[Yaizu Port Town] (Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, former province name: Suruga)

Suruga Bay, which spreads across the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture, is one of the deepest in the world, reaching 2,500m, and its unique topography has fostered a unique ecosystem. Since ancient times, fishing ports have been lined up along the coast of Suruga Province (present-day eastern Shizuoka Prefecture), and many ships have set out to rich fishing grounds. In particular, Yaizu Port, located approximately in the center of the prefecture, leads the fishing industry as one of Japan's leading fishing ports, boasting an annual catch of more than 120,000 tons, mainly of large fish such as bonito and tuna.

Yaizu is a place name derived from the legend that when Emperor Yamato Takeru was attacked by bandits during his eastern expedition, he set fire to the area to repel them, and as if to support this story, ancient tombs and shrines have been built here since ancient times. During the Edo period, Yaizu's presence increased as Sunpu (currently the center of Shizuoka City), a place associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu, prospered, but the trigger for establishing its decisive position to this day was technological development since modern times. That is, when Yaizu Station opened in 1889, its convenient location to both major cities, Tokyo and Nagoya, attracted attention, and the logistics network expanded at once. Furthermore, as the shelf life of fish increased due to improvements in freezing technology, Yaizu became a base for "deep-sea fishing," which is now synonymous with Yaizu. Yaizu fishermen, equipped with a variety of fishing methods and fishing gear such as longline, trawl, and single-line fishing, set out one after another to the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. Their heroic spirit and solid industry added a unique culture and charm to the port town.

① Yaizu PORTERS (photos 1-6)
A complex facility that opened in 2023 after renovating a building that was once used as a fishing gear warehouse at Yaizu Port. Conveniently located next to the port, the chic black design of the building and the openness of the lawn bathed in sunlight create a good contrast in both color and structure. In addition to gourmet spots and shops, the building also has a sauna, co-working space, and even a hotel, making it an excellent facility that can be completed within the building. In particular, "Komefuku" is a restaurant run by a local fisherman that specializes in ingredients from Yaizu. The signature dish is grilled rice balls with "all-you-can-sprinkle" authentic bonito flakes, and the rice is actually from the fields that were cultivated. The set menu, which includes seasonings from Yaizu, is perfect for breakfast, and is a luxurious taste that can only be achieved in a port town.

② Yaizu City History and Folklore Museum (7th photo)
The "Yaizu City History and Folklore Museum," which widely conveys the history and fishing culture of Yaizu City, is notable for its exhibition on the so-called "Fukuryu Maru Incident with the Daigo." On March 1, 1954, the United States conducted a hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, involving the fishing boat Daigo Fukuryu Maru, registered at Yaizu Port. The Daigo Fukuryu Maru and its crew suffered great hardships after being exposed to radiation, and the historical facts continue to question the misery of nuclear weapons and the preciousness of peace. Inside the museum, a model of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru is displayed, along with an overview of the incident and the belongings of the crew, to convey how immense the suffering of the people involved was. At the same time, the historical facts of how rumors based on various reports cast a dark shadow over Yaizu and the fishing industry at the time are also explained, and along with the process of overcoming these rumors, you can get a glimpse of the multifaceted background of the incident that cannot be learned from textbook descriptions alone.

③ Yaizu Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum (photos 8-10)
The Yaizu Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum stands next to the History and Folklore Museum. This museum commemorates the achievements of Koizumi Yakumo (1850-1904, known as Lafcadio Hearn before naturalization), who depicted the forgotten strangeness of pre-modern times and the glimpses of Japanese mentality that could be seen in them. It particularly mentions Yakumo's connection with Yaizu in the latter half of his life. In 1897, Yakumo first visited Yaizu with his family to go swimming in the sea, and he loved the scenery and landscape there so much that he spent almost every summer there until his death. During his stays in Yaizu, he often rented the second floor of the home of local fishmonger Yamaguchi Otokichi, and the Yakumo family grew close to Otokichi's warm, humorous, and unpretentious personality. Many of Yakumo's essays describe Otokichi and the scenery of Yaizu. It is particularly interesting to see Yakumo's true character as a family man, such as his warm gaze toward his eldest son Kazuo. In addition to introducing Yakumo's literary works and stories about Otokichi, the museum also displays a restored study, allowing visitors to fully experience the relatively little-known footprints and feelings of Yakumo's later life.

Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!)

Visit date: Around 10am on the third Saturday of May

Access: About 12 minutes walk from Yaizu Station (to Yaizu PORTERS)

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Post by hanakin_kozakura | Apr 19, 2025