[Iga City] Learn about food culture through manufacturing! “Iga no Sato Mokumoku Tezukuri Farm”
"Iga no Sato Mokumoku Handmade Farm" in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. All farming, processing, and sales are carried out within the park, and you can have fun learning about agriculture and food through tours and hands-on experiences.
Access from Nagoya is approximately 90 minutes by car, or by train, approximately 15 minutes by taxi from JR Tsuge Station. It's a place surrounded by greenery, but there are cute signboards and landmarks along the way, so you won't have to worry about getting lost!
*Information as of September 2023 interview.
Table of Contents
The appeal of Iga-no-Sato Mokumoku Handmade Farm is that you can spend a fulfilling day enjoying hands-on manufacturing experiences, tours, restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy delicious food harvested on the farm, and hot springs. Everyone from the elderly to small children can enjoy the clear, natural environment.
The farm is divided into a free area and a paid area (*). In the paid area, in addition to experiences and tours, you can interact with animals such as milking cows and horseback riding, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, you can also try some of the park's attractions.
*Admission fee for paid areas: 600 yen per person (tax included) However, children aged 0 to 2 are free
This time, we will be reporting on the farm's gourmet food, factory tour, and wiener making, focusing on the paid area!
The colors are vivid!
Chewy gourmet food with seasonal ingredients!
The raw materials for the processed products sold in the park are firstly made at the Mokumoku Handmade Farm, secondly made within Iga City, and thirdly made through connections with the agricultural network. The appeal of this product is that you can fully understand the background of the producer, so you can eat it with confidence.
``PaPa Beer Restaurant'' where you can enjoy hearty cuisine under the grape vines
"PaPa Beer Restaurant" is the most popular buffet restaurant at Mokumoku Handmade Farm. (*) You can enjoy about 60 kinds of dishes including Mokumoku's signature ham, sausages, seasonal vegetable dishes, pasta, and desserts! It can also be used as a wedding party venue for one group per day, and its stylish atmosphere will captivate your attention.
*Fee is 2,200 yen for adults (junior high school students and older), 1,100 yen for elementary school students, and 660 yen for infants (3rd birthday and older to preschoolers)
All the dishes and ingredients lined up in the restaurant are carefully prepared. There are several types of ham and sausages made in the ham workshop, and the monthly menu changes from hearty pieces to small bowls. This restaurant teaches you the joy of eating through ingredients grown and harvested in Mokumoku.
A cute pop is served next to the dish. You can clearly see the story behind the creation of the ingredients and the thoughts of the craftsmen, so it's sure to taste even more delicious!
If you pay an additional fee, you can even drink original local beer made within the park! The secret behind the popularity of ``PaPa Beer Restaurant'' is that you can enjoy an extraordinary experience by choosing the beer that best suits your meal or enjoying the seasonal beer!
The purple rice is called "bean grain rice" and is one of the Mokumoku brands. The more you chew, the flavor of the roasted soybeans and black beans spreads out, and it has a chewy texture.
Three types of wiener and ham are must-try! Not only does it look different, but the sweetness of the meat juice and the coarseness of the grind are also different, and it's delicious and will bring a smile to your face.
Colorful tomato menu “moku moku tomato cafe”
"moku moku tomato cafe" is located in the free area. The menu ranges from heart-filling items to easy-to-eat items, such as Mokumoku's original burgers, curry, and seasonal parfaits. The author tried three popular menu items!
"Daily Tomato Juice" is 100% tomato juice made by simply grinding tomatoes without adding water! When you put it in your mouth, you will be greeted with a rich tomato-specific acidity. The chewy texture of the seeds remains, and you can feel the tomato in your throat! Different varieties have different colors, such as yellow, crimson, and bright red, making it a juice that you can enjoy visually.
The ``Mokumoku Bacon Tomato Special Burger'' has two layers of special patties of thick-sliced tomatoes and minced meat.
Mokumoku's original bacon, which is slightly salty and thick, accents the taste and appearance. The barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese go well with the patty and tomatoes, and once you start eating it, you won't be able to stop! It looks cute, but it's incredibly voluminous!
The ``Jersey Mozzarella and Pork Patty Tomato Burger'' features a thick pork patty, also known as ``meat cake.'' The sweetness of the pork mixes with the mozzarella cheese, and the sourness of the tomatoes adds later, making it a flavor you'll never get tired of.
Both buns are specially made by Mokumoku Komukobo. You can only eat it at "moku moku Tomato Cafe", so it's a must-try!
By the way, lunch time is from 11:00 to 14:00. The above price comes with a salad and a drink, and it's a filling meal.
If you're looking for something to enjoy during a short break, we recommend the "Jersey Ranch Soft". A soft serve ice cream with a smooth texture and a sweet taste that lingers. The deciding factor in the taste is the high milk fat content and the sterilization method.
There are approximately 8,000 Jersey cows in Japan, and 40 of them are bred at Mokumoku. It has a higher milk fat content than regular dairy cows, and has been pasteurized to give it the original milk taste. Mokumoku is the only soft serve ice cream that lets you enjoy the original taste of milk!
look! Make it! You can learn!
Craftsmanship
Winner of numerous awards! "Local beer workshop brewery"
At the microbrewery, you can observe the world-renowned beer making process. Many of Mokumoku's local beers are rich and flavorful, and are meant to be enjoyed by sipping rather than drinking down. It has won numerous awards at contests around the world and in Japan.
Mokumoku's beer craftsmen learned how to make beer with Pilsner in the Czech Republic, the birthplace of beer, and are currently adapting the beer to suit the tastes of Japanese people. Currently, there are 3 types of beer brewed all the time, as well as seasonal beers, which are popular throughout the year!
After about two months of preparation, we move on to the aging process. The aging period varies depending on the beer, with some being aged for two years!
You can learn about local beer making while walking around the facility. If you're lucky, you might be able to meet the craftsmen at work.