Family-friendly

Has a gift

With lunch

The Tohoku region is home to some of the most beautiful natural scenery and ancient shrines, which are especially stunning in autumn and spring. Join the spring festivities and celebrate the beauty of cherry blossom trees during this Cherry Blossom Viewing and Hanami Picnic in Shiogama, your chance to enjoy the spring tradition of hanami (cherry blossom viewing parties) at a national treasure, Shiogama Jinja. Enjoy viewing the spring sakura blossoms in the serene grounds of Shiogama Shrine, a temple that’s over 1200 years old! It features its own rare double-flowering variety of cherry blossom trees called Shiogama-zakura, also considered a national Natural Monument. 

You’ll arrive at the hanami picnic with everything already set up and ready to go at a great cherry blossom viewing spot in Shiogama. Then, simply relax and enjoy your local bento box lunch beneath hundreds of beautiful, delicate cherry blossoms! Featuring elements of local cuisine and regional ingredients inspired by the season, your Instagram-worthy bento box will feature bite-sized pieces of colorful hanami picnic food. Complete with a glass of local sake or beer, you’ll be able to enjoy the scenery while hearing a shamisen performance (a traditional three-stringed Japanese instrument) by a local musician! This hanami picnic in Shiogama also includes a wonderful tea ceremony with wagashi Japanese sweets to complete the experience.

Never mind about coordinating heavy bags of food and drink, or traipsing around with a blue tarp trying to secure a picnic spot. Feel free to explore the shrine’s grounds, as there’s no need to fuss around and clean anything up. This hanami picnic is hassle-free and certifiably delicious! And at the end, you’ll also receive a local souvenir to take home with you, to remember the fleeting cherry blossoms of Shiogama.

Join a Shiogama Hanami Picnic to experience the local sakura festivities at Shiogama Shrine, and enjoy the cherry blossoms with a bento box lunch of local produce.

Cherry Blossom Viewing and Picnic in Shiogama | byFood

<p>In the Tohoku region, Miyagi Prefecture occupies a large part of the eastern side of Japan on the Pacific Coast. Cradled between scenic coastlines and mountainous landscapes, Miyagi is famous for its seafood. A luxurious harakomeshi is a classic Miyagi dish of rice with the belly meat of fatty salmon, sprinkled with salmon roe marinated in soy sauce. Miyagi Prefecture also offers fantastic skiing in the winter and stunning coastal scenery, namely the celebrated Matsushima Bay. Considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful views, Matsushima sees pine trees clustered over more than 200 rocky islets, starkly mingling across clear ocean waters. Nourish the body soaking in the healing waters of Naruko Onsen, while the flaming fall foliage around Naruko Gorge proves unbelievably beautiful. Meanwhile, the mountains and forests of the Zao region in southwest Miyagi are symbolized by the Okama Crater beside the summit of Mount Zao. </p>

<p>The Hirose River wiggles its way through the city of Sendai, Miyagi’s capital that’s best explored by bike. Richly flavored and soft in texture, Sendai is lovingly associated with its quality gyutan (beef tongue), the representative dish of Miyagi Prefecture. Aged and thinly sliced before hitting the grill, beef tongue is succulent and soft, typically served with a side of beef tail soup. Built in 1600, Aoba Castle (Aoba-jo) overlooks the city and resides by the colorful mausoleum, Zuihoden, enshrining the powerful daimyo Masamune Date. Each year in the fall, family and friends enjoy stewing Sendai imoni hot pots around riverbanks alfresco-style, a long-lived tradition flavored with miso, root vegetables, konnyaku, and pork. Bright green zundamochi is a Miyagi Prefecture signature sweet, while the local fish cake in the shape of a bamboo grass leaf is known as sasa kamaboko. Miyagi is abundant with glorious mountainscapes and natural parks, featuring tasty local cuisine and quality seafood. </p>

Browse cooking classes, tastings, dining experiences, and food tours in Miyagi, a prefecture of Japan that’s famous for seafood, beef tongue, hot pot, and fish cakes

Best Food Experiences in Miyagi | byFood

Miyagi

Seafood and beef tongue are regional specialties of the Miyagi Prefecture, whose diverse natural landscape offers scenic views across glorious mountains and coastlines.

Cherry Blossom Viewing and Hanami Picnic in Shiogama 

Pescetarian

Nomihoudai

Regional food

With dinner

Discover a different side of Sendai and step into an authentic izakaya in the downtown area for a delicious local dinner! At a typical izakaya (traditional Japanese style pub), you’ll see locals sharing small food plates and drinking as they go. For an immersive izakaya experience, this Izakaya Dinner and Sushi Workshop is held in an authentic Japanese restaurant in Sendai. This restaurant aims to introduce you to a delicious selection of local and regional food from the Tohoku area.

You’ll enjoy a carefully selected menu of the best local specialty foods found in Tohoku, made with both local and seasonal ingredients. With an all-you-can-drink package included (yes, you read that right!) you can pair each dish with a drink of your choice from the menu, which offers a range of Japanese beer, sake, and mixed drinks. Keep the drinks flowing between courses and marvel as a trained professional chef expertly carves tuna right in front of your eyes, skillfully making tantalizing and fresh sushi. 

Next, you’ll get involved with a sushi-making workshop, making your own sushi by hand (called nigirizushi) using the freshly carved tuna. The expert chef will guide you through the process, and will teach you to mold the perfect piece of sushi! Then you’ll get to enjoy your sushi with another drink. This Izakaya Dinner and Sushi Workshop in Sendai is a dining experience that will make you feel like a local.

Experience an authentic izakaya dinner in Downtown Sendai with unlimited drinks while watching an amazing tuna cutting show, followed by a sushi-making workshop.

Izakaya Dinner with Sushi Workshop in Sendai | byFood

Izakaya Dinner with Sushi Workshop in Sendai

With sake

With 3 drinks

Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku region is not only home to lush and gorgeous landscapes, but it also preserves regional traditions and culture. Aoba Matsuri is one of such traditions, originated to homage Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the legendary historical figures that unified Japan in the 17th century. The festival involves foodie action aplenty, with food stalls serving all sorts of Japanese street food, such as succulent skewers, piping hot yakisoba and more.

Like many matsuri, Aoba festival features a parade. This includes armored soldiers representing the historical clan members that have protected the area in the past, and a cheerful group of dancers. Waving their fans to the beat of the drums, they proceed with a combination of flowy and undulating movements resulting in a captivating performance. 

During this immersive dining experience with a twist, you’ll get in-depth insights about Suzume Odori (the sparrow dance) and its origins, as well as delicious regional cuisine, for an adventure that is on a different level. Your Suzume Odori English-speaking teacher is a veteran dancer, no less! Under her careful guidance, you can learn some basic steps and fan moves to gain an insider perspective into Aoba Matsuri.

After a one-hour-long lesson, you can restore your energy with a well-deserved izakaya-style dinner. In addition to the traditional dance class, we’ll provide you with a tasting set of three sake varieties paired with three equally delicious local dishes. Buckle up and enjoy the party at this refined Japanese-style gastropub!

Learn to spread your wings to the strains of Hayashi music, then celebrate your new dance skills with a tasting of 3 regional sakes paired with 3 local dishes. 

DINING EXPERIENCES (3)

Cherry Blossom Viewing and Hanami Picnic in Shiogama

Izakaya Dinner with Sushi Workshop in Sendai

Suzume Odori Dance Class and Local Izakaya Dinner