Japan is one country that has good quality agricultural products where each region and each province will have their own local products that are well-known as city products that are supported by the government in parallel with tourism such as Kawagoe city in Saitama Prefecture.
Kawagoe has another name that is called "Little Edo" because many old houses and building maintained in Edo-style which are hundreds of years old and have been registered as a national heritage. This city has a wooden bell tower as a symbol of the city. In addition to the retro Edo-style atmosphere that makes this city charming, there is another thing that is considered charming and unique which is the "Japanese sweet potatoes". There’s a saying that you would not have arrived in Kawagoe without eating their sweet potatoes.
In addition to planting rice in Kawagoe, sweet potatoes are also planted as well. The sweet potatoes here can be cooked and eaten without having to peel and zero worries on chemical residue. Because all crops and products are being planted organically. So, it is certain that you can eat everything here without chemical contamination.
Kawagoe’s sweet potatoes have also been processed into other different products, such as soft cream, pudding, grilled mashed potatoes, Japanese sweet potato beer, sweet potato mochi, fried buns, and etc. It is also used as a raw material for some cuisine in order to increase the value of the product, too.
One on hand, supporting tourism along with agricultural products is not something new here in Japan. For those who have visited Japan before, you would see all those souvenir shops they are so tempting for all of us to shop.
On the other hand, because the Japanese have a tradition of giving gifts to each other, therefore, tourism and souvenirs are considered a pair. This is probably a marketing strategy that Japan has developed locally and have been helping farmers for a long time until it turns out that people end up asking about the famous products of each city.
Strategy that presents agricultural products along with tourism is considered as an effective method. In addition to promoting tourism and promoting local agricultural products, it also helps to improve the local economy. Here it is, the truly one district, one district of Japan.
Author
Uboltip Settasakko
TKLS The Sassy Saitama Lady / The owner of Krobkrueng Japan Page
Comments