Renowned for its fermented sushi, pickled foods and sake, Shiga Prefecture is justly nicknamed the “fermentation kingdom.”
In the northeastern corner of the prefecture, on the shore of Lake Yogo, is a hideaway that gourmets from all over the world make a beeline for: Tokuyama-zushi, a Japanese-style auberge specializing in fermented sushi, or narezushi. Menu offerings like the local delicacy funazushi — a fermented sushi made from crucian carp, cooked rice and salt — boast distinctive flavors that may take a bit of getting used to.