Izunuma Produce Centre - Tome

We didn't have high expectations for the day, as these things can be hit or miss, but this experience turned out to be a definite hit! After a smooth train ride from Sendai, we were greeted outside the produce center by our interpreter, Sally. We then met Sato-san, the manager, and were taken to a nearby shiitake mushroom farm where we learned about how shiitake mushrooms are grown and even got to pick our own. Back at the produce center, we had a cooking lesson where the staff were very accommodating of our vegan dietary restrictions, ensuring that our food was free of dashi and other animal products. We enjoyed a delicious bowl of hot soup and a cup of genmaicha before taking a stroll to see the migratory birds at the local pond. The day ended with some shopping at the produce center, which offers a variety of classes and workshops depending on the season.