Fish udon is a local dish from the area around Nichinan City in the southern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, known as a fishing town and boasting some of the highest catches of bonito and tuna in Japan. The simple-tasting fish udon is popular with people of all ages, from children to the elderly.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of fish udon.

Characteristics of Nichinan Fish Udon

Fish udon is udon made from paste made from locally caught fish. All kinds of fish can be used, but flying fish, amberjack, and yellowtail are the most commonly used. The taste changes depending on the fish used.

The longer fish udon is simmered, the more the fish flavor comes out, so even adding a little soy sauce will add depth to the flavor. Fish udon has a chewy texture and does not get too soft, so it is also used in hot pot dishes.

The binders used are potato starch, eggs, salt, etc., and wheat flour is not generally used. Fish udon is low in calories, high in protein, and gluten-free, so it is gaining attention as a healthy diet food.

It is also perfect in terms of nutrition, as it contains the DHA and EPA found in fish. Both DHA and EPA have the effect of making blood vessels flexible and rejuvenating them. DHA also acts on cerebral blood vessels and has the effect of invigorating nerve cells.

How to make Nichinan fish udon

The fishery women's group in Nichinan City makes all of the noodles by hand. The first step in making fish udon is to fillet the fish.

First, the fish is descaled, the head is cut off and the skin is peeled off. Next, it is filleted, the blood is removed and the flesh is washed thoroughly. The blood is removed to give the noodles a white finish and to eliminate any fishy smell.

Once the fish has been minced, potato starch, eggs, salt, and other ingredients are added and kneaded in a machine. If it is kneaded too much it will become hard, so the amount is adjusted accordingly. The kneaded mixture is then pushed out into a tool with small holes called an "udon poker", which is then shaped into noodles and boiled to create the "fish udon" noodles.

The History of Fish Udon

Fish udon was created due to the food shortages during the Pacific War. The roads and railroads that connected the country to the outside world at the time became unusable due to air raids during the Pacific War. Fish could no longer be sold, and staple foods such as wheat and rice were hard to come by and in short supply. So, surplus fish was made into paste and used as a substitute for wheat flour, and that's how fish udon began.

Fish udon is a dish that was invented with great ingenuity to help people survive in difficult times. However, after the war ended and people began to live more prosperously, fish udon became unavailable and was forgotten by many people.

However, in the 1970s, the Fisheries Cooperative Association began an effort to revive fish udon. As a result, it was commercialized and began appearing in school lunches at elementary and junior high schools. In 2011, the Fisheries Cooperative Association's original product won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award.

This historic fish udon has been talked about on TV and the Internet as "healthy udon," to the point that production cannot keep up with demand.

If you come to Nichinan City, you should stop by Kyushu's Little Kyoto

Obi, known as the "Little Kyoto of Kyushu," flourished as a castle town of the Obi Domain and the Ito clan with a stipend of 51,000 koku for 280 years, from 1588 to the early Meiji period.

This historic town, where samurai residences and merchant districts from the Edo period still remain, is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government.

The main gate of Obi Castle was restored in 1978 using local Obi cedar. It is also famous as a location for the NHK morning drama "Wakaba." It is gaining popularity as one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Miyazaki Prefecture.

Time flows slowly in the town of Obi. From the ruins of Obi Castle with its beautiful stone walls to the charming castle town, you can enjoy eating and strolling around the town at your leisure.

If you want to explore the town of Obi, buy the "Ayumi-chan Map." The map comes with a voucher that can be exchanged for local sweets and souvenirs.

The front of the "Ayumi-chan Map" shows a map of Obi town, and the back has information about the shops and exchange items. Even if you are visiting Obi town for the first time, you can rest assured with the "Ayumi-chan Map". Ayumi-chan Maps can be purchased at the Obi Castle Tourist Parking Ticket Office and at "Nichinan-ya" at Obi Station.

Time flies when you're sightseeing in Obi. Be sure to try some food and stroll around the castle town of Obi.

How to get to Nichinan City

There are various ways to get to Nichinan City. Most people use JR trains or airplanes.

Here is the travel time required to get to Nichinan City from each area. Travel time varies depending on the season and weather.

[Access by JR Kyushu (Limited Express)]

・From Hakata Station: Approx. 5 hours 30 minutes ・From Kokura Station: Approx. 4 hours 35 minutes ・From Kumamoto Station: Approx. 4 hours 15 minutes ・From Oita Station: Approx. 3 hours ・From Kagoshima Chuo Station: Approx. 2 hours ・From Miyazaki Station to Obi on the JR Nichinan Line: Approx. 70 minutes

[Access by plane]

・Approx. 1 hour 50 minutes from Haneda Airport・Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes from Chubu Centrair International Airport・Approx. 1 hour from Itami Airport・Approx. 45 minutes from Fukuoka Airport・Approx. 1 hour 20 minutes from Okinawa Airport

From Miyazaki Airport to Obi, you can take a bus or the JR Nichinan Line. It takes about 1 hour 20 minutes by bus, or about 1 hour 10 minutes by train. If you take the expressway (Miyazaki IC to Nichinan Togo IC), it takes about 40 minutes.

[Access by express bus]

・From Fukuoka: 3:40 ・From Kumamoto: 3 hours ・From Kagoshima: 2 hours

From the arrival point to Obi, you can take a bus or the JR Nichinan Line. It takes about 1 hour 40 minutes by bus or 1 hour 10 minutes by train. If you use a car (rental car), it takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.

[Access by ferry]

About 12 hours from Kobe Port

From Miyazaki Port to Obi, it takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes by car via National Route 220.

We've introduced how to get there by JR and plane, but we also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Nichinan City.

Location of Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture

summary

Fish udon has a simple taste, but the aroma of seafood makes it a healthy and delicious dish. You can also enjoy it by making ochazuke with the leftover soup, or by adding beaten eggs and rice to make ojoji.

If you visit Nichinan City in Miyazaki Prefecture, be sure to try the fish udon.

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