This time, we will introduce the history and how to make "Mehari Sushi," a local B-class gourmet food from Wakayama Prefecture.

Wakayama Prefecture is located in the Kinki region of Japan, and is famous for the popular Shirarahama beach, with its pure white sand and deep blue sea, and Mount Koya, where you can enjoy scenery that changes with the seasons.

This time, we will be giving you a thorough explanation of Mehari Sushi, a charming local B-class gourmet dish from Wakayama Prefecture!

What is Mehari Sushi?

Mehari sushi is made by wrapping pickled takana leaves soaked in vinegar around a round ball of rice.

Sometimes rice is used as is, but it is also popular to use vinegared rice for rolling.

Also, grilled fish soaked in soy sauce can be added to the rice and then wrapped in pickled takana; it is appealing that it can be prepared in a variety of different ways.

The History of Mehari Sushi

Mehari sushi became popular in the southern part of the prefecture, where fishing and forestry are thriving, as a dish that can be quickly eaten when you're busy.

The name "Mehari Sushi" is said to have been given to mean "spectacularly delicious" or "eat with your eyes open."

Originally, it was a simple dish of pickled takana soaked in vinegar wrapped around white rice, but nowadays it is mainly made into small, easy-to-eat pieces, and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as mixing finely chopped takana stems and cores seasoned with soy sauce into rice.

How to make Mehari sushi

From here, I will introduce how to make Mehari sushi.

All you need to prepare is pickled takana and white rice.

First, remove the stems from the pickled mustard greens and spread out the leaves. Place rice on top and shape it into a ball like you would make a rice ball.

At this time, it is recommended to add the stems of the pickled takana that you cut off earlier to the rice as it tastes delicious.

You can also wrap it with grilled fish or your favorite ingredients.

Tourist spots in Wakayama Prefecture

From here, we will introduce some tourist spots in Wakayama Prefecture.

Wakayama Castle

Wakayama Castle is a historic castle located in Wakayama City.

It is said that the castle dates back to 1585, when Hideyoshi Hashiba, who had pacified Kishu, ordered his younger brother Hidenaga to build a castle in Okayama at the mouth of the Kinokawa River. It is said to have been built by Todo Takatora, who was renowned as a master castle builder.

Wakayama Castle is a building with a long history as one of the Tokugawa Gosanke (three main branches of the Tokugawa clan). The pure white castle tower has stone walls made from blue stone, a specialty of Kishu, giving it a dignified appearance befitting one of the Gosanke (three main branches of the clan).

They also hold events according to the season, so you can enjoy the scenery of each season.

PortoEurope

Porto Europa is a theme park in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture that recreates a European cityscape.

The park recreates an Italian port town, a French cityscape, an old Spanish castle, and more, making you feel as if you've really traveled to Europe.

In the summer, events such as fireworks festivals are held and the area is bustling with people.

Furthermore, the townscape is beautifully lit up at night, transforming into a romantic atmosphere, making it a popular date spot.

Tomogashima Island

Tomogashima is an uninhabited island located in the Kitan Strait between Kishu and Awaji Island.

On this island, Japanese military cannons used during the war are still there and can be seen up close.

Even though it is in a state of ruins after the war, it is popular for its fantastical and beautiful appearance, and many tourists visit it every year.

This is a special spot where you can experience the atmosphere of being transported to the world of movies.

Shirahama Beach

Shirarahama Beach is a beach in Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture, famous for its pure white sand.

This beach is made up of quartz sand, which contains 90% silica, and has such a beautiful white color that it was once used as a raw material for glass.

The pure white sand and clear blue sea are sure to make for great photos, making it a popular spot for taking photographs.

Access to Wakayama Prefecture

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

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Wakayama Prefecture, we recommend flying. Flights depart from Haneda Airport to Nanki Shirahama Airport, and the flight takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

If you are traveling from Osaka to Wakayama Prefecture, we recommend taking the train. You can reach Wakayama Prefecture in about an hour by taking the JR West Hanwa Line from Shin-Osaka Station.

summary

This time, we have provided a thorough explanation of the history and how to make Mehari Sushi, a local B-class gourmet food from Wakayama Prefecture.

Mehari sushi originally developed as a dish that was easy for people working in fishing and forestry to eat.

What's interesting is that the name Mehari Sushi was given because it is spectacularly delicious and something to be eaten with your eyes wide open.

In addition to mehari sushi, Wakayama Prefecture is home to many other delicious foods, including the prefecture's number one persimmon production in Japan.

Wakayama Prefecture is also home to many attractive tourist spots, making it a popular prefecture with many tourists visiting every year. We hope you will all visit Wakayama Prefecture at least once!

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