Honestly, I wanted to escape. I wanted to get away from the crowds of Tokyo, and most of all, from the extremely high temperatures we’ve had this summer. Where could it be cooler in Japan? Tohoku was the winning choice this time. But for me, it was mostly about enjoying a culinary experience. So, what did I eat during the trip? Let’s find out!
Oysters from Matsushima
Before jumping straight into Sendai’s star dish, let’s talk oysters! On the first day, we went straight to Matsushima, a small town famous for being home to one of Japan’s most beautiful landscapes. There, you’ll find plenty of places serving seafood—especially oysters. Instead of being raw, the oysters were grilled. The rice and miso soup also had a few oysters in them. Enjoying all of this for around 1,500 yen was the perfect way to kick off this beautiful trip.
Gyutan
It’s a classic dish from Miyagi Prefecture, where the city of Sendai is located. Gyutan is none other than beef tongue. It might not sound very appealing, but the truth is—it was absolutely delicious. We decided to go for yakiniku (Japanese BBQ), and ended up having a feast not just of gyutan, but of other cuts of beef as well. A real delicacy!
Breakfast at the Fish Market
Who would’ve thought I’d be having sashimi for breakfast? On the morning of our last day in Sendai, we decided to have breakfast at the city’s daytime fish market. There aren’t many places to eat there (maybe about five spots), but the ones that are there offer great quality. The fish was incredibly fresh and beautifully sliced. We also ordered some sea urchin, and it felt like butter melting in the mouth. Just thinking back to that moment makes my mouth water.
That was everything I ate in a day and a half in Miyagi Prefecture. But the journey doesn’t end here—after Miyagi, we headed to Yamagata, where even more delicacies were waiting for us.
New article coming soon: The Flavors of Yamagata.
