Overview

Deep down in the belly lies Gunma Prefecture and its hearty cuisine. Headlined by an affection for wheat, udon noodles are all the rage here with some of the nation's most famous varieties a source of regional pride. Along with noodles are uniquely cultivated seafood, rural hotpots and festival-bound snacks, making the area a satisfying haven for soul cuisine. Here is a simple guide to some of the regional cuisine of Gunma.

Okkirikomi

Gunma loves its wheat and as one of the nation's top wheat producers, udon noodles are a natural hit here. The local treat okkirikomi, another hotpot of earthy vegetables and rural nous, uses thick strips of raw udon noodles. When simmered in the hearty broth, this winter dish is full of juicy texture and farming flavour.

Rainbow trout

If everywhere has their own special seafood, then for Gunma, that seafood is rainbow trout. The region's version is known as ginhikari and is specially selected and raised, taking longer to reach maturity than the more common rainbow trout. Sometimes grilled, the firm, delicate and vibrant colour makes it a treat when served a sashimi.

Mizusawa udon

Considered by many to be one of the top three udon noodles in the country, Gunma's mizusawa udon competes with the prefecture's other udon varietes like the thin tatebayashi udon or the wide strips of himokawa udon used in okkirikomi. Only pure water is used in making mizusawa udon and its smooth and almost translucent texture making it an enviable treat.

Yakimanju

Basted with a miso sauce that is both sweet and spicy, Gunma's soul food is yakimanju. Manju steam cakes are skewered with bamboo and then roasted over a charcoal flame. The aromatic appeal, fluffy texture and appetite teaser are so popular that a special festival is held each January that serves huge half metre-sized yakimanju.