Journeys in photographs and words.

Places we stopped along the way

Omihachiman, Shiga

Omi Tsukemono Yamajo, Himure shop

From: A day in Omihachiman, where boats glide through town

Entering the pickle shop beside the stone wall
Entering the pickle shop beside the stone wall

The pickle maker's own shop on the approach to Himure Hachimangu Shrine. I bought red konnyaku and hinona pickles.

253-1 Miyauchi-cho, Omihachiman, Shiga

Sources: yamajou.co.jp

This moment in the journey

Red konnyaku and hinona pickles

I stopped at a pickle shop beside a stone wall. A banner under the eaves announced that the hinona pickles were ready. In a basket sat piles of red konnyaku, the local specialty I had been curious about, in pink packets.

Hinona pickles, striking for their vivid purple-red color and slender shape, were coiled into spirals and packed. At the back of the shop hung a banner reading "Hinona, a specialty of Omi." I bought both for tonight's table.

Watch this scene on YouTube3:16

Read this scene in the full journey

Picking up a pink packet of red konnyaku from the basket
Picking up a pink packet of red konnyaku from the basket
Hinona pickles coiled into spirals and packed
Hinona pickles coiled into spirals and packed
Inside the shop, under a banner for Omi hinona
Inside the shop, under a banner for Omi hinona