It’s been a while since I last visited Mugi.

Mugi, a small town in the south of Tokushima Prefecture is the hometown of my wife. As such, I’ve visited Mugi many times during my life in Japan. Mugi has great beaches and the seafood is great. ‘Great’ doesn’t describe how good the food is. When I came to Japan I believed that seafood in Japan would be plentiful and cheap. And while there is a lot of seafood, it’s no where near my image was. And cheap? Not really. There are things that are cheap and plentiful, and others that are limited in quantity and expensive. It’s hard to think that way for me because this country has access to the seas from nearly any place in the country. Much different from when I lived in Canada and would have to drive for days before I came to the oceans. Lake fish and river fish are a different story altogether, but I digress.

Once I came to know the freshness of seafood from Mugi, I became spoiled. Fish that I find for sale at fish markets or supermarkets that, before I had the Mugi experience, I would have gladly eaten as sashimi, are now seen as less than perfect and are eaten differently. Truly fresh fish is unbelievably delicious. You could say the same for vegetables and other foods as well. I’m just saying that the seafood in Mugi is better than great, whatever that may be. Fresh?

While in Mugi we ate a variety of fresh fish and other foods as well, all of them being very delicious. And with the nice weather, while taking a stroll I found some cherry blossoms starting to bloom. Last weekend there were many blossoms out, but the trees were not yet in full bloom. We didn’t have a picnic under the cherry blossom trees, though I’m sure some people did. This next weekend might be the peak time to go to see the cherry blossoms if the weather continues to be nice.

Should you ever have the urge, or have the chance, please visit Mugi and enjoy the beautiful nature, and the seafood. You will understand.