Kumagaimachi (Bear Valley) is a remote settlement nestled in the
Kasumigaseki Mountains. It is famous for both for its spectacular apex predators (similar in appearance to Old Earth
Sun Bears) as well as the Red Mangos fruit native to the area. Over time it has become popular among food tourists.
Red Mango
Red Mangos are a large succulent fruit that is native to
Eiennohana, preferring colder alpine climates. Insanely popular among humans and wildlife alike, it is often described as a mixture of mangos, raspberries, and mint. It has a soft and rubbery skin, covering juicy pods of flesh (similar to an orange) wrapped around a large seed at the center.
Discovery
Kumagaimachi became known when the king's court came to the region on a hunting trip. The party became enamored with the Red Mango cheesecake sold by the local restaurant
"Hakumei's Pastries and Jams". The king was infatuated with the dish and commanded his cooks to replicate the dish, but soon declared that they were only "pale imitations" of the original. A contract was established with the shop, ensuring a delivery of one cheesecake every week.
Waiting in Line
As word spread through the nation's social elite, tourists began to flock to the small town in search of the legendary dessert. Demand quickly outstripped supply and the shop was forced to triple its staff to keep up. Kumagaimachi has always been a small town, really one long street hugging either side of a stream splitting the valley, and during the tourist season the line to Hakumei's ran from one end of town to the other. At first, the other shopkeepers were jealous of their neighbor's success and bitter at the line slowly moving past their doors, but eventually they learned to take advantage of the situation.
The average wait time for Hakumei's is five hours, leaving plenty of time for entrepreneurial shop keepers to sell "snacks" small enough to not ruin a person's appetite. The already small streets narrowed further, leaving little chance for tourists to miss the wide range of other food items being sold. By the time tourists reach Hakumei's they have eaten soup, ramen, sushi, and grilled meats, almost the equivalent of a twelve course meal, with the cheesecake as the dessert.
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