Enjoy the feeling of traveling at home. A mail-order guide to famous gourmet foods from all over Japan

Mail-order lifestyle researcher aiko*

She has been ordering food by mail order for over 20 years. Influenced by her mother, a cooking researcher, she naturally learned the joy and importance of eating, and grew up in an environment where ordering food by mail order was a part of daily life. After turning 20, she started ordering food by mail order herself, and enjoys it almost every day. She is currently active in blogs, magazines, radio, etc., with the desire to convey and share the "deliciousness" she feels and the joy of ordering food by mail order with as many friends as possible.

[Hokkaido] The original shrimp soup curry at "Okushiba Shoten"

Let's start with Hokkaido, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. It is a treasure trove of delicacies such as ramen and Genghis Khan, but soup curry, which originated in Sapporo, is also a famous dish. Among the many famous restaurants, Aiko* recommends the "Ryugu no Kanbai Seafood Soup Curry" from "Okushiba Shoten," famous for being the originator of shrimp broth soup curry.

"The seafood stock is the key, and the shrimp in particular has a rich flavor that can only be found here. It also comes in a large package, but that's because it's packed with ingredients. It's full of shrimp, both large and small, as well as scallops, squid, clams, and more, so it's very satisfying. If you take the time to add deep-fried vegetables, it becomes just as luxurious as the ones you get at the restaurant. I recommend it to people who like soup curry, and of course, people who like shrimp." (Aiko*, same below)

Currently, the store is running a campaign called "Don't let the new coronavirus get you down! Let's cheer up Japan from Hokkaido!", which means that mail-order soup curry is free of charge. (As of May 26th, end date undecided) The store also sent the following message: "We use lots of the bounty of Hokkaido and handcraft each and every one of our products! Now that it's difficult to travel, why not try Okushiba Shoten's soup curry and enjoy a trip to Hokkaido, even if only in your mouth!" Please take advantage of this opportunity.

[Ishikawa] "Kawabata Fresh Fish" delivers freshly caught fish sashimi from Noto by direct mail

Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture is a tourist destination with many scenic and relaxing spots, such as Shiroyone Senmaida, Yase Cliff, and Wakura Onsen. It is also a mecca for sake and has an abundance of seafood, so you can't miss out on the gourmet food. The "Sashimi Direct Delivery Service" from Kawabata Fresh Fish, which I will introduce next, allows you to enjoy Noto seafood by direct delivery.

"A sashimi platter feels like a feast, doesn't it? This one is gorgeously presented and very filling. When I ordered it this spring, it was packed with raw octopus, bigfin reef squid, turban shell, halfbeak, Noto pufferfish, rockfish, amberjack, clams, and sweet shrimp!"

"The type of fish is changed daily, but they can also accommodate allergies. The seafood is delivered fresh that morning, so it's incredibly fresh and tastes great. For this quality and quantity, the price is reasonable. If I ordered this much at an izakaya, for example, I think it would be much more expensive. It's also great for anniversaries."

Kawabata Midori, representative of Osashimi Chosokubin, said, "In order to deliver home-cooked meals to people in the fishing towns of Noto and Nanao, we work together with our staff every day to ensure the same freshness as eating them locally. We would be happy if everyone who eats our food thinks, 'I would like to go to Noto someday.'" The restaurant is close to Wakura Onsen, so be sure to stop by if you're on a hot spring tour.

[Tokyo] Toyosu Market.com: Where you can buy professional ingredients at great prices

Tokyo, which attracts tourists from both within Japan and overseas, is a must-see. And in Tokyo, the place where delicious food is gathered is Toyosu Market. We asked aiko* about the products that she is paying attention to from Toyosu Market.com, an online mail-order site that delivers Toyosu food nationwide.

"In the past, I've used their sister site Umaimon.com to order spring onions and mushrooms that are only grown in a few places in Tokyo. Toyosu Ichiba.com also gives the impression of buying ingredients rather than processed goods. What's more, they sell high-quality ingredients used by professional chefs at restaurants. For example, if it's early summer like now, I'm interested in asparagus from Hokkaido."

"Speaking of unusual places, Shizuoka's wasabi looks delicious. It's hard to find fresh wasabi in supermarkets, so I think it's something you can only get at a market. The recommended way to eat it is as a 'wasabi bowl'. Try grating a generous amount of wasabi and topping it with bonito flakes and soy sauce. It's fresh and fragrant, and I think you'll enjoy the new appeal of wasabi."

Fresh wasabi is one of the products that has been struggling to find buyers in the market due to the closure of sushi restaurants and other eateries, but this product is being sold at a bargain price, making it a food ingredient worth checking out.

"The Toyosu Kappo Delivery service on the site is also an attractive piece of content that is unique to the market. It's reassuring to know that you can enjoy ingredients carefully selected by top connoisseurs and used by professional chefs, and it raises expectations. Now that it's difficult to go to restaurants, I think that professional-grade ingredients are being consumed less, so I would like to make use of it in that sense as well."

We also asked Toyosu Market.com for their top recommendation, and they recommended the extra large grilled eel from Unagidokoro Kyomaru, a restaurant in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, that has long lines of customers.

According to the person in charge, "It was a popular store visited by many people from outside the prefecture, not just locals, but also by many people from outside the prefecture, but it was closed voluntarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We resumed business in late May, but we have no prospect of being able to supply the products to department stores, so we would like everyone to try this product." With the weather getting hotter these days, please try it at home.

[Kanagawa] Kiyoken's Shumai set in a marine-patterned bag

Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a major tourist destination in the Tokyo metropolitan area, with attractions such as Yokohama Chinatown and Minato Mirai. One of the Yokohama specialties is the shumai from "Kiyoken." Many people have eaten it in their bento lunches. This spring, the company launched a new product, the Rolling Stock Set, which is also recommended by aiko*. This product was born from the "Rolling Stock Method," a food storage method in which you buy extra of foods you regularly eat, consume them periodically, and only buy more as you eat them.

"In addition to vacuum-packed shumai, the box contains a variety of dishes that are unique to Kiyoken, such as the unique instant curry with shumai. Regular shumai do not have a long shelf life, but the best thing about these is that they can be stored at room temperature for up to five months."

The assortment includes a variety of items, including 1 "Vacuum-packed Shumai (15 pieces)," 1 "Yaki Shumai (fried shumai)" (15 pieces), 2 "Yokohama Curry" (1 serving), 2 "Yokohama Shumai Mapo" (1 serving), and 2 "Yokohama Shumai Chili" (1 serving).

"First of all, we have the classic shumai. The pan-fried 'yaki shumai' is also delicious, so I would like you to try it on this occasion. Each product box is in a tote bag, and the marine pattern design is characteristic of Kiyoken, which was born in the port city of Yokohama. I think it's the perfect way to experience a trip to Yokohama with your eyes and your taste buds."

In addition, the Kiyoken online shop offers free shipping nationwide for purchases of 5,400 yen or more per delivery address. Why not enjoy ordering at a discount by purchasing the Rolling Stock Set together?

[Hyogo] "Tadakuma" where you can enjoy the egg-on-rice dish that has people lining up in the mountains

Hyogo Prefecture has many tourist destinations, including Kobe, a port city on par with Yokohama, Himeji, famous for its castle, Takeda Castle Ruins, known for its sea of clouds, Arima Onsen, and Kinosaki Onsen. Toyooka City, where Kinosaki is located, is famous for its bags and storks, but deep in the mountains, there is a restaurant that specializes in raw egg rice, "Tadakuma." In fact, you can order this specialty dish by mail order.

"The restaurant is in a place that you can't get to without a car, and you have to wait for hours, but you can recreate that deliciousness at home with the 'Tamagokake Gohan Set.' The set includes not only eggs, but also the rice and soy sauce used in the restaurant, so all you have to do is cook the rice."

The set includes two packs of six large "Kuritama" brand eggs, 1kg of "Yumegokochi" rice, and one 150ml bottle each of "Tamagokake Gohan Shoyu" and "Oyster Shoyu."

"The rice and soy sauce are both excellent, but the eggs are especially noteworthy. They're rich but not overly flavorful, and are so tasty you'll want to eat two or three. Even if you don't like waiting in line, I recommend giving this a try."

Hyogo is a treasure trove of delicacies such as Kobe beef and sweets, but you should also check out the egg-on-rice dish that has people lining up to get in.

[Ehime] Eikyudo's Blue Lemon Cake topped with early-picked lemons

Ehime Prefecture, home to the castle town of Matsuyama, the setting for the novels "Botchan" and "Clouds Above the Hill," as well as Dogo Onsen, is also famous for being the kingdom of citrus fruits, including mandarin oranges and lemons, due to its long hours of sunshine. Next, we will introduce a lemon cake sold by a Western-style pastry shop in Niihama, Ehime Prefecture.

"I learned about it when I received a souvenir from an acquaintance who lives in Niihama. The fact that they use lemons from the famous region is one of their attractions, but in addition to regular lemon cakes, they also have a product called 'Blue Lemon Cake' that uses early-picked green lemons, which I think is really unique."

"Both have an icing-like coating on top of the dough, and the blue one is topped with slices of green lemon. I tried comparing it to a regular lemon cake, but my recommendation is the blue one. Perhaps because it has the peel and pulp, it has a fresher sour taste and is very refreshing."

"Lemons are harvested from winter to spring, but I saw on the news that tourism spending has decreased due to the effects of COVID-19, and that demand is lower than usual. I would like to support lemons by buying products made with domestic lemons, including this lemon cake."

Eikyudo commented, "We are committed to making sweets using fruits from Ehime Prefecture. Please enjoy the taste of this long-established store that has been loved in our hometown of Niihama City." Why not try the lemon cake set first?

[Okinawa] You'll be amazed by the tropical flavor of passion fruit from Kabira Farm

Okinawa is a resort that Japan is proud of. There are countless tourist spots, such as historical sites related to the Ryukyu Kingdom and the stunning scenery and beautiful seas created by the tropical nature. The blessings of nature are also in the food, and the seafood and fruits unique to Okinawa are not to be missed. Finally, we will introduce jams and drinks that are full of the charm of this tropical land.

"This is an amazingly delicious passion fruit jam that I came across on Ishigaki Island. When I first ate raw passion fruit, it didn't leave much of an impression on me, but when I tried this jam during a trip to Ishigaki Island, I was blown away by how much tastier it was. Since then, I've been buying it regularly and enjoying it."

Here are some of aiko*'s most memorable items.

"Its defining feature is the vivid acidity that is unique to passion fruit. It has a tropical flavor, and the taste of a jam like no other. I often eat it with bread or yogurt. There is also a drink made with the same passion fruit. This one is very strong, so I recommend mixing it with soda or something."

However, Ishigaki Island is one of the islands that was heavily affected by the stay-at-home order. We spoke to Kabira Farm, the seller.

"Due to COVID-19, the number of customers visiting Ishigaki Island has dropped dramatically. Customers who were looking forward to visiting the island, customers who came regularly every year, and customers who love Ishigaki Island are now refraining from visiting the island. We want these customers to be able to experience the atmosphere of Ishigaki Island in their own homes, so we are focusing on our online store.

This year marks our 30th anniversary, and we had planned to focus on holding product exhibitions and other events to show our appreciation to our customers, but all of that has now been scrapped. For that reason, we will be selling our products online at a special price from May 29th until March 2021. We hope that you will enjoy the flavor of passion fruit at home and look forward to the day you visit Ishigaki Island again." (Kabira Farm representative)

In addition to the main island, Okinawa also has many attractive islands such as Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island. While you think "I want to go someday," why not try some passion fruit jam or drink to get into the tropical mood?

We have introduced mail-order gourmet foods from seven locations across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Each one is packed with the unique charms of its location. You can enjoy them at home, or give them as gifts. Enjoy a delicious meal while imagining a trip you will take someday.