Shikoku Food– Udon, Seafood & Traditional Island Cuisine –
Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s four main islands and consists of four prefectures: Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi. Despite its size, the region has a rich culinary heritage shaped by mountains and the Seto Inland Sea.
The region is especially famous for Sanuki udon from Kagawa as well as seafood and traditional rice-based dishes.
Discover the traditional foods and regional specialties of Shikoku in this category.
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Tosa Inaka Sushi (土佐田舎寿司)
At Kochi's Sunday Market, packs of local sushi may look nothing like the nigiri you know. Pink buds, green stalks, and dark mushrooms replace the seafood that many visitors expect. This is Tosa Inaka Sushi (土佐田舎寿司), the mountain-ve... -
Naruto Sea Bream (鳴門鯛)
Order sashimi in Naruto and the white fish on your plate may push back a little when you bite. That fish is often Naruto sea bream (鳴門鯛), known locally as Narutodai. It is Japanese red sea bream, or madai, from the fast waters around ... -
Sudachi Buri (すだちぶり)
Picture a Japanese yellowtail raised on feed that contains locally grown citrus peel. It may sound unusual, but in Tokushima the idea has become a recognized regional brand. Sudachi Buri (すだちぶり) is farmed in Kitanada, just west of t... -
Kakimaze (かきまぜ)
Kakimaze is Tokushima's festival rice dish, a mixed sushi rice loaded with simmered vegetables and, unusually, sweet red kidney beans. Locals also call it barazushi, gomoku-zushi, or mazekuri depending on the town. In the yuzu-growing so... -
Naruto Wakame (鳴門わかめ)
Open a bowl of miso soup in Tokushima and the seaweed inside may not behave the way you expect. It holds its shape and bites back a little. Locally, that seaweed is often Naruto wakame (鳴門わかめ), a Japanese seaweed specialty from the ... -
Naruto Kintoki (なると金時)
In autumn, shoppers across Kansai are likely to see one Tokushima name repeated on produce signs: Naruto Kintoki. This Naruto Kintoki sweet potato comes from sandy fields in Tokushima Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku. Roast one slowl... -
Kaizoku Ryori (海賊料理)
Kaizoku Ryori translates as pirate cuisine, and it means grilling seafood yourself at the table in southern Tokushima. Spiny lobster, abalone, turban shells, and scallops go straight onto a mesh grill in front of you. Some restaurants si... -
Ebi Miso Soup (えびみそ汁)
Most miso soup starts with a clear dashi broth. One regional version, however, breaks that rule completely. People in Kagawa make ebi miso soup, a rich shrimp soup. So what is ebi miso soup in Kagawa? It is a creamy miso soup built on wh... -
Igisu Tofu (イギス豆腐)
Summer in Japan brings heat, humidity, and tired appetites. So coastal cooks invented cooling dishes to fight the season. One of the most unusual comes from the Seto Inland Sea. People there make Igisu tofu, a jelly-like dish from seawee... -
Kankan zushi (カンカンずし)
Kagawa is famous for udon, yet its food story runs deeper. One old dish carries a strange, catchy name. People call it Kankan zushi, a pressed sushi from Kagawa. Some also write it as Kankan sushi in English. The name comes from a sound,...
