What Gaijin Eat: Kinpira Makizushi & Imo Mochi Adventures

Kinpira Makizushi & Imo Mochi (Sticky Potato Gnocchi)

It's been a while since I last gave readers a peek into the diet of the average gaijin in Japan, so I'm taking a break from my busy schedule to catch up on some past meals. A few weeks ago, on two separate occasions, we had home-rolled vegan sushi that keeps your bowels "firm but flexible." Only slightly different, the two variations are presented here together.

Kinpira Sushi #1

Kinpira is a style of Japanese cooking that could be described as "stir-fry of stick-shaped veggies." A quick search for "gobo kinpira" will yield dozens of recipes, but most won't mention the dish's Viagra-like properties - or its special place in the hearts of macrobiotic practitioners.

Most people know kinpira as a delicious mix of sautéed gobo (burdock root), carrots, and red peppers. But in macrobiotics, it's a foundational dish - balanced, energizing, and used to "clean your blood" and keep you strong.

Why Burdock?

Gobo is considered very yang and is said to help men build stamina.
Fun fact: the name "Kinpira" comes from Jōruri, a form of Edo-period puppet theater, where the hero Kinpira (son of legendary sumo wrestler Kintarō) smashes evil with sheer strength and, presumably, awesome digestion.

Tomoe's macrobiotic-style kinpira omits red pepper, which is considered "yin" and cooling. Instead, her version contains:

Gobo - High in fiber, helps keep our house bowel-happy. "Yang" and strengthening.

"The root is crisp, mildly sweet, slightly harsh - soaking can reduce bitterness."
Tomoe disagrees with soaking and prefers long cooking to retain nutrients.
Renkon (lotus root) - Symbolically balanced (like sausage links!), renkon is said to help make the body firm yet flexible. It also tightens loose bowels and soothes the throat. Renkon candies still exist in Japan.
Carrots - Pretty standard. But don't toss the stems - they're even better for blood-cell growth. In Japan, they're often fried as tempura.
Ginger, pickled in umeboshi juice - Adds a tangy kick to balance the plain rice (we used regular rice instead of vinegared sushi rice).
Soy Sauce - Tomoe used her homemade batch, which will be featured in a future post.

All veggies are cut into various stick shapes. According to macrobiotics, thin sticks = more yang, good for anemic (yin) folks. Thicker veggie sticks = more yin, good for allergy-prone (yang) people.

Making the Sushi

Once you've got your masculinity-inducing kinpira, the fun begins: rolling sushi.

We used genmai (brown rice) cooked with akaendō (red peas, often used in Japanese sweets), and added shiso leaves for a refreshing minty touch.

Sushi rolling parties, like the one with Tomoe and the birds, are popular in Japan - especially when entertaining kids.

Kinpira Sushi #2

The second version included a few unique ingredients:

Aburaage (fried tofu skin) - Ours was made from domestic soybeans and natural seawater nigari, avoiding industrial shortcuts like silicone oil.
Okahijiki - Literally "land hijiki." It looks like seaweed but grows on land (oka = land, hijiki = the seaweed). Pickled in umeboshi vinegar for a tangy punch.

Bonus fact: Some species of okahijiki have become invasive in the U.S., especially in the Great Plains, where they now blow across the screen in Western movies as tumbleweeds. Their origin? Ukraine.

What Gaijin Eat: Imo Mochi (Sticky Potato Gnocchi)

Half the joy of cooking (or eating, in my case) comes from what happens when things don't go to plan.

Tonight's dinner began with Tomoe's attempt to make a vegan mayo substitute. Not that we needed it - we haven't eaten or craved mayo in years. It was more of a curiosity thing.

The idea was to mix mashed potatoes with plum vinegar, umeboshi, sesame paste, and salt & pepper. But while mashing the potatoes (which she had steamed to preserve nutrients), Tomoe noticed the texture was sticky and gooey - like mochi.

Hokkaido's Potato Mochi Tradition

Turns out, imo mochi is a real thing - especially in Hokkaido, Japan's cold northern island where rice wasn't always widely grown. Locals grilled sticky mashed potatoes with soy sauce or butter. Think: Japanese gnocchi with a chewy twist.

Of course, man doesn't live on potato alone, so Tomoe sautéed the mochi with a mix of "six baby leaf salad" from our local co-op's farmer's market surprise box:

Detroit
Kyo Mizuna (from Kyoto)
Red Oak (a red-stem lettuce)
Romaine Lettuce
Arugula
Tatsai (a Chinese leafy green)

I honestly couldn't tell a huge difference between these and your average leafy greens, but they earn points for being even more vegan than usual. That's because they were grown at Wagoen, a local farm that uses fermented veggie scraps for fertilizer - no cow poop needed.

Macrobiotic Notes

Potatoes are considered very yin, but steaming and sautéing add yang. Leafy salad is usually too yin to pair with potatoes, so Tomoe sautéed them too, with lots of sesame and garlic.

Is a One Life Japan Trip for You?

The majority of our bike, hike, and walking trips focus around a small farming village in Northern Nagano. We focus on local, environmentally friendly, active, and challenging activities. We share with you our love of the Japan countryside .

If you... have already seen your share of crowded temples and city streets, and if you're ready to get off the train or bus and move your body through some potentially challenging terrain - where people are focused on their everyday life instead of selling souvenirs to tourists - then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you.... are willing to spend a night in a local's home or a family-run inn, where the owner is too busy with hunting or the rice harvest to fix a rip in the beat-up paper shoji door, then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you... are willing to smile through a conversation with a farmer who doesn't speak English , or to spend a dinner in what eventually turns into a game of charades with the local baker, then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you... are willing to spend an afternoon striking out on your own in unknown territory, where no one speaks English but is eager to help nonetheless - with just a map and the assurance that we'll be there if you need a hand - then One Life Japan may be perfect for you.

If you... are willing to wake up at 5 a.m. to see a country village come to life in the early morning light, or to spend an afternoon working in the rice field or gathering wild vegetables, then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you... are willing to savor a simple meal of in-season, locally produced foods, then One Life Japan is most likely perfect for you.

If you... have read this far without thinking it's not for you - One Life Japan is definitely perfect for you .

We want to share the Japan we love. We can't promise five-star accommodation , or perfect cell-phone coverage the entire trip. We certainly don't promise a glimpse of the fabled "lost" Japan . We do promise an opportunity to see another side of modern-day Japan that you won't see in urban areas like Tokyo or Kyoto, or in towns that rely on tourism as their main industry.

Everything is waiting for you . It is up to YOU to take it in. We are here to support and facilitate your adventure - but it is up to you to make it your adventure . We'll listen to your needs, your likes and dislikes, and work to create the most personalized trip we can offer.

About Price Estimates and Custom Pricing

Planning a custom trip means every itinerary is a little different - and that's the point. We don't use fixed packages because every traveler, group size, destination, and level of support is unique. That said, we understand that you probably want at least a sense of what to expect before getting started.

We're happy to talk through your ideas and provide a no-obligation estimate once we know the general outline of your trip. Our goal is to make rural Japan accessible, affordable, and deeply memorable - and we'll always try to match your budget where possible.

What Affects the Price

Number of Participants

We don't have a flat per-person rate. Families and small groups are easier to price affordably, since logistics and guiding can be shared. Solo travelers, couples, and groups of three are also very welcome - we'll do our best to make something work without compromising on experience.

Type of Accommodation

We usually choose small, family-run inns or farmstays - warm, welcoming places that reflect the feel of the region. These are rarely "luxury" in the hotel sense, but offer something richer: simple, delicious meals and genuine hospitality. If you're looking for high-end ryokan, we can arrange those too, though they will affect the total cost.

Location & Duration

The total price depends on where the trip takes place, how far it is from our base in Northern Nagano, and how many days you're traveling. Longer trips often have a lower daily cost than short ones, especially if we're traveling far to meet you.

Time of Year & Advance Notice

Spring and autumn are peak seasons, and last-minute bookings can be tough. Giving us more time to plan helps us find the best accommodation and keep costs down.

Level of Support

We also understand that not everyone wants (or needs) the same level of company or support. Some people enjoy having a guide by their side for meals and downtime, while others prefer more personal space. We're happy to adjust accordingly - whether that means joining you throughout the day or giving you room to explore and regroup at key points. These preferences don't always make a huge difference in price, but they help us plan a trip that feels just right for you - both in experience and in budget.

We offer different levels of involvement to suit your comfort and budget:

Fully Guided
We're with you the whole way - riding or walking alongside you, staying in the same inn, and sharing meals together. We guide at your pace, helping with check-ins, interpreting, and navigating local spots. Depending on group size or pace differences, we may occasionally split to accommodate different routes (like easy vs. hard options), but we're always close and reconnect throughout the day.
Semi-Guided
You ride and explore independently, but our support vehicle follows just behind the scenes - meeting you throughout the day and always within a few minutes' reach. We are there to handle logistics like luggage transfers, check-ins, and join you for museums and activities. Meals and evening time can be more private or shared, depending on your preference and budget. It's a balance between freedom and support, with us never far away.
Self-Guided with Minimal Support
You're free to travel at your own pace, using our detailed maps and GPS routes, with all accommodations arranged in advance. While the trip is self-guided, we stay close enough to assist when needed - including moving bikes and luggage between far-apart regions. This allows you to shift locations mid-trip, like spending a day in Nagano and the next on the Japan Sea coast, without being tied to a continuous cycling route.
Fully Self-Guided
We plan your route and assist with bookings, and you handle the trip on your own. We're available by phone and can track your location in case of any issues. (See our Self Guided page for details)

Want an Estimate?

All of this will be clarified during the estimate process, so we can make sure we're on the same page - both in terms of expectations and cost. It's important to us that there are no surprises, and that you know exactly what's included and how things will work throughout the trip.

We can give you a ballpark once we know the rough outline - for example, the base price for a 3-day with no on-location support self-guided itinerary for two in Nagano might be around ¥35,000-¥40,000 / person (bikes + itinerary, not including accommodation).

The inn prices can start from 7,000 ~ 15,000 / night with meals, and go as high as is available depending on the location.