Japan’s Ultimate “Surf & Turf” Road Trip: Ocean Sushi & Mountain Wagyu in One Day | Tohoku
Hey everyone. Today, I’m sharing some must-visit spots for food and scenery on a short trip through the Tohoku region. Feel free to use this as a model itinerary! This is a ‘Michi-no-Eki,’ a type of roadside station with local shops. I always stop by, since they sell so many great things from the area. Ooh, I found a ranking of the must-buy souvenirs from this area! Lots of honey and sake, it seems. I love them both. They also have fresh, morning-picked vegetables and fruits! I’ve got to buy some. The Tohoku region is famous for its rice, so there are many sake breweries. I’ll be visiting one today. Goodbye, Michi-no-Eki “Umiyoko”! This coastal drive feels amazing. Since we’re right by the sea, I’m going to find some seafood for lunch. Found a sushi place with great reviews on Google Maps. It’s a nice, casual spot, not too high-end. Looks like we can be seated right away, perfect. This isn’t a conveyor belt sushi place; you order directly. But these cute stuffed animals are going for a ride instead. Alright, let’s dig in! The fish comes from the local port, so it’s incredibly fresh and the pieces are huge. I always have to order ‘Engawa,’ the fin muscle of a flounder. If you come to Japan, you have to try it. It’s rich and fatty, has a great texture, and it’s usually very affordable. Yummy! The rice from the master chef was delicious. The way sushi is pressed can completely change the taste. That was some amazing, high-quality sushi for a great price. Thank you for the meal. Now that I’m full, let’s take a short walk over to the sake brewery. Such a nice atmosphere in these local towns. Time just seems to slow down. Are you a fan of taking walks? What a beautiful sake brewery. They make a famous sake here called ‘Chokaisan.’ And later today, I’ll be driving up to see the real Mount Chokai. Look at all the different types of sake they make here. They’ve won many awards. This brewery is famous for an award-winning sake that you can drink like a white wine. I bought these two bottles as souvenirs! After walking a bit more, I came across a small, local train station. A train just arrived! It looks like a cute, classic train. It looks like an ‘Okami,’ a traditional innkeeper, is seeing her guests off. Wow, the inside of the station is also a café. Let’s get a drink and cool down for a bit. Mango Squash. This was delicious, I highly recommend it. Alright, back in the car. It’s a highland drive up towards Mount Chokai. That’s Mount Chokai right in front of me. It looks a bit cloudy. You can drive pretty far up and see the view from an observatory. I wonder if we’ll get a clear view. A little bit cloudy! I bought a ‘kuma-yoke,’ a bear-repelling bell, as a souvenir. The view from up here is overwhelming. And it’s cold. There’s a hiking course too, it seems. I can see some climbers. In the winter, this entire mountain is covered in snow. And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite: Wagyu beef! Yonezawa Beef, one of Japan’s ‘Top 3 Wagyu’ brands, comes from Yonezawa City right here in Yamagata. It’s much more affordable to eat it here in Yonezawa. If you eat enough, you might even make back the cost of your bullet train ticket! Just looking at pictures of beautiful Wagyu… it makes me hungry. Cheers! The time spent waiting for Wagyu is always happy time. Kimchi has become a standard side dish for yakiniku here in Japan, too! The grill is fired up, so the Wagyu should be here any minute. The Wagyu set has arrived! I’m starving, so we ordered a 4-person set for the two of us. Alright, let’s start grilling. It’s best not to flip the meat too often. Japanese yakiniku restaurants often have two types of dipping sauce: a sweet one and a savory one. Be sure to try both. It’s ready! High-quality meat is best when it’s still a little pink inside. Don’t overcook it! Yummmmy! Everyone’s favorite, ‘Karubi’ or boneless short rib. It’s a very rich and sweet cut of meat. You only need to sear it for a moment. The classic way to finish a yakiniku meal is with ‘Morioka Reimen,’ a type of cold noodle. Remember that one! The noodles are incredibly chewy, but the broth is light and refreshing, so it goes down easy. The vinegar in the soup also helps cut through the richness of the beef. That was a jam-packed day trip! What did you think? I hope this gives everyone traveling to the Tohoku region from overseas some ideas for your own trip!
Can you experience Japan’s best seafood from the ocean and its most legendary beef from the mountains in a single day? In this cinematic travel vlog, we embark on the ultimate “Surf & Turf” road trip through the beautiful Tohoku region. Our journey takes us from a coastal drive in Akita for the freshest local sushi, to a historic sake brewery, up the stunning Mount Chokai, and finally to Yamagata for an unforgettable Yonezawa Wagyu beef dinner. This is a guide to the perfect foodie day trip in northern Japan.
Chapters:
0:00 – A Food Lover’s Road Trip Begins
0:21 – Michi-no-Eki: Japan’s Roadside Markets
1:11 – The Perfect Sushi Lunch by the Sea
2:42 – A Walk to a Historic Sake Brewery
4:01 – A Charming Local Train Station
5:05 – Driving up the Majestic Mount Chokai
6:43 – The Grand Finale: Yonezawa Wagyu Dinner
9:16 – The Perfect Way to End a Yakiniku Meal
#japantravel #tohoku #akita #yamagata #roadtrip #sushi #wagyu #yonezawabeef #japanesefood #silentvlog #kimchi #yonezawagyu #sake #syuzo #brewery #japantrains #japanrural #chokaisan #mtchokai
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