A Picturesque Small Town Famous as The Birth Place of Soy Source
Yuasa, a quiet town of narrow back streets lined with traditional wood-paneled buildings, might feel far removed from the bright lights of Tokyo or Osaka, but a world-changing culinary event occurred here—the birth of soy sauce. When you visit this Wakayama seaside town you'll find yourself surrounded by the sights of old Japan, the sounds of the sea, and the aroma of freshly made soy sauce. The town's significance and cultural heritage were recognized on a national level in 2006, when its Edo-period buildings and soy sauce breweries were listed as protected traditional structures.
Diving into the historic streets, your first stop should be the old wooden buildings of Kadocho Soy Sauce Factory, where brewers still produce the traditional condiment from a recipe unchanged for over 170 years. At the factory, you can learn about this ancient brewing process and see some of the old-fashioned tools used to create soy sauce. Guided tours are possible, but must be booked in advance. Entrance is free.
It is said that the invention of shoyu (soy sauce) in Yuasa was completely by coincidence. A priest returning from China with the know-how of producing miso (soybean paste) began production of the paste and realized that the fluids that ran off mid-production turned out to be a delicious condiment for a whole host of Japanese dishes. Soy sauce was born.
Yuasa is not just about soy sauce and miso production. While in town, you can enjoy other hidden treasures, such as Jinburo: a restored bathhouse which now serves as a museum packed full of artifacts and glimpses of what life was like in Edo period (1603-1867) Yuasa. There are also a host of other museums, temples, and places of interest best enjoyed while strolling the historic streets.
Diving into the historic streets, your first stop should be the old wooden buildings of Kadocho Soy Sauce Factory, where brewers still produce the traditional condiment from a recipe unchanged for over 170 years. At the factory, you can learn about this ancient brewing process and see some of the old-fashioned tools used to create soy sauce. Guided tours are possible, but must be booked in advance. Entrance is free.
It is said that the invention of shoyu (soy sauce) in Yuasa was completely by coincidence. A priest returning from China with the know-how of producing miso (soybean paste) began production of the paste and realized that the fluids that ran off mid-production turned out to be a delicious condiment for a whole host of Japanese dishes. Soy sauce was born.
Yuasa is not just about soy sauce and miso production. While in town, you can enjoy other hidden treasures, such as Jinburo: a restored bathhouse which now serves as a museum packed full of artifacts and glimpses of what life was like in Edo period (1603-1867) Yuasa. There are also a host of other museums, temples, and places of interest best enjoyed while strolling the historic streets.
