We held the ONSEN & Gastronomy Walking event in Nasushiobara 2020 in Itamuro. Part 1

In early November 2020, as Itamuro Onsen began to show its beautiful autumn colors, the ONSEN Gastronomy Walking in Nasu Shiobara 2020 Itamuro was held. What is ONSEN Gastronomy Walking? It involves walking through a hot spring resort, soaking in the hot springs, and enjoying local cuisine. It allows you to experience the scenery and nature of the region from a leisurely walking perspective. It views hot spring resorts not merely as “places to enjoy hot springs,” but as accommodation bases for stay-type and experiential tourism, proposing their appeal not only to domestic visitors but also to inbound tourists (tourists from overseas). Through this movement, we aim to draw out the charm of hot spring resorts and revitalize the region by allowing many people to experience them. https://onsen-gastronomy.com/about/ This was the first time the event was held in Tochigi Prefecture, with Itamuro Onsen, a hot spring resort boasting a 1000-year history and designated as a “National Health Resort Hot Spring Area” by the Ministry of the Environment, as the stage. Participants enjoyed a tour of Itamuro Onsen’s famous spots, including Itamuro Onsen Shrine, Kadoya Ryokan (a nationally registered tangible cultural property), and Kinomata Valley, while savoring cheese from Nasushiobara City, which boasts the largest raw milk production in Honshu, and dishes made with locally grown vegetables. After the walk, an onsen and gastronomy tourism exchange meeting and symposium was held in front of the former Aoki family villa in Nasu, a Japan Heritage site. The exchange meeting and symposium provided an opportunity for participants to enjoy a meal while directly hearing from the producers. Now, let’s take a look back at the event with some photos. The starting point is the Otome-no-Taki parking lot. The area is decorated to take advantage of the untouched nature that remains in its natural state in Itamuro, and participants are given a pleasant send-off. From here, it’s about 8 kilometers to Kinomata Park. You’ll walk slowly while surrounded by beautiful nature. The first place we stopped at was Itamuro Dainichido. Inside the Dainichido is a bronze seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai, created in the mid-Edo period, which is designated as a city cultural property. Itamuro Onsen has flourished as a hot spring resort for a long period of 1000 years. A local guide gave us a detailed explanation of its historical background, which is not something you usually get to hear about. Two foreign women who were participating with a friend were also very interested. It’s interesting that this could be one of the opportunities for Japanese hot spring culture to be shared overseas. In fact, one of them lives in Japan and works as a writer. The weather was also very nice, a calm day that perfectly fits the description of “clear autumn weather.” After learning about the history of Itamuro Onsen, we moved on to the next place. The view suddenly opened up to a place called Ishii Grape, which produces grapes for eating and for wine. The enjoyment of the Onsen & Gastronomy Walking Tour isn’t just about the beautiful natural scenery. Don’t forget that you can also fully enjoy the “gourmet food” of the area. Starting with [Ishii Grapes], you can enjoy the unique food culture of this region at the points we will visit from now on. Mori no Cheese / Cheese Studio Nasu no Mori / https://nasunomori.jp/ This is a semi-hard type natural cheese that is aged for at least 5 months and is characterized by its mild and rich flavor. Nasu Brown / Cheese Studio Nasu no Mori This is a milky and easy-to-eat washed-rind cheese. It has a slight characteristic taste and smell of Brevibacterium linens, but you can enjoy its rich flavor and depth. We’ve only just reached the first point, but it’s already so fulfilling. From here, we will visit a total of 4 points like this, and enjoy “gourmet food” at each of them while walking. Visit many places, eat your fill, and finally soak in a hot spring. It’s truly “visit, eat, and soak.” They have excellent measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as requiring customers to wear gloves and providing handwashing facilities. Now, let’s start heading towards the next point. As we begin walking, a beautiful landscape of autumn leaves will come into view. Ideally, I’d like you to visit the site and be surrounded by this beautiful scenery, but for now, please enjoy the photos. I hope you will visit Itamuro Onsen next year during the autumn foliage season. Well then, after descending through the beautiful autumn foliage, our next stop was the Itamuro Onsen Municipal Parking Lot. Perhaps because we had been walking so much, we realized we were starving. The parking lot, which is usually just filled with parked cars, had a delicious aroma wafting through the air that day. It was decorated and looked completely different from usual. Chicken and burdock soba / Soba restaurant Yashio Handmade soba noodles made with buckwheat flour from Nasu Shiobara, which has a strong aroma and sweetness. Charcoal-grilled char We have prepared salt-grilled char, also known as the “king of the mountain stream” or the “spirit of the valley”. Ajikoi tomato juice / Takamatsu Farm This juice is made from “Ajikoi tomatoes” grown at Takamatsu Farm, which are packed with the delicious flavor of tomatoes. It has a high sugar content and a moderate acidity, making it easy to drink. I often find myself completely absorbed in the meal. Sharing a meal provides an opportunity for participants to communicate with each other. I was a little confused at first, wondering “Where do I start eating this, and how do I eat it?” with a trout in my hand, but these kinds of new experiences are part of the charm. Time flies when you’re relaxing. Next, we headed to the Kadoya Ryokan Main Building, which is designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property. Currently, only the annex is open, and it’s not possible to stay in the main building, but its appearance is magnificent. It feels like you’ve traveled back in time. Before we knew it, this walk was nearing its end. After once again experiencing the long history of Itamuro Onsen, we headed to Itamuro Onsen Shrine, which has quietly watched over it. Climbing step by step through the autumn foliage, an even more beautiful landscape unfolded before us. We paid our respects at Itamuro Onsen Shrine, which stood there peacefully. Perhaps it was because of the beautiful autumn foliage, or perhaps because of the abundance of delicious food, but at first I was worried about walking 8 kilometers, but before I knew it I had reached the last point. The place I stopped at was [Ikusebashi Parking Lot]. And there was plenty of food there too. Because I had walked so well, I could eat it with gusto. Makigari Nabe This is a local specialty dish inspired by the Nasuno Makigari hunt that Minamoto no Yoritomo held in Nasunogahara. Be sure to warm yourself up with this dish which is full of locally grown vegetables. Nasuhikari Onigiri ~Wrapped in wooden sheets~ Nasuhikari, an original variety from Tochigi Prefecture, has a good taste, and because the grains of rice are large it has a firm flavor, and it is also appealing because it tastes good even when cold. The wooden sheets that absorb moisture to the right extent further enhance the deliciousness of the rice. Takuyo Kissmil / Tochigi Prefectural Nasu Takuyo High School This is an additive-free lactic acid bacteria beverage jointly developed by the city and students of the Food Chemistry Department of Tochigi Prefectural Nasu Takuyo High School located in the city. Please enjoy Takuyo Kissmil, which has a subtly sweet and refreshing taste. Onsen Umeshu / Shiobara 1200-nen Monogatari BLESS / http://shiobara1200.com/ Made using hot spring water from Shiobara, Onsen Umeshu is characterized by its mellow and never-tiring sweetness. Today, please enjoy it with hot water to better appreciate its aroma. Kuromoji Tea / Yuyado Kikuya / https://kikuya-nasu.com/ Made by Yuyado Kikuya in Itamuro Onsen from branches of Kuromoji picked in the inn’s garden. It is known as a Japanese herb and is characterized by its refreshing taste. Finally, we’re just one kilometer away from the finish line at Kinomata Bridge Park. So, let’s summon our remaining strength and make a final sprint. And just like that, another beautiful view appears before our eyes… This kind of scenery unfolding before our eyes as an everyday sight is the charm of Itamuro Onsen. Encouraged by the beautiful nature, I pressed onward. My destination was the final stop. My legs were getting tired, but perhaps because I was breathing in the fresh air and walking slowly, my head felt strangely clear. Realizing the value of spending a day like this, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life overflowing with information… there it was, the final stop! And lo and behold, the mayor was there! And with a big smile on his face. Rice Flour Roll Cake / Agri Cafe / The batter uses locally produced rice flour milled in-house, resulting in a chewy texture. Today we have our most popular “Brown Rice Roll” and an original roll cake made with seasonal fruits. Seasonal Baked Goods / Sabo Kaen / http://kaenn.com/ We have specially prepared baked goods using sweet potatoes harvested at the roadside station “Meiji no Mori Aoki”. Coffee / MEOW COFFEE / https://konnichilabo.base.shop/ This coffee is roasted deep in the mountains of Itamuro. You can purchase it at the roadside station “Meiji no Mori Aoki”. Pasteurized Milk / Shinsei Dairy Co., Ltd. / http://www.sinsei-rakunou.com/ We collect only high-quality raw milk from partner farmers of the local Nasu Hokone Dairy Cooperative, and use a low-temperature pasteurization method to produce delicious milk with the refreshing taste of raw milk. After being energized by the mayor’s warm smile, we headed to the rest area set up along the Kinomata River. It was the perfect space to soothe our travel fatigue, and we enjoyed a delicious meal to the very end. With photos, we quickly looked back on the “ONSEN & Gastronomy Walking in Nasushiobara 2020 – Itamuro.” There’s nothing better to soothe this fatigue than a hot spring. This way, we can experience “touring, eating, and soaking.” In the second part, we will report on the exchange meeting and symposium held after the walk, so please look forward to it!