About Mikawa

Mikawa is one of the most beautiful areas in Japan, offering a majestic nature and wonderful tastes of traditional food all around the year.


 

	Okazaki Castle Okazaki Castle is the castle where Tokugawa Ieyasu was born, and where the divine sovereign was born. There are many legends associated with dragons, and the castle is also known as Ryugajo (Dragon Castle). It is said that when Takechiyo (later Prince Ieyasu) was born, black clouds swirled over the castle and a golden dragon appeared. The three-storey, five-storey reconstruction of the castle tower was rebuilt in 1959 and is loved and respected by the citizens of Okazaki as a symbol of the city.
	Daijuji Temple Temple for Tokugawa family. When Ieyasu, who was defeated in the Battle of Okehazama, fled to Okazaki, he was surrounded by enemies and attempted to commit suicide. The temple played a major historical role as a place of revival for Ieyasu.
	Miso Mikawa is one of the richest miso-producing areas in Japan. Hatcho miso has been produced in Hatcho-machi, Okazaki, and is characterised by its dark, deep flavour.Soya malt is made from soybeans only and brewed in wooden vats with salt and water, but only a small amount of water is used. Craftsmen pile up cobblestones by hand like a mountain and use them as weights, allowing the miso to mature for two summers and two winters or longer. It is a valuable miso that cannot be mass-produced because of the time and effort required.
	Sake Mikawa has a lot of sake breweries and you can enjoy the top quality local sake produced by the combination of the high-quality rice. The taste of sake is so smooth and generous that it matches Western cuisine as well as Japanese food.
	Sushi Mikawa is also famous for fresh and tasty fish because the south side of the prefecture is located directly on the sea and there are lots of ports around the prefecture nearby.