Why is Uonuma City Koshihikari so delicious? We also introduce 9 recommended stores!

Uonuma City is famous for its rice production, and it is often said that "Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma City is delicious."
What makes Uonuma City Koshihikari so delicious? We'll reveal the secret!
We will also introduce recommended shops where you can purchase Uonuma City Koshihikari rice. Be sure to give it a try!

• Table of Contents
• Actually, it's the best rice in Japan! What is Uonuma Koshihikari?
• Why is Koshihikari rice from Uonuma City delicious even when cold?
• The secret to delicious rice: Uonuma City unique climate
• The secret to delicious rice ② Water unique to Uonuma City, a region with heavy snowfall
• Secret to delicious rice 3: Uonuma City's soil is ideal for growing Koshihikari!
• 9 recommended shops where you can buy Uonuma City-grown Koshihikari rice!
• An event where you can taste Uonuma Koshihikari rice
• Summary: There is a secret to the deliciousness of Uonuma City Koshihikari!

Actually, it's the best rice in Japan! What is Uonuma Koshihikari?

Niigata Prefecture is the number one rice producing prefecture in Japan, and Uonuma Koshihikari rice has been awarded the highest rank of "Special A" in rice taste rankings.

Even though it is called "Koshihikari from Uonuma," some people may be wondering, "Where is this rice grown?" or "Isn't it rice grown in Uonuma City?"

Uonuma Koshihikari is koshihikari harvested in the Uonuma region (Uonuma City, Minamiuonuma City , Ojiya City, Nagaoka City(formerly Kawaguchi Town), Yuzawa Town, and Tsunan Town).

Among them, rice grown in Uonuma City is called "Uonuma City Koshihikari."

Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma City is said to be of particularly high quality even within the Uonuma region.

Why is Koshihikari rice from Uonuma City delicious even when cold?

Koshihikari rice from Uonuma City has a unique sweetness that you will never forget once you have tried it. The sweetness is so strong that you can even smell it from the steam rising from the rice when it is cooked.

It has a chewy and sticky texture, and the more you chew it, the more the gentle sweetness spreads in your mouth.

This chewy texture and stickiness is closely related to the starch contained in rice.

When you think of starch, you might recall the potato experiments you did in elementary school science class. Rice also contains starch, and starch is an important component that makes rice delicious.

Rice contains several starches, one of which is amylopectin.

Amylopectin is a type of pectin, which is the ingredient that thickens jams and other foods. Amylopectin has a very high viscosity, which gives rice its chewy texture.

Koshihikari rice from Uonuma City is known for being delicious even when cold, thanks to the amylopectin contained in the rice.

Koshihikari rice from Uonuma City contains more amylopectin than other types of rice, which is why it retains sufficient moisture even when cooled.

This prevents the rice from becoming dry or hard, allowing you to enjoy the original flavor of the rice even when it has cooled.

The secret to delicious rice: Uonuma City unique climate

There are three reasons why Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma City is so delicious.

The first reason is Uonuma City unique climate.

In the summer, Uonuma City experiences high temperatures exceeding 30°C. However, the temperature drops sharply at night. This is because Uonuma City is located in a mountainous area surrounded by mountains over 2,000 meters high. The wind blowing down from the mountains lowers the temperature.

When rice grows, it stores starch in the sunlight during the day. Starch is the component that makes rice tasty, and it is also a nutrient necessary for rice growth. If the temperature remains high at night, the starch is consumed, but when the temperature drops, the starch remains stored.

This is why Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma City is able to store a lot of starch, making it delicious rice.

The average temperature during the ripening period (the period from heading to harvesting) also plays a significant role. The optimum ripening temperature for Koshihikari is 24°C. Uonuma City is located in an area close to this temperature.

24 degrees is the temperature at which the amylose content, a type of starch in rice, is kept low. It is said that when the amylose content decreases, the rice becomes more sticky. This results in delicious sticky rice.

But that's not the only secret to its deliciousness. Koshihikari rice grown in Uonuma City has a layer of bran, rich in umami ingredients, that penetrates deep into the center of the rice, just like marbled beef.

The condition of the sugar layer seems to vary depending on the region and climate. The higher the quality of rice grown in mountainous areas, the more the sugar layer seems to penetrate deep into the center of the grain, as if it has grown roots.

The sugar layer that gives the rice its umami flavor remains in large amounts even after it is polished, which is why Uonuma Koshihikari is so delicious.

The secret to delicious rice ② Water unique to Uonuma City, a region with heavy snowfall

Uonuma City is also famous for its heavy snowfall. The large amounts of snow that accumulate during the winter melt from the mountains and irrigate the rice paddies.

Meltwater from upstream river areas like Uonuma City is characterized by having less organic matter and a moderate mineral content than downstream areas. It provides nutrients that are important for rice growth. In addition, the cold meltwater helps prevent soil temperatures from rising in the summer. It plays an important role in revitalizing rice roots.

Secret to delicious rice 3: Uonuma City's soil is ideal for growing Koshihikari!

The soil in Uonuma City is alluvial soil formed by rivers such as the Uono River and Harama River that flow through the city.

Compared to other soils, alluvial soil has the characteristic of having a smaller capacity to supply the nutrients needed for paddy rice. For Koshihikari, this soil provides less nutrients in the early stages of growth.

You might think that if the nutrients are not enough, the rice will not taste good. However, this property is effective in preventing overgrowth in the early stages of cultivation and in preventing diseases such as rice blast.

The soil is also suitable for growing Koshihikari rice, which is large and prone to lodging, as it is easy to adjust the fertilizer.

9 recommended shops where you can buy Uonuma City-grown Koshihikari rice!

We have explained the secret behind the deliciousness of Uonuma City Koshihikari rice! After reading this far, some of you may be wondering, "I'm curious about Uonuma City Koshihikari rice," or "I'd like to try Uonuma City Koshihikari rice."

From here, we will introduce shops where you can buy Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma City.

There are also stores that sell online, so be sure to check them out.

1. Uonuma Hyakusaikan TEL: 025-792-7066 JA Uonuma Agricultural Products Direct Sales Store. In addition to rice, they also sell a wide variety of vegetables.

2. Monozuki Village TEL: 025-799-4801 This is a local farm shop run by local farmers who bring their produce to the area. It offers fresh, delicious, and affordable produce.

3. Roadside Station Irihirose TEL: 025-796-2500 This roadside station is adjacent to National Route 252. They sell their own home-grown Koshihikari rice, "Sougoro," from Uonuma City.

4. Yunotani Handicraft Village TEL: 025-793-1000 A local product center adjacent to National Route 352. In addition to rice, they also sell sake, soba noodles, sweets, and other souvenirs.

5. Miyuki no Sato in Roadside Station Yunotani TEL: 025-792-9300 This roadside station is the closest to Uonuma Interchange. It stocks a wide variety of souvenirs, including Uonuma City grown Koshihikari rice.

6. Uonuma Beikoku TEL: 0120-141-584 A specialty store selling rice. Enjoy products directly delivered from the farm, carefully selected by the store manager, who is also an agricultural product inspector.

7. Human Station Uonuma TEL: 025-795-5006 In addition to rice, they also sell local vegetables and specialty products. If you purchase brown rice, you can have it polished on the spot.

8. UONUMA FARMERS MARKET TEL: 025-792-8705 This is Sakuraya Farm's direct sales store. When the season comes, you can buy their own brand of rice, "Kitauonuma's Seasonal Koshihikari Rice."

9. Kaiundo Co., Ltd. TEL: 025-792-7051 This souvenir shop is located in front of Saifukuji Temple (Kaisando Hall). Uonuma Koshihikari rice is sold directly by the producer.

An event where you can taste Uonuma Koshihikari rice

We are currently running a campaign where you can taste Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma !

Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture  is holding a campaign in collaboration with restaurants and other businesses in the city to allow more people to experience the deliciousness of Uonuma Koshihikari, a brand of rice that is proud of throughout the country.

During the period, participating stores will be offering menu items using Uonuma Koshihikari rice.

Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy the authentic flavors of Uonuma City.

◆ Click here for 2025↓The main dish is rice! Uonuma Koshihikari rice set meal

Summary: There is a secret to the deliciousness of Uonuma City Koshihikari!

This time, we introduced the secret behind the deliciousness of Uonuma City's Koshihikari rice, where it is sold, and eight recommended retailers!

Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma City is famous for its deliciousness, and there is a good reason for this. If you try it knowing the reason, you may be able to enjoy a different kind of deliciousness.

Be sure to try Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma City!　Official Uonuma Tourism Site