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
• Visit a bean field and learn about the cultivation of various kinds of beans
• Help make soy pulp salad, miso soup, 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. Visit the bean field at her home, and learn about the cultivation of various kinds of beans (the condition of the bean field will depend on the timing of your visit).

After moving to the Senbiri-chiku Community Center, the members of Mame de Harikiru Kaasan no Kai will teach you how to make tofu from soybeans using a traditional method. Tofu is a staple of Japanese and other Asian cuisine, and is also popular as a nutritious protein substitute.

Using some of the fresh tofu that you made, you can also make make miso soup. You will also make use of the okara (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 bean field viewing
10:30	Move to Senbiri-chiku Community Center, tofu-making experience
12:00	Bean rice, miso soup, okara salad making
12:30	Lunch
13:30	Tour finish