This time, we will introduce the history and characteristics of "Masu Sushi," a local B-class gourmet food of Toyama Prefecture.

Toyama Prefecture is located in the Chubu region of Japan and is famous for the Hida Mountains, hot springs, and ski resorts.

Furthermore, Toyama Prefecture has many attractions, including the World Heritage Site of Gokayama and the intangible cultural heritage of Yama, Hoko, and Yatai festival floats.

This time, we will be giving a thorough explanation about Toyama Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food, "Masu Sushi"!

What is trout sushi?

Masu sushi is a pressed sushi with pale pink trout on top of vinegared rice, and is a representative local dish of Toyama Prefecture.

It is a dish that is eaten all year round, and is generally not cooked at home, but rather purchased from a specialty store or eaten at a restaurant; it is said that there are more than 20 trout sushi restaurants in Toyama City.

The history of trout sushi

Masu sushi originated during the Kyoho era of the Edo period.

At that time, there was a samurai of the Toyama domain named Yoshimura Shinpachi who was an excellent cook and made sweetfish sweetfish for the domain's lord, Maeda Toshioki. Maeda Toshioki liked the dish so much that he presented it to the shogun, who praised its deliciousness, and it became known as a Toyama specialty.

Later, instead of sweetfish, they started using cherry salmon that arrive in the Jinzu River in the spring, and this is thought to be the beginning of modern-day "masu sushi."

During the Taisho era, Masu Sushi began to be sold as ekiben (train station bento), and became known not only within Toyama Prefecture but nationwide.

Characteristics of trout sushi

A distinctive feature of trout sushi is that its taste varies slightly depending on the restaurant and region.

Mainly the amount of vinegar, the thickness of the trout, and how tightly the vinegared rice is pressed vary from shop to shop, so by visiting a variety of shops you will be able to find your favorite style of trout sushi.

How to eat trout sushi

From here, I will introduce how to eat trout sushi.

Masu sushi is made by spreading the bamboo leaves radially on a bentwood tray, then spreading the sushi evenly on top of it.

The best way to eat it is to first open the Masu Sushi, then place it on top of the wooden lid without flipping over the bamboo leaves that are wrapping it.

Next, use the plastic knife that comes with the trout sushi to cut the bamboo shoots into pieces like a cake.

This way you can cut it with the bamboo leaves still attached and eat it without getting your hands dirty.

Tourist spots in Toyama Prefecture

From here, I will introduce some tourist spots in Toyama Prefecture.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is one of the world's leading mountain tourist routes, linking Toyama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture in Tateyama Town.

You can cross the mountain by using cable cars, ropeways, trolley buses, etc., so even people who are not accustomed to mountain climbing can easily enjoy the spectacular views.

In autumn, the entire mountain is dyed red and yellow with autumn leaves, creating an even more spectacular view.

Snow Valley

Yuki-no-Otani is a wall of snow that can be seen from mid-April to mid-June in Tateyama Town, where the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is located.

The height of the snow can reach 20 meters. During this period, an activity called the Snow Valley Walk is held every day, and you can walk along the path that has been opened for pedestrians.

Mikurigaike Pond

Mikurigaike Pond is a pond that can be accessed on foot from Murodo Terminal on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.

It has a circumference of about 600 meters and a depth of 15 meters, making it the deepest volcanic lake in the Northern Alps.

From summer to autumn, the ice on the lake melts and you can see the beautiful sight of Mt. Tateyama reflected on the clear blue water.

In autumn, the mountains are dyed red and yellow and reflected in the lake, creating an even more beautiful view.

This sight is so beautiful that many tourists from both Japan and abroad visit every year to catch a glimpse of it.

Access to Toyama Prefecture

From here, we will introduce how to access Toyama Prefecture.

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Toyama Prefecture, we recommend flying. It takes about two hours to get from Haneda Airport to Toyama Airport. The fare is around 10,000 yen one way, depending on when you book.

If you are traveling from Osaka to Toyama Prefecture, we recommend taking an express bus or an overnight bus. Buses depart from Osaka Station to Toyama Station, and the journey takes about seven hours. The fare varies depending on the day of the week and the season, but it will cost around 6,500 to 9,000 yen.

Location of Toyama Prefecture

summary

This time, we have thoroughly explained the history, characteristics, and how to eat "Masu Sushi," a local B-class gourmet food of Toyama Prefecture.

We have learned that trout sushi has a long history and is a local dish that is popular throughout the country, especially in Toyama Prefecture.

Furthermore, we also mentioned that Toyama Prefecture has many attractive spots, including not only local cuisine but also tourist destinations and world heritage sites.

Among them, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is one of the world's leading mountain tourist routes, and many people visit it every day because they can see magnificent views of Toyama Prefecture from the summit.

We encourage everyone to visit Toyama Prefecture and experience the clear air and beautiful scenery!

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