Yokkaichi Tonteki（PorkSteak）is a fascinating soul food that stimulates your appetite. After eating, let's take a walk around Yokkaichi Station♪

*This article is the Japanese version of a report written in traditional Chinese by a Taiwanese writer for the traditional Chinese website "Mie Travel Information Book."​
This article introduces the charms of Mie Prefecture for foreigners who use traditional Chinese, so your perspective may be a little different, but please enjoy it as well.

Mie Prefecture is said to be a paradise for gourmet food, and each region has its own specialty gourmet food.

MatsusakaCity has Matsusaka beef, Ise-Shima has Ise shrimp, abalone and Ise-Udon, TsuCity has eel dishes and Tsu gyoza, NabariCity has beef soup...
This time, I would like to introduce Tonteki（PorkSteak）, a soul food from YokkaichiCity Mie Prefecture's largest city.

It is said that Yokkaichi Tonteki（PorkSteak）began around the 1950s.

Tonteki（PorkSteak）, which has a hearty and impactful taste, has gradually become popular with local people and has now established itself as a soul food.

Yokkaichi Tonteki（PorkSteak）is served at a variety of restaurants in the city, including Chinese restaurants, ramen restaurants, izakaya bars, and Western restaurants, but the cooking methods and seasonings vary depending on the restaurant.

``Yokkaichi Tonteki（PorkSteak）'' is not just a ``pork steak.''

In order to be called "Yokkaichi Tonteki（PorkSteak）", it must have the definition and characteristics set by the "Yokkaichi Tonteki（PorkSteak）Association".

There are four definitions
①It must be thickly sliced pork that has been sautéed.
②It must be coated with a dark-colored, richly flavored sauce.
③Garlic must be added.
④ The main garnish is shredded cabbage.

And the characteristics are
Must be in the form of a strip or stick.
(It is also OK to have a unique shape called a globe, where one side of the piece of meat is connected)

With that out of the way, let's go enjoy Tonteki（PorkSteak）!

This time, I would like to introduce a famous restaurant located near Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station.

After eating Tonteki（PorkSteak）, let's take a walk to the nearby "Suwa Shrine" and "Unomori Park"♪

First, let's go to Ichiraku, which is located in the Ichibangai shopping street, right next to Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station.

Founded in 1972, Ichiraku is a Chinese restaurant loved by locals.

The famous `` Tonteki（PorkSteak）Set Meal'' was full of volume, overwhelmingly fragrant, and delicious, just as it was said to be.

Tonteki（PorkSteak）'s specialty is that they use carefully selected shoulder roast every day. Then, 250g of this carefully selected meat is vigorously sautéed in a special soy sauce.

At first glance, it looks very thick, but it's soy sauce-based, so it's not heavy.
The pork has a chewy texture, and the harmony of the meat juice, garlic, and soy sauce sauce goes perfectly with the rice and the julienned cabbage that comes with it! I finished it in no time♪

If you want to eat even more, or if you like spicy food, why not try adding ``Tandan noodles''?
The rich sesame aroma and sour soup mix well with the medium-thick noodles, making it a dish that will satisfy your taste buds.

The second famous store is ``Ton Teki-ya-chan Yokkaichi Store,'' which is located about a minute walk from Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station.

``Tonteki-ya-chan'' is a tonteki restaurant opened by a popular ramen shop called ``Ramen-chan.''

For those who want to try ramen and other popular soul foods, we recommend the extremely popular "Ekimae Set".
This is a set where you can enjoy the perfect combination of 100g of Tonteki（PorkSteak）and bonito pork bone mini noodles (about half the amount of regular ramen) and rice.

Tonteki-ya-chan's Tonteki is an appetizing masterpiece made by steam-grilling tender pork shoulder loin with a sauce made from more than 10 types of spices and seasonings.

For single items, you can choose between 200g and 150g. If you like strong flavors, you can request ``more sauce'' or ``more garlic'' when ordering. It's like a custom-made Tonteki.

After filling your stomach, take a walk to Suwa Shrine, which is a 5-minute walk from the north exit of Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station.

Suwa Shrine is a shrine that represents YokkaichiCity and was founded in 1202.

Every October, the lavish Yokkaichi Festival (an annual festival at Suwa Shrine with over 300 years of tradition) is held, and citizens often hold weddings in front of the shrine.This is a celebration of YokkaichiCity who have lived alongside the history of Yokkaichi. It is a beloved shrine.

These are the torii gates of Masanari Inari Shrine and Yamatsumi Shrine located inside Suwa Shrine. The sight of two torii gates side by side is said to be extremely rare even in Japan.

We also recommend Unomori Park, a 5-minute walk from the east exit of Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station, where you can experience traditional Japanese culture.

Umori Shrine, located in Unomori Park, is the historic site of Hamada Castle, and was a shrine revered by the Tahara family, the lords of Hamada Castle, since the 1400s.
The deities enshrined are Amaterasu-Omikami (the sun god), Michizane Sugawara (the Japanese god of learning), and Umori oaki (the ancestor of the Tahara family).

Also located in Unomori Park is Tahara Inari oaki.

This Inari shrine was originally an ordinary Inari shrine, but it was renamed ``Tawara Inari oaki'' because of its deep historical relationship with the Tahara family.

Cute cats often come to visit, so if you like cats, this may be a very soothing shrine.

This is Shisuian in Unomori Park.

Shusuian is a tea room and garden designed by Masao Nakamura, a leading architect of sukiya architecture. This is a spot where you can experience the tea ceremony, a traditional Japanese culture, and casually enjoy tea and Japanese sweets.

It might be good for dessert after a meal.

As you travel around YokkaichiCity, you'll encounter ``Konyudo-kun'' all over the place.

Konyudo-kun is an eternal 6-year-old, mischievous monster boy. It is widely loved by citizens and is active in various events and promotional media.

What did you think.

YokkaichiCity is a place where you can spend a very fun day, eating delicious Tonteki（PorkSteak）, meeting cute Konyudo-kun, and taking a short walk to reach some wonderful spots.

There are also business hotels near the station, making it a convenient base for sightseeing in Mie Prefecture.

[Ichiraku]
Address: 10-2 Suwa Sakae-cho, Yokkaichi YokkaichiCity Mie Prefecture

[Tonteki-ya-chan Yokkaichi store]
Address: 1-2-20 Yasujima, Yokkaichi YokkaichiCity Mie Prefecture
Access: Kintetsu Nagoya Line/Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station