If Japanese spring is loved for cherry blossoms, then autumn is remembered forever for its cuisine . This is the time when nature bestows the most delicious fresh produce of the year. When red leaves dye Kyoto, Hokkaido or Tokyo, the Japanese dining table is also bustling with typical autumn flavors.
1. Salt-grilled Sanma – Autumn Saury
Grilled Sanma fish with salt – A symbolic dish of Japanese autumn. (Photo: Collected)
In autumn, Sanma fish ( Pacific saury) reaches its ideal fattiness. The Japanese just need to lightly salt and grill it, served with grated radish and lemon to have a complete taste. Sanma fish represents Japanese autumn cuisine - simple but sophisticated, respecting the original flavor.
2. Red leaf shaped wagashi
Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets whose shapes change with the seasons. In autumn, they are shaped like maple leaves, ripe persimmons or chestnuts, giving them an elegant look. The filling is usually red bean, white bean or crushed chestnuts. Wagashi is not only a dish but also a Japanese art of living, an indispensable part of Japanese autumn cuisine.
3. Grilled Matsutake Mushrooms – “King of Mushrooms” in Japanese Cuisine
Grilled Matsutake mushrooms give off a fragrant steam. (Photo: Collected)
Matsutake is a rare mushroom that only grows in early autumn, and is known as the “Japanese truffle”. The Japanese often grill it whole or cook it with rice (matsutake gohan) to preserve its light aroma. This dish is not only delicious but also reflects the spirit of honoring nature in Japanese autumn cuisine .
4. Yakiimo – Traditional Baked Sweet Potato
Whenever the weather gets chilly, the "yakiimo" sound from the roasted sweet potato carts roaming the streets is what reminds Japanese people of autumn. The sweet potatoes are slowly roasted on hot stones, giving them a rich, sweet flavor and a soft texture. A simple dish, but it carries deep childhood memories and the identity of autumn in Japan.
5. Kabocha – Japanese pumpkin tempura
Crispy golden kabocha tempura with tsuyu – The quintessence of Japanese autumn cuisine. (Photo: Collected)
Japanese pumpkin (kabocha) has orange-yellow flesh, sweet and fatty taste and is very popular in autumn. Most commonly kabocha is fried in crispy tempura or cooked in warm miso soup. This is a rustic dish but very popular in family meals during the fall foliage season.
6. Kiritanpo Nabe – Akita Grilled Rice Hotpot
Kiritanpo is a cold season specialty of Akita Prefecture, with grilled rice skewers served with a sweet chicken broth, mushrooms and autumn vegetables. Japanese hotpot is not fussy about spices, but brings a cozy feeling, which is what Japanese autumn cuisine always focuses on.
7. Kuri Yaki – Roasted chestnuts on the roadside
Hot roasted chestnuts dispel the cold of autumn. (Photo: Collected)
On the streets of ancient Kyoto or Asakusa, you will come across carts selling fragrant roasted chestnuts. Japanese chestnuts have a rich sweet taste, thin and easy-to-peel skin, and are very popular in the fall. This is one of the dishes not to be missed when traveling to Japan , especially when you are walking around in the cold weather.
8. Hot Soba with Autumn Vegetables
Soba (buckwheat noodles) when eaten hot with mushrooms and seasonal vegetables becomes especially appealing in autumn. This dish is often served in a small, warm restaurant and is a favorite choice of the locals. Simple but full of a "heartwarming" feeling in the cool weather, true to Japanese autumn cuisine.
9. Kaisen-don – Autumn fresh seafood rice bowl
Colorful kaisen-don rice bowl with salmon, sea urchin, fish eggs and seaweed. (Photo: Collected)
Autumn is also the season for catching many types of seafood such as salmon, crab, squid... Seafood markets such as Toyosu (Tokyo) or Otaru (Hokkaido) are always bustling with bowls of kaisen-don - white rice topped with raw seafood. The freshness of the ingredients makes this dish always on the list of indispensable Japanese autumn delicacies.
10. Chestnut Mochi – Autumn Dessert
Finally, we cannot forget to mention chestnut mochi – a soft and chewy cake with a sweet and nutty chestnut filling. This dish often appears in autumn gift boxes or traditional bakeries. This is one of the dishes that cannot be missed when traveling to Japan, especially for those who love delicate sweets.
Autumn in Japan is not only beautiful in its scenery but also rich in flavor. Japanese autumn delicacies are not only a culinary experience, but also a gateway to understanding more about the spirit and culture here. If you are planning to travel to the land of the rising sun, don't just admire the red leaves, try the dishes that cannot be missed when traveling to Japan. Because autumn in Japan is not just for viewing, but also for enjoying, remembering and loving!
Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/mon-ngon-nhat-ban-mua-thu-v17438.aspx
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