Hello, fellow travel lovers!
This time, I visited Roadside Station Kasama in Ibaraki Prefecture, an area famous for its chestnuts!
It was mid-September, just as chestnuts were starting to appear for the season. And there they were: rows of beautiful chestnuts, much bigger than I had imagined! 🌰
I had never bought chestnuts or cooked with them before,
but by the end of my visit, I was completely charmed by Kasama’s chestnuts. 😊
- A Popular Roadside Station, Even on a Rainy Weekday
- Rows of Big, Beautiful Chestnuts!
- A Chestnut Peeler Was a Great Buy!
- Chestnut Anpan and More Tempting Sweets!
- My First Chestnut Dishes!
- One More Discovery: A Giant Chestnut with a Lovely Smile
- Roasted Chestnuts Across the Road!
- My Tips for Visiting Roadside Station Kasama
- Roadside Station Kasama: Visitor Information
A Popular Roadside Station, Even on a Rainy Weekday
I arrived just after opening on a weekday with a light drizzle.
The parking lot wasn’t full, but there were already plenty of visitors. It’s popular even early in the morning!
I spotted some impressive chestnut burrs growing on a little tree. Such a small tree working so hard to grow such big chestnuts! 😊
I also found a Roadside Station Kasama pin badge!
And a giant chestnut sculpture welcomed us. My excitement for all things chestnut was growing already! 🌰
Rows of Big, Beautiful Chestnuts!
Inside, the shop was filled with the flavors of autumn.
And the stars of the show were the chestnuts. They were big, beautiful, and impressive!
I couldn’t believe how much larger they were than the chestnuts I was used to seeing. I had never bought chestnuts at the supermarket, but seeing these made me want to try cooking with them! 😆
Looking at the Kasama Chestnut Guide, I discovered that there are so many different varieties.
I had no idea chestnuts came with so many different personalities!
There were also recipe ideas in the shop. The more I looked, the more I wanted to try cooking with chestnuts.
A Chestnut Peeler Was a Great Buy!
To prepare for my chestnut-cooking adventure, I picked up a chestnut peeler too.
You can find cheaper ones online or at supermarkets, but I was so excited to get started that I bought one right there! 😆
And it turned out to be a great decision.
Without this peeler, I might never have managed to cook those chestnuts! It became my trusty helper for my first chestnut dishes.
You use the peeler a bit like peeling an apple. For a first-timer like me, it was a very handy tool! 😊
You use the peeler a bit like peeling an apple. For a first-timer like me, it was a very handy tool! 😊
Chestnut Anpan and More Tempting Sweets!
I also found chestnut anpan—a sweet bun filled with chestnut paste. 🌰
There were plenty of other tempting sweets too. I had come to buy chestnuts, but everything kept catching my eye!
The power of chestnut temptation is real… 😆
Here’s what my friend picked up. It’s always fun to see everyone’s shopping finds!
As for me, I bought two varieties of chestnuts: Rihei and Hitomaru.
My First Chestnut Dishes!
As soon as I got home, it was time to try cooking with my chestnuts!
First up was a simple classic: chestnut rice. Rice filled with big chestnuts feels like autumn in a bowl. 🌰
Then I tried some recipes ChatGPT helped me with♪
Chicken and Chestnut Stir-Fry with Lotus Root and Asparagus
This was my first time using chestnuts in a stir-fry! I cooked them with chicken and vegetables, seasoned with butter and soy sauce.
Simmered Chicken, Chestnuts, and Mushrooms
Next came a simmered dish with chestnuts, chicken, and mushrooms. Who would have thought that someone who had never even bought chestnuts would end up making one chestnut dish after another?
My visit to the roadside station brought a little taste of autumn to our table at home. 😊
One More Discovery: A Giant Chestnut with a Lovely Smile
Just as we were leaving, I spotted a giant chestnut with a face tucked away toward the back!
What a great expression. It almost looked like it was saying, “Good luck with your chestnut cooking!” 😆
Roasted Chestnuts Across the Road!
Across the road, we also found roasted chestnuts for sale.
The best part? They were ready to eat straight away. And yes, they were big too!
Warm, fluffy, and absolutely delicious! 🌰
My Tips for Visiting Roadside Station Kasama
- Don’t miss the chestnut display in autumn. The size of Kasama’s chestnuts really surprised me!
- Check out the varieties and recipes. You might be inspired to try cooking with chestnuts for the first time, just like I was.
- Look out for chestnut anpan and other sweets. Beware of temptation while shopping! 😆
- Try the roasted chestnuts across the road. They’re a delicious treat you can enjoy right away.
Chestnut varieties and availability, as well as the roasted chestnut seller’s opening days, may vary depending on the season and weather.
Roadside Station Kasama: Visitor Information
- Address: 22-1 Tegoshi, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture
- Midori no Kaze farmers’ market: City, Ibaraki Prefecture Midori no Kaze farmers’ market: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Regular closing day: Second Thursday of the month; open throughout September to November
- Official website: https://m-kasama.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Opening hours and closing days may change, so please check before your visit.
Kasama’s chestnuts were so much bigger than the ones I had seen before, and I was delighted to discover that I love cooking with them too.
I hope to visit again next year and meet those big chestnuts once more! 🌰
The journey continues… Wishing you wonderful travels too!
＊＊Tabijun＊＊
