ATop 3 Selected Foods in Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture is a region blessed with a rich natural environment and a mild climate, fostering a food culture that takes advantage of abundant ingredients from both the sea and the mountains. Stretching from east to west, Shizuoka faces Suruga Bay and Sagami Bay, where fresh seafood is plentifully harvested. Additionally, Shizuoka is known as one of Japan's leading tea-producing areas, with the cultivation of Shizuoka tea thriving.

Particularly famous are Hamamatsu Gyoza, Sawayaka's Hamburg Steak, and Simmered Kinmedai (Golden Eye Snapper). When you visit Shizuoka Prefecture, be sure to savor these dishes and enjoy the local food culture.

Top 3 Selected Foods in Shizuoka Prefecture

1. Hamamatsu Gyoza

　● The Appeal of Hamamatsu Gyoza

Hamamatsu Gyoza is a local specialty representing Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture. Along with Utsunomiya, it is known as one of Japan's "Gyoza Cities." The most significant feature of Hamamatsu Gyoza is its light, vegetable-centered flavor that uses plenty of cabbage. Compared to gyoza from other regions, it includes more cabbage in the filling, enhancing both texture and sweetness. Some restaurants also add onions, further emphasizing its unique sweetness.

Additionally, Hamamatsu Gyoza is often served in a distinctive style—arranged in a circle when fried and garnished with boiled bean sprouts in the center—making its presentation quite characteristic.

　● The History of Hamamatsu Gyoza

The origin of Hamamatsu Gyoza dates back to the early 1950s, shortly after World War II. At that time, repatriates from China settled in Hamamatsu City and began offering gyoza at food stalls around Hamamatsu Station. This stall culture spread, and as local people grew fond of gyoza, the number of gyoza specialty shops in Hamamatsu City gradually increased.

　● If You're Going to Eat Hamamatsu Gyoza, This Is the Place!!

Restaurant Name: Fukumitsu
Highlights:

Located in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Fukumitsu is a gyoza specialty restaurant beloved by many people—from locals to tourists. The restaurant's hallmark is its crisply grilled gyoza wrappers filled with a light stuffing packed with plenty of cabbage. Moreover, the effective use of garlic enhances its appetite-stimulating flavor.

Served piping hot with a perfect degree of grilling, you can enjoy the crispy exterior and juicy interior. Not only is dining in the restaurant popular, but takeout is also in high demand, making it a great souvenir option.
Access: 950 meters from Yahata Station
Address: 1-25-8 Sato, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture8
Google map：https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kk45wQezBVR6jzYu5

2. Simmered Kinmedai (Splendid Alfonsino)

　● The Appeal of Simmered Kinmedai

The Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture is a region nationally renowned for its catch of kinmedai (splendid alfonsino). Particularly, the "Inatori Kinme" landed in Shimoda and Inatori is highly esteemed for its rich fat content and thick flesh. Simmered kinmedai is a traditional dish where the fish is cooked in a sweet and savory sauce, allowing you to enjoy the exquisite harmony of its elegant fat and tender meat.

This dish is considered especially delicious during the fatty season from October to March. It is prepared by simmering the fish, either in fillets or whole, in a sauce made from soy sauce, mirin, and sugar.

　● The History of Simmered Kinmedai

The Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture is known as one of Japan's leading production areas for kinmedai. Simmered kinmedai, in particular, has a long history as one of the traditional local dishes of this region. Kinmedai began to be harvested in earnest in Izu from the early Shōwa period (starting around 1926). Before that, kinmedai was rarely distributed due to its high price, making it uncommon on household dining tables.

　● If You're Going to Eat Simmered Kinmedai, This Is the Place!!

Restaurant Name: Waragyo (笑ぎょ)
Highlights:

Overlooking Ajiro Port, this local seafood restaurant is a place where you can enjoy fresh seafood carefully selected by the owner, who visits the market every morning. The restaurant has a dedicated live tank inside, and the live squid sashimi is especially recommended. The transparent squid is characterized by its crunchy texture, and when eaten with its liver, you can enjoy a rich flavor. Additionally, there is a wide variety of local simmered fish dishes, with the simmered kinmedai being offered at market price due to its exceptional freshness.
Address: 55-8 Ajiro, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Access: 753 meters from Ajiro Station
Google Maps : https://maps.app.goo.gl/mcXLN7xrk8PEDiFBA

3. 3. Sawayaka's Hamburger Steak

　● The Appeal of Sawayaka's Hamburger Steak

"Sumiyaki Restaurant Sawayaka," which you can experience only in Shizuoka Prefecture, is known as a soul food for the locals. Sawayaka's signature menu item, the "Genkotsu Hamburger Steak," is a charcoal-grilled hamburger steak made from 100% beef. It features a hefty, round patty weighing 250 grams. The outside is grilled crispy and fragrant, while the inside is served rare.

The allure lies not only in the deliciousness of the hamburger steak but also in the fact that it is exclusive to Shizuoka—they do not open branches outside the prefecture. They maintain quality by supplying fresh hamburger steaks from their own factory in Shizuoka.

　● The History of Sawayaka's Hamburger Steak

"Sumiyaki Restaurant Sawayaka" was founded in 1977 in Kikugawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Initially opened as "Coffee Shop Sawayaka," offering coffee and light meals, a significant turning point came when the founder, Mr. Shigeyuki Tomita, added a hamburger steak made from 100% beef to the menu. This hamburger steak received high acclaim, and gradually, Sawayaka evolved into a restaurant specializing in hamburger steaks.

　● If You're Going to Eat Sawayaka's Hamburger Steak, This Is the Place!!

Restaurant Name: Sawayaka Kikugawa Main Store
Highlights:
"Sumiyaki Restaurant Sawayaka Kikugawa Main Store" is the original location where Sawayaka was born in 1977 in Kikugawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Sawayaka's famous "Genkotsu Hamburger Steak" features a thick and juicy 100% beef patty, and its cooking method—performed live in front of you—is particularly popular. The hamburger steak is grilled over charcoal, and at your table, the staff cuts it in half and finishes cooking it right before your eyes, allowing you to enjoy it piping hot on the spot.
Address: 6088 Kamo, Kikugawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 439-0031
Access: 2,598 meters from Kikugawa Station
Google Maps：https://maps.app.goo.gl/ucLV3hGHREGRrFK7A

Top 3 Must-Try Foods in Shizuoka: Local Specialties You Can’t Miss