to Hamazushi for the never-ending variety and to have the unique experience of having your sushi brought to you on a conveyor belt!

• Eat Unagi (freshwater eel) at Honkaku Sumibiyaki Unagi Ishiguro Restaurant

  

  BBQ Eel over Rice at Honkaku Sumibiyaki Unagi Ishiguro Restaurant

  We’ve had unagi before at sushi restaurants, but never as the main course. At Hokaku Sumibiyaki Unagi Ishiguro, the BBQ eel takes center stage. Eel sauce, a sweet sauce similar in taste to teriyaki sauce, coats the eel. It’s served over a bed of steamed rice, which absorbs the delicious sauce and infuses the rice with a sweet smokiness. Unlike the usual miso soup that accompanies most Japanese meals, they served the BBQ eel with a clear soup containing herbs and mushrooms.

• Make Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancakes) at Dohtonbori in Mie Prefecture

  

  Dohtonbori Restaurant Sign in Mie Prefecture, Japan

  Dohtonbori is an interactive restaurant where you prepare your own food. Each table has an inlaid iron griddle occupying the center, and you sit with your legs in the pit beneath it. Then you order some variation of the following ingredients: egg, protein, potatoes, vegetables, onions, cheese, and sauces; they bring the food and sauces out in prepped bowls or squeeze bottles.

  It’s up to you to mix everything together on the hot plate using a sharp spatula-like utensil, then cook the ingredients into huge, savory pancakes, and finally drizzle generously with the sauces. The result is piping hot pancakes of epic proportions that are quite satisfying–especially as a late-night meal. This “challenge” was cooking the pancakes and seeing how many we could eat!

  
  Making Okonomiyaki at Dohtonbori Restaurant in Mie Prefecture

Covering Okonomiyaki with Eel Sauce at Dohtonbori Restaurant

Cutting Okonomiyaki at Dohtonbori Restaurant

It was a fun experience, full of laughter, hearty food, and great company!

• If You Have the Chance, Eat a Home-Cooked Meal
  

  

  Kinuko’s Homemade Breakfast

  Our favorite food in Mie wasn’t at any restaurant–it was a breakfast lovingly prepared by our hostess Kinuko. It was so nice of them to invite us into their home, and what a feast she made for us each morning! We were served miso soup, steamed rice, diced mango, sausage, sweet Japanese omelet, pickled plums in honey, and green tea.

  

  Another One of Kinuko’s Breakfasts

I hope you enjoyed reading about our foodie adventures in Mie Prefecture. Thanks again to Yasushi and Kinuko for showing us around Mie and taking us to their favorite restaurants. I hope we can return the favor some day! In the meantime, please benefit from our adventures!

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