Western Japan is known as the birthplace of traditional Japanese culture and has a diverse customs and culture. In particular, it is home to ancient capitals such as Kyoto and Nara, which have left behind many landscapes and buildings that remind us of their ancient history. Western Japan is also blessed with abundant nature, with a wide variety of landscapes including oceans, mountains, and rivers.
One of the representative customary cultures of western Japan is the kimono culture. In Kyoto, people dressed in beautiful kimonos can be seen walking around, which is popular among tourists. Traditional performing arts such as Kabuki and Bunraku also boast strong popularity and are known as the center of Japanese performing arts culture.
Western Japan is loved by many people as a region that has nurtured and developed traditional Japanese culture and food culture.
Western Japan’s food culture has won many fans in Japan and abroad, such as Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki in Hiroshima and takoyaki in Osaka. The region is also known as a symbol of Japan’s gourmet culture, with an abundance of premium ingredients such as wagyu beef and fugu puffer fish. Furthermore, Hiroshima has a thriving sake-brewing culture, with a wide variety of locally brewed sake and shochu.
Hiroshima is famous for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Instead of adding all the ingredients at once, only the batter is baked, then the ingredients are added, and finally the batter is turned over. Hiroshima’s momiji manju and oyster dishes are also famous.
In Okayama, tempura and udon are famous. Okayama-style tempura is characterized by a light batter made of water and potato starch, without flour and eggs. The Bikan Historical Quarter in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, is popular among tourists for its streets that retain the atmosphere of the Edo period.
Kyoto is famous for its kaiseki cuisine, vegetarian cuisine, and Kyoto vegetables. Kyoto’s traditional kaiseki cuisine is characterized by beautifully arranged dishes that make the most of the seasonality of the ingredients and are pleasing to the eye. In addition, vegetarian cuisine developed as a meal for monks practicing at Zen temples and is known as a healthy dish that mainly consists of vegetables.
Osaka is famous for its takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, and other street food. Osaka City is also home to tourist attractions such as Dotonbori, known as the “gourmand’s town,” and Osaka Castle. Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture is also famous for its wagyu beef, and Kobe Beef is highly acclaimed worldwide.
Western Japan has a wide variety of culinary cultures, and we encourage you to try some of the local cuisine during your trip.