Yaizu, a port that has welcomed many a traveler
Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcaido Hearn) describes Yaizu as follows: “When the sun shines bright, this old fishing town called Yaizu exhibits a unique, interesting light that escapes description.” He always visited around mid-August (“Obon”) in his later years, basking in the deep, choppy waters off Yaizu. Apparently, the curved beach surrounded by mountains evoked the beaches of Greece and Ireland from childhood days. While Mt.Fuji perched across the deep-colored Suruga Bay seems quintessentially Japanese, it is interesting to note that it resembles a beach in a faraway foreign country. Come to think of it, Lennox-san of Jamaican coffee and chocolate store LENY also likened Yaizu to his hometown port of Kingston. The 95% cacao drink he served this morning relaxes both body and soul; there must be something about Yaizu that chills everybody out.
The urban and exotic Yuruk Bake Shop serves bagels crammed with local ingredients, which tend to sell out by noon. The Matsunagas, who traveled the world like nomads, have recreated the unforgettable taste of Turkish mackerel sandwiches using Yaizu saba and homemade bagels. The deciding factor behind moving to Yaizu was the open and cheerful port town reminiscent of Central and South America, and the comfortable distance between people, which felt just right.
Ai Miura, a local angler, is another person who fell in love with the Yaizu sea and moved to the area. Her unique background includes majoring in marine biology before moving to Tuscany to study Italian cuisine. These days she spends her time coming up with new ways to interact with fish in Yaizu, such as fishing classes and cooking events. Boat fishing is said to be good for horse mackerel and tilefish, and at night for hairtail. As I heard about these various people who had traveled around the world and ended up on Yaizu’s shores, my impression of the town as “a fishing port with some of the largest catches in Japan” began to change into a place with a decidedly international flavor that is welcoming to travelers.
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A replenishing journey through a port town tinged with the sea breeze
Tour de Nippon in Yaizu
Held on the weekend of September 24-25, 2022
Enjoy the charms of Yaizu to the fullest with vistas of Suruga Bay and Mt.Fuji. Fishing on Day 1. Come cast a line with Ai Miura. Tuck into an evening repast of fish caught in Yaizu. Hike and bike on day 2. Cycling along the beach to Hanazawa-no-sato while snacking on Yaizu’s gastronomic treats. After hiking up Man-gan-ho, experience Zen at Rinso-in Temple. At the end of the tour, relax and peacefully melt into the soothing Kuroshio Onsen Nakamura-kan. Come, join us on a journey to get in touch with nature, to breath deeply, and to bring some balance to mind and body.
