Murakami: Thousand-Year-Old Salmon | Summer Mutsu Thousand Mile Journey [15].
Murakami in Niigata Prefecture was once a castle town. Since the Heian period (794-1185) a thousand years ago, salmon has been an important part of their diet. Kikkawa was established in 1626 and is an expert in the production and sale of salmon products using traditional techniques of ancient salmon cuisine. It has been passed down for 15 generations.
Salmon is a treasure, and the people of Murakami Town have created more than a hundred different salmon dishes. In addition to fish, heads, skeletons, fins, and internal organs can be enjoyed. Doing one thing to the extreme is a typical Japanese national culture and character.
In the evening we came to Tsukioka Onsen, where there is a transparent green hot spring water, which is said to be immortal and youthful. This is of course an exaggeration, but it is enough to illustrate the Japanese obsession and love for hot springs.