After enjoying sushi, I stopped by a Tsukudani shop on my way back. Normally, just a small portion of Tsukudani with mountain pepper costs over 700 yen, but there was a great deal on a variety pack, so I purchased it. This shop is located very close to Nezu Shrine's approach. The assortment pack costs 1,080 yen and includes shredded mountain pepper, wood ear mushrooms, ginger kelp, Uji shigure, and mushroom tea pickles. I personally prefer Tsukudani with a stronger mountain pepper aroma, but I enjoyed the shredded mountain pepper and other Tsukudani with warm rice and tea pickles. Since it was a good deal, I thought about buying some for home and as souvenirs, but the expiration date is just over a month away, so I decided to buy them another time.

Soy sauce and sugar simmered down make tsukudani. I remember when I lived in Matsumoto in 2002, they were selling live locusts at the home center for how much per bag. The sound of them rustling around is kind of scary in a way. Anyway, while out for a walk, I saw a tsukudani shop selling 5 varieties for 1080 yen, so I bought it right away. From front to back, there was shredded sansho pepper, shijimi clam, finely chopped sansho pepper, sliced cuttlefish, and shredded bracken. My thoughts: The shredded sansho pepper was a bit fishy, but the sliced cuttlefish was pretty tasty for a first try. The shijimi clam and kelp were as expected. I stumbled upon a reasonably priced tsukudani shop while wandering around.

This is a shop near the Negishi Shrine that sells tsukudani (preserved food simmered in soy sauce). During the Tsutsuji Festival, they offer special sets and seasonal products, with some really great deals at times. The shop has a wide variety of options, from simple packaging for home use to nicely boxed items suitable for gifts. The flavors range from strong to mild, catering to both seasoned tsukudani enthusiasts and beginners. It's a convenient shop to have nearby. My recommendation is the walnut and shrimp tsukudani, which I think is more for intermediate-level tsukudani lovers (lol).

Located 200 meters from Nekozane Station towards Sendagi, near the intersection at the entrance of Nekozu Shrine, is a rare shop called Kyoto Tsukudani-ya. Next to it is an American-style cafe bar called Hedge8. Inside the shop, various products are displayed, and you can even try some samples. When asked the staff for something "typical of Kyoto," they recommended the Chirimen Sansho. The chirimen in Chirimen Sansho are really tiny dried fish, even smaller than shirasu, but each one has a strong presence. The grains of sansho pepper have a strong fragrance and a distinct spicy taste. Another great option for rice accompaniment is the konbu tsukudani. It has a rich flavor that goes well with rice, and the slightly sticky texture and umami from amino acids are delightful. True to Kyoto's style, these tsukudani are truly elegant. Perfect for a small souvenir to bring back.

Located near Nedu Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, there is a Kyoto-style simmered dish shop near the "Nedu Shrine Entrance" intersection. This area has some unexpected shops and is quite a deep area. This shop, which can also be found in the Sugamo Jizo-dori shopping street, specializes in "chirimen" dishes. This time, I tried the handcrafted kelp called "Maioogi," which has won the Fisheries Agency Director's Award. Made from genuine Hokkaido kelp, this carefully crafted product has a deep flavor. With its color, aroma, neatly cut shape, and shine, it proudly proclaims itself as a top-quality product. It is a convenient shop for gifts and other occasions.

I found a Kyoto tsukudani shop in Sendagi and bought the following items: 80g of shredded sansho pepper for 1,080 yen (tax included) and 100g of tarako kombu for 702 yen. The shredded sansho pepper has a deliciously spicy and slightly tangy flavor of sansho pepper. It has a rich taste, making it perfect with rice. The tarako kombu has a soft texture that melts in your mouth. The sauce is well infused throughout, making it very tasty. Among tsukudani, I like tarako tsukudani the most. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you for the delicious meal.