More than a century has passed since eel and soft-shell turtle farming was developed in the Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana area, and in that time over a hundred restaurants specializing in eel have sprung up. Because the area is situated halfway between Eastern and Western Japan, you can find the eel cuisine styles of both regions in Hamamatsu. In the Eastern style, the eel is slit along the back before broiling, and in the Western style, the cut is made along the belly.
The greatest appeal of the local seafood is its freshness. Some of the specialty seafoods from the region include the mud crab, known locally as the “phantom crab” for its rarity.
In the Chichibu area, there are almost no major chain restaurants, but rather many individual eateries that are full of character. When you in Chichibu, you can enjoy local delicacies such as “Miso Potatoes”, “Pork Miso Bowl”, and “Waraji-Katsu”. There are also bars that serve Chichibu whiskey, Chichibu beer, cocktails made with Chichibu fruits and sweets made with Chichibu ingredients to go with the whiskey. We hope you will enjoy the Chichibu bar culture as much as we do!
The Eight Views of Totomi are themes often used in traditional art, such as haiku, ukiyo-e paintings, and 31-syllable poems known as tanka. One of these views is the sunset as seen from Bentenjima Island in Lake Hamana.
In Komoro other than the traditional ‘zaru soba’ there are other ways to enjoy the soba such as ‘Onikake’. On celebratory occasions the soba is eaten with soup made from the various kinds of vegetables specially grown in the mountains of Komoro.
At night, the boat moves steadily over the pitch-black waters of Lake Hamana, steered by the steady hand of the boatman. He shines a light onto the surface of a lake, attracting prawns and crabs, which he spears or catches in his nets. This is takiya fishing, a traditional method which can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. When you’ve made your catch, the fisherman can cook it on a takiya-tei floating platform for you to enjoy along with other local foods.
There is a long-established store where the tradition has been preserved and the business has run for more than 300 years. In addition, high quality wine grapes are cultivated and brewed here, they are often offered at international meetings to represent Japan.
At Yaizu Port facing Suruga Bay, where the Oi-River flows, you can enjoy various things such as Yaizu Southern Bluefin Tuna, which is called “red diamond” because of its elegant fat and sweetness, bonito flakes which are royal gifts, as well as sashimi and tataki. The bonito fishes used to make these delicious dishes are caught here.
The bucolic beauty of the terraces is amazing enough to warrant a side trip when visiting the vast Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, an art show spread over 760 square kilometers. Enjoy the breathtaking terraced scenery as you seek out more than 200 art pieces which have been distributed throughout the area.
You can not only enjoy the magnificent view of Mt.Asama, but also the beautiful scenery of the rice and buckwheat fields. Additionally through out the town there are traditional buildings. The seasonal photogenic scenery will move your heart.
