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Kyoto – home to temples and shrines, traditional narrow alleys full of old machiya-style homes, maiko, traditional arts, refined cuisine, and also… wild game? It turns out that while many people’s Japan travel itineraries include trips to Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji or Fushimi Inari Shrine, they’re missing out on a whole chunk of the Kyoto area, and all it has to offer (including some unique gibier game meat culture)! So last fall, the JAPANKURU team took a trip west to Kyoto, and then up north to its Tamba region, once its own province bordering the Sea of Japan.
Wild Game, Traditional Cuisine, and Northern Kyoto
Thanks to northern Kyoto's rich natural resources and welcoming climate, wild animals and humans alike thrive between the mountains and the sea. The locals work hard to maintain that balance with the environment of their beloved hometowns, so we headed over to see just what the people of Tamba were up to, and learn a whole lot about "gibier."
A Gibier Food Tour
Thanks in part to all of Kentaro Nakajima's work, gibier culture continues in the homes and restaurants of northern Kyoto. From small refrigerators in tiny local groceries to the tables of traditional fine dining establishments, we wanted to see local gibier in all its forms, so we set off to explore.
Oni-soba Noodles with Venison or Wild Boar Meatballs
Gibier Barbeque
Botan Nabe – Wild Boar Hotpot
Venison Stew & Yakiniku Barbeque
Nearby Sightseeing
Throughout our trip all of us on the JAPANKURU team stuffed ourselves with delicious gibier cuisine, but we had some time to fill up while we digested! So we did a little sightseeing around northern Kyoto as well.
Amanohashidate (天橋立) – One of Japan’s Top 3 Scenic Views
Yosano (与謝野町) & the Chirimen Kaido (ちりめん街道)
Ine (伊根)
Miyama Kayabuki-no-Sato (美山かやぶきの里)
Details
NAME:Tamba Region, Kyoto
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