Pickles may sound a little modest as a souvenir, especially when the product is not particularly famous.
Yet when they are clearly a cut above the pickles you normally eat, they can become a fine souvenir in their own right.
These deliver the kind of pleasant surprise you might feel when an unexpectedly delicious appetizer appears at a traditional Japanese restaurant.
I bought them in the pickle section at Onihei Edo-dokoro, the inbound Hanyu Service Area.
Hanyu PA Exclusive Dried Daikon, Burdock, and Tamari Ginger Pickles
You could freely combine many varieties: three packages cost ¥1,080, or one cost ¥390.
I chose thick-cut dried daikon, burdock, and ginger pickled in tamari soy sauce.
Kelp-Pickled Thick-Cut Dried Daikon
It is reassuring to see “domestically grown” on the package. Wariboshi daikon appears to be cut thicker than the familiar shredded kiriboshi daikon.
The package contains 130 grams. The best-before date is printed on the back, and it keeps for about two months from purchase.
The deep soy-sauce color stimulates the appetite.
The daikon has a satisfying crisp crunch and is thoroughly infused with kelp soy sauce.
Its natural sweetness is lovely too.
Then the sharp heat of sliced chili follows. This feels more like something to nibble slowly with a drink than something to eat with rice.
Next, the second package:
Hanyu PA Exclusive Okawari Burdock (Soy Sauce Flavor)
Long pieces of burdock are pickled whole.
It contains 90 grams.
The burdock is grown in Japan.
I cut it into easy-to-eat pieces.
This one is thoroughly pickled too.
The robust crunch of burdock is irresistible, and its own earthy aroma remains vivid. Despite the dark color, the soy seasoning is not excessively salty and is very well balanced.
The third package is:
Tamari Ginger
This package contains 100 grams.
Naturally, it also uses ginger grown in Japan.
The sliced ginger is pickled until almost black.
The depth of tamari soy sauce and the bite of ginger become addictive.
The soy sauce has a faint sweetness and matches the ginger perfectly. I could not stop eating white rice with it.
The ginger flavor also permeates the pickling liquid, turning it into an excellent ginger soy sauce.
It was so tasty that even after finishing the ginger, I poured the liquid over tofu and used it in cooking, enjoying every last drop. It felt like an added bonus.
Three packs of pickles this delicious, all made with Japanese vegetables, for ¥1,080 is an excellent deal.
Hanyu SA itself is designed around the Edo period and has the atmosphere of a theme park that makes you want to linger. I found it genuinely exciting.
The souvenir selection is extensive, so I highly recommend a visit.
>> See details of Onihei Edo-dokoro here
For more souvenir information from Saitama Prefecture, check the article below!
Hanyu Parking Area Exclusive Pickle Series Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
| Product Name | Hanyu Parking Area Exclusive Pickle Series |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Seller | Obaneya Co., Ltd. |
| Address | 1747-1 Hitotonoya, Oyama, Tochigi |
| Expiration Date | About 2 months |
| Place of Purchase | Hanyu Parking Area |
| Price | Three for ¥1,080; one for ¥390 |
