A new interpretation of local cuisine. Unique and rich culinary journeys proposed by resort hotels around the country

[Niigata] The quintessence of rice-producing region is here. Snow country gastronomy at "Ryugon"

Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture, is famous as one of the leading rice-producing areas in Japan. The key to producing delicious rice is the harsh winter cold and the accumulated snow, and at "Ryugon" you can fully experience that culture. There are 16 traditional houses set in a large garden of about 6,690 square meters, and you can feel the great nature of the snow country up close.

One of the highlights is the "Snow Country Gastronomy" based on traditional cuisine that conveys folk culture to the present day. This refers to cuisine unique to this inn, centered on ingredients essential to life in a snowy country, such as wild vegetables and mushrooms, fermented foods, and vegetables preserved in snow rooms, as well as cooking methods unique to snowy countries.

In the center of the restaurant, there is an open hearth where you can enjoy charcoal grilled food on the spot. At dinner time, seasonal meat and fish carefully grilled by a skilled chef are served. Also, don't miss the breakfast, which includes freshly cooked Uonuma Koshihikari rice and side dishes that go well with rice, a dish unique to snow country.

There are two main room categories: the luxurious "VILLA SUITE" and the peaceful "CLASSIC." Both rooms are furnished to evoke the atmosphere of a snowy country, and the craftsmanship of the artisans shines through in every detail.

The indoor and outdoor baths are also attractive, using the abundant hot spring water, which flows at over 80 liters per minute. From the outdoor bath, which is filled with a sense of openness, you can view the scenery of Mt. Sakado, which changes with the seasons, and feel truly relaxed.

Ryugon

[Shiga] A modern take on Omi's food culture. Terroir-fermented French cuisine at "L'Hotel du Lac"

Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan. L'Hotel du Lac is an auberge located in Oku-Biwa Lake in the northern part of the lake. The hotel's concept is "energy recharge." This lake resort is a place where the harmony of the majestic nature will give you a deep sense of refreshment.

Omi is originally a region with a thriving fermented food culture, including the uniquely flavored funazushi, sake, miso, and soy sauce. The star of the auberge is its "Terroir Fermented French," which incorporates the region's unique fermented food culture into French cuisine and modernizes ingredients and sauces. It has received such high praise that it has been featured in the international restaurant guide "Gault & Millau."

The order buffet-style breakfast, where you can select as much as you like from the many menu items and have them served to you like a course meal while seated, is also popular. Particularly popular is the luxurious dish where you can choose from three different arrangements of Omi beef steak.

You can enjoy this at the hotel's restaurant, "Le Paysage," which means "landscape" in French. From the fully glassed-in seats, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful contrast between the lush greenery of Oku-Biwako and the mysterious deep blue waters of Lake Biwa.

The guest rooms in the main building are the "Lake View Twin Room" and the spacious "Luxury Suite Room." Outside there is the cottage-style "Villa Suite," and the very popular Dog Villa, where one group per day can stay with their beloved dog. You can enjoy the space and atmosphere to your heart's content.

The main building also has a private family bath, partly filled with hot spring water, and a private pool available in the summer, ensuring a vacation that feels like something out of the ordinary.

L'Hotel du Lac

[Kagawa] A gift from the sun and sea of Shodoshima. Olive Kaiseki course meal at Umino Mari

Blessed with the sea and sun, Shodoshima in Kagawa Prefecture has become popular in recent years as the site of the Setouchi Triennale. Umiotomari opened in 2019 in a village in the middle of the Tanoura Peninsula, sandwiched between the sea on both the north and south sides. This is a private inn with six guest rooms located on a quiet coastal area overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.

The menu is the "Olive Kaiseki" course, which makes use of ingredients from Shodoshima, which is known as the home of domestic olives. The course uses seasonal ingredients such as Setouchi fish and local island vegetables, cooked in a way that makes the most of their freshness, and is served with local olive oil that enhances their flavor, along with soy sauce brewed in wooden barrels and homemade seasonings.

The olive oil on offer is selected from over 50 different brands, carefully grown and extracted by the island's farmers, to match the ingredients and dishes. Just like the olive oil, it is combined with the island's specialty soy sauce and somen noodles, and presented in a way that is unique to this place.

The dining area also has table seats with a scenic view, as well as counter seats with a modern Japanese atmosphere, where you can enjoy your meal while watching the cooking proceed live. The facility also houses Sanpusha, which sells homemade goods and souvenirs, and hosts seasonal workshops and tours.

The stone used in the building is a combination of various stones, including local Aji stone and volcanic rock from Shodoshima, and is characterized by its fusion of functionality and modernity. The rooms are also extremely comfortable, with a harmonious blend of Japanese nostalgia and Western comfort. Another nice feature is that all rooms have a panoramic bath.

Art and fine cuisine in Kankakei, one of the three most beautiful valleys in Japan. Experience the tranquil nature of the Seto Inland Sea and the rich culture on this trip. Why not try a relaxing stay in the slow-paced island time?

Mari Umioto

[Tokushima] Local gourmet food served hotel style. Naruto Taikatsu Burger at "Aoawo Naruto Resort"

Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, is a town of whirlpools. Aoao Naruto Resort is a Southern European-style hotel located within the Setonaikai National Park. The 8-story main tower and the 9-story south tower are located in ocean view locations. You can spend a relaxing time watching the sea sparkle in the sunlight during the day, and listening to the sound of the waves lapping at night.

The hotel has five unique restaurants to choose from, including Awa local cuisine, French, Japanese, charcoal grill, and terrace cafe. Local ingredients are used lavishly, and the most famous dish is the Naruto Sea Bream Cutlet Burger with Sausage served at Terrace Cafe Oge. Tokushima's local dish is fish cutlet, but this burger takes a different approach, and is an original creation created with the desire to allow people to enjoy the deliciousness of Naruto sea bream in a casual setting.

Sea bream that grows in the strong currents of the Naruto Strait is known as "Naruto sea bream" and is characterized by its firm, elastic flesh and fat content. This burger is marinated in a special sauce, deep-fried, and sandwiched with a tartar sauce made from Ogeshima scallions and Naruto wakame seaweed, and has been certified as a Tokushima local burger. Eating it in a space with a panoramic view of the blue sea of Naruto through the large windows will make you feel even more open-minded.

There are 15 types of rooms with a total of 208 rooms. The baths are natural hot springs that are famous for their beauty benefits, and the observation bath "Ruri" on the 8th floor has sudachi floating in the bathtub, and iyokan, hassaku, sweet oranges, etc. placed in baskets and nets. You can spend a relaxing time surrounded by the scent of seasonal citrus fruits from Tokushima.

In addition, activities such as the indigo dyeing experience, a traditional craft of Tokushima, are also attractive. Aoao Naruto Resort is a place where you can enjoy the taste and culture of Tokushima and Naruto while relaxing in an ocean view space.

Aoao Naruto Resort

[Nagasaki] New and creative cuisine at Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotel & Resort, featuring table cuisine and Japanese, Chinese and Dutch dishes

Nagasaki, which has long prospered through trade, is an international city that has been chosen as one of the "New Three Great Night Views in the World" alongside Monaco and Hong Kong. The Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotel & Resort was opened in 2009 on the slopes of Mount Inasa in this city, and was designed by one of Japan's leading architects, Kengo Kuma.

Nagasaki is a place where a unique culture of Japanese, Western and Chinese cuisine has developed over its history. There are four types of restaurants in the hotel, but the one you should pay particular attention to is "Forest", where you can enjoy modern French cuisine. Nagasaki has a unique food culture known as "shippoku" cuisine or Wakaran cuisine, which has been popular since the Edo period as an arrangement of Chinese and Western cuisine for banquets. "Forest"'s "new creative cuisine" expresses this global worldview in the form of modern French cuisine.

The ingredients are fresh seafood caught in the rich seas, and vegetables and fruits grown in the fertile soil. In particular, the restaurant uses vegetables to express the seasonal flavors of Nagasaki. The art-like menu, which makes use of the flavors of the seasons, harmonizes with the night view of Nagasaki Port, illuminated with sparkling lights.

All guest rooms have an ocean view of Nagasaki Port, and the scenery from the windows, large and small, is like a painting. You can enjoy an extraordinary city resort experience as if you were in a villa. The night view of the port from the bathroom is also exceptional.

In addition, there is a private club lounge and a private bath that can be entered with a special key, and in the summer there is an infinity pool where you can refresh your mind and body while enjoying the open air feeling. The luxurious view from the hilltop and the original cuisine that is an arrangement of the hotel's unique food culture are sure to add color to your trip to Nagasaki, so it's worth remembering.

Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotel & Resort

One of the best parts of traveling is the food. If the food that is linked to your memories of each place is uniquely arranged, those memories will be etched even more vividly. Use this article as a reference and explore "new interpretations of local cuisine."