Best and Most Popular Souvenirs at Gujo!
5 Recommended Souvenirs You can buy at “Former Hachiman Government Building Memorial Hall”

Most recommended souvenirs at Former Hachiman Government Building Memorial Hall

1) Ohmamiya Nikkeidama & Kuronikkei (Cinnamon candy)

486JPY each (with tax) * Current price at 2020 March

Nikkeidama from Ohmamiya has been made without extra additives since 1926 when the company was first established. This candy is handmade in tradition way. Its nostalgic packaging makes it very suitable for gifts too.

High quality of yellow granulated sugar used for making this Nikkeidama is sweet but not too sweet. It becomes the most popular souvenir in Gujo and the most famous product in Ohmamiya. Kuronikkei is made from brown sugar from Okinawa. The taste is richer than Nikkeidama. The spiciness and smell of cinnamon whisked through your nose. The sweetness and spiciness come together when you taste it. As it is not too sweet, you can have one more Nikkeidama after finishing one. In addition, having a piece of Nikkeidama in your mouth while drinking coffee is the best Gujo way to enjoy this Nikkeidama!

When you open the package, you will definitely be surprised by its volume!
Plenty of Nikkeidama in one bag and the price is 486JPY (with tax) only!

They are round and so cute when you place them onto your hand. According to the locals, in their childhood, every family had Nikkeidama in their houses. It is the taste of the locals and is a highly recommended item for tourists too.

2) Showado Odori-shiruko (Sweet red bean soup)

6 bags 1000JPY (With tax) * Current price at 2020 March

Odori-shiruko, from Showado which was established in 1926, is an instant red bean soup. Odori-shiruko was made by the first generation of Gujo Odori dance expert. It is loved by the locals and also visitors of Gujo Odori Dance Festival in summer.

Dried rice cake has the shape of a dancer facing the most famous song of Gujo Odori Dance Festival “Kawasaki”. When you pour hot water into the soup, a dancer floats from the bottom. How cute it is! Comparing with normal red bean soup, it is less sweet. It makes you warm in winter. Other than hot water, you may pour cold water or milk into it. You can try it during summer! The rice cake floats slower when you use cold water. Stir and mix well immediately after you pour cold water.

As there are two kinds of packages, you can choose the best one for your friends. Both taste and packaging are good for souvenir.

3) Japan Agricultural Megumino Meiho Ham (Hachiman limited)

400g 1190JPY (With tax) * Current price at 2020 March

Meiho Ham from Japan Agricultural Megumino is a kind of pressed ham which is a Japan only method to make ham. Mix meat with little binder and put it into the mold. In speaking of ham, nowadays, you may think of loin roll ham or boneless ham. During the 1960s, pressed ham was popular. The quantity of meat used is up to 90%, or up to 100% for premium pressed ham.

As the procedures of making pressed ham is very simple, the quality of meat affects the most. Meiho ham is made by Japanese pork with many different procedures to let the tradition remains the same. The pink color you can see when you cut it in half is so beautiful. You can feel the juice when you cook them by frying or grilling. The taste of Meiho Ham is a simple and full of the love of the locals.

The most recommended way to eat Meiho Ham is eat it without cooking. You can try to cut and eat next time. The taste of meat is rich and the texture is tender. As the taste of Meiho Ham is juicy and meaty, many families have it in their fridge. As there are many methods to cook this ham, it is perfect for souvenir!

4) Nodaken-seikaho Tochinomi Senbei (Rice cracker with chestnuts)

1 bag 560JYP (With tax) * Current price at 2020 March

Tochinomi Senbei from Nodaken-seikaho is a rice cracker handmade by the third generation. This rice cracker with chestnuts is different from those selling at Hida Takayama or Shirakawago where both are famous sightseeing spots in Gifu-ken. The temperature of grilling and volume of wind used change according to the weather on that day. Nodaken Seikaho aims to make every cracker tastes the same.

In order to keep the high quality of Senbei, those which are not in good shape or not in good quality will not be sold. When you put this round Senbei into your mouth, this hard but simple taste, I am sure that you will fall in love with it. The good smell of chestnuts and the sweetness of sugar make you love it more and more.

As it is too popular, stock may not be available at the memorial hall. Take a 5 minutes’ walk to their shop, you can buy this Senbei from there. Please feel free to walk around the town and pay a visit to their shop.

5) Meiho Ladies Tomato ketchup

300g (1 bottle) 648JPY (With tax) * Current price at 2020 March

This ketchup is made by tomato from Meiho area. A group of local women “Meiho Ladies” makes this ketchup wholeheartedly. The whole process of production is all handmade, starting from washing tomatoes to filling into bottles after cooking in a large pot for 5 hours. Even some tomatoes do not look good that cannot be sold in the market, but the taste stays very good! Local women tried many times to make the best ketchup so that the taste is totally different from those sold in the market.

When you ladle one spoonful of ketchup, it just like fruit jam! After this ketchup was introduced as the best tomato ketchup in Japan on TV show, it becomes so popular that stock usually runs out. 1500 bottles of ketchup are made every morning by hands. It is also popular to send as gift as no additives is added that it is safe for children.

When you add it onto omelet, egg and ketchup match well together! Although the taste of tomato ketchup from Meiho Ladies is rich, it turns simple and flat in the aftertaste. It matches with all kinds of dishes. Even you taste the ketchup itself, it is smooth with rich taste of condensed tomato. It tastes so good.