Miyajima Anago Meshi: A Famous Bowl of Grilled Conger Eel

Anago meshi is Miyajimas famous dish of fragrant grilled conger eel laid over rice. The rice is cooked in a broth made from the eels bones and trimmings, then topped with eel glazed in a secret sauce, blending tender meat with a sweet savory flavor. Said to have begun as a railway lunch box at Miyajimaguchi in the Meiji era, it has carried more than a century of history and still draws crowds today.

Highlights

Inside the shops, the savory scent of eel grilling over charcoal whets the appetite. The rice soaks up the eels rich flavor, so every bite carries the taste of the broth. Beautifully arranged in a lacquer box, the eel looks as splendid as it tastes, a fitting special meal during a Miyajima visit. Some serve it as a rice bowl and others as a boxed lunch, so each shop offers its own character.

Enjoying the Seasons

Conger eel is said to be at its fattiest in summer, yet the carefully prepared anago meshi tastes consistently delicious all year. It is lovely after a stroll around Miyajima, whether in cool early summer or the autumn foliage season. It is usually eaten warm, though it also comes as a boxed lunch crafted to taste good even after it cools.

Access and Basic Information

Reach Miyajima by ferry from JR Miyajimaguchi, with celebrated anago meshi shops scattered near the islands Omotesando shopping street. Long established shops also sit around Miyajimaguchi Station, easy to visit before or after the ferry. Popular shops can form lines around lunchtime, so allowing extra time is wise. Prices generally run from the low thousands into the two thousands, a fitting range for a dish of fine conger eel to mark your trip.

Practical Travel Notes

Because the eel takes care to grill, some shops need time between order and serving. Visiting just after opening or later in the afternoon, away from the lunch peak, lets you enjoy it more calmly. Buying it as a boxed lunch at a long established Miyajimaguchi shop and eating it aboard the ferry or on the way to Itsukushima Shrine is a nicely traveler like way to enjoy it. If dining on the island, pairing it with Itsukushima Shrine, the great torii gate, and a hike up Mount Misen rounds out a full day on Miyajima. The takeaway boxes are handy for meals on the move, and many people buy one as an onboard meal for the return train or Shinkansen.

A Quick Tip

Eating it while warm brings out the fluffy texture of the eel. A light dusting of sansho pepper lifts the aroma for a more refined taste. The takeaway boxes are handy for meals on the move and let you savor a lingering memory of Miyajima. If you want to avoid a line, it is worth checking whether a shop takes reservations in advance.