1. What is Kotobukiya? A long-established Yamagata company that delivers honest food products

Kotobukiya is a long-established store that has been loved in Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture for many years.

In making tsukemono products, they value honest and uncompromising manufacturing, based on the Isobe philosophy, and do not rely on food additives, including carryover (*).


*This refers to the fact that small amounts of food additives used in the manufacturing process of raw materials may remain in the final product.

Because these are items that appear on our dinner tables every day, they want to cherish the inherent power of the ingredients and the wisdom of tradition.

This sentiment can be felt not only in Kotobukiya’s products, but also in the overall atmosphere of the store.

And the appeal of Kotobukiya extends far beyond simply purchasing their products!

In addition to the enjoyment of choosing items in the store, another unique charm of this place is the opportunity to spend a relaxing time at the adjacent traditional Japanese house, Nomori no Yado, and to experience the local food culture through various activities.

2. Just looking at them is fun! Products you can find at Kotobukiya

Inside Kotobukiya’s shop, you’ll find a variety of tsukemono (pickled vegetables) and related products, including their signature products Akanehime and Authentic Brewed Apple Vinegar.

These are all items you’ll want to pick up, whether for your own home or as a gift.

The fact that they offer samples is another great point.

One of the unique pleasures of this shop is being able to experience the richness of Yamagata’s food culture while browsing the selection of products that only a specialty tsukemono shop can offer.

Furthermore, there’s a liquor corner at the back of the store that I personally wouldn’t want to miss!

In this cool and refreshing space, you’ll find a wide selection of delicious sake from within the prefecture.

Alcohol and tsukemono… this is an undeniably perfect combination!

3. Check this out first! Recommended products from Kotobukiya

① Akanehime

If you visit Kotobukiya Kotobukiya, the first thing you should pay attention to is their signature product, Akanehime.

This product is made from fully ripened plums (Setsuda variety) from Higashine City, pickled in sugar and our own authentic brewed apple cider vinegar, without the use of any food additives.

It features the melting sweetness of fully ripened plums and a refreshing taste.

Kotobukiya Official Website

② Authentic brewed apple cider vinegar

Another flagship product that rivals Akanehime is this Authentic Brewed Apple Vinegar.

Made with 100% apple juice, it undergoes two fermentation processes—alcoholic fermentation and acetic acid fermentation—and is then carefully aged.
Many people apparently drink it for health reasons, adding it to cider or alcoholic beverages.

③ Edible apple cider vinegar and onion sauce

This product has just received the Director-General of the Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in the New Product Development Category at the 38th Central Competition for Excellent Local Food Products!

It’s a versatile ingredient that can be used in many ways, such as drizzling it over salads or meat dishes, making it a welcome addition to any meal.

④ Meal eater (mamakeha)

Mamakeha is a long-selling product from Kotobukiya.

“Mamakeha” is a Yamagata dialect phrase meaning “It’s time for dinner.”

It’s recommended to use it not only with warm rice, but also with eggs and natto (fermented soybeans).

⑤ Shiobai Monaka

The newly released Shiobai Monaka is a type of monaka (a Japanese sweet) that combines white bean paste flavored with pickled plums with a shell made from shiso (perilla) leaves.

As the name suggests, it features a perfectly balanced flavor that will make you want to reach for another one.

Born from the playful spirit of the staff, this remarkable product was perfected after numerous prototypes.

All the products have wonderful names, so be sure to check them out when you visit the store.

4. Visit Numori no Yado, a traditional Japanese house over 120 years old.

After enjoying some shopping, head to the adjacent Numori no Yado inn.

This is a traditional Japanese house that was originally a merchant’s house over 120 years ago, and has been restored without altering the building’s shape or layout in any way.

Stepping inside, you’ll find yourself in a space that evokes a sense of nostalgia and exudes a relaxed atmosphere.

① Take a relaxing break at Numori Café

At Numori Café, which operates in the earthen floor area of Nomori no Yado, you can enjoy original amazake (sweet rice wine) menu items.

Kotobukiya offers nine different types of amazake (sweet rice drink) made solely from glutinous rice and koji (rice malt)!

This time, we have
① Plain amazake (right).
② Macha green tea amazake (left)
③ I tried three types of Akanehime Ume Tama Cider.

The amazake comes with hot water, Akanehime syrup, and pickled red plums, making it a set that allows you to slowly enjoy the flavors that are characteristic of Kotobukiya.

This combination was absolutely perfect!

Akanehime is notable for its smooth and soft flesh.

When you put it in your mouth, the gentle sweetness and just the right amount of tartness of the plum spread softly.

After enjoying the mellow sweetness of the amazake, the plum flavor was even more pronounced, allowing me to enjoy a different kind of deliciousness.

And what comforts you in that situation is “hot water.”

It gently complemented the lingering flavors of the amazake and Akanehime sake, providing a moment of respite and comfort.

Enjoying a cup of amazake in a traditional, tranquil setting is appealing not only because of the amazake itself, but also because you can savor the atmosphere of the place.

It was a hidden gem, a special flavor known only to those in the know!

② Enjoy the Hina Doll Exhibition at Nomori no Yado

During our visit, there was also a Hina doll exhibition being held at Nomori no Yado.

The exhibition features approximately ten Hina dolls, including a Kyoho-bina doll from the Takeda family in Jinmachi, Higashine City, dating back about 290 years, as well as dolls from old families in Higashine City and neighboring towns and villages.

Combined with the space of the old house, it created an even more charming atmosphere.

Since there are also permanent exhibits, you can enjoy it as a relaxing stop-off spot.

5. Discover the depth of Yamagata's food culture through a tsukemono-making experience.

Finally, we had the opportunity to experience making tsukemono (traditional crafts) at home, under the guidance of a professional.

At Kotobukiya, you can not only buy products, but also experience food culture through tsukemono making workshops.

The place where we make tsukemono and Akanehime is not just a factory, but we call it the Kotobukiya Tsukemono Dojo, positioning it as a place to cultivate a sincere spirit towards food production.

This time, we tried making sweet pickled plums and pickled-in-sake lees using daikon radish.

① Pickled daikon radish in sweet vinegar

Let’s start with the sweet pickled daikon radish.

Cut the daikon radish into bite-sized pieces.

Place the cut radish in a plastic bag, add salt, and rub it in.

The key is to massage it in thoroughly and evenly.

Doing so helps to remove moisture from the radish, making it easier for the sweet plum pickling base to soak in.

Once you’ve removed all the air from the bag and secured it with a rubber band, your work at the dojo is finished.

For those of you thinking, “What!? Is it already over?”, don’t worry!

There’s also work that can be done from home.

Once you get home, place a weight on top (you can use a pot filled with water as a substitute) and let it soak overnight, then drain the water using a colander.

Once the water has been thoroughly drained, return it to the bag.

Please be careful not to wash it with water at this time!

This would mean forcing the radish, which has already released its moisture, to absorb water again.

Add the sweet plum pickling base and knead it thoroughly.

Remove all the air from the bag, secure it with a rubber band, and you’re done!

Store it in the refrigerator without weighing it down, and it will be ready to eat in about three days.

② Pickled daikon radish in sake lees

Next up is pickled daikon radish in sake lees.

Put mustard powder, salt, and sugar into the bag of sake lees and mix well.

Just like with the pickled daikon radish we made earlier, cut the daikon into bite-sized pieces and put them in the bag we made earlier, then massage them in.

Remove the air and secure it tightly with a rubber band, and you’re done.

It’s best to eat it from the third day onwards, but don’t forget to squeeze the bag once a day.

When eating, please use chopsticks to remove the food from the bag, rather than using your bare hands.

When eating, rinse off the sake lees.

Some people eat it as is, so it’s up to your preference.

And here is the finished pickled food!

Experiencing the process firsthand can significantly change how you view tsukemono, which you usually eat without much thought.

The charm of experiencing something firsthand lies in discovering the effort and thought that goes into it, something you wouldn’t know just by buying it.

The pickled vegetables I made myself tasted especially delicious, and my family loved them.

6. A message from Kotobukiya

For all of you reading VISIT YAMAGATA, we have received messages from Yokoo-san, representative of Kotobukiya Co., Ltd., and Watanabe-san, representative of Kotobukiya Tsukemono Dojo Co., Ltd.

“At Kotobukiya, we manufacture and sell tsukemono without using any food additives.”

Leveraging that expertise, you can experience the charm of Kotobukiya in various ways, such as tsukemono making workshops and the Numori Café.

We believe you’ll enjoy delicious food and have a wonderful time, so please come visit us!

7. Basic Information

◆ Kotobukiya
Hours : 9:30~18:00
TEL : 0237-42-0173
(Telephone Reception hours 9:30~18:00 Open all year-long)
FAX : 0237-42-0174
(24-hour service available)
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◆ Numori Café
Hours : 10:00~16:00
*Closed during the winter season (December to mid-February).
TEL : 0237-42-0173
(Telephone Reception hours 9:30~18:00 Open all year-long)
FAX : 0237-42-0174
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