Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa (Location: Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture / General Manager: Takafumi Yoshida), a highland resort hotel overlooking the majestic Zao mountain range, is now offering a new stay plan through Monday, November 30, 2026. Adults can enjoy a tasting of three sakes chosen from five Miyagi local labels, while children can enjoy "Ichigo Kezuri," a dessert of finely shaved frozen strawberries from Shichikashuku Town.
The local sakes are served at dinner, letting guests savor the differences in aroma and flavor between labels while pairing them with dishes made using Miyagi ingredients. "Ichigo Kezuri" is a dessert made by finely shaving frozen strawberries, and each eligible child receives one redemption ticket.
Through local sake and regional ingredients, the plan offers a stay that connects guests with Miyagi's food culture. The dinner and breakfast buffet, lounge drinks and snacks, and the hot spring and large public bath are all included in the room rate, making this a stay plan for enjoying Miyagi's flavors and relaxation during the autumn outing and fall foliage season.
Point 1: Choose 3 of 5 Miyagi Local Sakes to Taste
With this plan, guests can choose their favorite three sakes to taste at dinner from labels brewed by five sake breweries in Miyagi Prefecture. Guests can enjoy the differences in taste and aroma between labels while pairing them with dishes from the dinner buffet.
Introducing the 5 Local Sakes
Ichinokura Mukansa Honjozo Karakuchi (Ichinokura: Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
A honjozo sake with a well-rounded, gentle flavor balanced by a clean, crisp finish. With its calm aroma, this long-selling, signature Ichinokura sake can be enjoyed across a wide range of temperatures, from chilled to warmed.
Honjikomi Urakasumi (Saura (佐浦): Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Known for its refreshing aroma, smooth mouthfeel, and clean finish. This well-balanced honjozo sake complements the flavor of dishes while leaving a light, pleasant aftertaste.
Atago no Matsu (愛宕の松) Betsujikomi Honjozo (Niizawa Shuzoten (新澤醸造店), Kawasaki Kura: Kawasaki Town, Miyagi Prefecture)
Features a gentle banana-like aroma and a light, crisp finish. This food-friendly sake cleanly resets the palate between bites, pairing well with everything from seafood to meat dishes and simmered dishes.
Hidakami (日髙見) Junmai-shu (Hirako Shuzo (平孝酒造): Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
A soft, clear flavor with a crisp finish. Reflecting its origins in Ishinomaki, home to rich fishing grounds, this sake is well known for pairing beautifully with sashimi, sushi, and other seafood dishes.
Kenkon Ichi (乾坤一) Tokubetsu Junmai Karakuchi (Onuma Shuzoten (大沼酒造店): Murata Town, Miyagi Prefecture)
A tokubetsu junmai sake that balances the gentle sweetness of Miyagi-grown Sasanishiki rice with a clean, crisp finish. Easy to drink without tiring the palate, this food-friendly sake pairs well with Miyagi ingredients across the seasons.
Point 2: "Ichigo Kezuri" Made with Strawberries from Shichikashuku Town
With this plan, elementary school children and preschoolers each receive one redemption ticket for "Ichigo Kezuri," a dessert served at the hotel and made with strawberries from Shichikashuku Town.
Kerokero no Mori, which grows the strawberries used in the dessert, operates a tourist strawberry farm in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, where visitors can enjoy strawberry picking year-round. The farm also grows and sells strawberries in Shichikashuku Town and Yamamoto Town. The strawberries used for this plan are grown amid the rich natural surroundings of Shichikashuku Town.
The frozen strawberries are finely shaved into "Ichigo Kezuri," a dessert that lets guests enjoy the fruit's natural sweet-tart flavor and gentle, melting texture. The cool texture and fruit flavor fill the mouth with every bite. Redemption tickets are handed out at check-in and can be exchanged for "Ichigo Kezuri" at the shopping plaza inside the hotel.
Preschoolers are eligible for the "Ichigo Kezuri" redemption ticket only when booked with the "meals and bedding included" option.
Plan Overview
Accommodation Period: Through Monday, November 30, 2026
Rate: 1 night from 14,500 yen (per person, based on double occupancy, tax and service charge included)
Plan Details: 1 night, 2 days accommodation; a tasting of 3 Miyagi local sakes per adult; one Kerokero no Mori "Ichigo Kezuri" redemption ticket per elementary school child and preschooler (meals and bedding included); dinner and breakfast buffet; lounge; hot spring and large public bath
Reservations & Details: https://mercure-miyagizao-resortandspa.jp/plan/local-sake-strawberries/
Notes:
- The sake tasting is available to guests age 20 and older.
- Children sharing a bed with a parent are not eligible for the "Ichigo Kezuri" redemption ticket.
- The available sake labels may change depending on supply.
- Some drinks and activities require an additional fee. Lunch is not included.
- Business hours and offerings are subject to change without notice.
More to Enjoy During Your Stay
Miyagi's Local Cuisine and Togatta Onsen
The hotel's dinner and breakfast buffet features dishes that incorporate Miyagi ingredients and food culture. At the lounge, guests can relax with drinks such as beer, wine, coffee, and tea.
After dining, guests can unwind at the "Togatta Onsen Fudo-no-Yu" outdoor hot spring bath. The outdoor bath features both hinoki cypress and stone tubs, with the hinoki tub offering a continuous flow of fresh hot spring water. The hotel also has a spacious large public bath and sauna, offering a place to rest body and mind while taking in the nature of Miyagi Zao.
Sendai Imoni with Zao Cheese, and Sanriku Salmon & Sweet Potato Chili Sauce with Sendai Seri
Sendai Imoni with Zao Cheese
Available: November 30, 2026 to February 28, 2027 (planned)
This imoni, rich with the depth of Sendai miso and the umami of pork and taro, is paired with the mellow flavor of Zao cheese. The fluffy taro and rich cheese come together in harmony, offering the deep richness and umami unique to fermented foods.
(This is a winter menu item served after this stay plan ends.)
Sanriku Salmon and Sweet Potato Chili Sauce with Sendai Seri
Available: November 30, 2026 to February 28, 2027 (planned)
This chili sauce highlights the umami of Sanriku salmon and the gentle sweetness of sweet potato, finished with the refreshing aroma of Sendai seri (Japanese parsley). The heat is balanced with richness and sweetness.
Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa
Located at the foot of the majestic Zao mountain range, about an hour by car from Sendai Station, this resort hotel features a large public bath with the "Togatta Onsen Fudo-no-Yu" outdoor hot spring bath and a sauna, with a continuously flowing hot spring in the hinoki cypress tub. The dinner and breakfast buffet offers menus featuring ingredients and local dishes unique to Miyagi and Zao. In addition to dinner and breakfast, drinks served at the lounge, including alcohol, are included in the room rate. As a base for sightseeing in Zao, where guests can enjoy trekking, skiing, and other seasonal nature and activities, the hotel offers a relaxed stay.
Hotel Name: Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa
Location: 1-1 Oniishihara, Togatta Onsen, Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture
TEL: 03-6830-3926 (Reservation Center)
URL: https://mercure-miyagizao-resortandspa.jp/
Access: About 30 minutes by car from the Shiroishi IC on the Tohoku Expressway, or about 75 minutes by highway bus from JR Sendai Station.
*Information as of September 9, 2026.
