Miyagi Prefecture [宮城]
Tourist spots in Miyagi Prefecture
Sendai city
Sendai city (仙台) is the capital of Miyagi Prefecture.
It has a population of about one million people, and it is the biggest city in Tohoku Region.
Hirose River flows through this city and there are many street trees.
So, Sendai is called as "City of Trees".
In 1601, Date Masamune, a leading warlord in this region, built a castle on Aobayama Hill, then Sendai city had developed as one of dominant domains in Japan.
Since that, it has been the central city of Tohoku Region.
Date Masamune is still a hero of Sendai citizens.
The specialty of Sendai is beef tongue. ("Gyūtan" in Japanese)
Sliced beef tongue with salt or shoyu are grilled over a direct fire.
Now there are about 60 restaurants for gyutan cooking in Sendai city.
Photo by Sendai City, Tourism Division
Sendai Tanabata Festival is a big festival in Tohoku Region.
It is held from August 6th to 8th.
Tanabata is one of the traditional seasonal festivals in east Asia, and in Japan generally it is on July 7th.
In Japan, we hang colorful paper strips after writing our wishes on bamboo tree.
In Sendai, great and gorgeous decorations are hung all over the city.
So, the whole city is filled with the decorations.
Various tourist spots in Miyagi Prefecture
Local foods in Miyagi Prefecture
Beef tongue
Sliced beef tongue with salt or shoyu are grilled over a direct fire.
In Japanese, it is called "gyūtan".
After World War II, Allied Occupation forces ate a lot of beef but the beef tongue remained.
A yakitori restaurant in Sendai used the beef tongue and served this menu.
At first, it was only a unique menu.
But, in the era of high economic growth (the 1970s), many businessmen from Tokyo knew the taste and the reputation spread, then gyūtan in Sendai became a speciality.
Now there are about 60 restaurants for gyūtan cooking in Sendai city.
Oysters
Matsushima bay is one of the Japanese largest production centers of oyster.
The oysters are somewhat small but firm.
The oyster season here is from October to March.
Along Matsushuma coast, there are some shop selling oysters.
And a few restaurants that we can eat oysters with baking for ourselves are opened during the season.
Sasa-kamaboko
Photo by Sendai City, Tourism Division
Kamaboko is a variety of Japanese processed seafood products.
It is made by steaming pureed white fish.
Especially in Sendai, the product is called "Sasa-kamaboko".
Of course, the form is different from general kamaboko.
General kamaboko is made by placing on a wooden board, but sasa-kamaboko is made in a leaf-shaping mold.
There are several specialized manufacturers in the Sendai area.
You can purchase them as souvenirs at specialty shops or at souvenir stores in major train stations.
Zunda-mochi
Photo by Sendai City, Tourism Division
Mochi is made by pounding steamed glutinous rice into sticky paste like bread dough.
Boiled green soybeans are ground.
Then, sugar and salt are added to it and the mochi is wrapped with the green paste.
This is Zunda-mochi.
It is mainly sold in Miyagi Prefecture.
Originally, the sweets have been made in the farmhouses in the area.
Local specialties in Miyagi Prefecture
Kokeshi
Photo by Miyagi Prefecture
Kokeshi is a simple wooden doll.
Many of Kokushi are made in Tohoku Region, and particularly Miyagi Prefecture is one of the main places of production.
Naruko and Zao areas are major production areas in Miyagi Prefecture.
Kokeshi consists of a round head and a cylindrical torso.
The head is fitted on the torso and a girl's face drawn in.
Two or three colors, such as red, blue or yellow, are used to paint lines or a chrysanthemum design on the body.