It’s already been three years since I moved to Hamamatsu. I’ve mostly been cooking at home, but since I don’t always have time, I tend to cook ingredients simply, without much fuss, or go for quick-to-eat fruits. And when I shop, I try to pick local produce whenever possible, and I’ve really started to feel like Hamamatsu has a ton of delicious ingredients.
The Hamamatsu Food Park page on the Hamamatsu City website describes exactly that! To show my support for Hamamatsu, I thought I’d share some of my personal favorites.
Mikkabi Mandarins
The Mikkabi mandarins surprised me the most. I love them so much that during their season, I often cycle to Lake Hamana, making a stop at the JA Mikkabi Farmers Market. The main variety of Mikkabi mandarins is Aoshima mikan, and while I buy the mandarins themselves often, their processed products are exceptionally delicious too. I think I’ve probably bought and eaten almost all the Mikkabi mandarin processed products sold at the farmers market, but here are my top recommendations:
- Mikkabi Mandarin Aoshima Mikan Juice
A juice where you can enjoy the rich sweetness and acidity of Mikkabi mandarins. It’s truly delicious, but since it’s a limited-time product, I repeatedly buy it by the box when it’s in season, and I also send it to relatives and friends so they can experience its deliciousness. - Mikachan’s Snack Jelly
Bite-sized jellies made with 100% Mikkabi mandarin juice. They’re delicious as is, but I often freeze them before eating. These are also amazingly tasty, and I buy multiple bags of 30 pieces to make sure I never run out. There was one time when the original manufacturer couldn’t continue production. Perhaps because I was a frequent buyer, the staff remembered my face and told me, “It’s unfortunate, but once current stock is gone, they’ll be gone. But we’re looking for a new manufacturer, so please wait!” And luckily, they finally made a comeback recently, so I’m relieved, haha. - Sōsaku Kashi Mikkabi Mikan (Creative Confectionery Mikkabi Mandarin)
A cute, mandarin-shaped manju (steamed bun) about 4 cm in diameter. It’s delicious, filled with white bean paste that has a gentle mandarin aroma. Its appearance, so similar to a real mandarin, and its packaging, resembling a mandarin shipping box, make it a perfect souvenir. - Mikkabi Mandarin Dried Fruit
Dried fruit made by carefully drying individual segments of Mikkabi mandarins. It’s produced in a factory in Cambodia as part of an SDG initiative. The contrast between the crisp texture when you bite into it and the rich mandarin flavor is intriguing, making it so delicious you can’t stop eating it once you start. - Mikkabi Mandarin Soft Serve Ice Cream
Soft serve ice cream sold at the JA Mikkabi Farmers Market. The refreshing mandarin aroma and vibrant orange color alone make it look delicious, but once you taste it, the sweet and sour mandarin flavor spreads, making you feel happy. After cycling nearly 30 km, especially on a hot summer day, this is my go-to. It’s almost like I cycle in the heat just to eat this – a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, you could say! - Mikan Monaka
The signature product of the Wagashi (Japanese confectionery) shop Irikawaya. When you take a bite, a gentle mandarin flavor spreads in this monaka. This is another exquisite treat that I just can’t resist buying if I pass by the shop.
Mikatahara Potatoes
Mikatahara potatoes have a short season, and right now is prime time for them. Last year, I was so surprised by their deliciousness that I bought them again this year and enjoyed them simply nuked in the microwave with mayonnaise and herb salt. I really feel like these potatoes are best enjoyed with simple cooking. When you wash them, a beautiful white, smooth skin emerges, making them feel completely different from other potatoes. And when you microwave them, you get to enjoy a unique texture that’s a mix of smooth and fluffy – it’s just the best! They’re one of those ingredients I eagerly await each season.
Bonito
When I was in Tokyo, I felt like bonito usually meant ‘katsuo no tataki’ (seared bonito) – that’s what you’d typically find at supermarkets. But here, I feel like sashimi is more common. And especially in early spring, if you go near the fishing ports around Hamamatsu, you can eat ‘mochi-gatsuo’ (chewy bonito). Freshness is key (apparently, it needs to be eaten within 4-5 hours of being caught and prepared on the boat), and it’s a dish not easily found in other regions. It has a unique chewy texture and is incredibly delicious. Regular bonito sashimi is also readily available and affordable, so I enjoy it with ginger soy sauce or even in ochazuke (rice with tea) because it’s so cheap.
Also, you sometimes see fried bonito at seaside restaurants, and that’s another exquisite dish.
Shirasu (Whitebait)
Shirasu fishing opens around late March at Fukuda Fishing Port, which is relatively close by. Local supermarkets also stock raw shirasu and boiled shirasu caught at Fukuda Port, so I love buying them. Especially the sticky texture and unique bitterness and sweetness of raw shirasu are irresistible. I buy a lot and pile it high on a bowl of rice, and it makes me so happy, haha! Also, tatami-iwashi, which is also made from shirasu, is just amazing.
Oysters
In winter, the oysters from Lake Hamana are delicious. These large, very flavorful oysters are great in hot pots during the season, and fried oysters (kaki-fry) are a must-have. I haven’t been yet, but apparently, there’s a super popular oyster hut in Kosai City. It must be absolutely delicious, so I definitely want to go next season.
Tomatoes
Most local supermarkets have a section for local vegetables, and one of the veggies you can almost always find there is tomatoes. I often buy local cherry tomatoes and regular tomatoes, and I find that many of them are sweet and intensely flavorful.
And Many Others!
While I don’t buy and prepare them myself, Lake Hamana’s unagi (eel) is famous. I’m not super crazy about it myself, so I don’t buy it often, but Jiro Persimmons are also well-known. Hamamatsu is also one of the first places in Japan where “new onions” hit the market. Because of all this, the local produce section at the supermarket is a fun place to discover different seasonal delights!
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