Rifu, located close to central Miyagi,
not only boasts the blessings of Matsushima Bay,
but a rich natural environment that has nutured the cultivation of pears for over 100 years.
Enjoy nature and food activities on land and sea.
Rifu is a town with a long history of pear cultivation and two fishing ports where oysters, nori, and wakame seaweed are cultivated. The town is blessed with nature and has many cherry blossom viewing spots as well as various parks where you can enjoy the four seasons.
There is also a sports park where concerts by famous Japanese and foreign artists, international soccer matches, and various events are held throughout the year.
Kasenuma, which was established about 400 years ago in the early Edo period, is a place where you can enjoy nature throughout the four seasons, with cherry blossoms in the spring, autumn leaves in the fall, and migratory birds such as swans and ducks in the winter. In the adjacent park, you can enjoy sports, picnics, BBQ, and 'imoni' (outdoor hot-pot).
One of the most spectacular places to experience untouched nature is at Umanose peninsula, which juts out into Matsushima Bay. Walking along the natural pier formed by the erosion of waves, you can enjoy the view of Matsushima Bay's many islands. The walk to the end is quite an adventure!
Most of Rifu Town's most famous specialties are products that utilize pears in various ways. These include 100% straight pear juice made from fully ripe Rifu pears, and sweets such as sablés, roll cakes, and pear jellies, all of which are made from the fruit and skin of pears.
Other specialties of Rifu include precious honey from the hives of Japanese honeybees, of which there are few, and the bounty of the sea, including wakame seaweed, kelp and oysters.
Rifu Town’s pear production began in 1884, when 150 pear trees were planted. From September to October there are about 70 stores selling pears, and you can even taste freshly picked pears at the various fruit orchards.
There are also two fishing ports in Rifu Town, where oysters, wakame seaweed, and other seafood products are cultivated. In winter, Hamada Fishing Port holds a seafood harvest festival, and you can also enjoy fresh oysters at an oyster shack.
Rifu pears such as Chojuro, Kosui and Akizuki are famous. In the fall, tourist pear orchards are opened in various parts of the town, where visitors can enjoy picking sweet, tasty pears. To pass on the legacy of Rifu pears to the next generation, the local community is working together to nurture new leaders in pear cultivation.
This minshuku (guesthouse) offers a variety of experiences, including guided boat tours of Matsushima Bay, traditional fishing experiences, boat fishing, moon viewing cruises, and more. You can learn the wisdom of life while enjoying the fresh fish you catch and the wakame you harvest yourself!
