What to eat in Hyogo (Kobe, Akashi) now
Famous for octopus and sea bream from the fast currents of the Akashi Strait. In winter, many travel north for snow crab.
The Akashi Strait, Harima Sea and Awaji Island. The Sea of Japan coast in the north (Tajima) is crab country
Open UmamiHop โToday's picks for where you are, a help card to show the chef, and a menu translator. Free to use.In season in October
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Kasumi red snow crab
Sweet, juicy red snow crab available from September, earlier than matsuba crab โ and easier on the wallet.
- Season
- Sep โ May
- Best
- Oct โ Nov
- Where
- Kasumi (northern Hyogo, on the Sea of Japan)
Show the staff: ้ฆไฝใฌใ
-
Tachiuo (hairtail), salt-grilled or as sushi
Plentiful from Osaka Bay to the Harima Sea, and a favorite autumn catch for anglers around Akashi.
- Season
- Jul โ Nov
- Best
- Sep โ Oct
- Where
- Akashi and Awaji Island
Show the staff: ใฟใใฆใชใฎๅกฉ็ผใใปๅฏฟๅธ
-
Akashiyaki (egg-rich octopus dumplings in broth)
Fluffy, egg-rich dumplings with octopus, dipped in warm broth. Locals call it tamagoyaki.
- Season
- All year
- Best
Show the staff: ๆ็ณ็ผ
-
Awaji Island three-year tiger fugu
Fugu raised for three years โ longer than usual โ near the swift Naruto Strait. Enjoy it as a winter course.
- Season
- Oct โ Mar
- Best
- Dec โ Feb
- Where
- Awaji Island (Fukura and elsewhere)
Show the staff: ๆทก่ทฏๅณถ3ๅนดใจใใตใ
-
Grilled conger eel (yaki-anago)
Grilled conger eel from the Harima Sea, an Akashi specialty โ on its own or over rice.
- Season
- All year
- Best
- Jun โ Aug
- Where
- Akashi and Takasago
Show the staff: ็ผใใใชใ
-
Kobe beef
Only Tajima cattle meeting strict standards may be called Kobe beef. Best at a teppanyaki counter.
- Season
- All year
- Best
Show the staff: ็ฅๆธใใผใ
-
Sobameshi (fried noodles and rice)
Chopped fried noodles and rice stir-fried with sauce โ a down-to-earth taste of Kobe's Nagata district.
- Season
- All year
- Best
Show the staff: ใใฐใใ
Coming in November
-
Akashi octopus
Japan's most famous octopus; early-summer 'mugiwara-dako' is said to be the best. Try it freshly boiled at Akashi's Uonotana market street.
- Season
- Jun โ Aug, Nov โ Jan
- Best
- Jun โ Jul
- Where
- Akashi (Uonotana market street)
Show the staff: ๆ็ณใ ใ
-
Tajima matsuba snow crab
Winter crab from the Sea of Japan coast. Many visit for crab courses โ raw, grilled and hot pot โ at hot-spring inns.
- Season
- Nov โ Mar
- Best
- Dec โ Jan
- Where
- Kasumi, Hamasaka, Shibayama and Tsuiyama (near Kinosaki Onsen) โ 2 to 3 hours from Kobe
Show the staff: ไฝ้ฆฌใฎๆพ่ใฌใ
Local specialties through the year
| ๐ Akashi octopus | Jun โ Aug, Nov โ Jan |
| ๐ Akashiyaki (egg-rich octopus dumplings in broth) | All year |
| ๐ฃ Akashi sakura sea bream | Mar โ May |
| ๐ Ikanago kugini (sand lance simmered in sweet soy) | Feb โ Apr |
| ๐ฆ Tajima matsuba snow crab | Nov โ Mar |
| ๐ฆ Kasumi red snow crab | Sep โ May |
| ๐ก Awaji Island three-year tiger fugu | Oct โ Mar |
| ๐ Awaji Island hamo | Jun โ Aug |
| ๐ Grilled conger eel (yaki-anago) | All year |
| ๐ฅฉ Kobe beef | All year |
| ๐ณ Sobameshi (fried noodles and rice) | All year |
| ๐ฆ Firefly squid with vinegar-miso, or marinated in soy | Mar โ May |
| ๐ฆช Oysters from Murotsu and Sakoshi | Dec โ Mar |
| ๐ Red sea urchin (aka-uni) from Awaji Island | Jul โ Sep |
| ๐ Tachiuo (hairtail), salt-grilled or as sushi | Jul โ Nov |
Other regions
Nagoya (Aichi) ยท Fukuoka (Hakata) ยท Hiroshima ยท Kyoto (city, Tango coast) ยท Hakuba (Nagano) ยท Hokkaido (Sapporo, Otaru) ยท Seoul ยท Busan
Seasons shift with the weather and the catch each year. Ask the restaurant what is in today.