Honbetsu Town in eastern Tokachi is the largest producer of beans in Japan, with a climate and temperature variation that is ideal for bean cultivation. It is in this town where a group of farmer’s wives known as “Mame de Harikiru Kaasan no Kai” (Mothers Full of Energy with Beans) produce and sell various food products made with Honbetsu beans, such as tofu and abura-age. In this tour program, you will try making tofu in the traditional way together with the farmer’s wives, then enjoy it for lunch with bean rice and okara (soy pulp) salad.

Highlights

• Experience making tofu in the traditional way together with farmer’s wives
• See a soybean field growing in a home vegetable garden
• Learn how to cook miso soup, soy pulp salad, and bean rice and enjoy it for lunch

You will first visit the home of Tomie Yamada, the head of the Mame de Harikiru Kaasan no Kai. See the soybean field in her vegetable garden, and learn about the secrets behind the good taste and quality of Honbetsu beans.

Together with the farmer’s wives in the group, you will experience making tofu from local soybeans using traditional methods. Tofu is a staple of Japanese and other Asian cuisine, and is also popular as a nutritious protein substitute.

Using the fresh tofu that you made, you can try making miso soup. You will also make use of the soy pulp that remains from the tofu-making process to make okara salad, then enjoy it with rice cooked with Honbetsu beans for a nutritious lunch.

Note: All images are for illustration purposes only. Your actual experience may vary.

Schedule

10:00	Meetup with Mame de Harikiru Kaasan no Kai
10:05	Mame de Harikiru Kaasan no Kai introduction and soybean garden viewing
10:30	Move to Senbiri-chiku Community Center, tofu-making experience
12:00	Bean rice, miso soup, okara salad cooking
12:30	Lunch
13:30	Tour finish