Oden in Nagano Prefecture! 8 popular spots by area where you can enjoy amazing ingredients

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Shizuka, located near Matsumoto Castle, is an izakaya where you can enjoy Nagano's local cuisine, centered on its specialty oden (Japanese one-pot dish).

The interior, renovated from a traditional machiya (townhouse), features a high ceiling with exposed beams and folk craft-style furniture. Its retro atmosphere, almost like stepping back in time, is part of its appeal.

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The signature Shizuka no oden (Shizuka's oden) is a popular menu item that you can order either A la carte or as an assortment.

The gently flavored dashi (Japanese soup stock) soaks well into the ingredients, and there is a wide range from classics to more unusual options. If you order Omakase, you might come across new flavors like okra or takenoko (bamboo shoots).

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Not just great with rice but also perfect as a snack with drinks, "Matsumoto sanzoku-yaki (Matsumoto-style fried chicken)".

They fry chicken thigh until crisp and fragrant, and the aroma of garlic is said to really whet your appetite. It is said to be so tasty, with just the right seasoning, that you will not be able to stop eating. A half size is also available.

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Sosaku Oden Bistro Matsuden in Matsumoto, Nagano is a place where you can enjoy oden (Japanese hot pot dish with assorted ingredients) and wine.

The casually modern interior, lit by lights in calm tones, feels stylish. In addition to table seating, there is also counter seating, which makes it easy to stop by casually.

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The restaurant is known for its Western-style takes on oden (Japanese stew), made with things like black truffle sauce and Bolognese sauce.

The daikon radish in the photo, "Daikon Radish (Bolognese Sauce)," pairs melt-in-your-mouth daikon radish soaked with dashi with a Bolognese sauce full of the rich taste of meat, so you can fully enjoy its sweetness and depth of flavor.

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The popular “bistro kushiage (deep-fried skewers),” just like the oden, can be ordered either A la carte or as an assortment.

The photo shows the “hotate (scallop) skewer with basil sauce” and “asparagus wrapped in bacon with tartar sauce.” Each skewer comes topped with a different sauce to match, so you can enjoy them all the way to the last bite.

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This izakaya in Chuo, Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, lets you enjoy Shinshu (Nagano) local dishes and Nagano specialties.

The interior has the lively feel of a classic taishu sakaba (casual Japanese pub), with an atmosphere that makes it easy to drop in. There is a good variety of seating options, including counter seats, table seats, and Sunken kotatsu seating, making it a convenient place to use.

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The specialty is All you can eat otoshi (small appetizer) oden (Japanese stew).

The slowly simmered oden is full of dashi flavor, and every item is said to be so good that you will want seconds. They recommend changing up the flavor with condiments like karashi mustard and yuzu kosho pepper paste.

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They also offer a full lineup of a la carte dishes that pair perfectly with drinks, including “Densetsu no Tebasaki (Legendary Chicken Wings),” “Tori Momo Sanzoku-yaki (Bandit-Style Grilled Chicken Thigh),” and yakitori (grilled chicken skewers).

The “Sashimi Sanshu assortment” in the photo is said to include exceptionally fresh Shinshu Salmon and cured mackerel.

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Shinano no Teppen Nagano Ten is an izakaya where you can enjoy oden and Teppan-yaki.

Inside the restaurant, a renovated traditional house that is over 80 years old, you can relax and enjoy your meal while taking in the warmth of the wood. It feels comfortable, and you may find yourself wanting to stay a little longer.

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The signature Obake Oden (large pot oden) comes in 3-item, 5-item, and 7-item assortments, so you can choose based on the size of your group.

They say the refined dashi broth soaks well into the ingredients, including daikon radish, shirataki noodles, and tofu, making it very tasty.

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Chicken nanban topped with plenty of rich tartar sauce is also perfect as a snack to go with drinks!

The light sweet vinegar soaks right into the crispy, fragrant coating, making it moist and juicy. Even though it is fried, it feels light, and it is said to be so good you will not be able to stop eating.

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Shimekiyo in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, is a long-established izakaya (Japanese pub) founded in 1948.

Inside, the wooden counter and well-worn interior create a cozy space with a nostalgic feel. The U-shaped counter is the main seating area, and guests can also enjoy the live feel of watching the cooking up close.

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Their signature oden (Japanese hot pot dish) comes with the classic green onion sauce!

The daikon radish, tofu, eggs, and atsuage (deep-fried tofu) are slowly simmered and finished with a gentle flavor soaked through with dashi. Dip them in the thick green onion sauce, and you can enjoy a whole new kind of taste.

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Iida in Nagano Prefecture is known for otaguri (a simmered horse Horumon dish).

By slowly simmering the carefully cleaned Horumon, the extra fat melts away and the flavor gets more concentrated. The more you chew, the more flavor comes out. With its simple salty seasoning, it also goes perfectly as a snack with Japanese sake.

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Oden-dokoro En is a restaurant located in the hot spring town of Nozawa Onsen-mura (Nozawa Onsen Village), Nagano Prefecture.

With the warmth of wood throughout, the interior feels like a calm hideaway. The seating is mainly at the counter, so even solo diners can relax without worrying about the people next to them.

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The signature menu item is oden (Japanese one-pot dish), made with local daikon radish.

There are about 20 kinds of oden ingredients, and you can enjoy them either A la carte or as an assortment. One of the most popular items is the "Orachi no Oden Daikon." The gentle flavored broth soaks in well, and with one bite, the rich umami is said to spread through your mouth.

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The nerimono (Japanese fish paste cakes) in the photo, such as chikuwabu (wheat gluten cake), hanpen (soft fish cake), and satsuma-age (deep-fried fish cake), are also made in house and have a light, fluffy texture.

They put a lot of time and care into making every item, and they are said to be so tasty that you will want seconds. It is also recommended to change up the flavor with the yuzu kosho (yuzu pepper paste) and karashi (Japanese mustard) on the table!

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Shinshu Ina-machi Arupusu Shokudo is an izakaya where you can enjoy local food and local sake from Nagano Prefecture and Ina City.

The interior has the warmth of wood, with a lively and homey feel. There are counter and table seats in total, making it easy to visit whether you are on your own or with a group.

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The "oden assortment" comes in two sizes, a small with 5 pieces and a large with 10 pieces, so you can choose based on the size of your group.

The oden, soaked in a gently flavored dashi broth, lets you enjoy the natural taste of the ingredients. Add the restaurant's specialty negi-dare (green onion sauce), and it pairs well with Japanese sake, with a flavor you'll want to come back to.

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Local Nagano specialties such as sakura-niku (horse meat) cutlet are also popular menu items you should not miss.

The sakura-niku is coated in a crisp crust, and it is said to have no off notes at all, letting you fully enjoy the rich flavor unique to lean meat. The shredded cabbage served on the side has a nice crisp texture and makes a perfect palate cleanser.

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Ike no Seisentei is a diner in Garyu Koen (Garyu Park) in Suzaka City, with a history of more than 90 years since it first opened.

Through the large windows, you can look out over the park and enjoy your meal while taking in the scenery as it changes with the seasons. Its appeal is the unpretentious atmosphere that helps you relax and feel at ease.

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The specialty “pitch black oden” is a traditional flavor made by adding to the broth every day with Hidaka kombu kelp and iriko (dried sardine) dashi.

It looks rich, but the taste is light, and it is said to be so good that once you try it, you will want it again. The ingredients are served on skewers as a holdover from the old days, so people could eat them while walking around.

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"Chuka soba (Chinese-style noodles)" is one of the popular menu items alongside oden (Japanese hot pot).

The soup, made by simmering chicken bones for 4 hours, has a classic soy sauce flavor and pairs well with the thin curly noodles. It has a gentle taste, and people say it tastes especially good when eaten in the park.