“Shiranuka Town” in the name of this thank-you gift is the name of the municipality in Hokkaido that accepts the donation, and does not indicate where the raw Alaska pollock roe comes from (the country of origin of the raw material is listed as the United States). The product description on the listing says the raw material is frozen on board ships at sea in the northernmost Pacific, but the country-of-origin field lists the United States. In this article, for the options on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing “塩たらこ 一本物 250g〜2kg” (Shio Tarako Ippon-mono, salted whole pollock roe sacs 250g–2kg), namely tarako (250g–2kg) and the tarako and karashi mentaiko set, we organized what the listing states and Rakuten customer reviews into five points: amount, shelf life, ingredient labeling, suitability as a gift, and reviews.
What We Confirmed
- Amount and how many servings
- Storage method and shelf life
- Ingredients and allergen labeling
- Whether it works as a gift
- Trends in public reviews
Basic Information
This table transcribes what is stated on the listing. However, the “not confirmed” labels and any notes we add are our own.
| Product name | 塩たらこ 一本物 250g〜2kg ＜明太子セットも選べる＞ 北海道白糠町 ふるさと納税 (Shio Tarako Ippon-mono 250g–2kg, mentaiko set also available, Shiranuka Town, Hokkaido, furusato nozei)The product name shown on the Rakuten product page is a long string with many search terms and the shop’s own descriptions. Only the product-name part is shown here. |
|---|---|
| Name | Tarako / karashi mentaikoSource: Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing (viewed October 5, 2026) |
| Amount | Tarako: 250g / 500g (250g × 2) / 1kg (250g × 4 or 1kg × 1) / 2kg (1kg × 2 or 250g × 8). Tarako and karashi mentaiko set: 2kg (1kg each). How many servings is not stated: not confirmedSource: same as above |
| What changes depending on your choice | You choose the type (tarako / tarako and karashi mentaiko set), the amount, and the shipping slot (ships within 2 days at the earliest / month specified from November 2026 to March 2027 / delivered within 60 business days). The available shipping slots differ by option; as of October 5, 2026, only the “ships within 2 days at the earliest” slot was shown for 1kg (250g × 4) and 2kg (250g × 8). We found no mention of grade or spiciness levels on the listing: not confirmedSource: options shown on the listing (viewed October 5, 2026) |
| Storage | Keep frozen (-18°C)Source: product description on the listing |
| Best-before date | The listing states that tarako is good for 1.5 years frozen from the date of manufacture, and karashi mentaiko for 1 year frozen from the date of manufacture. The same field gives October 22, 2026 as an example for items in the “ships within 2 days at the earliest” slot, so the date shown differs by shipping slotSource: product description on the listing (viewed October 5, 2026) |
| Country of origin | Alaska pollock roe: United States (both tarako and karashi mentaiko)Source: ingredients field in the product description on the listing |
| Place of processing | We found no field for the place of processing on the listing. The explanation of the local-product category (Category 3) states that the main parts of manufacturing and processing are carried out within the municipality, and describes the process: thawing the frozen roe, washing, marinating in seasoning, shaping and maturing, sorting by size and quality, packing, and freezingSource: product description on the listing |
| Condition / how to eat (cooking required?) | Delivered frozen. The product description introduces ways to eat it, such as isobe-yaki (grilled and wrapped in nori), chazuke (rice with tea), spaghetti, hand-rolled sushi, and hiyayakko (chilled tofu). We found no guidance on the listing on whether cooking is required or whether it can be eaten raw: not confirmedSource: product description on the listing |
| Thawing method | not confirmed (shelf life after thawing is also not stated on the listing) |
| Delivery | Frozen deliverySource: delivery method field in the product description on the listing |
| Shipping time | One of the following is shown: ships within 2 days at the earliest / month specified from November 2026 to March 2027 / delivered within 60 business days (as of October 5, 2026). What is shown may changeSource: options shown on the Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing (viewed October 5, 2026) |
| Notes | The listing states that photos are for illustration and that the size of the roe may varySource: product description on the listing |
| Manufacturer | Umios 広洋株式会社 (6-596 Shoro-Ko-ku, Shiranuka-cho, Shiranuka-gun, Hokkaido). The provider is the same company, with its address shown as Shoro-Ko-ku 6-584Source: product description on the listing |
| Shop | 北海道白糠町 (Shiranuka Town, Hokkaido) (Rakuten Furusato Nozei) |
Donation amounts may differ by portal and may change. Please check the current donation amount and availability at the link above.
Ingredients and Allergen Labeling
The product description on the listing shows the ingredients as follows (Source: Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing, viewed October 5, 2026).
- Tarako: Alaska pollock roe (United States), salt, reduced starch syrup, fermented seasoning, yeast extract / seasoning (amino acids, etc.), trehalose, sorbitol, niacin, antioxidant (vitamin C), sweetener (stevia), color fixative (sodium nitrite), coloring agents (Red No. 102, Yellow No. 5), enzymes
- Karashi mentaiko: Alaska pollock roe (United States), sake, salt, chili pepper, reduced starch syrup, fermented seasoning, yeast extract / seasoning (amino acids, etc.), trehalose, sorbitol, niacin, antioxidant (vitamin C), sweetener (stevia), color fixative (sodium nitrite), coloring agents (Red No. 102, Yellow No. 5), enzymes
Both the tarako and the karashi mentaiko list coloring agents (Red No. 102, Yellow No. 5) and a color fixative (sodium nitrite). We found no separate allergen field (specified ingredients, etc.) on the listing: not confirmed. If you are concerned about allergies, check the labeling on the listing before applying for the donation, or check the food information label on the product when it arrives.
The country of origin of the roe is listed as the United States. The beginning of the product description says the raw material is frozen on board ships at sea in the northernmost Pacific.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling” (accessed October 5, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before You Donate
| What to check | For this gift | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount / servings | Tarako from 250g to 2kg; the tarako and karashi mentaiko set is 2kg (1kg each). Options divided into 250g × 4 and 250g × 8 are also available. How many servings is not stated | Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing |
| 2. Storage and shelf life | Keep frozen (-18°C). The best-before date is shown as 1.5 years frozen from the date of manufacture for tarako, and 1 year for karashi mentaiko. October 22, 2026 is also shown as an example for the “ships within 2 days at the earliest” slot, so the date differs by shipping slot. Thawing method and shelf life after thawing: not confirmed | Product description on the listing |
| 3. Ingredients / allergen labeling | Roe from the United States. Coloring agents (Red No. 102, Yellow No. 5) and a color fixative (sodium nitrite) are listed. Separate allergen field (specified ingredients, etc.): not confirmed | Ingredients field in the product description on the listing |
| 4. Suitable as a gift? | Noshi (gift wrapping paper), wrapping, and message cards: not confirmed. The listing states that after you apply for the donation, it cannot be canceled, and the thank-you gift cannot be changed or returned | Listing (no mention of noshi, wrapping, or message cards) |
| 5. Review trends | Rated 4.77/5 on Rakuten Ichiba (1,108 reviews). We read the first 59 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted November 2025 to September 2026; latest September 2026), all 7 of the 1★ reviews (posted July 2021 to October 2026), and all 14 of the 2★ reviews (posted March 2019 to September 2026). The following are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition. Many reviews mention the graininess, the size, and how easy it is to divide into portions, while 1★ and 2★ reviews point out saltiness, short best-before dates, and something like a parasite being attached | Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 5, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
We found no mention on the listing of whether noshi (gift wrapping paper) is available or which inscriptions can be used, wrapping or gift boxes, or message cards (Source: Rakuten Furusato Nozei listing, viewed October 5, 2026).
- Noshi: whether it is available and which inscriptions can be used are not confirmed
- Wrapping / gift box: not confirmed
- Message card / name printing: not confirmed
- Delivery address: we found no mention of whether it can be delivered to an address other than the donor’s: not confirmed
Because furusato nozei thank-you gifts are given in return for a donation, the listing states that after you apply for the donation, it cannot be canceled, and the thank-you gift cannot be changed or returned (Source: product description on the listing, viewed October 5, 2026). If you plan to use it as a gift, check how noshi, wrapping, and the delivery address are handled on the listing before you apply. Among the reviews we read, 6 of the 59 in the default order said they gave it to family or acquaintances, shared it, or that the box was good for gifting (Source: Rakuten customer reviews, viewed October 5, 2026).
What Public Reviews Say
We organized Rakuten Ichiba product reviews by topic. Ratings are as of the time of viewing and change afterward. The following are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition. The reviews we read also include posts about a karashi-mentaiko-only option not among the current options (type shown as “辛子明太子”), and posts about other amounts of tarako and the tarako and karashi mentaiko set.
| Site | Rating | Reviews | Viewed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten customer reviews (product page) | 4.77 / 5 | 1,108 | October 5, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: 5★ 927 / 4★ 131 / 3★ 29 / 2★ 14 / 1★ 7 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, viewed October 5, 2026)
What we read: the first 59 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted November 2025 to September 2026; latest September 2026), all 7 of the 1★ reviews (posted July 2021 to October 2026), and all 14 of the 2★ reviews (posted March 2019 to September 2026), 80 in total. These are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition.
What Reviewers Praise
Graininess / texture
16 of the 59 reviews in the default order mentioned the graininess, a springy, popping texture, or smoothness (all posted within the last two years).
Size / volume
15 of the 59 default-order reviews mentioned size or amount, such as each sac being large, impressive, or the amount being generous (all posted within the last two years).
Easy to use in portions
10 of the 59 default-order reviews mentioned that it arrived divided into portions such as 250g × 4 or 250g × 8, or that they divided it into portions after arrival, froze it, and thawed only what they needed (all posted within the last two years).
Moderate saltiness
3 of the 59 default-order reviews said the saltiness was just right or perfectly balanced (all posted within the last two years). Perceptions of saltiness vary, and some reviews said it was quite salty (see “What Reviewers Note” below).
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 5, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Salty / too salty
5 of all 21 1★ and 2★ reviews (one 1★ and four 2★) said they found it salty or too salty. Among the 59 default-order reviews, there is also one 4★ review saying it was quite salty. Only that one default-order review was posted within the last two years; the five 1★ and 2★ reviews were all posted before October 2024.
How to check: the fact that the ingredients include salt is summarized in the “Ingredients and Allergen Labeling” section of this article.
Short best-before date
2 of all 21 1★ and 2★ reviews (one 1★ and one 2★) said the best-before date of the product they received was short. Both were posted within the last two years and mention options in the “ships within 2 days at the earliest” slot. One says it was about three weeks from arrival to the date, and the other about one week.
How to check: the fact that the best-before date shown differs by shipping slot is summarized in the “Best-before date” row of “Basic Information” in this article.
Something like a parasite was attached
2 of all 21 1★ and 2★ reviews (both 2★) said a parasite that looked like anisakis was attached. One of them was posted within the last two years. These are the individual reviewers’ observations, and we found no mention of this point in the product description on the listing.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 5, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- People looking for tarako delivered frozen, with an amount to choose from 250g to 2kg
- People who want to choose an option divided into portions, such as 250g × 4 or 250g × 8, and thaw only what they need
- People looking for a set (2kg) with 1kg each of tarako and karashi mentaiko
Who Should Be Careful
- People with allergies (the separate allergen field (specified ingredients, etc.) is not confirmed)
- People for whom coloring agents or color fixatives are a deciding factor (both are listed)
- People who care about the best-before date (the date shown differs by shipping slot)
- People who dislike strongly salty food (some 1★ and 2★ reviews say it is salty)
- People for whom guidance on whether it can be eaten raw or how to thaw it is a deciding factor (not confirmed)
- People who want to give it as a gift assuming noshi, wrapping, or message cards (not confirmed)
Donation amounts, availability, and shipping times change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 5, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before you donate.
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
Summary
- Tarako comes in 250g to 2kg, and the tarako and karashi mentaiko set is 2kg (1kg each). Keep frozen (-18°C); the best-before date shown differs by shipping slot, and the thawing method is not confirmed
- The roe is from the United States, and coloring agents and a color fixative are listed. The separate allergen field (specified ingredients, etc.) is not confirmed. Many reviews mention the graininess, size, and ease of dividing into portions, while 1★ and 2★ reviews point out saltiness, short best-before dates, and something like a parasite being attached
- Noshi, wrapping, message cards, and guidance on whether it can be eaten raw are not confirmed. After you apply for the donation, it cannot be canceled, changed, or returned
Related Pages
This article organizes information published on furusato nozei listings and review sites. Information about the thank-you gift, such as amount, storage method, and ingredients, may change. Please check the listing for the latest information.
Comments on taste or quality are summarized from third-party posts cited with their source, and are not Ochinity’s own evaluation. Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: October 5, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Furusato Nozei “北海道白糠町” (Shiranuka Town, Hokkaido) listing, Rakuten customer reviews, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
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