🛍️ Thousand-Year Salmon Kikkawa

Located in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, the salmon processing shop "千年鮭 kikkawa (Kikkawa)" is renowned for its salmon, a local specialty from this seaside village facing the Sea of Japan. The nearby Sanmen River is also famous as the world's first natural breeding ground for salmon. Kikkawa was a sake brewery from the Edo period until the end of World War II. It employs a consistent fermentation method that has been in use since its establishment for food processing. The process is meticulously crafted, with absolutely no use of food additives, chemical seasonings, or even yeast extracts. The building, constructed during the Meiji period, is over 130 years old and is designated as a tangible cultural asset. Visitors can see thousands of salmon hanging from the large beams of the ceiling in the back. Inside the store, there is a spacious sales area filled with a wide variety of products. From refrigerated and frozen items to shelf-stable goods, the shelves are stocked with various products made from different parts of the salmon, as well as many limited items available only on-site. Both the products and the store itself reflect the rich history of the area, making it a must-visit spot when in Murakami.

A salmon processing shop in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture. It offers a wide variety of salmon dishes made only with traditional methods and natural ingredients. Since its establishment, no additives have been used at all. The shop, which has been in operation for 130 years, is designated as a tangible cultural asset. It is a must-visit attraction when in Murakami.