Nakamise Shopping Street

Nakamise Shopping Street runs along the approach to Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, lined with restaurants and shops selling regional foods and souvenirs. Local specialties include Usa-style karaage fried chicken, negiyaki savory pancakes, and weatherfish served fried or in hot pot. Usa produces more sake and the most barley shochu of any area in Oita Prefecture, so alcohol is well represented. A local legend connecting bottle gourds to Empress Jingu makes hyotan amulets a particular specialty here. Usa ame, a mild malt candy also tied to the legend, is sold in slabs meant to melt slowly in the mouth rather than be chewed.