Oyaki - Mountain Veggie Dough Delights from Nagano Prefecture (12 pieces)

Oyaki - Traditional Mountain Veggie Dough Wrap from Nagano Prefecture

A delightful traditional dish from Nagano Prefecture made by wrapping various seasoned mountain vegetables in a soft and flavorful dough

A local dish of the Nagano Prefecture, Oyaki are various seasoned and mountain vegetables that are wrapped in a dough of wheat or buckwheat flour.
Similar in a way to dumplings, they are then grilled.
Historically, it was baked on the edge of the hearth within homes and has long been a staple food item in this area.

Additionally, due to its simple recipe of a few ingredients it is entirely vegan, making it a popular choice amongst people of this diet as it can be hard to find many food places that can accommodate for that in Japan.
Especially, the vegetable flavor is seasoned with miso, and it's truly delicious.

6 Flavors to Savor

1. Nozawana Pickles

Besides being a popular pickling ingredient, Nozawana, known for its wild turnip greens, has also gained popularity as a filling for oyaki.
They've lightly pickled Nozawana in salt and seasoned it with Shinshu miso.

2. Vegetable Mix

A vegetable-filled oyaki primarily made with cabbage, mixed with carrots, onions, and Nozawana greens.

3. Sweet Red Bean Paste

A mildly sweet bean paste oyaki. It's a popular choice for a sweet treat that can also serve as a snack.

4. Bunashimeji Mushroom

Made with locally sourced Bunashimeji mushrooms from Nagano Prefecture, this oyaki retains a firm texture and bite, complemented by finely chopped green onions.

5. Pumpkin

It's beloved for its sweet and tender pumpkin filling

6. Green Onion Miso

A sweet and savory Shinshu miso and green onion filling.
When baked, the green onions release their sweetness, and the miso flavor is enhanced with breadcrumbs.

A Culinary Journey through Nagano's Countryside

This results in an exterior that is chewy and fluffy, yet slightly crispy due to its baking  method on the kiln.
The skin is fragrant as the scent waters your tastebuds and increases your appetite. With a single bite the flavour of the freshly cooked vegetables fills your mouth with satisfaction.
As the ingredients used for the fillings are locally sourced, they can widely vary from location to location.
This makes it a fun challenge to try oyaki from multiple places across Nagano to sample different versions which you may have not seen before.
The homely taste of oyaki is comforting and is reflective of the calm, peaceful nature of this prefecture where it is a true representation of the Japanese countryside.

Exploring the Oyaki Tradition

When travelling throughout the Nagano Prefecture, you will more than likely see multiple places advertising and selling oyaki.
Spanning a history dating back to the Jomon period, foods such as ‘yakimochi’ which utilises grains were believed to be the foundations and  inspirations to what would become oyaki.
Ogawa Village located on the northwestern part of Nagano City is thought to be the birthplace of oyaki.
It did not have the suitable climate for rice cultivation, and so wheat and millet used to make the food item flourished instead. 
A quick meal between work came in the form of a grilled oyaki instead of a rice ball you  would typically expect to see.

Story of Iroha-do

Nagano Prefecture Collaboration

The prefecture boasts the fourth largest land in Japan, and its vast forests nurture clean water and air.

Taking advantage of its bleeding topography, agriculture thrives in the prefecture, with fruit cultivation in particular being highly marketable and producing a large amount and ranking first in the prefecture in terms of output.

- Prefecture with the full of attraction -

What attractive about Nagano prefecture is the variety of ways you can enjoy your trip, from visiting famous historical sites such as Zenkoji Temple and Matsumoto Castle, to relaxing in a hot spring with a great atmosphere, to enjoying the great outdoors, including the Northern Alps.

- Transportation from Tokyo to Nagano prefecture -
The fastest way to get from Tokyo to Nagano is by Shinkansen. It takes only 1 hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station.
The cheapest way to get to Nagano from Tokyo is by highway bus.

All Products from Nagano Prefecture