6 carefully selected establishments in Kumagaya (Saitama) where it is possible to drink premium beers

Menuma Spring Onions

Saitama Prefecture is Japan’s top producer of spring onions. Menuma-negi are spring onions (negi) grown in the Menuma region of the city of Kumagaya. Tender and quite sweet, they become even sweeter when cooked, so are perfect for adding to stews or grilling. The flavor of spring onions and the sharp sensation of beer will whet your appetite.

Yakitori

In Japan, yakitori doesn’t always mean chicken skewers. In the city of Higashimatsuyama, next door to Kumagaya, their famous yakitori is made by threading chunks of chewy pig head meat onto skewers and grilling them. They are eaten by being dipped in a tangy miso sauce. The firm texture of the pig head and the tangy miso sauce that flavors it go great together, and with a beer in your hand, you’ll find them lip-smackingly good—see if you can stop at just one or two!

Udon

Sanuki, in Kagawa Prefecture, is famous for its udon noodles, but Saitama is actually Japan’s Number 2 udon prefecture in terms of volume consumed. They are not just served in the normal dashi stock broth, but can be very creative, such as being served cold without broth, or with mentaiko roe. Or you could try steamed udon fried up with vegetables and meat to make fried udon—the variety is almost endless. Which sort of udon will you pair your beer with?