Hotel Okura Niigata Launches Upcycled 'Marugoto! Kurosaki Cha-Mame Pan' on July 1

Hotel Okura Niigata (located in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture; General Manager: Masanori Honda) will participate in Niigata City's 'Oishisa DX' initiative and sell an upcycled product called 'Marugoto! Kurosaki Cha-Mame Pan' from Wednesday, July 1, 2026, to Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The product uses 'Kurosaki Cha-Mame,' a premium edamame variety that has previously been underutilized due to cosmetic irregularities.

Prior to in-hotel sales, the product will be available in advance at the 'Bandai Farmers' Market,' held on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Bandai, Chuo Ward, Niigata City.

'Kurosaki Cha-Mame' is a renowned branded edamame from Niigata City, peaking in season from July to August. However, beans that grow only one per cluster are often classified as substandard and face difficulty entering the market, despite their excellent flavor. Research from Niigata University has confirmed that the taste of these substandard beans is equivalent to that of standard-grade beans. As part of Niigata City's 'Oishisa DX' initiative, Hotel Okura Niigata has explored ways to deliver this unchanged deliciousness to more customers.

The limited-time 'Marugoto! Kurosaki Cha-Mame Pan' is a unique baked good shaped like an edamame pod, made using edamame paste produced by Sogo Food Service Co., Ltd. Over 40% of the dough consists of Kurosaki Cha-Mame paste, giving it a vibrant green color. The pan also features the hotel’s original specialty zunda (edamame) paste, enhanced with Kurosaki Cha-Mame paste, and is topped with sea salt from 'Sasagawa Nagare,' a scenic spot in Niigata. This 'Niigata gourmet bread' harmonizes the sweetness and aroma of Kurosaki Cha-Mame, the richness of zunda paste, and the savory depth of sea salt. The product will be previewed at the 'Bandai Farmers' Market' on June 27 and 28 before its official launch at the hotel.

Moving forward, the hotel aims to continue promoting the potential of local ingredients in collaboration with Niigata City, helping to preserve and pass on their charm to future generations.

Overview of 'Marugoto! Kurosaki Cha-Mame Pan'

[Sales Period] July 1 (Wed), 2026 – September 30 (Wed), 2026

[Sales Hours] 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

[Location] Takeout Corner inside Buffet Restaurant Tsubaki, 2nd Floor, Hotel Okura Niigata

[Price] 600 JPY (tax included); 540 JPY (tax included) for One Harmony Premium Selection members

[Reservations & Inquiries] Buffet Restaurant Tsubaki, TEL: 025-224-6167

*One Harmony is a membership program available at Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International, and Hotel JAL City. Members earn points with every stay and enjoy various exclusive benefits.

Advance Sales Overview

[Sales Dates] June 27 (Sat) and 28 (Sun), 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

[Venue] Bandai Farmers' Market (Bandai City Street Pedestrian Paradise, 1-6-1 Bandai, Chuo Ward, Niigata City; Oishisa DX Booth)

[Price] 600 JPY (tax included)

[Inquiries] Hotel Okura Niigata, TEL: 025-224-6111 (main line)

*At the Bandai Farmers' Market, the product will be limited to 100 units per day.

About 'Oishisa DX'

'Oishisa DX' is a collaborative public-private-academic project led by Niigata City, Niigata University, and Mebius Co., Ltd., aimed at creating new value in regional food. By combining food and technology, it visualizes sensory experiences—such as taste, aroma, texture, and emotion—that were previously intangible, and applies them to food development, tourism, and regional branding.

Official Website: https://oishisa-dx.jp/

[Hotel Okura Niigata]

Opened in 1978, the hotel has 265 guest rooms and is located in central Niigata City, facing the Sea of Japan and adjacent to Bandai Bridge—a nationally designated Important Cultural Property—overlooking the Shinano River. It is conveniently located within walking or short taxi distance from JR Niigata Station, government offices, business districts, and entertainment areas. As the largest and highest-grade hotel on the Sea of Japan side, it has hosted the Imperial Family, VIPs from various fields, international conferences, national conventions, and academic meetings. As a member of the Okura Hotels & Resorts group—centered on The Okura Tokyo and expanding internationally—the hotel stands in Niigata Prefecture, the home prefecture of industrialist Kihachiro Okura, founder of the former Okura zaibatsu.

Address: 6-53 Kawabata-cho, Chuo Ward, Niigata City, 951-8053 Telephone: 025-224-6111 (main line) Access: 20-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride from JR Niigata Station Official Website: https://www.okura-niigata.co.jp/