Enjoy the Many Seafood Options in Matsushima
The Matsushima Bay area including Matsushima, known as one of the three most scenic locations in Japan, is a nutrient-rich sea area where the Oyashio and Kuroshio currents collide. The abundant seafood caught fresh every morning is what makes the area particularly attractive. Numerous restaurants serving dishes made from fresh seafood can be found in the vicinity of famous sightseeing spots such as the national treasure Zuiganji Temple, Entsuin Temple, and the sightseeing cruise terminal. This article recommends various food crawl spots that will make sightseeing in Matsushima even more enjoyable.
Food crawl spot 1: Pensee
Oyster Curry Bread
Pensee is one of the most beloved bakeries among Sendai locals, with twelve stores in Sendai City and nearby areas. Here you will find the Oyster Curry Bread (300 yen) which won the grand prize at the 2021 Curry Bread Grand Prize competition.
Enjoy the delectable taste of the medium spicy curry and the large oyster nestled inside the Oyster Curry Bread, combined with the crunch of the fried bread dough on the outside.
Visitors who aren’t fond of oysters can try Pensee’s many other bread treats made with Sendai and Miyagi specialties, such as beef tongue curry bread (300 yen), zunda (sweet edamame paste) melon bread (200 yen), and zunda whipped melon bread (250 yen).
| Address | Chonai 75-14, Matsushima, Matsushima-machi, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi-ken ※Also available at their Sendai Station store |
| Opening hours | Weekdays 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Weekends and holidays 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (open daily) |
Food crawl spot 2: Matsushima Kamaboko Honpo
Sasa-kamaboko
Matsushima Kamaboko Honpo offers a “sasa-kamaboko hand-grilling experience” (300 yen per stick), where you will get to grill a stick of sasa-kamaboko, a local specialty of Miyagi, yourself.
※(Sasa-kamaboko refers to a type of kamaboko fishcake made by skewering ground white fish on bamboo skewers, stretching them into a bamboo leaf shape and grilling them. This type of kamaboko is a longtime favorite in Miyagi Prefecture due to it being an area of abundant seafood.)
Details of experience:
１：Pay the fee at the register and receive an ungrilled sasa-kamaboko stick.
２：Head over to the grill and listen to the grilling instructions.
３：Grill your sasa-kamaboko (The key is to not rush but to wait patiently until the fishcake has puffed up and become golden brown.)
４：Eat (Enjoy the piping hot sasa-kamaboko fresh off the grill)
The experience is 300 yen per stick and takes only around 10 minutes, so be sure to try it out for yourself when sightseeing around Matsushima.
※No reservation required for groups of 10 people or less.
| Address | Chonai 120, Matsushima, Matsushima-machi, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi-ken |
| Opening hours | 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (open daily) |
Food crawl spot 3: M Pantry
Oyster Cracker with Oyster and Rice
M Pantry is a shop selling a careful selection of foods from Miyagi.
We recommend the Oyster Cracker with Oyster and Rice (250 yen) which is made by pressing and baking rice flour and (one whole) oyster, both products of Miyagi Prefecture. Each oyster cracker is made with care and attention, and the concentrated umami of the oyster and crispiness of the rice flour are a perfect match, making you want to eat another piece or two.
Matsushima Bay is right in front of you as soon as your step out of the store, so why not grab an oyster cracker and take a stroll along the bay?
| Address | Senzui 10, Matsushima, Matsushima-machi, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi-ken |
| Opening hours | 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed Wednesdays) |
Click here to read about a historical and cultural tour of Matsushima