A Sought-After Unagi Dish with a Rich, Satisfying Flavor
Shimizuya
清水家
A Legacy of Unagi Craft Passed Down Three Generations
"Shimizuya," a long-standing eel restaurant in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, serves Kanto-style eel with a light, fluffy texture. With a tradition spanning three generations, the restaurant combines a well-established flavor with warm hospitality, making it a dining destination in its own right.
A Sought-After Unagi Dish with a Rich, Satisfying Flavor
"Shimizuya," an eel restaurant operated by three generations, is approximately a 5-minute walk from Kiga Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railroad and approximately a 15-minute drive from the Mikkabi Interchange on the Tomei Expressway. The restaurant is often already full when it opens at 11:00 A.M., and on holidays, the parking lot fills with cars bearing license plates from outside the prefecture. Reservations are not accepted, and numbered tickets are issued during busy periods. Skilled chefs assess the individual characteristics of each eel and carefully adjust the grilling, producing tender eel coated in a rich sweet-and-savory sauce. While waiting for each order to be grilled, the warm interior offers a setting filled with the appetizing aroma of eel and paintings collected by the previous owner.
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A Signature Kanto-Style "Unaju" Passed Down Three Generations
Skilled chefs assess the individual characteristics of each eel and adjust the grilling accordingly, creating the fluffy texture characteristic of Kanto-style preparation. Among the featured dishes, "Unaju" is a favorite. From shiroyaki to the final coating of sauce, the eel is carefully grilled over charcoal, with an appetizing aroma rising as the lid is opened and a glossy, luxurious appearance adding to its appeal. The eel is moist and tender, pairing with rice infused with a rich sweet-and-savory sauce for a deeply satisfying flavor. Larger, thicker eels are also available.
Interior
The wood-filled interior has a calm, inviting atmosphere, offering a quiet retreat from the bustle of the surrounding tourist area. Paintings carefully collected by the previous generation adorn the walls, turning the time spent waiting for the eel to finish grilling into a refined experience reminiscent of a visit to a small art museum. Warm hospitality adds to the sense of ease, creating a distinguished restaurant where unhurried relaxation comes naturally.
From the Tabiiro Editorial Team
The eel is fragrant on the outside and remarkably fluffy and juicy within, with the charcoal aroma and rich sweet-and-savory sauce bringing out its full flavor. The quality at this price point also leaves a strong impression of excellent value. A welcoming atmosphere and sincere service further reflect the depth of a long-established restaurant that continues to earn lasting affection and deserves to be shared with a wider audience.
Restaurant information / Access
- Access
- Train: 5-minute walk from Kiga Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Line; Car: 15 minutes from Tomei Expressway Mikkabi IC and Hamamatsu-Nishi IC, and 20 minutes from Shin-Tomei Expressway Inasa IC
- TEL
- +81-53-522-0063 Please let the staff know that you saw this on "Tabiiro."
- Official website
- https://shimizuya-unagi.com/
- Opening hours
- 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (LO 3:00 P.M.)
- Regular closing day
- Wednesdays (with one additional two-day closure per month)
- Average cost
- 2,000 yen to 3,000 yen
- Accepted payment methods
-
Credit cards not accepted
- Number of seats
- 45 seats
- Parking
- 30 spaces
Tatami seating
Parking
Lunch
5 min from station
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Article planning/Supervision : Tabiiro Editorial Department
Shimizuya
- Opening hours
- 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (LO 3:00 P.M.)
- Regular closing day
- Wednesdays (with one additional two-day closure per month)