I’m sure you’ve already encountered a number of articles on the internet about food in Hida and beef, but what about sweets? Let’s shine some light on all the sweets, confectioneries, and baked goods in Hida that are often overlooked due to the presence of Hida beef.
These sweets are must-tries when in Hida!
Using high-quality fresh milk from their dairy cows that are farm-raised in a stress-free environment, Bokuseisha (牧成舎) produces a range of dairy products that are immensely popular among locals. Their ice cream, as well as their monaka ice cream (ice cream sandwiched between thin crisp wafers), make for perfect desserts on a hot summer day.
Serving the local community since 1950, Tanoshita Confectionary Store (田の下) specializes in wagashi, or Japanese sweets. Their ichigo daifuku (rice cake stuffed with cream, sweet bean paste, and strawberry) has always been a local favorite. The shop also features seasonal sweets that are only available at certain times of the year.
From western to Japanese confectionery, Patisserie Ohkubo (大久保製菓) offers a wide range of desserts using local ingredients. Their must-try is the sakura mushi-dora (a steamed type of dorayaki pancake filled with red bean paste and an accent of cherry blossom) as well as an ice cream version, which is only available during summer.
Be sure to stop by Shinmeiya (新名屋) for their tempura manju. It’s simply a manju (rice cake stuffed with red bean paste) that has been deep-fried—but the outcome is just amazing. They sometimes sell out before noon so plan to visit early in the day.
A family-run store since 1908, Inohiro Confectionery Store (井之廣) features miso senbei (miso wheat crackers) using select Japanese ingredients. Their main ingredient, miso, is homemade and every single cracker is created by hand. Their handmade offerings also include ginger, coffee, green tea, tomato, and granola.
One of Hida Furukawa’s biggest annual events is the Furukawa Festival, held in April every year, which sees beautifully decorated floats (yatai) paraded through the city — but what happens to them during the rest of the year? There are 10 storehouses (屋台蔵, yatai-gura) aroun...
