A delightful traditional dish from Nagano Prefecture made by wrapping various seasoned mountain vegetables in a soft and flavorful dough.

It comes with 6 flavors, a total of 12 pieces, and especially, the vegetable flavor is seasoned with miso, and it's truly delicious.

It's a local dish of the Nagano Prefecture,

Oyaki are various seasoned and mountain vegetables that are wrapped in a dough of wheat or buckwheat flour.
Similar in a way to dumplings, they are then grilled.
Historically, it was baked on the edge of the hearth within homes and has long been a staple food item in this area.

Additionally, due to its simple recipe of a few ingredients it is entirely vegan, making it a popular choice amongst people of this diet as it can be hard to find many food places that can accommodate for that in Japan.

6 Flavors to Savor

1. Nozawana Pickles

Besides being a popular pickling ingredient, Nozawana, known for its wild turnip greens, has also gained popularity as a filling for oyaki.
They've lightly pickled Nozawana in salt and seasoned it with Shinshu miso.

2. Vegetable Mix

A vegetable-filled oyaki primarily made with cabbage, mixed with carrots, onions, and Nozawana greens.

3. Sweet Red Bean Paste

A mildly sweet bean paste oyaki. It's a popular choice for a sweet treat that can also serve as a snack.

5. Pumpkin

It's beloved for its sweet and tender pumpkin filling

6. Green Onion Miso

A sweet and savory Shinshu miso and green onion filling.
When baked, the green onions release their sweetness, and the miso flavor is enhanced with breadcrumbs.

A Culinary Journey through Nagano's Countryside

They craft delectable oyaki using a chewy, mochi-like dough made from wheat flour or a blend with leftover rice.
These delightful morsels feature fresh, locally sourced vegetables seasoned with 'Shinshu' miso, a beloved soybean and koji-based paste hailing from Nagano.
After wrapping the vegetable fillings in the dough, they are swiftly fried and baked at a scorching 250 degrees Celsius in a kiln.

This process yields an exterior that's chewy, fluffy, and slightly crispy, emitting an enticing fragrance that tantalizes your taste buds.
A single bite delivers the satisfying flavor of freshly cooked vegetables.
Since oyaki ingredients are locally procured, they can vary widely by location.
This invites you to embark on an enjoyable adventure, sampling diverse versions of oyaki across Nagano.

Oyaki's homely taste mirrors the calm, peaceful nature of Nagano, offering a genuine taste of the Japanese countryside.

Exploring the Oyaki Tradition

When travelling throughout the Nagano Prefecture, you will more than likely see multiple places advertising and selling oyaki.
Spanning a history dating back to the Jomon period, foods such as ‘yakimochi’ which utilises grains were believed to be the foundations and  inspirations to what would become oyaki.
A quick meal between work came in the form of a grilled oyaki instead of a rice ball you  would typically expect to see.