In Shizuoka Prefecture, which faces the sea, a variety of seafood is served fresh. Shizuoka City has the highest annual expenditure and number of purchases of tuna in Japan.
Shimizu Port has the largest volume of frozen tuna landed in Japan, whole Yaizu Port leads the nation in bonito landings. From whitebait caught in the Enshu Sea and Suruga Bay to sakura shrimp from Yui Port, leads the nation in bonito landings.
There are so many different types of seafood that are landed at Shizuoka Prefecture’s ports that it’s almost endless. It’s delicious when boiled or grilled, but it’s best enjoyed raw. There are many restaurants that serve delicious sushi, seafood bowls, and sashimi.
So, here are some sushi restaurants you should stop by when you visit Shizuoka Prefecture. We have selected 10 sushi restaurants from among the many. Please check them out for lunch or dinner.
Chubu area
[Shizuoka City] Irifune Sushi
There are six brunches in Shizuoka City, including the Aoi Tower branch, which can be accessed through the underground mall from Ryogaecho, the city’s busiest downtown area, and JR Shizuoka Station. The ingredients are carefully selected from seasonal local fish caught in Suruga Bay and the finest ingredients from all over Japan.
A super long-established restaurant around over 100 years
Founded in 1912, Irifune Sushi has been loved by Shizuoka citizens since ancient times . The fact that it lasts that long means that not only is the material fresh, but the price is also reasonable. Lunch is especially good value, with rice bowl dishes such as seafood bowl and tekka bowl, as well as nigiri, starting at ¥1,000.
Prices are clearly displayed even for individual items, so you don’t have to worry about overspending while sitting at the counter. You can easily enjoy authentic Edomae sushi without any stress.
Irifune Sushi Aoi Tower Branch
Address: 17-1 Konyamachi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Aoi Tower Store 1F
[Shizuoka City] Suehiro Sushi
This famous restaurant attracts many people from the entertainment industry and athletes, and about 70% of the visitors come from outside the prefecture . They buy the best southern bluefin tuna before it is shipped from Shimizu Port to Tsukiji, so they offer every part of the fish without leaving anything behind.
They are particular about using ingredients from Shizuoka Prefecture as much as possible, including the sushi toppings as well as tea, sake, and wasabi.
What is the restaurant’s recommended “peeling”?
Tuna is served by various cuts, each offering unique flavors and textures. However, the exquisite taste of peeled tuna stands out in a class of its own. The sinews on the back are carefully removed, so there is no sinewy texture . As soon as you put it in your mouth, it will melt in your mouth.
Lunch is 3,600 yen for junior high and 5,800 yen for special, and dinner courses start from 8,000 yen. The omakase price starts from ¥10,000, which may not be considered affordable, but it is a famous sushi restaurant that you should visit at least once.
Suehiro Sushi
Address: 2-5-28 Ejiri Higashi, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City
[Yaizu City] Kinsushi Jizakana-Tei
Local fish and local seafood are purchased from Yaizu Port and Ogawa Port, and one high-quality southern bluefin tuna is purchased.
The sushi rice is made from Tsuyahime rice from Yamagata Prefecture, and is characterized by its slightly reddish color due to the use of red vinegar. A cheap, delicious, and popular sushi restaurant where you can enjoy Yaizu’s local sake .
Super cheap limited edition nigiri until 12pm!
The weekday nigiri sushi, which can be ordered from the opening until 12:00, is highly cost-effective at ¥1,100 (tax included) for 20 pieces. The toppings and rice are a little small, but the 20 pieces will easily satisfy your hunger . It’s so popular that they sometimes serve 100 meals a day.
At lunchtime, there is a wide selection of set meals and rice bowls, but most people go for the limited edition nigiri. Naturally, there is a line before the restaurant opens, so it’s best to go early.
Kinsushi Jizakana-Tei
Address: 2-4-18 Nakaminato, Yaizu City
Western area
[Hamamatsu City] Kagura Sushi
I don’t feel like going to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, but I don’t feel like going to a high-end sushi restaurant… Kagura Sushi is perfect when you want to eat sushi without worrying.
At night, it is a sushi izakaya where you can enjoy alcoholic drinks as well , making it a very convenient restaurant for both solo travelers and families.
The lunch bowl is full of volume and very impressive
The lunch nigiri is priced at ¥1,100, and the okonomiyaki bowl, where you can choose 3 toppings from 30 kinds, is priced at ¥770, which is a pretty good deal. In addition, they carefully select ingredients from the local Enshu Sea, Lake Hamana, Hokkaido, and Toyosu Market , so the taste is guaranteed.
Particularly popular one is the 1,100 yen Omakase Lunch Bowl, which changes daily depending on the availability of ingredients. In addition to fish, it also contains tempura, making it very filling.
Kagura Sushi
Address: 696-1 Nakase, Hamakita Ward, Hamamatsu City
[Hamamatsu City] Sushi Godaime Yamaguchiya
A 7-minute walk from JR Hamamatsu Station is Yamaguchiya, which has a history of nearly 150 years. The restaurant was renovated about 10 years ago when the fourth generation changed to the fifth generation.
Although the exterior has a luxurious feel, the interior has a bright atmosphere and is designed so that even young people can enjoy their meals without hesitation.
Shari has been cooked in the oven
Since they are a sushi restaurant, they are of course particular about the freshness of their seafood, but at Yamaguchiya, their sushi is cooked in a stove. Made with Hatsushimo from Gifu Prefecture, each grain is firm, yet crumbles when you put it in your mouth, creating an exquisite texture and reliable technique .
It goes especially well with conger eel, and the secret sauce passed down from the previous generation is the key to the flavor. They have a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, including wine and Shizuoka local sake, so you can have a fun time while enjoying a light snack at the counter.
Sushi Godaime Yamaguchiya
Address: 316-44 Saecho, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu City
Eastern area
[Numazu City] Numazu Uogashi Sushi Main Store
There are 33 group restaurants mainly in the eastern part of the prefecture, and 7 group restaurants outside the prefecture. Because they have the right to auction the Numazu Port and Numazu Fish Market , they are proud of the freshness of the seafood they purchase and the abundance of toppings.
Their affiliated stores have Nagare Sushi (rather than conveyor belt sushi), and they also have a store as a tenant at the Shizutetsu Store, which is a purveyor to the citizens of the prefecture.
Renowned for its variety and size of toppings
The restaurant has counter seats, box seats, and table seats, and the main store has over 50 seats. Still, it gets crowded at lunchtime on weekends . You can use it in any situation, whether it’s by yourself or having fun with your family.
The unit price may be a little higher than at national chain restaurants, but the portions are large so you’ll be completely satisfied.
Numazu Uogashi Sushi Main Branch
Address: 47-1 Kasugacho, Numazu City
[Numazu City] Sushian Saito Main Branch
Located in the Numazu Port area, which is a competitive area for sushi and seafood, this restaurant has many enthusiastic repeat customers.
The surrounding area is always crowded with tourists, but since the restaurant is set in a house, you can enjoy your meal in a calm atmosphere. In the case in front of the counter are seafood caught at Numazu Port, showing how fresh they are.
What is the signature product, the “gun”?
The restaurant’s original “Sea urchin squid gun”, which is a squid stuffed with vinegared rice, crab, sea urchin, and seaweed, is a must-try dish. Many people who visit this restaurant always order it .
In addition, the “Ita-san’s Omakase” (10 pieces for ¥3,300 and 8 pieces of local fish for ¥2,420) have large, fresh toppings and firm-grained sushi that are satisfying and reasonably priced.
The beauty of the restaurant’s appearance is also highly praised due to the delicate handwork that goes into each and every item, which explains why it was selected as one of Tabelog’s 2021 100 Famous Restaurants .
Sushian Saito Main Branch
Address: 47-2 Kasugacho, Numazu City
[Mishima City] Ameya Sushi
It is located right next to Mishima Taisha Shrine, which is visited by more than 600,000 people on the first three days of the New Year every year. Therefore, tourists are often seen among regular customers .
Mishima is known for its many famous eel restaurants, but there are also many restaurants that serve sushi.
Edomae sushi made by a friendly and humorous chef
Ameya Sushi was founded in the first year of the Meiji era. In the Edo period, they operated a starch syrup shop and sold it to worshipers at Mishima Taisha Shrine, so they added “Ameya (syrup shop)” to the name of their shop. The general is a jovial person with a good sense of humor. This is a comfortable restaurant where you can casually eat sushi at the counter.
The toppings are large and filling, but the price is reasonable . The nigiri set starts from ¥1,200, and you can choose from a wide variety of other menu items such as chirashi, rolls, and rice bowls.
There are four types of secret sauces handed down from generation to generation, and you can see the commitment to making the most of the ingredients, such as using different sauces depending on the fish.
Ameya Sushi
Address: 1-1-21 Omiya-cho, Mishima City
Izu area
[Ito City] Sushi Suzumaru
A 5-minute walk from Ito Station, there is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy sushi made mainly from local fish at a great value.
It is often purchased directly from local fishermen and is loved by the discerning locals. It is also recommended for tourists who visit Izu and want to fully experience the local food .
A wide variety of menu items
The nigiri set is available from 6 pieces and is perfect for those who want a light snack with alcohol. We also have a wide variety of a la carte dishes such as homemade salted fish, wasabi pickles, boiled golden sea bream with a secret sauce, and large S-class turban shells.
Sushi made mainly from local fish costs ¥3,300 in Sagami, or ¥2,200 in Suruga. There are also special selections such as ¥3,850 for 10 types, and ¥1,980 for 6 types, so the prices are quite reasonable.
Izu is famous for its golden sea bream, but here they take a few extra steps to make it even more delicious, such as grilling it and marinating it in miso .
Sushi Suzumaru
Address: 1-8-36 Inoto, Ito City
[Izunokuni City] Uwo Masa
A long-established sushi restaurant founded in 1919 in the hot spring town of Izunagaoka . They procure seasonal seafood from Izu area and other parts of the country, and create a variety of exquisite sushi made with meticulous handwork.
They also use homemade seasonings such as ponzu sauce, boiled soy sauce, and roasted sake. Many tourists visit here for lunch while strolling or for dinner when staying overnight at Izunagaoka Onsen.
I want to eat both sushi and eel!
Sushi includes nigiri, chirashi, and rolls, and sets starting at ¥2,000 include top sushi with chawanmushi, boiled fish, sashimi, and more. Average sushi starts at 900 yen, which is quite reasonable.
In fact, eel is also very popular. However, since the live eel is cooked after the order is placed, it will take about 25 minutes to serve the eel. The seasoned sauce that has been added to the restaurant since its founding and the fluffy eel make you feel happy every time you take a bite.
Uwo Masa
Address: 1318-2 Nagaoka, Izunokuni
Summary
The prices of foodstuffs and household goods continue to rise rapidly, and there are days when I feel the need to cut back on things. But I do want to splurge on meals once in a while. You can dress up a bit and enjoy it at the counter, or you can fill your stomach at a popular sushi restaurant that offers high quality sushi at the almost same price as conveyor belt sushi.
Seasonal local fish, classic tuna, carefully selected toppings from all over Japan, and carefully selected sushi. Each restaurant has a different atmosphere, but please spend the best time at a sushi restaurant in Shizuoka Prefecture.
*Please be sure to check out each restaurant’s information such as business hours, closed days, fees, and whether or not reservations are required before visiting.
