One day of delicious Suruga Bay food and a great view from Satta Pass near Yui, Shizuoka prefecture

Yui has scenic spots worth taking a picture all year round!

Just get off at JR Tokaido line’s Yui Station, located in Shimizu Ward of Shizuoka city, and you will be immediately overwhelmed by the combination of scenic views: Mt Fuji, Suruga Bay, highway roads, railway tracks! You will wonder where to begin with taking photos. In spring you can enjoy the picture-perfect view of the small local train running under the blossoming sakura trees. While Yui Station is not a particularly bustling place, it has some splendid views. The town is also known for its seafood products, such as sakura shrimps and white bait which are often used by professional chefs. I will now introduce the delicious food of Yui.

Enjoy famous local gourmet at “Kurasawaya”, the most recommended place to eat by fishermen and townspeople

Sakura shrimps are usually caught late in the night. You wouldn’t think about the hardships of the fishermen when you look at the shining bodies of the shrimps which resemble precious gems. One of the most recommended restaurants by local people is “Kurasawaya”, where you can eat freshly caught seafood. The set menu on the photo is called “Sakura ebi tsukushi” and costs 4200 JPY. The oyster fries are crispy and fragrant like a high-quality snack. Not much flour is used, so their original taste is well preserved. And the shrimp confectionary that you can see on the upper left of the photo was featured even in the famous Japanese movie “Oishinbo”! Everything is fresh and cooked by masterful chefs, so I strongly recommend “Kurasawaya” if you want to taste the seafood of Yui.

Only in Yui you can eat such fresh white bait!

Please look at this photo – have you ever seen such fresh and juicy white bait? This one has been caught in the morning! I’ve eaten white bait which melts in my mouth before, but I had never tried anything as tender as this one! You can’t eat such white bait in Tokyo. Only at “Kurasawaya” in Yui.

And if you wish to buy local seafood as a souvenir gift, I recommend “Kakumatsu Iwamatsu” shop near the station. It has a wide range of high-quality processed foods that you will enjoy seeing and eating. Just watching the transparent sakura shrimps and white bait will enhance your appetite. Note: On the photo you can see raw white bait from “Kurasawaya”.

You shouldn’t miss the splendid view over Suruga Bay from Satta Pass

Satta Pass is located between Yui and Okitsunaka, and is known as one of the best places for enjoying a breathtaking panoramic view.

I took this photo at noon, so you can’t see the sun, but this is where you can enjoy the sunrise if you come in the morning. To your left is the majestic figure of Mt Fuji. Here you won’t see sakura trees, but plenty of mandarin tree groves all covered with ripe mandarins. On your left side is the entrance of a hiking trail that continues along Suruga Bay, and there is an unmanned stand selling mandarins. The best thing to do after a long and exhausting hike is to enjoy the panoramic view with a fresh mandarin. This will definitely energize you for your next trip.

Yui’s local sake “Shosetsu” is known for its reasonable price and delicious taste

Yui town in Shizuoka prefecture is well known for its seafood and green tea, but there is also an old sake distillery called Kanazawagawa, whose history dates back to 1912. The local sake brand “Shosetsu” has been developed by chief brewer Yamakage Junetsu, named one of Shizuoka prefecture’s 5 best craftsmen. This sake has many fans among sake lovers in Japan and is liked even by famous chefs in Tokyo restaurants specializing in fine Japanese cuisine.

“Shosetsu” does not necessarily go with a specific type of food and can be consumed freely. It has a reasonable price and is ideal for a souvenir gift. There are also other types of sake, like “cloudy sake” (unfiltered and white) or top-quality sake from fine grains. They also sell sake leeks, which are suitable for people who can’t drink – you can use them for making “amazake” (sweet sake) or a sake lees soup. Ideal drinks to protect you from catching a cold in the winter.