There are very few foreigners that have been to Shikoku, even amongst those who have visited Japan on several occasions. According to the data of the Japan Tourism Agency, only one in a hundred or 1% of foreigners visiting Japan visit Shikoku. Shikoku is surrounded by the Seto Inland Sea to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south, and enjoys a warm climate. As a result, it is home to many specialties such as seafood and agricultural products and is a base for Halal; it is sure to gain popularity as a destination off the beaten path in the future.
Souvenirs may trigger Shikoku’s popularity. Of the 747 items in the Japan Tourism Agency’s “souvenirs popular throughout the world”, three items were selected as the ultimate taste of Japan including the “Narutokko” of Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku. Although these handmade sweets produced by covering Naruto Kintoki sweet potato and Awa Wasanbon (refined sugar) (prepared the same way as 200 years ago!) with purple sweet potato powder have not acquired Halal certification, they use only natural ingredients.
You can enjoy this product, which “cannot be mass produced as it is handmade”, as much as you will wonder whether it is a real potato or a Japanese sweet. We recommend enjoying it with Japanese tea, which is popular even in the Islamic countries. This product can ordinarily be purchased from Hohgetsubo, Okada Togenkyo (Hotel Sunroute Tokushima, 1F in front of JR Tokushima Station), Tokushima airport, and via mail order (only in Japan), however you may be able to purchase it at foreign events such as the “Tokushima Exhibition” and “Shikoku Exhibition” in the future. Such original Japanese products can still be found regionally, and we plan to sequentially introduce them in the future.
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