Narita Unagi, the Grilled Eel Aroma Rising over the Temple Approach

In Narita, which flourished as the temple town before Naritasan Shinshoji, the eel restaurants lining the approach have become a specialty. In this area, where wild eel was once caught in the Tone River and Lake Inba, eel took root as a dish for welcoming temple visitors. The savory aroma of grilled eel drifting along the main approach evokes a mood found only in Narita. The roughly eight-hundred-meter approach is lined with many eel shops and is even called Unagi Kaido, the eel road.

Highlights

The highlight is the artisans skill in grilling each eel one by one. Crisply grilled skin, plump flesh, and a sweet-savory sauce unite as one and pair superbly with white rice. Some long-established shops let you watch eels being filleted and grilled over charcoal at the storefront, turning even the wait into a pleasure.

Enjoying the Seasons

There is a well-known custom of eating eel on the Day of the Ox in midsummer, and its popularity as a stamina dish rises in the hot season. During the summer doyo period, the Narita Eel Festival is held, drawing crowds as eel shops along with the towns eateries and souvenir shops take part. Yet eel is also exceptional in autumn and winter when its fat content peaks, so it can be enjoyed year-round along with a temple visit.

Access and Basic Information

You can walk to the Naritasan approach from JR Narita Station or Keisei Narita Station, where many eel shops line the way. By car, it is close to the Narita interchange on the Higashi-Kanto Expressway and offers good access from Narita Airport. Popular shops form queues, and in peak periods numbered tickets are sometimes handed out. Prices for a box of grilled eel over rice vary by portion and grade, running from the two-thousands to the three-thousands of yen for a standard one, and higher for premium boxes, as a guide.

Practical Travel Notes

Popular shops on the approach form long lunchtime queues, so aiming for right at opening or off the midday peak keeps waits short. At shops that hand out numbered tickets, a handy approach is to take your number, stroll the area, and return around when you are called. The Day of the Ox, weekends, and long holidays are especially crowded, so planning with time to spare is reassuring. Worship and dining pair easily, and the classic flow is to visit Shinshoji, have an eel box at lunch, and browse the approach souvenir shops before or after. The approach also lines up long-established buildings and noted shops for pickles and yokan sweets, so strolling and snacking are enjoyable too. Budgeting around three thousand yen per person, centered on an eel box, leaves room to spare.

A Quick Tip

Lunchtime is especially crowded, so visiting right at opening or at an off-peak hour is best. When the line is long, check whether numbered tickets are given out and take a number before worship or a stroll to spend your time efficiently. Stopping by before or after your temple visit and savoring it amid the temple-town atmosphere heightens the joy of the trip.