A trusted purveyor of fermented soybean paste since 1934, Sano Miso stocks an overwhelming selection of this umami-packed ingredient at its flagship store in Kameido. You’ll find 70 kinds of miso from across Japan, many of which are piled high in large barrels, with varieties often changing with the seasons.
Different regions offer unique variations of this quintessential Japanese ingredient. For instance, miso from Nagano is made from rice and is usually aged up to two years, while varieties from Aichi prefecture can be aged up to three years for a deeper, more intense, flavour.
Head to the back of the shop and you’ll find a small eat-in soup bar where you can try different miso soups along with onigiri rice balls and other side dishes. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t miss the savoury yet sweet miso pudding or miso French toast topped with decadent miso caramel.