The area also takes pride in having the biggest catch of anago (sea eel) in all of Japan. Anago here is exceptional in size and rich in fat, making it perfect for sushi and rice bowls when paired with the high-quality local Sasanishiki rice.
Hoya, a type of ascidians, also known as sea pineapple, is an acquired taste with a bumpy, pineapple-like appearance. Harvested around the coast of Hokkaido and the Sanriku Coast, it’s often served as sashimi or with a vinegar dressing. Spring and summer are the best time to enjoy them. Known as one of the world’s biggest fishing ports, Ishinomaki area offers an abundance of seafood.
Introducing Bara-yaki, a home-cooked dish enjoyed around the Towada area. Bara-yaki is made by cooking bara beef (meat around ribs) and a plenty of onion on a hot iron pan seasoned with soy-based sweet and spicy sauce. The concept comes from Bulgogi, a Korean dish with grilled beef. These days, it’s not only a popular home-cooked dish, it’s now served at local restaurants in the area.
Aomori Prefecture is known as the biggest producer of garlic in Japan, producing over 70% of the annual yields in 2020. Towada city in Aomori is one of the leading areas in growing garlic. Their garlic is rather big in size with pure white, packed with strong umami.
Kozuyu is a local dish of Aizu Wakamatsu, which used to be served as a dish for the head of the Aizu Wakamatsu clan. The soup is made from a dashi stock of dried scallops and other ingredients such as carrots, shiitake, kikurage, warabi and satoimo. They are simmered together with a little bit of soy sauce to taste. It is served in a red shallow Aizu-nuri dish called “teshio sara”, a lacquerware that originated in the region.
Aizu region is one of the leading areas for sake production. Aizu’s climate, and the fact that it was the castle town of the Aizu clan in the Edo period have contributed to the growth of Sake making in the area. Each distillery keep honing their skills and they have won the gold medal at the Annual Japan Sake Awards. There are a number of high-quality, award-winning distilleries and ther sake in Aizu.
Dengaku is a signature dish of Aizu Wakamatsu. Ingredients like konnyaku, fried tofu, mochi, satoimo are skewered, glazed with a sauce of akamiso, sugar and yakumi spices, then grilled over a charcoal fire.
Consider also participating in some of the many fun agricultural activities offered in the area, such as at Tategamori Ark Farm or the Honedera Village Estate—a great way to learn about farming while interacting with locals.
Enjoy the vast natural landscapes of the Sanriku Fukko National Park by trekking or riding a rental bike through the Michinoku Coastal Trial or Miyagi Olle.
To round it all off, climb aboard a fishing boat and take a cruise in the Sea of Japan.
