Last day of my Kyushu adventure. I had to get back to Fukuoka at some point to catch a shinkansen back to Tokyo, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t do a little exploring on the way. I heard about this town in Oita that has been proclaimed as the Mecca of karaage. I would have to check this out and I did need to get lunch. Also, it has a castle. Always check out a castle if you have the opportunity. I decided to go there first.
I checked the map at the station and determined the direction of the castle. Along the way I passed canals lined with bright red fencing. It has a very distinct mix of an old feudal castle town and a small seaside town.
The day started overcast, but lightened up as I walked.
Most of the houses had charcoal grey kawara tiled roofs with cedar walls. It was quiet, almost deserted. I saw no one and the streets were empty. I saw others when I arrived at Nakatsu Shrine, which is conveniently located in the same park area as the castle making quick sightseeing easier.
Light finally made its way out of the clouds and through the trees when I arrived at Nakatsu Castle. It’s a comparatively small Japanese castle, but its view of the sea from the top makes it well worth the small entry fee.
After descending from the top of the castle, I decided to search for the meibutsu of this town, karaage. Karaage is Japanese fried chicken, marinated in a soy based sauce with ginger and garlic then fried until crispy and the meat inside juicy and tender. They are served in bite size pieces and go great with beer. As with any place known for a particular food, there are many places available.
I found one in between the castle and the station that had a good rating. It was closed. The second one on my list seemed good too and was kinda on the way to the station. I entered as the cook was just leaving the door. I asked him if he was closing. He said no and invited me in. I had a seat at the counter and ordered a teishoku of karaage which came with miso soup and pickled vegetables. On the wall was a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records for the most fried chicken made at one time.
The chicken was as advertised, delicious. A soft crunchy crust, with succulent tender meat and the sauce it was marinated in gave it a nice richness.
I saw a castle and had karaage. Satisfied with my little side quest, I got back on the train towards Fukuoka.
It was the perfect cap for my week in Kyushu. I found friendly people, delicious food, and beautiful sights all along the way as I made my way around the island. I still have two prefectures to go on Kyushu that I couldn’t get to this time, Saga and Nagasaki. But this only leaves me wanting to return and ready for the next adventure.
2 thoughts on “Nakatsu for Lunch”
Karaage sounds delicious–better than KFC! And the castle was beautiful. Another great blog!
I never knew fried chicken was a thing in japan…
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