This time, we will introduce the history and characteristics of "kitsune udon," a local B-class gourmet dish from Osaka Prefecture.

Osaka Prefecture is a city located in the Kinki region of Japan and is known as the second largest city after Tokyo.

Osaka Prefecture is a city perfect for sightseeing, with many Osaka specialties such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki, as well as theme parks such as Universal Studios Japan, where you can enter the world of movies.

This time, we will be introducing the local B-class gourmet food of Osaka, a city renowned for its gourmet food and tourism: Kitsune Udon!

What is Kitsune Udon?

Kitsune udon is a local Osaka dish made by pouring udon noodles over a soup made with stock from kelp and mackerel flakes, topped with a large piece of sweet and spicy fried tofu.

Although the dish originated in Osaka, it is now popular not only throughout Japan but all over the world.

The history of kitsune udon

Udon has a long history in Osaka, and it is said that udon restaurants have been lining the surrounding area since the time when Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle.

Later, in 1893, at a udon restaurant in Minamisenba called Matsubaya, a customer started putting the fried tofu that was served with the udon on top of plain udon and eating it, which is said to be the beginning of kitsune udon.

The reason fried tofu is called "kitsune" has a deep connection to the history of Japan, where foxes are worshipped.

In the past, people worshipped foxes because they ate the mice that devoured crops, and fried mice were offered to the foxes as an offering.

It is said that, in accordance with Buddhist teachings, they stopped killing and began offering fried tofu instead.

It is also said that it came to be called "kitsune" because the color of fried tofu resembles that of a fox's fur.

Characteristics of Kitsune Udon

The distinctive feature of kitsune udon is that it is topped with a large piece of fried tofu.

The soup, made with dashi stock from kelp and dried mackerel, soaks into the fried tofu, and the moment you take a bite, the soup fills your mouth with flavor.

How to make Kitsune Udon

From here, I will introduce how to make kitsune udon.

First, prepare 1 bowl of frozen udon, 1 piece of fried tofu, 1 thin green onion, 100cc of water, 1 tablespoon of mirin, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce, 300cc of water, 2 tablespoons of mirin, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon of Japanese-style granulated soup stock.

First, use kitchen paper to wipe off any excess oil from the fried tofu and cut it in half. Cut off the root ends of the green onions and slice them thinly diagonally.

Then, add 100cc of water, 1 tablespoon of mirin, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce, and the fried tofu to a pot and bring to a boil over medium heat.

Once boiling, turn the fried tofu over and simmer for another 5 minutes on low heat to allow the flavors to penetrate.

In a separate pot, boil the udon noodles according to the package directions, then drain them.

In another pot, add 300cc of water, 2 tablespoons of mirin, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon of Japanese-style granulated soup stock and heat over medium heat to make the soup.

Once the soup has boiled, transfer it to a serving bowl, add the udon noodles, and top with fried tofu and thin green onions to finish.

Tourist spots in Osaka Prefecture

From here, I will introduce some tourist spots in Osaka.

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan is a theme park located in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture.

The park is divided into several areas, including Harry Potter and Marvel, making you feel as if you have stepped into the world of the movies.

In 2021, Super Nintendo World, a recreation of the world of Nintendo games, will open, allowing visitors to explore Mario's world.

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street is said to be the longest shopping street in Japan, stretching for an astounding 2.6km in length and housing over 600 stores.

The Tenjin Festival, held every year on July 24th and 25th, is a hugely exciting event, with stalls and shows lined up, as well as a parade of local mikoshi (portable shrines).

Dotonbori

Dotonbori is Osaka's most famous downtown area.

It is famous for its large crab sculpture, the Kuidare Taro doll, and the Glico electronic signboard, and attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad every year.

It is also a gourmet spot where you can enjoy Osaka specialties such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu. If you are in Osaka, be sure to stop by.

Access to Osaka Prefecture

From here, we will introduce how to access Osaka.

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Osaka, we recommend taking the Shinkansen. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to get from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station.

If you are traveling from Fukuoka to Osaka, flying is recommended. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get from Fukuoka Airport to Kansai International Airport.

Location of Osaka Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced the history and characteristics of "kitsune udon," a local B-class gourmet dish from Osaka Prefecture.

I learned that kitsune udon is a unique dish that differs from regular udon in that it is topped with a large piece of fried tofu.

Osaka is a city with many tourist attractions and specialties, making it the perfect place for a trip. We hope you will all visit Osaka at least once!

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