The Japanese archipelago stretches a long way from north to south, so regional climates vary greatly and the country enjoys four distinctive seasons with abundant natural bounties. Each region has its own agricultural products and specialties.
Tea is the specialty of Shizuoka Prefecture, located at the foot of Mt. Fuji. It boasts the largest tea production in Japan. Shizuoka has a coastline and so it's also blessed with abundant fresh marine produce, such as young sardines and spotted sakura shrimps.
Of course, Tokyo has its specialties as well. The nori laver used when making sushi is one of them. The nori harvested in Tokyo Bay is popular because it is rather sweet and has a strong aroma.
These days, by using an Internet mail order service, you can order specialties from all over the country and enjoy them at home. However, the ultimate luxury is to actually visit the local area and taste them when they're in season.
