【Tasting Akiu Vol. 1】A Journey Through Akiu with All Five Senses, Made Possible by Akiu Inclusive

About a 30-minute drive from central Sendai, Akiu Onsen has long been loved as “Sendai’s inner retreat.” This celebrated hot-spring area has a history of around 1,500 years. Yet despite its proximity to the city, the valley still offers breezes flowing through the mountains, abundant forests, and the murmuring waters of the Natori River, with nature changing beautifully from season to season.

“It is only 30 minutes from central Sendai, but you can enjoy nature that makes you feel as if you have entered an entirely different world.” So says proprietress Tomoko Takahashi, who runs the long-established inn Kagaribi no Yu Ryokusuitei. From its elevated setting, the inn commands sweeping views of Akiu’s mountains. The moment you step onto the grounds, everyday life seems to fall away.

But the journey Takahashi recommends is not simply one spent staying inside the inn. She encourages guests to experience Akiu as a whole. “One night is not enough,” she says with a smile, suggesting that visitors stay for two or three nights and take time to enjoy the wider area.

Soak in the hot springs at the inn. Tour a winery and enjoy a pairing lunch. Visit local restaurants. Try a craft workshop. Explore shrines and temples. Pause at a café. Venture as far as Akiu Otaki Falls... The sheer number of ways she suggests enjoying the area is surprising.

In recent years, Akiu has indeed welcomed a succession of new restaurants, cafés, and experience-based facilities, giving the area a completely different energy from the past. Unusually for a rural area in Japan, its population is actually growing.

A new initiative designed to let visitors enjoy the whole region as “one complete destination” has now begun: “Akiu Inclusi

ve.” Rather than ending a trip at the accommodation itself, the project invites visitors to move around Akiu and experience its culture, food, and encounters with local people. A loop bus connects many of the places that reveal the area’s character, including Akiu Winery, cafés recommended by Takahashi, craft experiences, inns, and natural attractions, making it possible to discover a broad cross-section of Akiu.

Let’s take a closer look at Akiu Inclusive, which began on July 17.

First, as mentioned above, a loop bus stops at destinations throughout Akiu. An unlimited one-day pass is just ¥300, and a two-day pass is only ¥500! But the program is much more than a bus service. In addition to unlimited bus tickets, value packages are available such as the “Happy Time Pass + Akiu Loop Bus Ticket” and the “Dinner Ticket + Akiu Loop Bus Ticket,” which include special benefits at participating locations. Choosing a package around the main purpose of your visit is part of the fun.

At Ryokusuitei and other participating accommodation facilities, it is also possible to purchase the dinner ticket by itself.

【Akiu Inclusive】A Plan to Enjoy Akiu’s Hot Springs, Food, and Loop Travel All Together

Dinner set at Akiu Winery

Akiu has many appealing places to visit, but for readers of this site, Akiu Winery is surely one of the destinations of greatest interest.

Akiu Winery is designed for easy touring, with the vineyards spreading out directly in front of the winery and shop. If you have made the trip, I recommend setting aside time not only for a tasting, but also for lunch.

The winery restaurant, “Terroage Akiu,” is far more ambitious than you might expect. Its cuisine makes generous use of the bounty of Miyagi’s sea and mountains. Not only the wines, but every ingredient carries the story and commitment of its producer.

“From the moment I decided to build a winery, I wanted it to be a place where we could communicate the appeal of Tohoku’s ingredients,” says Mori, representative of Akiu Winery. It is not merely a place where wine is made, but a place that shares the region’s character through food and wine.

The restaurant’s chef is also a qualified sommelier, so even with the casual lunch set, an ideal wine pairing is suggested for each plate. That makes it easy to enjoy pairing without formality, even for guests who do not know much about wine.

One especially memorable dish was the antipasto platter. Beautifully arranged on the plate were vegetables from around Akiu, Mizudako octopus from Minamisanriku, roast Sendai beef, and “wine eggs”—eggs from hens fed fermented grape pomace left over from winemaking. It is exactly the kind of plate that makes you want a glass of wine.

Through the restaurant’s large windows, filled with bright sunlight, you can look across the vineyard. This, apparently, is Akiu Winery’s finest parcel—its “grand cru.” Those who would rather eat outdoors can also buy a “Picnic Lunch Box,” complete with a wine-and-herb bottle.

In summer, another recommendation is the seasonal wine cocktail “Vineyard Soda,” enjoyed out on the terrace. Wine is lightened with soda and herbs for a refreshing drink with relatively low alcohol. A non-alcoholic version is also available, so drivers and wine beginners can enjoy the experience with ease.

Walk through the vineyard, learn about the wine, and taste the ingredients of the region. Try a craft experience, visit natural sites such as Akiu Otaki Falls and the gorge, or enjoy some craft beer. Spend the day discovering Akiu in your own way, then in the evening rest in the inn’s own hot spring, Kagaribi no Yu, surrounded by Akiu stone. It is a luxurious wine journey that lets you experience Akiu’s landscape and the lives of its people through all five senses.

This year’s Akiu Inclusive program runs through September 30. If it sounds appealing, why not take this opportunity to experience it for yourself?

Akiu Inclusive

https://www.sentabi.jp/sendai-areaguide-akiu/akiuinclusive/

For more on the Akiu Winery pairing dinner and “Terroage,” see here:

https://nihonwine.jp/enjoy-nihon-wine/akiu202607-2/