The history of oden is said to have begun in the Muromachi period with the dish dengaku, which is grilled tofu with miso. In the Edo period, stewed oden became popular.

Oden has since spread all over the country and is enjoyed in a variety of ways depending on the region. In Aomori Prefecture, it is known as "ginger miso oden."

Let's explore the characteristics and history of ginger miso oden.

Characteristics of Ginger Miso Oden

Ginger miso oden is eaten as a snack and is soul food for the locals. When you eat it, the sweet and salty taste of the ginger miso sauce fills your mouth. The ginger in it warms you to the core.

There is no set cooking method or ingredients for ginger miso oden. The basic ginger miso sauce is made by boiling down sake, mixing red miso, mirin, and dashi stock, and finally adding grated ginger. Depending on your taste, sugar may be added to the ginger miso sauce, or white miso may be used, and it varies depending on the restaurant.

The ingredients used in ginger miso oden are unique to Aomori, such as whelks caught in Mutsu Bay, thin rectangular fishcakes called o-kakuten, and botan-yaki chikuwa, which has grilled marks resembling peony petals. Other popular oden ingredients include daikon radish, konnyaku, and eggs.

Oden is often thought of as a food that warms the body during the cold winter, but in the cold region of Aomori it is served all year round. Some restaurants serve ginger miso oden with "nemagaridake" bamboo shoots in early summer, and chilled oden in midsummer.

The History of Ginger Miso Oden

Ginger miso oden was created at a food stall in the black market after the war. It is said that it started when the owner of the stall served oden made with miso and grated ginger to warm up customers who were about to board the Seikan Ferry during the bitterly cold winter. However, the names of the stall and the owner are unknown.

This unique Aomori way of eating oden, where miso culture has always been deeply rooted, was well received and spread. What made ginger miso oden even more famous was the "B-1 Grand Prix" that was held for the first time in Hachinohe City.

In 2005, the Aomori Oden Association was established to promote the Aomori soul food, ginger miso oden, which is loved by locals, nationwide and to revitalize the town. The Aomori Oden Association designated October 10 as "Good Oden Day."

In addition, the Aomori Oden Association has created a ginger miso oden map and a standard recipe for the traditional ginger miso sauce, which they have published on their official website.

Aomori Tourism Information

Aomori Prefecture, where you can eat ginger miso oden, has many tourist spots. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Aomori Prefecture.

Hirosaki Castle

The construction of Hirosaki Castle was planned by Tsugaru Narinobu, the first lord of the Hirosaki Domain who unified Tsugaru. The second lord, Nobuhira, built the castle in 1611. It is one of 12 castles with surviving castle towers. The castle originally had a five-story, five-storey tower, but it was burned down by a lightning strike. The tower was then renovated and a three-story, three-storey tower was built. The castle is now maintained as Hirosaki Park, and within the park are a historical museum, an information centre, a botanical garden and more. It is known as one of Japan's leading cherry blossom viewing spots.

Oirase Gorge

Oirase Gorge, which stretches for about 14 km from Lake Towada's Nenokuchi to Yakeyama, is one of the most scenic spots in Towada-Hachiman National Park. With many things to see, Oirase Gorge is a popular walking spot. The promenade is very long, so many people rent bicycles. It is a popular tourist spot that is also known as a famous spot for viewing fresh greenery and autumn leaves.

Nebuta House Wa Rasse

Aomori is famous for its Nebuta Festival, which is held in August. Nebuta House Wa Rasse is a place where you can experience Nebuta regardless of the season. Every year, they exhibit the large Nebuta that was used in the festival, and introduce the history and charm of Nebuta. You can enjoy the world of the Nebuta Festival in a space where shamisen, flutes, and Nebuta music are played.

How to get to Aomori

Aomori is an attractive place for both gourmet food and sightseeing, and there are various ways to access it. It is also conveniently located near the three largest cities in Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

If you want to get to Aomori quickly, we recommend flying. Aomori Prefecture has Aomori Airport and Misawa Airport. If you fly from Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya, you will arrive in Aomori in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Aomori. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Aomori Prefecture

summary

Ginger miso oden, made with local ingredients and served with a generous amount of sweet and salty sauce, is popular with locals regardless of the season.

Ginger miso oden is a recommended dish that allows you to casually try ingredients unique to Aomori. You can eat it at a variety of establishments, including soba shops, ramen shops, and izakayas.

If you visit Aomori, be sure to try the ginger miso oden.

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