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Roadside station Kunimi Atsukashinosato opened in May 2017 in Kunimi Town, Date County, in the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture. Kunimi Town is known for its abundance of agricultural products, including peaches, but this roadside station also serves a unique local hamburger. I heard rumors that it's so delicious that many people visit just to try it, so I headed out right away to check it out.
A roadside station with good access. You can even stay overnight!
Atsukashino Sato is located along National Route 4, also known as the Rikuu Kaido, and is easily accessible from within Fukushima Prefecture as well as Miyagi Prefecture
"Atsukashi no Sato" was named after Atsukashiyama, a mountain that can be said to be the symbol of Kunimi Town, with the hope that it would become a place loved by many. True to that wish, it has been bustling with visitors since it opened. As it is a roadside station, it has a parking lot for 180 cars, but when I visited I was surprised to see that it was nearly full. This is no surprise, as it is equipped with an information and rest facility, a farm produce shop, a restaurant, a cafe, a 24-hour convenience store, and even accommodation, and you can even have a "roadside station wedding," making it an important spot not only for tourists but also for local residents.
The unexpected combination of the "Kunimi Burger" is more delicious than you'd imagine
Now, here comes the Kunimi Burger I was looking forward to
First, let me introduce its profile. The Kunimi Burger is a town revitalization gourmet dish developed by members of the Kunimi Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and debuted in 2012
This burger, which consists of miso-braised mackerel from Sakuma Shoten in Kunimi Town sandwiched together with tomato, lettuce, and onion in a bun from Sakuma Bakery, won the grand prize at the Fukushima Burger Summit in 2014 and 2015, and was even registered as a trademark in 2016
Previously, it was sold at events or from a mobile food truck, but now a sales corner has been set up at Atsukashi no Sato, so it can be enjoyed at any time
The main ingredient is mackerel simmered in miso, which is excellent. The product name is "Saba Miso-ni - To the Bone," and the mackerel is simmered in just miso and sugar, so it's well-seasoned, but not at all strong or heavy, and as the name suggests, you can eat it all the way down to the bone. As you can see from the photo, it contains quite large fillets.
This miso-braised mackerel pairs very well with raw vegetables, which add a refreshing touch to the dish
The buns are also important to support the unique ingredients. If the bread is not reliable, it will lose out. In that respect, Sakuma Bakery's buns are perfect. You can fully enjoy the deliciousness of the bread, and it is a very satisfying burger.
We also tried the highly anticipated new product: the "Squid and Carrot Burger"
In fact, when I ordered the Kunimi Burger, I was introduced to the Squid and Carrot Burger, with the comment, "How about this one too? It's a new product! It's very popular!"
The Kunimi Burger, which contains mackerel, was enough to make me dread it (maybe a bit of an exaggeration...), but now it's got squid and carrots on top of that?! I couldn't resist my curiosity, so I ordered both at the same time
Incidentally, "squid and carrots" is a representative local dish of northern Fukushima Prefecture. The squid used in this dish is dried squid, which is thinly sliced and softened with sake, then marinated together with thinly sliced carrots in a sauce made from soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, and other ingredients. Since it is a home-cooked dish, the way it is made varies slightly from household to household
Anyway, this is the squid and carrot burger
However, it's not just the squid and carrot sandwiched between the buns, but also fried white fish and lettuce. It looks like a fish burger. But! When you eat it, the carrot has a strong presence. The best way to eat it is to open your mouth wide and chomp down on it so as not to spill the carrot.
Tartar sauce is used to go with the fried fish, and the umami of the squid and carrots seems to be a secret ingredient, giving it a deep flavor. After trying this, you might find a regular fish burger unsatisfying. However, personally, I would have preferred this burger with white wine rather than coffee.
Burgers aren't the only unique thing about Atsukashino Sato. There's also a wide variety of souvenirs available
Both the "Kunimi Burger" and the "Squid and Carrot Burger" are quite filling, so if you have a small appetite, it might be a challenge to eat both. But I highly recommend you try both!
You can also work up an appetite by leisurely browsing the direct sales store "Kunimi Market," which offers freshly picked local vegetables and fruits, processed goods unique to Kunimi Town, and Fukushima Prefecture specialties. There are also many products that are hard to find anywhere else, such as Kunimi Town's new local sake, "Atsukashisan."
Events are held from time to time, so be sure to head to Kunimi Atsukashi no Sato Roadside Station to try some unique burgers!
A writer specializing in food and travel. I love Tohoku, and I often go to Fukushima. I once committed the outrageous act of driving my own car back and forth between Kyoto and Fukushima.
