Lemon steak is a local B-class gourmet dish from Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. It has a light taste, but goes well with rice, and is loved by locals.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of lemon steak.

Characteristics of Lemon Steak

Lemon steak is an appetizing dish that combines juicy beef with the refreshing aroma of lemon. It is served in many restaurants and comes in a variety of styles, but what they have in common is a soy sauce-based lemon-flavored sauce made to suit Japanese tastes.

The lemon steak is made by thinly slicing beef in the style of sukiyaki, quickly grilling it on a hot plate, and topping it with a Japanese-style soy sauce-based sauce with lemon juice added, giving it a familiar flavor. The refreshing lemon flavor makes the meat less heavy, making it popular with women as well.

When the food arrives, you can enjoy the sound and aroma of the meat sizzling on the hot plate. It is served rare, so one of the pleasures of eating it is being able to flip it over and adjust the doneness as you like.

It goes great with rice, and when you put the grilled meat in your mouth, the sweet and spicy sauce and the sourness of the lemon spreads softly, making you naturally eat more. After you've finished eating the meat, the classic local way to enjoy it is to mix rice with the sauce and meat juices remaining on the hot plate.

The history of lemon steak

Lemon steak is named after the Japanese sauce that is finished with lemon juice. It is a specialty dish of Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and was created around 1955 as a steak to suit Japanese tastes, when American steaks were becoming popular after the US naval base was established in Sasebo.

Lemon steak is said to have originated at Restaurant Mon in Sasebo City. Two brothers working there had a conversation about whether steak was too heavy for Japanese people, and after much trial and error, they created a sukiyaki-style steak. Lemon steak is made by grilling thinly sliced beef on a hot plate and finishing it off with an original soy sauce-based sauce, and it has since become a specialty dish of Sasebo.

The brothers then opened "France-Tei" in 1972, and the younger brother opened his own restaurant "Jidaiya" in 1986. Lemon steak became a popular local dish, and now many restaurants offer their own variations on the recipe.

Tourist spots in Nagasaki

Nagasaki, where you can enjoy lemon steak, has many tourist attractions. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Sasebo City.

Huis Ten Bosch

Huis Ten Bosch, which recreates an authentic European townscape, is a charming tourist spot where you can enjoy seasonal flowers and various events. There are many popular events, such as the "One Million Tulip Festival," where the largest variety of tulips in Japan blooms, the "Rose Festival," where one of the largest roses in Asia decorates the town, and the "Flower Festival," where you can enjoy gorgeous parades and shows.

There are plenty of attractions, so everyone from children to adults can have fun all day long. In particular, the aerial stroll on the world's largest "Sky Merry-Go-Round" is very popular. At night, it is lit up and shows a beautiful appearance as the "Kingdom of Light." Another attraction is that you can enjoy gourmet food unique to Nagasaki, such as Sasebo burgers and Turkish rice.

Jufukuji Temple

Jufukuji Temple was founded in 1582 by Matsuura Chinshin, the feudal lord of Hirado. It is known for the Thousand Lanterns Festival, held every year on August 23rd and 24th, when a 22m-tall lantern tower is decorated with approximately 3,500 lanterns, creating a fantastical atmosphere.

One of the attractions of Jufukuji Temple is the beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons. In the early summer when the leaves are fresh and in the autumn when the leaves are red, events called "Upside-Down New Greenery" and "Upside-Down Autumn Leaves" are held, where you can view the trees in the garden upside down. The autumn leaves reflected on the acrylic panels attached to the tatami mats in the hall are as beautiful as a painting, and attract many tourists. The temple is only open to the public between mid-May and mid-November each year. Another highlight is the towering ginkgo tree in the grounds of Jufukuji Temple.

Ishidake Observation Deck

Located at the top of Ishidake, about 191 meters above sea level, Ishidake Observatory is a spectacular spot where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the beautiful Kujukushima Islands. It is also known as the place where the scenery of the islands that appears at the beginning of the movie "The Last Samurai" was shot, and many photographers and tourists visit here.

One of the attractions of Ishidake Observatory is that you can enjoy different views during the day and in the evening. Especially during sunset, the setting sun paints the sea orange, creating a spectacular view that will take your breath away. Even on cloudy days, the view is fantastic and full of flavor, so it's worth visiting regardless of the weather. It's closer to the sea than Yumiharidake, and the spectacular views of the islands below are overwhelming, making it a great spot for photographers of all ages, from professionals to amateurs.

How to get to Nagasaki

Nagasaki, which is attractive for its gourmet food and sightseeing, is located in a convenient location. There are various ways to get there, such as by plane or JR, but by plane you can arrive in Nagasaki in no time.

It takes about two hours from Haneda Airport, and about an hour and a half from Itami Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport, and Naha Airport. You can get a cheap flight by taking advantage of early bird and round-trip discounts.

It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes by bus from Nagasaki Airport to Sasebo Station. It takes about 50 minutes by high-speed boat from Nagasaki Airport to Huis Ten Bosch. We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Nagasaki.

Location of Nagasaki Prefecture

summary

Lemon steak originated in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture and has now spread throughout the country. Its refreshing lemon flavor makes it perfect for the hot season.

If you visit Nagasaki, be sure to try the lemon steak.

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