Get a Taste of Japan, Visit the Cities of Niigata and Tsuruoka
On the north-east coast of Japan, where mountains roll into rice fields and waves crash on sandy shores, two historical cities stand out for their gastronomic delights. Harbour side Niigata and mountainous Tsuruoka - located in the Tohoku region of Japan, a few hours from Tokyo by train - have a very different culinary style, but both approach cuisine in a way that celebrates the farmlands, oceans and mountains that surround them. The cities may be 140km apart, but their commitment to the country's natural abundance unites them in reputation: as true culinary capitals of Japan.