October itinerary in Japan Day 5 ( Fukui Day 3 Meal edition)
(Sunday, October 24)
Table of contents
2. Lunch “Sushi Masa Main Store”
3. Dinner “Totogen Nishi Maizuru”
1. Breakfast “Ekiben”
While waiting for the train at Tsuruga station, I had Ekiben for breakfast. The ekiben is “Tsuruga specialty original Tai sushi” (Yen 1,100). Beautifully colored sushi made with yellowback seabream. The vinegar was slightly moderate, so it brought out the flavor of the yellowback seabream, and it was a very delicious sushi. We had delicious sushi and it was a very satisfying breakfast. Sasa-zuke of Kodai is famous as a specialty of Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, but I think that sushi in Tsuruga City may become more famous as a food that uses the same yellowback seabream.
The ekiben package also feels nostalgic and bright, so I think it’s very good.
I love Ekiben and want to buy and eat as much as I can when traveling. However, I am disappointed that the sales of Ekiben at local stations are declining due to the recent trend toward higher railway speeds.
In 1903 (Meiji 36), Shioso Co., Ltd., which sells “Tsuruga specialty, the original Tai sushi,” started standing sales at the former Tsuruga station. Ekiben is said to have been originally sold at Himeji Station by Maneki Shokuhin in 1888 (Meiji 21), so Shioso can be said to be one of the early ekiben companies.
Lunch “Sushi Masa Main Store”
We arrived at Obama Station and had lunch at the “Sushi Masa Main Store“. I ordered “3 kinds of specialties” (Yen 2,400). Contains 3 types of mackerel sushi, Kotai sushi, and grilled mackerel nigiri. We can eat two kinds of fish, which are Obama’s famous mackerel and yellowback seabream. Mackerel is a sushi that can be eaten in two ways.
The grilled mackerel nigiri is made from roasted and loosened mackerel, so the photo may not look very good, but the taste was excellent.
While I was eating sushi, the locals came in and soon became full. I think it’s a recommended sushi restaurant in Obama.
Dinner “Totogen Nishi Maizuru”
After moving from Obama Station to Nishi-Maizuru Station and checking in at the hotel, I had dinner at “Totogen Nishi-Maizuru“. The trains I boarded are as follows.
Depart Obama Station at 17:58, JR Obama Line Higashi-Maizuru Line, arrive at Higashi-Maizuru Station 18:46, Depart Higashi-Maizuru Station at 18:50, JR Maizuru Line Ayabe Line, arrive at Nishi-Maizuru at 18:57, fare Yen 860
Maizuru station is divided into Higashi-Maizuru station and Nishi-Maizuru station, which is very inconvenient. I wanted to go to Amanohashidate the next day, so I stayed at Nishi-Maizuru. However, Higashi-Maizuru has a larger population and is prosperous. The shopping street of Nishi-Maizuru wasn’t open at 9 pm, and there were no people at all. By the way, Maizuru city is Kyoto prefecture.
I was very satisfied with the dinner at “Totogen Nishi Maizuru“. I ordered luxury yakko tofu, sashimi (hairtail, horse mackerel, whitemouth Jack, spotted knifejaw), tempura of black small shrimp and Manganji-yaki.
The luxury yakko was a luxurious cold tofu with sea urchin, salmon roe, yam, natto, and takuan.
All the fish I received for sashimi were from the sea near Maizuru. Oki aji ( Whitemouth Jack) is a member of the family Carangidae, but its appearance and taste are completely different from those of Ma aji (horse mackerel, fish on the right side of the first photo). The taste feels like great amberjack. The season of whitemouth Jack is from October to December, so I was able to eat delicious whitemouth Jack with seasonal fat.
Tsuchi shrimp (black small shrimp, soil shrimp) is a phantom shrimp caught in the sea near Tango, Kyoto. As the name suggests, it lives in the soil on the seabed and is landed by a bottom tow net together with snow crabs. Shrimp are perishable and are not widely distributed except at landing sites. The black small shrimp tempura had a rich flavor and was surprisingly delicious. It was one of the most delicious shrimp tempura I had ever eaten.
Manganji Togarashi is famous as a Kyoto vegetable. It is a large thick and not spicy pepper. Since Maizuru originated, it was good to be able to eat delicious Manganji Togarashi in the birthplace.
Note: The departure / arrival times, fees, and admission fees for transportation listed in the text are as of the time of writing the BLOG. Please check for yourself when you go on a trip as it may change in the future.