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[Miyagi Prefecture] Blue Impulse soft for shark fins and sunflowers! ? Carefully selected soft serve ice cream you'll want to enjoy at roadside stations in Miyagi!
[Miyagi Prefecture] Blue Impulse soft for shark fins and sunflowers! ? Carefully selected soft serve ice cream you'll want to enjoy at roadside stations in Miyagi!
Miyagi Prefecture has the fewest number of roadside stations among the six Tohoku prefectures, but it is not inferior to the other prefectures in terms of the uniqueness of its soft serve ice cream
Another attraction is that roadside stations where you can enjoy delicious soft-serve ice cream are concentrated in the northern part of the prefecture, so you can enjoy eating soft-serve ice cream as you walk around
Please note that the prices (tax included) listed in the article are current as of early July 2025
[Ara Datena Roadside Station] Two popular soft serve ice cream flavors: Chocolate or Strawberry? Which do you prefer? (Iwadeyama, Osaki City: National Route 47)
A la Datena Roadside Station has three entrances: Central, East, and West
Located in Iwadeyama on National Route 47 heading from Sendai to Naruko Onsen, this roadside station is one of the most popular in the six Tohoku prefectures, with over 3 million visitors per year and having won first place in the 2024 Jalan National Roadside Station Grand Prix
There are long lines at Royce's outdoor store even on weekdays
Hokkaido chocolate maker ROYCE' has a rare permanent store outside of Hokkaido, and this is the only one of its kind in the six Tohoku prefectures, selling chocolate, various sweets, and soft serve ice cream.
At Spiral Hall, beautiful melodies are always played from the street corner piano (there is a photo of former yokozuna Hakuho on the stage)
The observation deck overlooking the town of Iwadeyama has a spiral staircase, and inside is the Spiral Hall , where beautiful tones flow from a street corner piano that anyone can play.
Royce soft serve ice cream (mix): 450 yen
Chocolate and rich milk mixed soft serve
The " Chocolate Soft Serve " has the rich, high-quality flavor of Royce's raw chocolate, and is a soft serve ice cream with a sophisticated taste that allows you to enjoy the flavor of cacao and a slight bitterness.
The " Rich Milk Soft Cream " has a rich milk flavor but a refreshing aftertaste, and you can enjoy a variety of different flavors by mixing it with chocolate.
Strawberry soft serve ice cream: 400 yen
Strawberry soft serve ice cream served with a special machine. It's a little tilted, but the pattern is beautiful
While Royce tends to get a lot of attention, Date-chan Kitchen 's strawberry soft serve ice cream is a popular original soft serve with a beautiful pink color and cute presentation.
The facility's "Date-chan Kitchen" offers a wide variety of menu items, including noodles
has just the right amount of sweetness, a hint of strawberry flavor and acidity, a rich, milky taste reminiscent of strawberry milk , but with a refreshing aftertaste.
Juicy beef tongue meatballs
Large and satisfying beef tongue meatballs
Beef Tongue Meatballs sold at " Outdoor ROYCE' Soft Serve are made with minced beef tongue, allowing you to enjoy its delicious flavor and texture.
These reasonably priced meatballs are delicious both freshly grilled and when cold
Ah, Datena Roadside Station <Information>
Facility name: A-ra-Datena Roadside Station
Address: 4-1 Iwadeyamaiketsukikamiyanaedairome, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Phone number: 0229-73-2236
Business hours: Date-chan Kitchen 11:00-18:00 (March-November), 11:00-17:00 (December-February)
Business hours: ROYCE' 9:00-18:00 (March-November), 9:00-17:00 (December-February)
[Roadside Station Otani Kaigan] This luxurious ingredient is now available as soft serve ice cream! Enjoy the luxurious Shark Fin Soft Serve Ice Cream! (Motoyoshi-cho, Kesennuma City: National Route 45)
You can enjoy your meal while enjoying the view of Otani Coast from the cafeteria
The main character of this roadside station is the ocean sunfish, which is commonly caught in this region, and it is also considered a ``holy place'' among fans, as it appeared in Sparrow's Door Lock
The door that appeared in "The Sparrow's Door Lock" can be opened, so why not give it a try?
In the movie, there is a memorable scene where Serizawa, who is driving the heroine Suzume to Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, takes a break there and drops off a soft-serve ice cream at the station
Kesennuma is rich in fish species, and in addition to ocean sunfish, it also has a large catch of sharks, and their meat and the luxury ingredient shark fin are local specialties
Shark fin soft serve: 450 yen
A large amount of honey-marinated shark fin
Hama Cafe 's shark fin soft serve is a rich vanilla cream with a fresh cream flavor, topped with a sweet sauce containing honey-marinated shark fin.
The sweetness of the honey and cream is well balanced, and the crunchy texture of the shark fin adds a fun accent
Two recommended takeout dishes from Hama Cafe
Hama Cafe: A clean kitchen
Hama Cafe not only offers soft serve ice cream, but also a wide variety of convenient takeout options such as burgers
Shark cutlet burger: 500 yen
The thick shark cutlet and bun are very satisfying!
Shark cutlet, a Kesennuma specialty, is high in protein and low in fat. It is fried to a crisp, has no peculiar taste or odor, and has the appearance of a refined white fish and a texture similar to chicken
Other toppings include tartar sauce, cheese, lettuce, and plenty of shredded cabbage, and the soft, chewy bun, similar to French bread, is very satisfying
Jacket potato: 400 yen
"Salted fish x Mekabu x Butter" Potatoes are fluffy
locally grown, fluffy " Otani potatoes " with the skin on, in three different flavors.
Our recommendation is the " Shiokara x Mekabu x Butter " flavor, which allows you to enjoy the different textures of the potato, shiokara, and mekabu, and the butter envelops the saltiness and umami of the shiokara, bringing out the sweetness of the Otani potato.
Otani Coast Roadside Station <Information>
Facility name: Roadside Station Otani Coast
Address: 9 Mishima, Motoyoshi-cho, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture
Phone number: 0226-44-3180
Business hours: Fast food "Hama Cafe" 9:00-16:00
Business hours: Cafeteria "umicoco" 10:00-17:00
Opening hours: Direct from the farm market 9:00-18:00
[Roadside Station Higashimatsushima] The soft serve ice cream at this roadside station supporting the Blue Impulse is also sky blue! (Higashimatsushima City: Sanriku Expressway Yamoto IC, City Road Yuriko Line)
Behind the building is the Yamoto Parking Area on the Sanriku Expressway northbound
This road station, which can also be accessed from Yamoto PA on the Sanriku Expressway's northbound lane, the newest road station in Miyagi Prefecture, having just opened on November 27, 2024 .
It has become increasingly popular as it is possible to see the training flights of Blue Impulse , the 11th Squadron of the 4th Air Wing, based at the nearby Matsushima Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Blue Impulse everywhere in the facility
There was a training flight on the day of the interview, and since it was an offshore training session, we were unable to see the training itself, but we were able to see the aircraft taking off from the base
Matsushima Blue Soft Serve Ice Cream: 450 yen
The blue soft serve ice cream stands out against the blue sky. Behind it is Matsushima Air Base
The eye-catching sky blue cream a yogurt flavor similar to a lactic acid bacteria drink , and leaves a refreshing aftertaste.
The balance of sourness and sweetness is exquisite, and it pairs well with the fragrant waffle cone. When mixed with vanilla, it truly resembles the color of the Blue Impulse aircraft
Matsushima Air Base's specialty "Nori Karaage"
"Soraage" seems like a perfect match for blue skies and beer
In the Air Self-Defense Force, fried chicken is called " karaage " (soar-aged chicken), and like the curry of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, each base develops its own unique version of "karaage" (soar-aged chicken) and serves it in school lunches.
Roadside Station Higashimatsushima has recreated a popular recipe from Matsushima Air Base and added it to its menu, and the seaweed mixed into the batter is " Aomazeyaki Nori " from Higashimatsushima.
The set meals are very filling
The rich seaweed flavor of the batter is thin and crispy when fried, and the soy sauce and ginger seasoning gives it just the right amount of saltiness, so you can eat as many as you like
" Nori Karaage " are available as a single item for 380 yen, and there are also set menus with set meals and Zaru Chinese food.
[Roadside Station Sanbongi Yamanami] offers soft serve ice cream and takeout food all in the style of sunflowers! (Sanbongi, Osaki City: National Route 4)
A building reminiscent of a mountain hut
In Sanbongi, Osaki City, there is a 6-hectare " Sunflower Hill " where 420,000 sunflowers bloom in the summer and the " Sunflower Festival " is held.
There are lots of sunflowers in the store
The roadside station sells sunflower seeds as a local specialty, and you can purchase the same sunflower seeds that American major leaguers often eat on the bench, as well as sweets made with them
Sunflower soft serve: 400 yen
The grains are sunflower seeds, a slightly lighter color than the peanut cream
The cream has a strong milk flavor, and the sunflower seeds that are roasted and then kneaded into small pieces give it a fragrant, nutty flavor
The sunflower seeds have a delightful texture and a clean aftertaste, making this soft serve ice cream something you won't find at any other roadside station
The very popular "Sunflower Donut" is freshly fried and delicious
Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside
Sunflower Donuts for 350 yen for a pack of five , but they are fried after an order is placed, so although it takes some time, you can enjoy them freshly fried and piping hot.
There are so many sunflower seeds in a sunflower donut
They are reasonably priced at 350 yen for 5 donuts, and the donuts are filled with lots of fragrant sunflower seeds
The freshly fried "Sunflower Donuts" are about the size of a golf ball and are handed to you in a paper bag, so you can take them home as is
Sanbongi Yamanami Roadside Station <Information>
Facility name: Roadside Station Sanbongi Yamanami
Address: 63-13 Omamezaka, Sanbongi, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Of the roadside stations introduced in this article, Otani Coast suffered devastating damage from the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and when it came time to rebuild, the national and prefectural governments attempted to build a huge seawall on the sandy beach, just like in other disaster-stricken areas
However, local residents opposed the plan, saying they wanted to protect the beach, so the land was raised a little ways from the beach to build the national highway and roadside station, and now you can see the ocean from the roadside station
With many disaster-stricken areas cut off from the sea by huge seawalls, Roadside Station Kaigan has become a valuable roadside station where you can see the sea and the sandy beach
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
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