Aizu Basashi Fine Horse Sashimi with Spicy Miso

Basashi, or horse sashimi, is a regional taste long enjoyed in the Aizu region. Fresh horse meat is sliced thin and eaten with a distinctive dip, an essential dish at Aizu banquets. Fukushima is counted among the leading producers of horse meat alongside prefectures such as Kumamoto, and Aizu in particular is known as a place where basashi culture runs deep.

Highlights

The greatest feature is enjoying it with a garlic infused spicy miso dip. While soy based dips are common in many regions, in Aizu the style of eating it with garlic and chili miso is widely established, giving it a distinctive character. The richness and heat of the miso bring out the clean savor of the lean meat. Horse fat has a low melting point and melts easily on the palate, so it eats lightly even as sashimi. Fine grained and tender, high in protein and low in fat, it also draws attention for its nutrition.

Enjoying the Seasons

It can be enjoyed year round but is a staple at local banquets and celebrations. It pairs superbly with local Aizu sake, and is exceptional alongside a cold, dry cup.

Access and Basic Information

It can be tasted at local cuisine restaurants, izakaya, and butcher shops in Aizuwakamatsu. Packaged basashi for souvenirs is also sold, often with the special spicy miso dip included, so you can enjoy it at home. As it is raw meat, be sure to keep it chilled and check the use by date.

Practical Travel Notes

• Where to eat: Mainly local cuisine restaurants and izakaya in Aizuwakamatsu, most serving it year round
• How to eat: The Aizu way uses garlic and chili miso. Apply a little at a time to enjoy the natural sweetness and shifting flavor
• Takeaway: Butcher and souvenir shops sell frozen or chilled packs, often with the spicy miso dip
• Nearby spots: Easy to pair with a castle town walk taking in Tsurugajo, Nanukamachi Street, and Iimoriyama

A Quick Tip

Apply the spicy miso a little at a time. Enjoy the natural sweetness of the meat while the dip adds shifts of flavor.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Main area where it is served: The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "Local Cuisine of Our Home Towns" gives Aizu-Wakamatsu City and Aizubange Town as the areas where the dish has been handed down, noting that in Aizu-Wakamatsu "sashimi" is said to mean horse sashimi rather than fish. Another characteristic of Aizu horse meat is that the lean meat has no marbling of fat.
• Public facility where you can buy it: The "Aizu Bussankan" at Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yugawa-Aizubange roadside station (78-1 Gochonome, Sanome, Yugawa Village, Kawanuma District / 0241-27-8853). Open 9:00-19:00 (varies by facility and season), closed on the third Wednesday in February.
• Where to try it: The farmers' restaurant "Kubell" at the same facility serves a bariki-don rice bowl of stewed horse-meat tendon for 600 yen (with miso soup).
• Points to note: This is originally a home-cooked dish, and raw horse meat is sold at butchers in the city as well. If you take some home, remember to keep it chilled.

Note: Opening hours and prices vary from establishment to establishment.

(Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, "Local Cuisine of Our Home Towns: Basashi, Fukushima Prefecture"; Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yugawa-Aizubange official website; Yugawa Village official website)

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourism information for Aizu-Wakamatsu City and Fukushima Prefecture and from information published by each establishment. Prices and product details are subject to change, so please check each establishment's official information for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: From the 1,000-yen range per plate, with reasonably priced frozen packs as souvenirs
• Where to eat it: Local cuisine restaurants and izakaya pubs in Aizu-Wakamatsu, and butchers' shops
• Recommended time of day: Both lunch and dinner. In the evening, pair it with local sake
• Avoiding the crowds: Popular restaurants are busy on weekend evenings, so book ahead or shift your visit outside peak hours
• Enjoy it together with: Aizu local sake, a twist with spicy karashi miso, and kozuyu soup