"Ayaka Nakamura's 10,000-step treasure hunt" is where CBC reporter Ayaka Nakamura walks and investigates the hidden charms of notable areas in the Tokai region.

This time, we will introduce three treasures: people, gourmet food, and outing spots, found in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, which is celebrating the new tea harvesting season.

Impressive Spot ① Experience the ultimate thick tea at a long-established store dating back to the Taisho era

Nakamura's stroll began in an area with vast tea fields. Amidst the vibrant green scenery, she asked a person working in the tea field for recommendations in Nishio City.

(Man)
"Aoi Seicha, right there. You can tour the factory, and there's a cafe on the second floor."

For Nakamura, who is in her third year at CBC, this was her first visit to Nishio City. She headed to the tea shop she was told about.

The first impressive spot was the "ultimate matcha," thick tea, which she encountered after 808 steps.
"Aoi Seicha" is a long-established store that has been in business since the Taisho era in Nishio City, one of Japan's leading matcha producing regions. Despite the sudden visit, she was allowed to tour the factory, where a scene enveloped in the aroma of matcha unfolded.

The sight of rows of stone mills rotating all at once was spectacular. Matcha is popular overseas, and the factory is in full operation during this season. Nakamura also tried her hand at the popular stone mill grinding experience during the factory tour.

(Ayaka Nakamura)
"(Grinding the stone mill) It's heavy! This will definitely build arm muscles."

Next, she visited the cafe on the second floor of the store. The staff prepared the "Nishio Traditional Thick Tea Set," which they highly recommended.

Thick tea is a formal tea made by kneading high-quality matcha with a small amount of hot water. It is a unique cup offered by a specialty store.

(Store Manager, Ishie Nakane)
"Thick tea is not 'whisked' but 'kneaded.' You knead it and savor it as if licking it."

Nakamura, tasting thick tea for the first time, found it to have little bitterness and a deep, rich flavor. She fully enjoyed the profoundness of matcha.

Impressive Spot ② A powerful and luxurious bowl of eel and dashi-rolled omelet

After enjoying the thick tea, she asked for more recommended spots at "Aoi Seicha."

(Store Manager, Ishie Nakane)
"If you're around here, it has to be eel. Kidoya is nearby."

She started walking towards "Kidoya," which was recommended, but the sun grew stronger, making it hot enough to require a parasol.

On the way, she spotted a sign for matcha soft serve ice cream and stopped at "Hinsuien Seicha," which has been in business since the Meiji era. The matcha soft serve is a rich cream topped with plenty of powdered matcha. You can choose from three varieties: "Asahi," "Saemidori," and "Meiryoku," and enjoy their different flavors.

After recharging with matcha soft serve, she walked for another 30 minutes and arrived at "Kidoya Nishio Store."
The second impressive spot was the powerful "Unagi-tamago Don," which she reached after 5673 steps.

The "Unagi-tamago Nami" she ordered was an impactful bowl with two layers of thick dashi-rolled omelet and eel.

The eel, grilled to a crispy skin and fluffy flesh, is paired with a refreshing special sauce. Rice cooked in an earthenware pot is generously drizzled with sauce, topped with a thick omelet, and then half an eel is lavishly arranged.

(Ayaka Nakamura)
"I'll have the eel and egg together. The eel is fluffy, and the egg has a satisfying texture. The balance of textures is wonderful. The rice soaked in the sauce is also truly delicious!"

Nakamura finished it in no time due to its deliciousness.

Impressive Spot ③ Sells 3,000 pieces on weekends! Masayuki Suzuki's favorite Mikawa-maki

Next, she researched the next spot at a clothing store along the road.

(Man)
"For desserts, maybe Kameya Yonezu's Mikawa-maki. It was featured on TV that Masayuki Suzuki came to buy it."

She headed to the Japanese confectionery store that was introduced as a favorite sweet of Masayuki Suzuki, the King of Love Songs.

The third impressive spot was the popular "Mikawa-maki," which sells 3,000 pieces on weekends, reached after 9436 steps.

"Kyogashishi Kameya Yonezu" was founded in 1975. A specialty that no one in Nishio City doesn't know is this triangular "Mikawa-maki." Each piece of dough, made with plenty of fresh local eggs, is hand-baked, and hot koshian (smooth red bean paste) from Hokkaido is wrapped inside.

(Ayaka Nakamura)
"(Biting into Mikawa-maki) Mochi-fuwa~♡ The koshian inside isn't too sweet, it's an elegant sweetness."

While enjoying the Mikawa-maki, she asked about the episode of Masayuki Suzuki's visit that she heard at the clothing store.

(Second-generation owner, Takaaki Yonezu)
"We didn't know at all. A TV producer told us, 'Masayuki-san was here secretly,' and we were surprised, 'Oh, really!?'"

Masayuki Suzuki introduced Mikawa-maki as his favorite sweet on a certain TV program. The phrase he used at that time was "Love Sweets."

After enjoying the Mikawa-maki, her pedometer recorded 10047 steps.

From tea fields enveloped in the aroma of matcha, to a powerful unagi-tamago don, and local favorite Japanese sweets. Nakamura found many "treasure spots" in Nishio City during the new tea season.

From CBC TV "Chant!" broadcast on June 3, 2026