The 9th ONSEN Gastronomy Walking in Nagato Tawarayama Onsen” Event Report

The 9th event was held in the rain for the first time in the history of the event.

On Saturday, November 11, 2023, the "9th ONSEN Gastronomy Walk in Nagato Tawarayama Hot Springs" was held in the Tawarayama area.

Under the catchphrase "Meguru Taberu Tsugaru," this event allows visitors to enjoy food while walking through the beautiful satoyama landscape of Tawarayama, and afterwards enjoy a hot spring bath. Seasonal foods are served at checkpoints called "gastronomy points.

This article provides photos of the day's events.

start

The course for this year's event was approximately 10 km; the approximately 100 participants were divided into five groups, starting at different times. The first group departed from the Yamane Stadium Tawarayama at 10:00 am. The weather turned cloudy and rainy, making this the first time in Tawarayama Gastronomy history that the event was held in the rain.

African drums will be played for the send-off.

Walking through the picturesque satoyama in autumn.

Gastronomy Point 1: Tawarayama Onsenkaku

Pass through the Tawarayama hot spring resort area to the first gastronomy point, Onsenkaku.

Onsenkaku offered the "Tawarayama Gastro Plate".

Each gastropoint will also offer a variety of sake from Yamaguchi Prefecture, mainly from the Nagato City neighborhood.

Asahi Shuzo "Otters" served at Onsenkaku

Each point is operated by local residents and student volunteers.

Gastronomy Point 2: Fukuoji

After passing through the hot spring resort area, walk through the satoyama to the next gastropoint, the "Mountain Cafe" in Fukuoji.
However, by the time the first group arrived at the "Mountain Cafe," the light rain had finally turned into a full-blown downpour.

The "Mountain Cafe" will offer seasonal vegetables/fruits from Tawarayama, as well as baked potatoes and pickles.

(Sake served here was Tawarayama's local sake "Horebore" and Iwasaki Shuzo's "Choyo Fukumusume".

Visitors were also able to pick their own yuzukichi (*) in the yuzukichi (*) field right next to the venue, and enjoy taking them home, making juice, or adding them to alcohol.

(*)Yamaguchi original citrus "Nagato Yuzukichi

After crossing the rainy mountain road, everyone headed to the next point.

Gastronomy Point 3: Sainenji Temple

Warm foods such as shishi-jiru (shishito soup), gibier sausage, takikomi-gohan (cooked rice), and yakitori (grilled chicken) were served at the Sainen-ji Temple.

Everyone takes a break to enjoy warm food while admiring the beautiful autumn leaves.

The shishi-jiru made in a large pot is exquisite!

(Sake served here was Yaoshin Shuzo's "Gangi" and Nagayama Shuzo's "Yamazaru".

They were also able to participate in a yoga experience in the main hall of the Sainenji Temple.

Kanako Fujii, yoga instructor (yogastudio iha)

Gastronomy Point 4: Nohman Temple

Walk through the rainy Tawarayama to the next point. At Nouman-ji Temple, the famous "three monkey buns" will be served as a snack.

The weather was changing rapidly as the rain came and went, and everyone was watching the weather.

Gastronomy Point 5: Satoyama Station Tawarayama

At the Satoyama Station, soba noodles made by a local soba maker were served, as well as kuzumochi, a type of rice cake made with kuzu (a type of starch made from the leaves of the buckwheat plant).

(Sake served here was Hatsumomiji "Harada", Yaokushin Shuzo "Ganki" and Nagayama Shuzo "Yamazaru".

We have come this far, and now we are almost there, the last spurt!

Finally, the goal!

You will return to "Yamane Stadium Tawarayama" to finish the tour. After completing the finish line registration and answering a questionnaire, you will receive a souvenir and a ticket for a bath at the Tawarayama Onsen hot spring.

Local vegetables and pickles are also sold directly at the △ goal.

It was the first time the event was held in the rain. Everyone went home after warming their cold bodies in the hot spring. We hope it will be sunny next year!