Toyama Prefecture is bounded on the north by the Sea of Japan and on the other three sides by mountain ranges.

This naturally rich area is home to fresh seafood caught in Toyama Bay, and is home to many famous B-class gourmet dishes including these seafood delicacies.

Today, I will explain about Toyama Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food.

There are some rare foods that you can't find in other prefectures, so be sure to check it out.

What is Toyama Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food?

When you think of Toyama Prefecture, most people probably think of seafood.

The delicious, plump seafood such as shrimp, firefly squid, yellowtail, and mantis shrimp are truly of high quality, and these B-grade delicacies are extremely popular not only with locals but also with tourists from outside the prefecture.

However, Toyama Prefecture has much more to offer, with sushi, ramen, and alcohol also firmly established as local B-class gourmet foods.

Let's take a look at Toyama Prefecture's local B-class gourmet foods one by one.

Toyama Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food

White shrimp

"White shrimp" is a typical food of Toyama Prefecture.

This small, highly transparent, pale pink shrimp is also known as the "jewel of Toyama" because of the way it sparkles in the sunlight.

Due to its freshness, it can of course be eaten as sashimi, but it also tastes great in kombu-jime (kelp-cured) dishes, clear soups, and fried dishes.

White shrimp are caught not only in Toyama Prefecture, but only in Toyama Bay where they are caught in such large quantities.

It is an especially valuable commodity that is only caught off the coast of Shinminato, Iwase, and Mizuhashi.

Firefly squid

Firefly squid is also a representative Toyama specialty.

Firefly squids are small squids belonging to the family Acanthodidae in the order Squid, and live mainly in the Sea of Japan.

However, the only place you can see the glow caused by swarms of firefly squid is Toyama Bay, and their pale blue glow is known as the "mystery of Toyama Bay."

This fish can also be eaten as sashimi, or boiled and served with vinegared miso.

Trout sushi

"Masu sushi," which originated in the Edo period, is carefully prepared one piece at a time using salted fillets of trout and high-quality rice.

It is famous as a local dish in Toyama Prefecture, and it seems to come in a variety of flavors depending on the store that sells it.

Masu sushi is eaten throughout Toyama Prefecture and is also popular as an ekiben (train station lunch box), so eating it on the train would be a great experience.

Konbu-jime (kelp-cured)

"Kombujime" is also eaten throughout Toyama Prefecture.

Ingredients such as raw fish are sandwiched between kelp and left to mature for about a day.

You can eat the whole kelp, but it is rather hard so most people peel it off before eating.

The umami flavor of the kelp will seep into the ingredients, and the moisture from the sashimi will be absorbed by the kelp, firming the flesh and making it even more satisfying to eat.

Toyama Black Ramen

"Toyama Black Ramen" is highly recommended for ramen fans.

This ramen was created in the 1950s for workers in central Toyama and is popular for its rich soy sauce soup.

After physical labor, a lot of salt is lost through sweat, so to replenish it, the meal is made with extra salt and rice to provide a lot of carbohydrates.

Recently, it seems that the number of restaurants serving Toyama Black Ramen is increasing even in Toyama Prefecture.

Mountain strawberry soft serve

It is a local B-class gourmet food of Tachikawa Town and a specialty sweet of Kurobe Dam.

It has a sweet and sour taste, but it's not too sweet so you can enjoy it without straining your stomach.

It is sold at the rest house at Kurobe Dam, so be sure to try it during your break.

Oyabe Milkshake

Oyabe eggs, which account for 80% of the prefecture's egg production, are mixed with milk and other ingredients in a blender to make "milkshakes," which have recently become popular as a local B-class gourmet food.

It was originally a Showa era specialty and is often served in old-fashioned coffee shops.

Each store has its own original way of making it, and the wide variety of types is one of Oyabe Milkshake's characteristics.
Try drinking it during a break from sightseeing or when you want something sweet.

Unazuki Beer

Toyama Prefecture is actually also famous for beer.

Unazuki Beer is a local beer made from spring water from the Kurobe River that flows from the Tateyama Mountain Range and two-row barley grown on the Kurobe Alluvial Fan, and is widely sold as canned beer.

Three types of beer are available, each with a name derived from Kurobe: "Jujikyo," "Torokko," and "Kamoshika."

Location of Toyama Prefecture

summary

Today, I explained about the local B-class gourmet food of Toyama Prefecture.

There is a wide variety of options available, from lunch and dinner meals to sweets and drinks, so please try something you like.

There's no doubt that you'll fall in love with the charms of Toyama Prefecture.

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