When you set out on a trip to Yonezawa, a picturesque city in Yamagata Prefecture, you are entering a culinary paradise! The food culture here revolves around three delightful treasures: apples, beef, and carp. Let’s explore the essence of Yonezawa’s unique culinary offerings and discover some hidden gems along the way.
The city’s apple orchards hold a significant place in its history. Yonezawa is home to some of Japan’s oldest apple trees, dating back to 1876 during the Meiji era. Today, around 50 hectares are dedicated to apple farming. Yonezawa takes great pride in producing various apple types, including the nostalgic and tangy Akane apples, a favorite among both locals and visitors.
Yonezawa beef, known as “Yonezawa-gyu,” has been a local favorite for over a century. Its global reputation began when Charles Henry Dallas, an Englishman invited to teach foreign languages at Yonezawa Kojokan High School, took a whole cow as a souvenir back to Yokohama after his tenure. The international community in Yokohama was captivated by Yonezawa beef’s remarkable flavor and exquisite marbling. In March 2017, this remarkable beef was recognized as the 26th Geographical Indication (GI) by Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
The exceptional taste of Yonezawa beef results from a perfect blend of the region’s climate, soil, water, and skilled cattle-rearing practices. It is celebrated for its rich, melt-in-your-mouth marbling and tender, juicy texture. Whether enjoyed as a steak, in a hotpot, or even as sashimi, Yonezawa beef promises to tantalize your taste buds.
The tradition of raising carp in Yonezawa dates back to 1802 when Uesugi Yozan began cultivating them in the moats of Yonezawa Castle to improve the local protein supply. Today, carp dishes are central to Yonezawa’s celebrations, including Obon and New Year’s festivities, and are often served as part of kaiseki dinners in hot spring resorts. One of my personal favorites is carp simmered slowly in a savory broth of sake, soy sauce, and sugar, resulting in a wonderfully rich flavor.
