| Local
Saitama Specialties |
| Delicious
foods and fine crafts make the best souvenirs |
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| Noodels |
Washi
(Japanese paper) |
| Saitama has
a long history as one of Japan's best wheat growing areas. The soba
and udon noodles made of its excellent wheat are of superb quality.
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The history
of Ogawa washi paper goes back 1,200 years. Its distinctive texture
adds an extra dimension to writing papers, envelopes, and postcards.
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| Bushu
Indigo Dyeing |
Sayama
Tea |
| Bushu Indigo
dyeing originated in the mid-Edo period. Fibers dyed with natural
indigo become more beautiful after each washing. Bushu indigo dyeing
is used to create the popular aojima blue-on-blue cotton fabrics. |
Sayama produces
one of Japan's most flavorful teas. Not too bitter, its mellow, rather
sweet taste is distinctive. |
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| Miso
and Soy Sauce |
Imo-gashi
(sweet potato snacks) |
| Miso, or fermented
soybeen paste, and soy sauce have been produced in Saitama for generations.
Miso products include barley miso, with its honest, simple flavor,
and rice miso, which many find suits contemporary tastes. Soy sauce,
made out of choice wheat flour and soybeans, is also available in
a range of types, for use as a subtle flavoring in cooking or to dress
vegetables. |
These traditional
snacks have been enjoyed for over a century. Imo senbei are thin toasted
sweet potato slices; Imo natto are deep-fried sweet potato rounds.
These tasty snacks make the most of the natural goodness of Kawagoe
sweet potatoes. |
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| Gokabo
(sweets) |
Sake |
| This handmade,
all natural confection uses only glutinous rice, sugar syrup, and
a dusting of powdered soybeans. |
The pure waters
of the Tonegawa and Arakawa rivers and the finest rice come together
to produce superior rice wines, or sake. Many of the carefully crafted
products of Saitama's 51 sake breweries are highly rated by sake connisseurs. |
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| Soka
Senbei (rice crackers) |
Dolls
and Battledores |
| Made of only the finest rice and toasted one by one,
these rice crackers are prepared in a variety of flavors--the traditional
soy sauce, plus sesame seed, nori (seaweed), and wasabi (horseradish). |
Dolls and the New Year's battledores (oshie hagoita)
decorated with three-dimensional figures have been produced in Saitama
since the Edo period. Craftspersons in Iwatsuki, Tokorozawa, Konosu,
Koshigaya, and Kasukabe make each battledore individually with skill
and care. |
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