
Mie
Unagi Matsumura (Traditional Grilled Eel)
This charcoal-grilled eel restaurant is located in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, just a short drive from popular tourist sites such as the Gojōban Yashiki (former samurai residence) and Ise Shrine. The owner carefully selects each eel, allowing them to swim in fresh well water on the premises for several days to tighten the flesh before preparation. The skin is grilled over binchotan charcoal until perfectly crisp, adding a rich, smoky aroma, while the meat remains tender and fluffy. The restaurant’s signature dish, "Hitsumabushi", features a perfect balance of eel, rice, and condiments that is simply irresistible. The rice is a specially cultivated variety, sourced directly from contracted farmers, enhancing the full flavor of the eel in every bite.
Although eel is known as a luxury ingredient, it was a dish loved by common people during the Edo period. Even now, in areas famous for eel and in downtown areas, there are restaurants where you can casually stop by and enjoy eel such as umaki, uzaku, and shirayaki, allowing you to experience the food culture that has been alive since ancient times. There are also restaurants that specialize in ``unagi skewers,'' in which each part of the eel is skewered and grilled. It tastes like yakitori and can be enjoyed as an inexpensive accompaniment to alcohol.
All 3 facilities
大観亭 美里店
"Taikantei" has been operating for over 50 years in Tsu City, Mie , where the food culture of eating eel on a daily basis is deeply rooted, and is loved by many people, especially locals. The fourth store, "Taikantei Misato", run by the owner who is the grandson of the founder, is located in an area rich in nature and has a calm atmosphere in an old folk house-style building. A popular menu item is "Unaju", made with eel purchased directly from Nagoya that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The owner, who has been trained for many years, carefully grills the meat on a charcoal grill.
うなぎ まつむら
This charcoal-grilled eel restaurant is located in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, just a short drive from popular tourist sites such as the Gojōban Yashiki (former samurai residence) and Ise Shrine. The owner carefully selects each eel, allowing them to swim in fresh well water on the premises for several days to tighten the flesh before preparation. The skin is grilled over binchotan charcoal until perfectly crisp, adding a rich, smoky aroma, while the meat remains tender and fluffy. The restaurant’s signature dish, "Hitsumabushi", features a perfect balance of eel, rice, and condiments that is simply irresistible. The rice is a specially cultivated variety, sourced directly from contracted farmers, enhancing the full flavor of the eel in every bite.
清風亭
Founded in 1914, "Seifutei" is a beloved Japanese restaurant specializing in eel dishes. Its signature dish is "Grilled eel," made with a secret sauce that has been preserved since the restaurant opened. The eel is split open along the back in the Kanto style and grilled in the Kansai style without steaming until golden brown and fragrant, a method unique to the Nabari region, where the cultures of Kanto and Kansai blend together. Another specialty dish is "Koikoku (carp stewed in miso)." The carp is simmered for a week to remove the mud, resulting in a mellow flavor with no unpleasant odor. Enjoy a leisurely meal in a calm Japanese space that retains the atmosphere of the restaurant's days as a traditional inn, while taking in the view of the Nabari-gawa River.