Cindy
WHY HERE?
For you who don’t know what to eat
If you don’t know what to eat for lunch during your holiday in Tohoku (Iwate Prefecture), why not try Iwaizumi Town’s famous seafood rice bowl and seaside ramen? Welcome to “Seaside Station Komoto Aitokan” (愛土館) located in Komoto, Iwaizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture!
REASONS THAT YOU SHOULD GO
Since its opening, this restaurant has been enthusiastically loved by residents in both the Komoto area and the Iwaizumi area. The most popular order are the “Tatsukou kaisendon” (龍甲海鮮丼) which is famous for its various kinds of sashimi and “Omoto Beach Ramen” (小本浜ラーメン) which is full of local crabs and seaweeds.
Not only can you eat here, you can also buy kinds of “fresh seafood” depending on the seasons. The super fresh seafood unloaded from local fishing boats every morning is so fresh that you need to process it by yourself. For those who don’t know how to handle the fish or for travelers, I recommend other processed products in this store. At the same time, you can also buy other famous products of Iwaizumi Town here, such as frozen beef intestine hot pot, Ryusendon coffee, etc.
After eating, I will go to the Hachiman Shrine⛩ nearby. Since the food is too much that I need to take a walk for digestion. At the same time, we can also enjoy the green showers of the forest in Iwaizumi Town. The shrine is located in a green forest. It is very impressive to be able to photograph two red torii gates at the same time. It is one of my favorite attractions in Iwaizumi Town. I recommend you to visit here!
WHAT is the meaning of ”AIDO”?
"AIDO" means "let's go together" in the Iwaizumi dialect. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, Aitokan was built as a social gathering place in the hope of injecting vitality into the local residents.
MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION
I would like to tell everyone that the food here is very large, the sashimi is super thick and fresh, the price is cheap, and the staff is very hospitable, so I highly recommend you to come. So if you are the one who eats raw food, you have to come!
*The price will vary depending on the number of materials available on that day
LIMITED NUMBER of ”TATSUKO KAISENDON” PER DAY
The top recommendation here is definitely the “Tatsuko Kaisendo” (it is a sashimi bowl). When you see the name, you can feel it impressive! As for why it’s called “Tatsuko,” it’s because the fish for this dish comes from the “Tatsuko Maru” (the name of the fishing boat). The fresh fish caught on the boat that day will appear directly in our bowls, allowing guests to experience the luxury and diversity of the local ocean. The seafood bowl is always filled with a variety of fresh fish slices(sashimi), truly embodying the tradition of eating from the sea. Japanese always do enjoy the gifts from the sea and follow the rhythms of the four seasons. The fish is so fresh and sweet that you can feel it melting in your mouth with just one bite. The Tatsuko kaisendon is pretty popular, and the number of available per day is limited. So, if you don’t come early, the dishes will sell out soon, and you won’t even be able to place an order.
Also, only on the day itself can you know how many types of sashimi there will be, so each time there’s a bit of a difference. I have a small pleasure in guessing how many types and what kinds of fish there will be on my way to Aidokan (it’s super hard), and then check my guesses when I arrive.
”OMOTO BEACH RAMEN”
“Omoto beach Ramen” uses the crabs caught nearby Omoto, specifically the Ovalipes punctatus (a kind of sand crab) as the base for its broth, along with various local seaweeds and also some sweet and plump crab legs, making it full of seafood flavor. Among them, the various seaweeds not only have beautiful colors but also have high nutritional value, rich in minerals, antioxidants, and other elements beneficial to the body and gastrointestinal tract.
”OMOTO SEAFOOD TANTANMEN NOODLE”
For those who love spicy food, this is a ramen with a Japanese-style spicy seafood flavor (not spicy at all for me), rich and delicious. It differs from the traditional Taiwanese Tantanmen Noodles, which are not thick sauces but a seafood broth boiled down, suitable for consumption on cold days, hot enough to heal your soul!
”HIGH-VALUE SET” ONLY KINDS HAVE TO CHOOSE! ADULTS WOULD LIKE BOTH.
In case you would like to try both the rice bowl and the ramen, why not go for a combo with your favorite ramen paired with a mini seafood rice bowl? The piping hot ramen with a luxurious kaisendon allows you to enjoy a variety of sashimi and savor both Japanese favorite ramen and plenty of seafood flavors at the same time! I highly recommend this combo personally, the only downside is that it might be too filling for one person.
COFFEE AFTER MEAL
At Aidokan by the seaside in Omoto, you can not only fully enjoy the blessings of the sea but also indulge in a steaming cup of coffee. Hope you have a relaxing time with Japanese feasts.
SHOP
The gift shop in the same building offers fresh seafood and locally crafted items, so feel free to make some purchases if you’re interested. They sell fresh fish, seafood, and frozen foods, as well as processed seafood products, snacks, and appetizers. Local specialties include “HORUMON” (beef intestine hot pot), Ryusendo cider water, and Ryusendo Coffee (highly recommended from a coffee lover). Local crafts include MOSHI dragon(the first dragon found in Japan) bags and so on.
The fish sold here is as fresh as it gets, so you’ll have to prepare it yourself!
Every year, there’s the local festival called “Hometown of Nanatsumai dancing OMOTO Salmon Festival”
The photo depicts the traditional mochi scattering ceremony before the festival begins, a unique ritual Cindy has only seen at festivals in Tohoku or Hokkaido!
The festival is held every autumn, if you want more information, please press HERE.
BUSINESS HOURS
Restaurant:
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 11:00 – 15:00
Last order: 14:30
Aidokan:
Closed on Tuesdays
LOCATION
Omoto6-25, Omoto, Shimohei Gun Iwaizumi Cho, Iwate Ken, 027-0421, Japan
Google：浜の駅おもと愛土館(aidokan)
Google：八幡神社(shrine)