Kuwana Clam (Hamaguri)

**Sengoku Hamaguri experience:** This riverside restaurant specializes exclusively in Kuwana hamaguri. The 'Hamaguri Zen' set (¥2,500) includes 5–7 large grilled clams, hamaguri rice, clam miso soup, and pickles — a complete clam feast. Clams are grilled tableside on individual charcoal hibachi, arriving bubbling in their shells. The meat is tender and sweet (not rubbery like overcooked clams), and the shell broth is intensely savory. The restaurant overlooks the Ibi River where clams are harvested — atmospheric and authentic. **Sizing and pricing:** Kuwana clams are sold by size: 'large' (大, dai, 7–10cm, ¥400–600 each), 'medium' (中, chu, 5–7cm, ¥250–350), and 'small' (小, sho, 3–5cm, ¥150–200). Larger clams are sweeter and more tender. Set meals typically include 5–7 medium-large clams. Purchasing clams at Kuwana Station's gift shops (¥2,000–3,000 for 10-pack, vacuum sealed) is popular — they travel well and can be grilled at home or in hotel rooms with portable stoves. **Seasonal notes:** Clams are available year-round but peak quality is February–April (before spawning season when meat is plumpest). Summer clams (July–September) are thinner and less sweet. Winter hamaguri nabe (clam hot pot with vegetables, tofu, and dashi broth, ¥3,000–4,000) is a seasonal specialty combining clams with warming hot pot — ideal for cold-weather visits.