Butterbur Sprout Festival at a Co-op Farmer's Market

Murakko Bussankan （むらっこ物産館）is a cooperative product center in Nishiki Town. After the winter closure from November till April, the store is finally open offering you many different kinds of seasonal vegetables and traditional crafts hand-made by the local villagers.

 

Murakko Bussankan

Murakko Bussankan welcomes visitors in festival on the 3rd Sundays of every month. In April, it is called “Bakkya Matsuri,” or butterbur sprout festival. Butterbur sprout is one of the wild delicacies (“sansai”) enjoyed in late April. It is called “fukinoto” in common Japanese but “bakkya” in Akita dialect. The popular ingredient is served deep-fried, croquette, and in sweetened miso sauce.

 

The store will have different kinds of dishes like mentioned above, as well as some warm meals for cheap prices. This is a perfect stop-over to taste how the authentic homey meals taste like, since it is cooked by local mothers! (More)

Butterbur sprouts are enjoyed deepfried, croquette, and sauteed in sweet miso sauce.

What is Sansai?

“Sansai” literally translates to “mountain vegetables.” They are as “wild” as they could be (yes, that means free of pesticides and fertilizers) and also delicious as it is enjoyed over many generations. Sansai could be any plants like leaves, sprouts, mushrooms, etc.

 

The sansai is collected and prepared by the local villagers, which are the specialists of sansai in this area. You do not want to go find the wild delicacies in the mountains yourself, since there are many kinds that resembles and could deceive you--- you must make sure to have only the edible ones. The preparation is another trouble: Some sansais take complicated process before they become palatable. No wonder why they are sold expensively in Tokyo area.

So here is your perfect chance! Just stop by at Murakko Bussankan to taste the seasonal sansai at the freshest and bestest time of the year!

Bakkya Matsuri at Murakko Bussankan

11a.m. to 15 p.m. Sunday, April 17th, 2011.

Murakko Bussankan

Business Open from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m.
TEL 0187-47-2205

Butterbur Sprout Festival at Murakko Bussankan!

Fukinoto (Petasites hybrid) is one of the wild delicacies found after the melting snow. It is commonly known as Butterbur in English, and Bakkya in our Akita dialect. The basal bracts are enjoyed in various dishes especially in Tohoku region. Just before it opens up and shows the spiky flowers is the perfect timing for cooking. The young soft bracts are cooked in dishes like Tempura and Miso soup, but Akita's ultimate favorite is Bakkya-miso.

Murakko-Bussankan is a store in Nishiki Area, where the local people co-operatively sell agricultural and crafty goods. There is a booth available for you to enjoy dishes like fresh buckwheat noodles and soft ice cream of their original flavors. (Try their seasonal flavors of spinach, chestnut, and buckwheat!)

Autumn is the season for wild mushrooms!

The leaves of Wasabi (Japanese Horseradish) is delicious. Have you tried?

Help yourself with Nishiki's Saimyoji-guri (Chestnut known for the gigantic size).  Available in late autumn.

Themed event is planned on the third Sundays on every month. April is Butterbur Sprout.

Just catch any worker there! They will answer you enthusiastically.

April 11th is the opening day after the winter closure. There will be Bakkya Festival. They welcome you with a various Bakkya dishes along with other seasonal delicacies. The locals have been waiting for it all winter long, so it will be quite an event!

Murakko Bussankan

Business Open: April to November 9:00am- 17:00pm

TEL: Japan +81-187-47-2205

(Inquiries in English: sasaki@tazawako.com)