Since Masuda City is blessed with mountains, rivers and the sea, basically seafood is delicious, fish such as sashimi is fresh, and grilled ayu with salt would be good.
If you come to Masuda, you will want to try Tagosaku Restaurant’s live squid sashimi, Mikado family’s ayu course in Nichihara, large clams from the Sea of Japan, branded Matsunaga beef, and uzume-meshi rice dish close to sea bream rice (though these may require reservations, be seasonal, or be sometimes expensive).
“Akaten” (ground fish mixed with red pepper and fried with bread crumbs), which is a specialty of the neighboring Hamada but is also often seen in Masuda, is perfect as a side dish for sake or a meal, so please try it.
A friend of mine gave me boar meat as a specialty of Masuda, which is blessed with mountains, and I ate it. It doesn’t have any smell and seems to have a lot of fat, but it has a light fat that is not too heavy. It was very delicious in the miso pot and yakiniku (roast meat). I would like to make it one of Masuda’s specialties. Why don’t you try it?
I’d like to introduce you to some restaurants that I’ve been to before and enyoyed them very much. There are many other good restaurants, so please check them out by yourself. (Written by Y.Takahashi)
1. Tagosaku
It is the most famous Izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in Masuda. It was introduced in a magazine as the best Japanese-style pub. It has an atmosphere like a hideaway like an old private house. If you go down the stairs, there is a fish tank where you can enjoy the ikizukuri of fish. Especially, please try the ikizukuri of squids once. It was delicious.
It is often crowded, so it may be better to make a reservation.
It’s about 10 minutes’ walk from the station.
2. Kasuri
It’s a Izakaya (Japanese-style pub) right by the station. Everything is delicious, including the assorted sashimi. Please order three kinds of delicacies in particular. Also, it’s nice that they have sake from famous places in Japan.
It is often crowded, so it may be better to make a reservation.
3. Ebisu-ken
This is a Chinese restaurant along the Masuda River near the supermarket “Aeon”, which is a short distance from the station. Cold noodles and mapo tofu (or mapo tofu rice bowl) are popular (though a little spicy).
There is often a line waiting for the restaurant to open at 11:30, so go early (reservations not possible).
4. Iikagen-ya
It is a popular chicken izakaya (Japanese-style pub) on the street right next to the station. You can enjoy yakitori and char-grilled chicken. The white giblets are especially delicious and can sell out quickly.
5. Udon Restaurant Manei
it is an Udon restaurant near the supermarket “Aeon”, which is a little far from the station, It was a delicious Udon with a strainer.
6. Senkyu
It is a Chinese restaurant in Toda, but it’s quite far from Masuda station, so you can only go there by car. It’s crowded during the day. The lunch set is voluminous and popular. Also, the kara-age (using chicken wings) seems to be fried for a long time at a low temperature, so it is very delicious and I’ve bought it several times.
7. Take-no-ie
A soba restaurant in a back street of the station. It is a restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Izumo Soba such as warigo soba. When you go to eat Toshi-koshi soba at the end of the year, it is crowded with people waiting in line.
8. Kaki-no-ki
This is a Western-style restaurant where you can enjoy the view of the Sea of Japan spreading out in front of the restaurant. It is recommended for those who want to relax and enjoy the time and space. It is far from the station. If you drive on Route 191 in the direction of Hagi for about 15 minutes, you will be right next to the beach of the Sea of Japan, which is a little further into the coast. The signboard at the entrance of Route 191 is small and you should be careful.
9. Houmi-ken
A Chinese restaurant right in front of Masuda station. It was the first restaurant to start serving Chinese food in Masuda. It has been around for 70 years. It is a nostalgic Chinese restaurant. The famous old lady is a talkative and friendly person. I ate fried rice with meat and vegetables, and I enjoyed it with 3 thick slices of char-siu (roast pork) and a half-cooked sunny-side-up egg on top. I also ordered Romen, and I ate Romen, which is neither ramen nor udon, with ankake (food covered in a thick starchy sauce).
10. Yama-gyu
A yakiniku (roast meat) restaurant right in front of the station. It’s the second one of the restaurant along the mountains of Route 191. The meats are reasonably priced, and I especially recommend the stew of beef sinew.
11. Ton-Tei
It is a restaurant that specializes in pork cutlets. It is a 10-minute walk under the tracks in the direction of the supermarket “AEON”, which is a little away from Masuda station. You can enjoy the flavor of pork cutlets, which are made by deep-frying thick pork for a long time. It is voluminous. I was able to eat pork cutlets at a reasonable price for lunch on weekdays.
12. Ichimaru
An izakaya (Japanese-style pub) located on the back street of Masuda station. You can enjoy sashimi and fried chicken at a reasonable price. The sake called Shinigami that was served is especially delicious. If you have it, why don’t you try it?
Restaurant of Araiso-kan Inn
A restaurant in the Japanese Inn “Araiso-Kan”, which is a famous inn in Masuda. You can see the Sea of Japan in front of the restaurant while you eat. You can also enjoy Orochi-don (grilled beef rice bowl). It takes about 25 minutes by car from Masuda station.
14. Nogiku
A traditional ramen shop near National Route 9, which is about a 15-minute walk from Masuda station. It opens mainly in the daytime, but there is always a long line. You can eat mainly ramen and also fried rice. The taste is simple and delicious, just like traditional ramen and fried rice, and the price is quite reasonable.
15. Minmyou
A Chinese Taiwanese cuisine restaurant in front of the Masuda City Hall. Of course, you can have Taiwan ramen, but it is a Japanese origin ramen. You can also enjoy Taiwanese Chinese food at a reasonable price and in large portions. Lunch is especially reasonable.
16. Hyato
It is a restaurant located along the main street, a 10-minute walk under the tracks in the direction of the supermarket “AEON”, which is a short distance from Masuda station. You can enjoy simmered dishes such as the stew of beef sinew of Matsunaga beef and hormone stew, as well as large shrimp tempura and hearty pork cutlets.
Sweet of Masuda
The most popular souvenir of Masuda is the “Keiran-Manju” from “Keira-Do”. It is reasonably priced, and I think people who have returned to their hometowns buy them as souvenirs. “Keiran-Manju” originated when the predecessor of “Keiyan-do”, who was a friend of the owner of “Sumiyoshi-Seika (Sweet shop)” in Kyōto, took over the production method of Keiran-Manju and opened a store in his hometown of Masuda City, Shimane prefecture. Sumiyoshi-Seika has already gone out of business, and this “Keiran-Do” is the only place where you can enjoy the flavor of this time-honored snack. The Karinto Manju sold only on Saturdays and Sundays is also popular. There is also “Kakimaro”, which is a snack made directly from persimmons.
In addition, there are various delicious sweets such as the Hamaguri Monaka of Mitsumatsu-Do, which is inspired by Masuda’s famous large clam, and the Iwami-Kagura-Manju of the Tanakaya sweet shop. Please try and compare them.
There are also souvenirs such as airport honey and sweets made from it. There is also a senbei made from Sanin’s specialty Nodoguro. Enjoy it as a souvenir.