7 Local Gourmet Spots to Enjoy Around Naruko Onsen | Includes Sweets and Local Sake

If you're traveling in the Tohoku region, we recommend stopping by areas where you can enjoy local cuisine and sweets beloved by locals. Naruko Onsen, located in the northwest of Miyagi Prefecture, is famous as a hot spring spot where you can enjoy traditional local cuisine.

This time, we will introduce Naruko's local cuisine, sweets made with local specialties, and notable local sake for those planning a gourmet trip in Tohoku. Please use this as a reference when touring the Naruko Onsen area.

• Table of Contents
• Local gourmet food to enjoy at Naruko Onsen
• Exquisite sweets inspired by Naruko Onsen's specialties
• If you're touring the Tohoku region, we recommend Hotel WAMARE Onikobe.

Local gourmet food to enjoy at Naruko Onsen

The charm of Naruko Onsen is that you can enjoy local gourmet food that has been loved by locals for a long time. In this article, we will introduce the following three particularly popular gourmet foods.

● Chestnut dumplings | A classic dish you should try at least once at Naruko Onsen

● Shiso rolls | Convenient as a side dish or teatime snack

● Oni Soba｜Famous soba noodles made with the Shimizu of Onikobe Onsen

All of these are local dishes that you should try at least once if you visit Naruko Onsen.

Chestnut dumplings | A classic dish you'll want to try at least once at Naruko Onsen

Chestnut dumplings are a staple delicacy at Naruko Onsen. They are made from rice cakes wrapped around whole chestnuts and topped with a sweet and spicy mitarashi bean paste, resulting in a refined and simple taste.

Chestnut dumplings were invented by Yoshimaru Fukase, the first owner of Mochidokoro Fukase, towards the end of the Meiji period. Today, they are a staple dish that can be purchased at Mochidokoro Fukase and other souvenir shops around town.

◆Basic information about Mochidokoro Fukase◆

Address: 24-2 Yumoto, Naruko Onsen , Osaki City

Business hours: 9:00-17:00

Closed: New Year's Day and irregular holidays

Shiso rolls | Convenient as a side dish or teatime snack

Shiso rolls have also long been a popular local delicacy in Naruko Onsen. One theory is that they originated when Date Masamune had them made to entertain people visiting the hot springs.

The basic shiso roll is a side dish made by wrapping Sendai miso in shiso leaves and deep frying it. Shiso rolls have changed over time, and can be enjoyed in a variety of flavors, such as being sweetened as a snack or mixed with chili peppers to serve as a side dish with alcohol.

Oni Soba | Famous soba noodles made with the Shimizu of Onikobe Onsen

Oni soba is a local specialty made from buckwheat grown in the Onikobe area. One of the restaurants where you can eat oni soba in Onikobe is Okusa Shoten.

At Okuya Shoten, you can enjoy Oni Soba made with mountain produce, such as Boar Oni Soba, Bear Oni Soba, and Mushroom Oni Soba. In addition to Oni Soba, you can also enjoy local mountain vegetables and river fish, making it a popular restaurant where you can enjoy the flavors of the four seasons.

At the mountain produce direct sales store attached to the store, you can purchase rare mushrooms, wild vegetables, bottled goods, and other products.

◆Basic information about Okusa Shoten◆

Address: 18-1 Todoroki, Onikobe, Naruko Onsen , Osaki City

Closed: Open daily (irregular holidays)

Exquisite sweets inspired by Naruko Onsen's specialties

In this chapter, we will introduce a carefully selected selection of sweets inspired by local specialties.

● Blueberries | A local fruit that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways

● Kokeshi Monaka | A modern sweet inspired by tradition

Both are sweets unique to Naruko. If you're looking for an after-meal dessert or a memorable memory of your trip, be sure to check this out.

Blueberries | A local fruit that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways

Osaki City , Miyagi Prefecture , where Naruko Onsen is located, is a region where blueberry cultivation is thriving. The blueberries at Naruko Onsen are certified by the prefecture as being grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Some blueberry farms offer picking experiences and all-you-can-eat plans, allowing you to enjoy the seasonal flavors while sightseeing. Local farms and souvenir shops also stock a wide selection of blueberry-based products, such as jam, juice, and liqueur, which make great keepsakes for your trip.

Kokeshi Monaka | A modern sweet inspired by tradition

Kokeshi Monaka is an experiential sweet offered by Cafe Gutto, a popular and stylish local cafe.

You can enjoy painting a kokeshi-shaped mochi in the eat-in space inside the store. You can also fill the mochi with fillings such as bean paste, chestnuts, or ice cream.

Kokeshi Monaka is a recommended sweet for those who want to have a unique experience while traveling. Reservations are not required for the painting experience.

◆Cafe gutto basic information◆

Address: 27-2-2 Yumoto, Naruko Onsen , Osaki City

Business hours: 11:30-18:00 *Last orders 17:30

Closed: Fridays

Doburoku, a locally brewed sparkling sake born from the natural beauty of Naruko Onsen

Naruko Onsen is also a thriving area for local sake production, using locally grown rice and high-quality hot spring water and melted snow. Naruko no Kaze, a low-malt sake made with the famous water from Onikobe, comes in three flavors:

● Takaharu Lager...A taste that stands out with its bitter and rich malt flavor

● Wild Grape (Ale)...Mellow and gentle taste thanks to the use of wild grapes

● Yukimusubi (Ale)...Made with local Yukimusubi rice, it has a sparkling taste similar to champagne.

At Naruko Onsen, you can also enjoy "doburoku," a flavor unique to mountain villages. "Oni no Doburoku Yukimusubi," made with Onikobe-produced yukimusubi and local meltwater, is characterized by its smooth, easy-to-drink taste.

It can be enjoyed as a moon-viewing sake or snow-viewing sake, and would also make a great souvenir for those who enjoy local sake.

If you're touring the Tohoku region, we recommend Hotel WAMARE Onikobe.

For a gourmet trip in the Tohoku region, it's convenient to base yourself at Hotel WAMARE Onikobe, which also offers long-term stays. As it is an inn where you can rent the entire building, you can spend your time relaxing and enjoying your time.

One of the accommodation plans at Hotel WAMARE Onikobe is a plan that includes dinner at Bettei En. This attractive plan allows you to enjoy a colorful Japanese meal called the "Hakozen Course" made with local ingredients.

If you are traveling to Tohoku , be sure to stop by Hotel WAMARE Onikobe.

◆Basic information about Hotel WAMARE Onikobe◆

Address: 9-38 Mukaibara Onikobe, Naruko Onsen , Osaki City

Check-in: 15:00-18:00

Check-out until 10:00

Make a reservation here

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◆Basic information about Bettei En◆

Address: 62 Nakano , Naruko Onsen , Osaki City

Business hours: 11:30-15:00 *Last orders at 14:00

*Dinner session available by reservation only

Closed: Irregular holidays