Nagano offers Edo-inspired cuisine to attract history buffs

The city of Nagano is drawing on the rich heritage of its historic Matsushiro district to attract international tourists. It offers immersive tours and meals that reflect the dining culture of a 19th-century feudal lord.


The city collaborates with local businesses and develops experiences and products rooted in historical documents and expert advice. A highlight is a contemporary take on the traditional banquets enjoyed by Yukinori Sanada, the ninth head of the Matsushiro clan, who assumed his role in 1852.

The multicourse meal, created by the Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa, is inspired by the recipes of a chef who once cooked for the Sanada family. It features kelp-marinated seabream, grilled egg, and Japanese spiny lobster. To ensure authenticity, all items are made with locally sourced ingredients and prepared using cooking methods typical of the Edo period (1603–1868).

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The multicourse menu, curated by the Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa, is inspired by the culinary records of a cook serving the Sanada family and boasts delicacies such as kelp-cured sea bream, grilled egg and Japanese spiny lobster. To ensure authenticity, dishes are prepared from locally sourced ingredients using techniques common in the Edo period (1603-1868). The hotel touts this dining experience as an exclusive opportunity for foreign visitors who are enthusiastic about Japanese history, and is even exploring plans to serve meals at the tranquil Sanada Residence, which was built in 1864 as an outer palace in the Matsushiro Castle complex as a home for the lord's stepmother.

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