Shiga

Traveling a full hour by car into the mountains from central Kyoto to Hirasansou in Shiga Prefecture was all for one reason: the Moon Bear Hot Pot, available only in late autumn and winter.

This wasn’t my first time eating bear meat. I had previously encountered it at the French restaurant L’évo in Toyama. Its abundant gelatin and deep, savory aroma left a powerful impression on me (earned at the cost of a nearly two-hour drive). That experience made me more eager to try Hirasansou’s signature moon bear hot pot.

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