The Fascinating Seafood Culture of Shiogama

Learn the unique local traditions of sake, salt, and seafood on a tour of this coastal town, known for its lively fish markets.

This tour introduces visitors to the local culture of Shiogama, a port town on the northern coast known for its thriving fishing industry. One of the local specialties is seaweed salt, heralded for its rich umami flavor. The first stop is a shrine dedicated to the deity of salt-making, followed by a visit to Shiogama Shrine to learn about the importance of salt and its purifying role in the Shinto religion.

The tour continues with a visit to a specialty store for a sake-tasting workshop. After learning how to distinguish sake types, you’ll visit a brewery to further appreciate how Japan's signature beverage is made (and taste more varieties of sake). Lunch takes place at a local sushi restaurant for a meal of fresh seafood paired with sake. Try sushi “Shiogama style,” served with seaweed salt instead of soy sauce. The tour ends at a nearby tea shop with a cup of uniquely brewed tea and a traditional sweet made with seaweed salt. The tour takes about 4 hours, and is available year-round on every day of the week except Sundays.

Access: Take the Shinkansen bullet train to Sendai Station (1.5 hrs.), take the local train to Shiogama Station, then walk for about 20 minutes.

In-outbound Sendai-Matsushima inc.