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So dominant a feature are the mountains that form a rocky spine along the length of Japan's main island of Honshu that, except for Honshu's northern and western ends, only a single prefecture is able to straddle that barrier. The prefecture is Hyogo, and it extends from the Sea of Japan to the Inland Sea, just west of Osaka. As well as having the attractive major international port of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture is home to the beautiful World Heritage Site of Himeji Castle and the spectacular Akashi Strait Bridge, which has the longest center span of any bridge in the world.
The Akashi Strait Bridge crosses part of the Inland Sea, and it is those rich fishing grounds that yield the fine fare that makes the cuisine of Hyogo such a delight. Sushi is a familiar dish around the world, and the local version favors conger eel. Unlike more familiar kinds of sushi
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with raw fish, conger eel sushi uses fish that is first coated with a thick, sweet sauce and then grilled. Among the other seafood delicacies enjoyed locally are such dishes as raw sea bream sashimi, finely boiled octopus and the fish known as Pacific sandlance(ikanago), cooked in soy sauce.
To complement the local food, one should of course drink the local sake, and Hyogo Prefecture does in fact enjoy a fine reputation as a producer of Japan's national beverage. One name to watch out for here is Akashi Sake Brewery. Located in the city of Akashi, close to Kobe, this brewery makes an outstanding range of products, among which some notable attractions are rich, crisp Junmai Daiginjo Akashi-tai, the subtly aged Genmai Yamada-nishiki Akashi-tai and the delicate, unusual Princess of Rose liqueurs, made by steeping fragrant rose petals in premium-grade sake. |
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