Protected local food
Yatsushiro Ginger
八代生姜
Juicy, mild ginger from the valleys around Yatsushiro in Kumamoto. It is stored in cool caves cut into soft volcanic rock, so it ships all year round.
Key facts
- Registered as a protected name
- 30 March 2020
- Region
- Kyushu & Okinawa
- Official name in Japanese
- 八代生姜
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 熊本県八代市、熊本県八代郡氷川町、宇城市小川町海東地区、下益城郡美里町中央地区
Juicy and mild
Yatsushiro ginger is carefully trimmed and must meet strict shipping standards. The roots are smooth, glossy and free of blemishes, with juicy flesh and a gentle heat. Markets pay over 30% more for it than for ordinary ginger.
Small fields in steep valleys
It grows in the hills of Yatsushiro, Hikawa, Uki and Misato in Kumamoto, in valleys with plenty of water. Some fields sit among terraces chosen as some of Japan's 100 best rice terraces. The fields are small, which helps stop disease spreading from one to the next.
Stored in rock caves
The hills are made of tuff, a soft volcanic rock. Farmers dig storage caves into it, and the steady temperature and humidity inside keep the ginger in good condition, so it can ship year round.
Good to know
- Look for pickled ginger and ginger syrup made from Yatsushiro ginger in Kumamoto souvenir shops.
- Shin-Yatsushiro Station is about 15 minutes from Kumamoto by Shinkansen, on the way south to Kagoshima.
Questions travellers ask
Why is it available all year?
Because it is stored in caves dug into tuff rock, where the temperature and humidity stay right for ginger.
Is it very spicy?
No. It is known for being juicy with a mild heat.
Where it comes from
More protected foods from the same area
Crafts from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.