FAQ

AWe can provide samples of various additive-free gari including gari made from domestically produced ginger, polished gari made from domestically produced ginger, domestically produced polished fresh ginger gari, and gari made from Thai ginger on request. We ask customers to cover only the associated shipping fees for samples.

AWe offer a tasting set for 2,500 yen (Cash on delivery and cash on delivery handling charges not included). This includes 250 grams of polished gari made from domestically produced ginger (about 4 to 5 small bags worth of gari ), wasabi, wakame seaweed from Iwate, and other small gifts. You can try our gari made from pickled domestically produced fresh ginger.

AGenerally, we do not accept returns, but due to the nature of food products, we will accept returns only on the day of arrival if products show deterioration.

AOur domestically produced ginger comes primarily from Kochi, but we also use ginger from other prefectures like Wakayama and Tochigi. Since growing and harvesting seasons vary by region, we use ginger from different areas in order to always prepare the freshest products all year round. We carefully select our wasabi from several famous production regions all over Japan, but it primarily comes from Izu, Gotanda, and upriver of the Abe River in Shizuoka. Each wasabi has its own characteristics, with differences in producers being even greater than differences in regions. Since the Taisho era (1912-1926), shipping boxes were labeled with a name and trade name, and the price was determined accordingly. In those days, there were legendary wasabi producers, but even now, it is important to know exactly where the wasabi is coming from.

AOur additive-free gari is made from only ginger, brewing vinegar, and sugar. The labels of commercial products often list additives, sweeteners besides sugar, and acetic acid. Due to its simple manufacturing, our gari has a fresh and crisp flavor with a refreshing aftertaste. Although there is nothing wrong with commercial products as long as their level of additives and sweeteners falls within manufacturing standards, at TSUKAMOTO FOODS, we insist on creating additive-free products even though they are more difficult and labor-intensive to produce.

AAfter meeting and deciding on the seasoning, it takes about one week to prepare and pickle the ginger.

AWe will require a meeting to discuss what kind of ginger and seasoning you would like to use. We will decide on matters like what primary ingredient you would like to use for the gari, for example domestically produced ginger or domestically produced polished fresh ginger. We will also decide whether you would like to use red vinegar or white vinegar for the brewing vinegar. The meeting will also cover other details such as whether the flavor should be salty or sweet, or if the product should be made in the Tokyo or Osaka style.

AWe will send you standard tasting gari per the raw materials you have requested, and you can make any alterations according to your preference.

AIt takes about three days to one week depending on the product.

APrior coordination is necessary if the delivery is being made with our in-house delivery service (mostly for orders in Tokyo along the Yamanote Line) but specifying a delivery time is possible if your order is being shipped using Yamato Transport.

AWe can ship anywhere in Japan using Yamato Transport. We also have an in-house delivery service that makes deliveries to some areas in Tokyo including Ginza, Roppongi, Shibuya, Ebisu, Daikanyama, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Kagurazaka, and Ueno. We may be able to deliver to other areas if they are on the delivery route, so please feel free to contact us.

ASince ginger, the primary ingredient, is native to tropical regions and sensitive to low temperatures, it is stored at 10 to 13 degrees Celsius. Gari is kept in the production room until it is pickled, and then refrigerated (at around 5 degrees Celsius) afterward.