Gifu Prefecture

Ask any Japanese what their favorite season is (there are four seasons in Japan, as you may have heard), and there is a strong chance that they will tell you that it’s autumn because the weather is beautiful once the typhoons have passed, and the food. Unlike in the UK and the US, where you can get pretty much everything at all times of the year, in Japan, they put a considerable onus on seasonal goods, and each autumn, there is much excitement from people seeking out where to get the best grub. Luckily for you, JIS is here to fill you in on the best fall foods and where to get them. Kuri Kinton 栗きんとん For Brits like me, kuri [chestnuts] conjure up either potentially finger-breaking games of conkers or roasting them over braziers in winter, but for the Japanese, kuri is an autumn food, especially in sweets. Kuri kinton, meaning chestnut gold mash but essentially candied chestnuts, is a mixture of chestnut and Japanese sweet potato and symbolizes wealth and prosperity. Ena in southern Gifu and its surrounds is known throughout Japan as the city of chestnuts, making it the ideal place to get the best kuri kinton. There…