Let’s enjoy Akaoka with our Ryoma Passports!

Kochi Prefecture CIR Valerie Teo

 

   We’re off to Akaoka Station! Akaoka used to be called Konan’s “Commercial Town”, and nostalgic scenery can still be seen in its streets even now. Following on from a discovery in Nankoku City, this time we will be exploring Akaoka in search of eateries and facilities that display the Ryoma Passport banner.

 

 

Tosawo Shoten Chirimen Chuunichi Soba

  First, with our eyes on the “Chirimen Chuunichi Soba”, we headed to “Tosawo Shoten”. After a five minutes’ walk from the station, we spotted the banner!! “Tosawo Shoten” was written on the outer walls of the store in huge letters.

   Upon passing through the entrance, many fresh foods were laid out before our eyes, and to our left were tour pamphlets of the region.

   The eatery was located at the end of the room. Their menu had many food items—in addition to what we were intending to eat—that looked particularly delicious. We decided to go with the garlic-chive filled gyozas in addition to our chirimen chuunichi soba. The soba is made from a collaboration between Japanese style local chirimen fish soup stock, and Chinese noodles. Small fish, spring onion, fishcake, fried fishcake, shredded kombu made up the ingredients. It usually goes for 600 yen, but we got it at 550 yen thanks to the Ryoma Passport!

 

Tosawo Shoten 2nd
Gen Nomura Masato

  With our bellies full, we asked questions about the shop that we had been curious about for quite some time. The shop founder is Nomura Tosao (88 years old). He established the shop in 1964. At that time, it was a place that sold daily necessities. However, it was combined with his son’s and his son’s wife’s eatery, and became what it is today.

 

   The next destination was “Okkoya”. We read about it by chance in a pamphlet that we took from Tosawo Shoten. Upon nearing the store, we were greeted with a “hello” by the store owner. Waiting for you there are handicrafts of the Akaoka locals, and a cat mascot called “Chii-chan”!

 

  

Okkoya Cat Mascot Chii-chan

Our next stop as we explored Akaoka was the “Japanese Style Cafe Noraku”. We also found the Ryoma Passport banner here! Konan City is the number one exporter of garlic chives in Japan in terms of quantity! So it only made sense to order the “Konan Garlic Chives Salted Fried Noodles”!! The medium-sized noodles were served in a skillet, with a generous serving of garlic chives. Piping hot food really does make one happy in this cold season.

 

   This time, we were able to travel to various places easily on foot, but you can also rent bicycles—including electric ones—at the Noichi Station, about 4 kilometers away.

Japanese Style Cafe Noraku Konan
Garlic Chives Salted Fried Noodles

 

Bonus: We also recommend Ekingura. It is a participating attraction of the Ryoma passport as well. As a perk of having a passport, you will receive Ekin’s postcards. Do note that they close on Mondays!