Oden Sumiyoshi Shinsaibashi / おでん すみ吉 Blog

Oden has rich regional variations, featuring local specialties in broth, seasoning, and ingredients. As of 2024, there are a total of 23 types (from 22 prefectures) of regional oden in Japan.

Hokkaido Area Characterized by the inclusion of mountain vegetables such as fuki and warabi, and shellfish like whelk and scallops. Some specialized shops also offer hokke fishballs and cod milt. In the high-latitude Hokkaido, miso oden is commonly eaten in summer.

Tohoku Area Alongside stewed oden, dengaku is also widely eaten. The ingredients feature mountain vegetables such as bent bamboo and niasaku, and shellfish like whelk. In the area around Aomori City, stewed oden is served with ginger miso sauce.

Kanto Area Representative ingredients include surimi products like hanpen, beef tendon, fish balls, and chikuwa, made by kneading wheat flour with salt and water into a stick shape. This area features a mix of traditional "Kanto style" and "Kansai style" with clear broth.

Chubu Area Shizuoka is characterized by black hanpen and a dark broth. Aichi features a mix of miso-stewed, miso dengaku, and Kanto-style oden. Iida is known for its green onion sauce. Various oden varieties can be seen in Toyama and Kanazawa, characterized by ingredients like red rolls and car-fu.

Kansai Area Osaka has both clear-broth "Kansai style" and traditional "Kanto-style" oden stewed with bonito flakes and soy sauce. Kyoto includes tofu, Kyoto vegetables, and ginkgo nuts. Himeji is famous for its ginger soy sauce as a dipping sauce.

Chugoku and Shikoku Areas There are differences in seasoning, ingredients, and dipping sauces between the Seto Inland Sea and the Japan Sea sides. Takamatsu oden features two types of dipping sauces, while Matsue oden is characterized by leafy vegetables and shellfish. Kure-style oden was a staple menu item at autumn festivals.

Kyushu and Okinawa Areas This area is characterized by the rich taste of meat and vegetables. In Hakata, "gyoza roll" is famous. Miyakonojo's oden includes bean sprouts and cabbage, making it a healthy option. Kagoshima features a broth made with pork and barley miso. Okinawa includes pig feet and leafy greens.

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