With this, you can survive this year's scorching heat! 5 selected restaurants where you can recharge with exceptional eel dishes｜Shizuoka Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Oct 21 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

With this, you can survive this year's scorching heat! 5 selected restaurants where you can recharge with exceptional eel dishes｜Shizuoka

When it comes to Doyo no Ushi no Hi, many people think of it as a 'day to eat eel.' Eel is a nutritious food, and its fragrant aroma, grilled with sweet sauce, stimulates the appetite. This time, we will pick up eel restaurants in Shizuoka Prefecture, a representative production area of eel in Japan. Among the fierce competition, we will introduce the exquisite taste that gathers voices saying, 'I want to eat eel from this restaurant.'

See full listings of Unagi (eel) restaurants found in and around Shizuoka.

1. Sukenobu [Unagi no Kagawa]

The combination of lava-grilled 'Lake Hamana Unagi (eel)' and carefully selected local sake is superb.

The combination of the lava-grilled style 'lake hamanaunagi (eel)' and carefully selected local sake is superb.

A 20-minute walk east from Enshu Railway's Sukenobu Station, next to Funakoshi Park, stands [Unagi no Kagawa]. This specialty eel restaurant sources live 'Lake Hamana Unagi (eel)' and purifies them in natural well water for several days before carefully preparing each one. Uncommon for eel restaurants, they use lava grilling to bring out the rich flavors, resulting in a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior with exquisite taste. In addition to the popular 'Jo Unaju', we also recommend dishes like 'Umaki'.

Survive this year's scorching summer! 5 restaurants in Shizuoka where you can recharge with exceptional eel dishes

The interior of the store is a relaxed and calm Japanese-style space. A wide variety of local sake from the prefecture is also available, making it a sophisticated way to enjoy a drink with a dish featuring unagi (eel). In addition to casual table seating, there are also various private rooms, making it perfect for business meetings, dinners, banquets, and family celebrations. You can have a room prepared to suit your needs, so feel free to consult with them without hesitation.

2. Gotenba [Near Gotenba Station, Unagi no Hirota]

The rich flavor of eel, rice, and sauce from Yoshida within the prefecture, coming together in perfect harmony

The rich flavor of eel, rice, and sauce from Yoshida in the prefecture, coming together in perfect harmony

A hidden traditional eel restaurant located just a 2-minute walk from Gotenba Station. The thick, fragrant eel, grilled with a secret sauce passed down since the Meiji era, is sourced from Yoshida in Shizuoka. The combination of Gotenba Koshihikari rice, 100% pure Hida sansho pepper, and award-winning Gotenba wasabi, all made from locally and domestically sourced ingredients, creates a perfect harmony. Enjoy exquisite dishes such as 'Shirayaki' with special wasabi soy sauce and the hearty 'Unaju'.

Passing through the modern design noren, you will find a nostalgic and charming space. The first thing that catches your eye is the seating arranged around the central hearth in the store. Surrounded by the atmosphere of good old Japan, you can enjoy carefully prepared eel dishes. There are also counter seats recommended for solo diners and tatami mat seating for a more relaxed experience. This is a place where you can feel comfortable and at ease, no matter the situation.

Gotemba Eki Chikaku Unagi no Hirota

Open: [Monday - Thursday, Sunday, National Holidays and the Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:00 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm) Closes once eel has sold out. Diners arriving at 2pm / 8pm or later must call in advance
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: A two-minute walk from JR Gotemba Station. Leave the station from the Fujisan Exit and proceed along the street in front of the station. Look for the flags and banners by Fashion Plaza on the left; the restaurant is located on the second floor.
Address: 870-1 Higashitanaka, Gotemba, Shizuoka
More Details Reservation

3.Shizuoka [Charcoal-Grilled Eel Shun]

Enjoy a new sensation of eel cuisine while gazing at the beautiful garden

A renowned restaurant located 20 minutes by car from the nearest station, in the suburbs of Shizuoka City, that attracts food enthusiasts from all over the country. The owner carefully selects high-quality eels caught in lake Hamana and the Sakawa River in Kanagawa Prefecture. The eels are not steamed to prevent the fat from emulsifying within the flesh, and are grilled over charcoal at approximately 300 degrees. The Kabayaki, which combines the soft and tender 'Kanto style' with the crispy and fragrant 'Kansai style,' offers an exquisite taste that can only be experienced here.

With these five exceptional eel restaurants, you can power up and survive this year's scorching summer!｜shizuoka

Not only 'Unadon' (eel rice bowl), but also a menu that can only be offered by a proprietor who knows the charm of eel inside and out, such as 'Kowan' (baby eel) and 'Unagi no Obire' (eel tail fin), can be enjoyed in a serene space that has been renovated from a 50-year-old Japanese house. There is also a beautiful garden where you can enjoy the seasonal scenery, which helps to relax the hearts of visiting guests. It is sure to become a special place where you would want to take someone truly important.

Charcoal Grilled Eel Shun

Open: [Sunday,Wednesday - Saturday,Holidays,Day Before Holidays] Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm / Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Closed: Monday,Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
More Details

4. Mishima [Kappo Hishiya]

Enjoy the specialty eel of Mishima in a light Kaiseki course

A Japanese restaurant located on the 3rd floor of the 'Mishima Plaza Hotel,' which is a 13-minute walk from Mishima Station. While cherishing the traditional flavors and techniques that have been passed down for over 130 years, the restaurant also incorporates new sensibilities into its dishes. They carefully select seasonal ingredients such as eel from the spring water of Mount Fuji, seafood from Suruga Bay, and vegetables from the Nishihakone Highlands. Enjoy refined and luxurious flavors with dishes like the 'Seseragi Eel Kaiseki,' which features a light and refreshing eel course, or the limited-time 'Summer Unagi (Eel) Festival Hitoshizuku Course.'

The aesthetics of Japanese cuisine include the colors and ambiance of the seasons. You can immerse yourself in a world that embodies this very aesthetic, with a serene, traditional Japanese atmosphere, private rooms that all lead to a Japanese garden, and the scenery woven within the dishes. Without any formality, you will be warmly welcomed with attentive service, allowing you to spend a relaxing time with family or close friends.

Kappo Hishiya

Open: [Sunday,Tuesday - Saturday,Holidays,Day Before Holidays] 11:00 am - 9:00 pm / Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm / Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Closed: (Excluding public holidays) Summer and winter maintenance required
Average price: [Dinner] 8,800 JPY / [Lunch] 4,500 JPY
More Details

5. Tenryugawa [Unagi no Matsuba]

With a wide variety of eel dishes unique to specialty stores, you are sure to be fully satisfied.

A specialty restaurant for charcoal-grilled unagi (eel) located 10 minutes by car from Tenryugawa Station, near the Tomei Hamamatsu interchange. The restaurant offers a rich menu featuring eel from Lake Hamana, including rare dishes like unagi sashimi 'Una-sashi'. In addition to the classic 'Una-ju', other recommended dishes include 'Unagi (eel) Chazuke' and 'Ishiyaki Unagi (eel)'. Enjoy the eel, grilled to perfection with a secret sauce that has been preserved and enhanced over time, according to your preference.

With these five exceptional eel restaurants, you can power through this year's scorching summer!｜shizuoka

The interior features a sophisticated adult atmosphere with just the right amount of lighting. The counter seats, where you can enjoy exquisite eel dishes and sake, are also popular for spending intimate moments. On the second floor, there are private rooms that emphasize a traditional Japanese aesthetic. These rooms can be used for various occasions such as business meetings, dinners, family gatherings, and get-togethers with friends. The restaurant is open from 11:00 to 20:30, making it convenient to enjoy eel dishes whenever you want.