This time, we will introduce the characteristics and appeal of Atsugi City's local B-class gourmet food, "Tonzuke."

Atsugi City is located in the center of Kanagawa Prefecture and is known as an easy place to live with its abundant greenery and clean air.

Another attractive feature is the easy access to the city center, which means there are many shopping and entertainment options.

This time, we will introduce the appeal of "Tonzuke," a local B-class gourmet food from Atsugi City that is full of charm!

What is Tonzuke?

Tonzuke is high-quality pork delivered directly from the source and marinated in special miso.

This dish is famous for the savory flavor of the miso mixed with the pork, which goes well with rice. It is so popular that it is not only enjoyed at home, but is also chosen as a souvenir or gift.

This is an exquisite dish that combines excellent pork that is brimming with juicy meat and our proud special miso.

Also, each store has its own way of making their special miso, so you can enjoy the unique flavors of each store.

The history of tonzuke

This is a specialty dish that is enjoyed in Atsugi City, as well as in Zama and Sagamihara cities, and is made by carefully marinating high-quality domestic pork delivered directly from the source in special miso.

The history of tonzuke dates back to the end of the Edo period.

At the time, samurai disliked eating meat from four-legged animals such as beef, pork, and wild boar, but one day, a large number of people gathered near the Ogino Yamanaka domain, which is now the area around Atsugi City, and food became scarce.

So they tried smearing miso on the meat of an animal like a wild boar, grilling it and serving it, which became a huge hit, and this is said to be the beginning of tonzuke.

Later, as the country became more civilized and the culture of eating meat spread throughout Japan, pig farming became popular in Kanagawa Prefecture, which has a port.

At the time, Atsugi city had as many as 300 pig farms, and ton-zuke became proportionally known as a specialty of Atsugi.

The appeal and characteristics of tonzuke

Because tonzuke is so delicious, it is not only eaten as is but is also used in a variety of dishes.

For example, the menu is diverse, including tonkatsu (pork cutlet) made with tonzuke, tonzuke burgers, and tonzuke ramen.

How to make Tonzuke

Ton-zuke is generally bought from a store and then grilled at home.

Here we will introduce the seasoning for tonzuke.

The miso used in tonzuke is made from a mixture of mirin, soy sauce, garlic, etc.

After marinating the pork in the special miso, place a sheet of cooking paper or aluminum foil in a frying pan, add salad oil, place the pork on top, cover, and cook over medium heat until done.

Things to do in Atsugi

From here, we will introduce tourist spots in Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Atsugi City is an extremely attractive city that has an urban side, being easily accessible from Tokyo, but also has a natural side, with the Sagami River flowing on the east side of the city and ayu fishing being a thriving industry.

Below, we will introduce some of Atsugi City's attractive tourist spots, so please read on if you are interested in Atsugi City or if you live in the Kanto region and would like to visit the city.

Iiyama Hakusan Forest Park

The first place I would like to introduce is Iiyama Hakusan Forest Park.

This is a natural park, loved by locals as it offers beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.

In particular, many people visit the park to enjoy picnics on the grassy area and to hike to Mt. Hakusan.

In addition, in the spring, many tourists visit the area as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. The Atsugi Iiyama Cherry Blossom Festival, held every year, attracts not only locals but also many people from far away.

Atsugi Farm

The second place I would like to introduce is Atsugi Farm.

Here, they grow fruits such as strawberries and blueberries. Depending on the season, you can enjoy strawberry and blueberry picking, which is enjoyed by many children and tourists.

One of the most popular activities is comparing four different kinds of strawberries. If you love strawberries or want to eat your fill of fruit, be sure to give it a try.

Access to Atsugi City

From here, we will introduce how to access Atsugi City.

The easiest way to get to Atsugi from Tokyo is by car. It takes about an hour via the Chuo Expressway and the Metropolitan Intercity Expressway/National Route 468.

Accessing Atsugi City from Osaka is as easy as accessing it from Tokyo by car. Take the Shin-Tomei Expressway/Second Tokai Expressway and you'll arrive in about 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Location of Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture

summary

This time, we have summarized the characteristics and appeal of "tonzuke," a local B-class gourmet food from Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

We have learned that tonzuke has a long history that makes it an inevitable specialty of Atsugi City, and that it is still loved by many people today.

As mentioned above, one of the attractions of tonzuke is that the seasoning varies from restaurant to restaurant, so be sure to try tonzuke from a variety of restaurants.

Atsugi city also has many attractive tourist spots.

If you're interested in Atsugi City or would like to enjoy sightseeing in Atsugi while buying some tonzuke, be sure to check it out!

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