In Niigata, they have noppe which is different from the noppei soup in the rest of Japan. It is more like a simmered dish than a soup. Taro is the main ingredient, and vegetables and mushrooms are simmered with a light flavor, and the broth is thickened.

    In Niigata, it snows deeply.  People used to make a big pot of this dish when they could not go shopping. They put the pot in the snow to keep it cold, like a refrigerator. 

    There are different ways to prepare and eat it, and people use various ingredients and cutting styles.