Dinner plan with "Niigata-ness" (Hisanoya)

When I say Niigata, the first thing that comes to mind is rice! And sake!

I think that is what most people think of.
No doubt about it! Right down the middle!

But that's not all.

Niigata is broadly divided into Joetsu, Chuetsu, Shimoetsu and Sado, each with its own unique cuisine and specialities.

For example, Uonuma in Snow Land is one of Japan's leading rice-producing regions, Tsubame-Sanjo is metalworking, Niigata City offers fruit, Sado offers yellowtail and persimmons, Murakami in northern Niigata offers salmon and tea, Joetsu offers red snow crab, and so on... the list goes on.

There are also hegi soba (buckwheat noodles) in the Tokamachi and Ojiya areas, ramen, curry and other dishes throughout the region.

The reason for the differences in regional characteristics lies in the differences in climate and history, which cannot be summed up by the term "snow country".

But I will write about this region in another article.

NEMARU was originally a guesthouse that did not serve meals.

We thought it would be okay to leave it as it was because there was a demand for guests to cook and go out to eat freely.

It's fun, isn't it?

But what I myself sometimes feel when I leave the prefecture is the anxiety and effort of what I will (or will not) be able to eat on my journey.

Of course, there is the pleasure of searching and discovering by listening to real people on the road.
But this is not the case for everyone.

Some people, especially those who have travelled long distances, may not want to travel any more.

We began to think that if we could offer such people the best dinner in Niigata, which is unique to Niigata, in advance... and if it would become a purpose of their arrival... ....

Just a short walk from NEMARU is a Japanese restaurant called Hisanoya.

It serves lunch during the day and izakaya (Japanese pub) at night.

I have often taken guests to Hisanoya when they were wondering what to eat that day, and I suggested the idea to Hisanoya and they agreed to help us create a menu for our new dinner plan.

Thank you so much!

So the venue for the dinner will be Hisanoya.

The restaurant is not too small or spacious and has a very relaxed atmosphere.

The owner has worked in Tokyo's Ginza district.

There is a counter, a small room and a private room.

When we designed the Dinner Plan, we wanted to create a menu that could be enjoyed at a reasonable price.
We also want to offer a menu that can be enjoyed with gusto.

First of all, we could not do without Niigata rice, which is often requested.

We also think that seafood from the Sea of Japan, which stretches beyond Niigata's long, long coastline, is a must.

So Kaisen-don is the way to go.

Kaisen-don is originally on the menu at Hisanoya, but we have added other ingredients to make it even more satisfying.

Seasonal hors d'oeuvres and miso soup, which are not usually on the evening menu, are also included, making the Kaisen-don plan even more satisfying.

Another satisfying menu was called the Ajikaku Gozen Plan.

This menu is designed to offer a solid selection of regional dishes from Niigata's climate and culture, with sashimi and locally produced Koshihikari salted rice balls as the main dishes.

The content of the menu is left to the professional owner of the Hisanoya. (The innkeeper is committed to the business of the inn!)

As the seafood is mainly landed from Niigata's ports, the menu changes according to the season and climate.

So you can enjoy both Kaisen-don and Ajiwaku Gozen dishes every time you visit!

Salmon is now farmed on Sado Island!

Children's lunches are also available.

A slight difference from the inns is that you can order extra dishes if you want something different.

Of course, there is also a drinks menu, so you can enjoy a glass of local Niigata sake with your meal that day!

These special meals, which aim to be "Niigata-like", can only be enjoyed if you stay at NEMARU.

New meal plans may be created in the future.

If you prefer to travel freely, we recommend staying without meals as you have done so far!

We hope you will enjoy your own personal Niigata sightseeing experience with NEMARU and KUYONOMIYA!

Google Maps: Route from NEMARU to Hisanoya