The Usuki Food Cycle Experience
In today’s world, food often feels separated from its origins. In Usuki, however, the connection between soil, sea, and people remains deeply alive. Recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, Usuki continues to honor time-tested methods of farming, brewing, and cooking.
This journey invites you to trace food from its beginning in fertile soil and coastal waters to beautifully crafted dishes on the table. Walk active fields, meet the producers, and savor meals that celebrate seasonality and sustainability.
Experience a living cycle of flavor, tradition, and care, rooted in one of Japan’s most mindful culinary cultures.
Set in the Sustainable Heartland: Usuki, Oita Prefecture
Perched between sea and countryside, Usuki offers a rare model of fully integrated food culture. Its organically farmed vegetables, regenerative soil practices, and preserved fermentation methods are not recent trends—they’re deeply embedded in daily life. As a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, Usuki values what’s local, seasonal, and sustainable. From the fields to the potter’s kiln, every element is shaped by care. This is not a city built for show, but a living example of how people and food co-evolve over time. If you want to understand how sustainability works in Japan, this is where to start.
Key Highlights of the Experience
1. Soil, Farming, and Seasonal Harvests
Learn about regenerative agriculture at Usuki’s Soil Cultivation Center. Visit local farms, meet growers, and experience how seasonal timing and biodiversity shape both flavor and sustainability.
2. Sake Brewing, Seafood Traditions, and Crafts
Tour a small-scale sake brewery and discover how fermentation bridges land and sea. Depending on the season, witness the yellowtail fishing cycle or explore the craftsmanship of Usuki-yaki pottery.
3. Dining and Storytelling Through Local Cuisine
Savor a multi-course dinner prepared with Usuki’s finest seasonal ingredients. Stroll the historic merchant streets, connecting food, people, and tradition in a final, memorable walk.
