The Yasato district of Ishioka City has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Villages in Japan" and is home to a tranquil rural landscape. This is the only area in Ibaraki Prefecture where the shipment of wild boar meat is permitted. In the Yasato district, the seasonal taste from autumn to winter is "nabe" (hot pot). "Boar hot pot", which is filled with freshly caught mountain delicacies, is a precious local gourmet dish that can only be eaten during a limited period of time. In this article, we will introduce the specialty of Ishioka, "boar hot pot".

What is "Shishi Nabe", a specialty of Yasato, Ishioka City?

Ishioka's specialty, "Boar Hotpot," is a dish made with a variety of vegetables, such as chrysanthemum, burdock, and Chinese cabbage, and plenty of flavorful boar meat. It is served at nine restaurants in the city and one restaurant in Oarai Town. It is a limited-time menu available from November to May, and can be prepared for two or more people if you make a reservation in advance.

The seasoning varies from restaurant to restaurant, with some using miso, others soy sauce-based seasoning. The main ingredient, wild boar meat, has a firm texture, and the more you chew it, the more you can taste its umami and sweetness. The fat is what makes it stand out, and despite its rich flavor, it has a light aftertaste.

So why did this "shishinabe" become a popular dish in this region?

The history of boar hotpot

In Ishioka City, the prefectural hunting association has had the long-standing tradition of capturing and eating wild boars every year. Recently, damage to crops caused by wild boars has been increasing, so in order to prevent this damage and to use the delicious wild boar hotpot to promote the town, the Yasato Chamber of Commerce began creating a "Wild Boar Hotpot Map."

About 1,000 to 2,000 servings of "shishi nabe" are eaten in one season, and it is now sometimes counted as one of Ibaraki's three great hot pot dishes, along with Okukuji shamo nabe and Oarai monkfish nabe.

The deliciousness and appeal of Shishi-nabe

The aroma of miso spreads from the boiling pot during the "boar hotpot," stimulating your appetite. Yasato's boar meat has no unpleasant odor and you can taste its rich flavor with every bite. In the past, boar meat had a very chewy texture, but recently it has become more fatty, giving it a richer flavor.

From here, we will introduce some of the restaurants that are listed on Yasato's "Boar Hotpot Map."

At this restaurant, set in an old house surrounded by mountains, you can enjoy piping hot boar hotpot simmered over a charming charcoal hearth. The mellow and rich miso soup goes perfectly with the boar meat, which has a refreshing aftertaste.

The "boar hotpot" served at one soba restaurant has a superb broth. The combination of red miso made in Yasato and eight kinds of vegetables is enjoyable, and the rich soup, which is infused with the flavor of the meat, is so tasty that customers often drink it all down to the last sip.

Additionally, at the facility known as Family Land, which is Ibaraki Prefecture's first barbecue site, you can enjoy boar dishes including boar hotpot for a limited time (November 15th to April 30th).

The tashishi hotpot, which is filled with plenty of ingredients such as Chinese cabbage, chrysanthemum, and enoki mushrooms, and is infused with the juicy flavor of wild boar meat, is a popular menu item at the restaurant.

In addition, you can enjoy boar hotpot with unique characteristics depending on the restaurant, such as the boar hotpot served at guesthouses and the cream miso flavoring at Western-style restaurants. Be sure to check out the Yasato boar hotpot map and visit the various restaurants.

Things to do in Ishioka

From here, we will introduce some recommended tourist spots in Ishioka City.

Ibaraki Flower Park is a facility where you can encounter about 900 varieties of rose flowers. Inside the park, you can enjoy a variety of experiences that stimulate the five senses through flowers, including a restaurant that uses fresh ingredients from Yago, a shop that serves toast with natural yeast, and 100 programs that allow you to experience local plants.

There are many rare varieties of roses collected from all over the world, and once you step inside, you'll feel much closer to the flowers, making this a soothing theme park.

Another recommended tourist spot is Hitachinokuni Soshagu. This is a shrine that enshrines the gods of Hitachi Province, and on a small hill there is a sacred stone where Yamato Takeru no Mikoto is said to have sat.

Every September, the Ishioka Festival is held, with a portable shrine weighing over one ton, a lion-shaped float, and Edo-style floats passing through the city center. The sight is truly spectacular.

Apparently over 500,000 tourists visit the shrine every year during the festival. In addition, the shrine also sells limited edition charms, votive plaques, and goshuincho (stamp books) in collaboration with Tezuka Productions. The shrine is within walking distance from Ishioka Station, so be sure to stop by.

Access to Ishioka City

From here, we will introduce how to access Ishioka City. Ishioka City is located almost in the center of Ibaraki Prefecture, so we recommend traveling by car or train.

If you are coming from Tokyo by car, take the Joban Expressway towards Mito and it will take about 50 minutes to get to Chiyoda Ishioka IC, the closest interchange to Ishioka Station. From there, it will take another 20 minutes via Prefectural Route 7 to get to the Yasato area.

If you are coming from Mito by car, take the Joban Expressway towards Tokyo and get off at Ishioka-Omitama Smart IC. It takes about 20 minutes to get there. From there, take Prefectural Route 7 and it takes about 20 minutes to get to the Yasato area.

On the other hand, if you are coming from Tokyo, take the JR Joban Line Tokiwa Limited Express from Ueno Station to Ishioka Station, which takes about 50 minutes. If you are coming from Mito, take the JR Joban Line Tokiwa from Mito Station to Ishioka Station, which takes about 15 minutes. To get to the Yasato area, it is recommended that you take the Kantetsu Green Bus Hayashi Line.

The nearest station, Ishioka Station, is a little far from the Yago area, but there is a bus available, so be sure to make use of it.

Location of Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced "boar hotpot" from the Yasato district of Ishioka City. Boar meat has just the right amount of deep flavored lean meat and light fat. When the weather gets colder, "boar hotpot" is simmered with plenty of ingredients, and is an exquisite dish that warms both the body and the soul. Please enjoy this local flavor that can only be found here.

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