Tochio no Aburaage the Famously Thick Fried Tofu

Tochio fried tofu is a specialty handed down in the Tochio area of Nagaoka City, famous for its thickness and size. Palm sized and many times thicker than ordinary fried tofu, it has a distinctive texture, crisp and fragrant outside and fluffy and soft within. Its volume is enough to be mistaken for thick fried tofu, and it is fondly known as Tochio aburage.

Highlights

The greatest appeal is the contrast between the crisp fragrant exterior and the moist fluffy interior, created by frying twice in low and high temperature oil. Lightly grilled and topped with chopped green onion, grated ginger, and soy sauce is the classic way to eat it. It can also be filled with natto or cheese for free ranging variations. The Tochio area has several tofu shops keeping the old methods, letting you compare their flavors.

Enjoying the Seasons

It can be enjoyed year round, but in the cold season biting into a piping hot piece straight off the grill is irresistible. Some local storefronts serve it freshly fried, and a steady stream of people stop by, drawn by the fragrant aroma. At festival and event stalls you can sometimes taste it hot off the grill.

Access and Basic Information

It can be bought at tofu shops and farm stands in the Tochio area, and enjoyed at diners in Nagaoka City. Shops keeping the old methods are scattered through the town, well worth a visit for a freshly fried piece. Some shops grill it at the counter, so you can enjoy it piping hot on the spot, a charm found only at the source.

Practical Travel Notes

Each piece costs a few hundred yen, easy to buy singly, and you can also gather several as souvenirs. At shops that grill it at the counter, you can taste it on the spot with green onion, ginger, and soy sauce, well suited to a food walk. If taking it home, asking the shop about refrigerated shelf life and tips for grilling helps you enjoy it at its best. Vacuum packed or frozen items make distant travel safer.

A Quick Tip

First grill it simply and taste it with green onion and soy sauce. You can fully feel the juicy texture unique to thick fried tofu and the fragrance of the soybeans. The more you crisp the surface, the more fragrant it becomes, so grilling both sides well is recommended.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Main area where it is served: The Tochio district of Nagaoka City. Roadside station R290 Tochio (1764 Tochio Miyazawa, Nagaoka City, TEL 0258-53-2030) is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (10:00 to 16:00 on weekdays in January and February) and is closed from December 31 to January 1.
• For a freshly fried taste: The Freshly Fried Aburaage Sales Corner (Sato Tofu Shop) at the same facility is open from 10:30 to 17:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Restaurant Tochio (9:00 to 17:00, L.O. 16:30) also serves dishes made with Tochio aburage.
• Access: About 40 minutes from Nagaoka IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway via National Route 8 and Route 351, or about 30 minutes from Nakanoshima-Mitsuke IC on the Hokuriku Expressway. The car park has 138 spaces and is free of charge.

* Opening hours and prices vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Roadside Station R290 Tochio official website, Nagaoka City official website)

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourism information for Niigata Prefecture together with information published by each shop. Prices, menus and seasonal availability are subject to change, so please check each shop's official information for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: A few hundred yen per piece; buying several at once also makes a good souvenir
• Where to eat it: Tofu shops and farm stands in the Tochio district of Nagaoka City, and roadside station R290 Tochio
• Best time of day: Daytime if you want it freshly fried, as it can sell out
• Avoiding the crowds: The roadside station gets busy at weekends; mornings are relatively relaxed
• Combine it with: Comparing the taste from shop to shop, and the simple way of eating it with spring onion, ginger and soy sauce