Manten-no-hoshi Daifuku

 

Manten-no-hoshi Daifuku is popular with females aged 20-40!

  Located near the source of the Shimanto River, the last pristine river in Japan, Tsuno Town is looking to put itself on the map by using its locally-grown hojicha (roasted) tea in a variety of desserts, including the recently introduced Manten-no-hoshi Daifuku.

   Manten-no-hoshi Daifuku is the brainchild of Ichiro Ohara, a “Food Producer” from Kochi who is famous for his “Aguri Kubokawa Meat Bun”(Shimanto Town) and his café “Kaze Koubou”(Kure, Nakatosa Town). Manten-no-hoshi Daifuku strikes a delicate balance between the bitter taste of hojicha and the sweet flavors of bean jam and fresh cream.

The Mountain Witch and the Rice Balls

   A poor man named Seibei once lived in what is now Tsuno Town. Despite being very poor, every new-year he made sure he had enough money to make rice balls for his children to eat.

 

Interview with a mountain lover

   I met with Mr. Hiroshi Kamohara (Culture and International Affairs Division) and talked with him about climbing mountains and what it is that particularly attracts him to the mountains of Kochi.

What is it you enjoy most about climbing mountains?

 

Recommended Mountains in Kochi

A view from Bandagamori

   It is said that 84% of Kochi Prefecture is mountainous, which is good news for hiking fans! The countless mountain ranges offer great variety for the avid hiker. However, it makes it impossible to introduce all of Kochi’s mountains without writing a book, so here are seven mountains from all over Kochi with their basic information and features as a starting point.

Kinoko-gari: mushroom hunting

   Now make no mistake about it, I’m a kinoko fan. I remember coming to Japan hoping to go on what they call “kinoko-gari”, which, like hunting for animals, you hunt for mushrooms. I used to daydream about the day I would get to see the beautiful Dictyophora indusiata, or as they call it here the “Queen of Mushrooms”. While everybody has an obsession about one thing or another in Japan, mine undoubtedly has to be kinoko.

Summer Retreat

Tengukogen

   There are many opportunities to go for a swim in the sea or waterfront to soothe the summer heat on hot summer’s day, but instead, why don’t you go up to the calm mountains that have plenty of fresh cool air and be surrounded by greenery to refresh your sun-tired body and spirit?

Summer Retreat in Kochi ④－Tengu Kogen

Let’s get out of the scorching town and up to the highland resort in the sky!