It's September now!
Summer has quickly passed, and while the
lingering heat is still present, we can feel the autumn air. Mornings and
evenings have definitely become cooler. Many dragonflies are flying over the
rice fields, and the local farmers are bustling with the busy harvest season.
It's the beginning of a delicious season! 😋
In Sasayama, we will soon have new rice, followed by Tamba chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and in October, the much-anticipated opening of edamame harvesting time will come.
Now, for those of you wondering what's so special about black
soy bean edamame, let me explain. Black soy bean edamame is the green type of
edamame you might order at an izakaya before it becomes the black soy beans eaten
during New Year celebrations.
However! Black soy bean edamame tastes and feels different from regular edamame, and most importantly, it's much larger! Once you try it, you won't be able to go back to regular edamame! 😆
At first, it's green, but as the weeks go by, its color and flavor deepen. By the end of October, the edamame season will end, and farmers will begin to take off leaves from the stalks and dry the plants. After going through various processes, it will be available as black soy beans around December.
As for Tamba chestnuts, they are
significantly larger than regular chestnuts—one or two sizes bigger! (This is
just my opinion, but I believe many would agree. They're just huge!) During
this time, you'll find chestnut sweets at wagashi(Japanese traditional sweets)
shops and cafes, including traditional sweets that last only one day because they
use no additives. There are many treats you can only taste in Sasayama. If you
visit at this timing, be sure to try Kuri(chestnut) mochi! You'll be amazed by
what's offered! 😵
At
least, I was shocked the first time I saw them because they were so different
from my expectations! What did I expect? Well, usually when you hear Kuri(chestnut)
mochi, we as Japanese imagine that a chestnut is in a mochi. However, if you
order Kuri mochi in Sasayama, a small mochi is in the chestnut paste! That is
because so many sweet chestnuts are available here, which is a luxury in other
places! And the taste is just amazing! Don't miss it!
October is not only a delicious season but also the time for autumn festivals at shrines across the region. You'll see yamaboko (float) influenced by Kyoto's traditions. After that, it will be the season for autumn leaves!
There are also art festivals and pottery markets in the autumn, and this year, the Kasuga Noh performance at Kasuga Shrine will be held on September 22!
Ahhhh, I can't say enough about the charm of autumn in Sasayama!
We look forward to your visit. Let's enjoy the autumn of Sasayama together! 🥰