Yokosuka Navy Curry a Taste of Port Town History

Yokosuka navy curry is a local specialty of the port town of Yokosuka, based on the curry once eaten in the old navy. It descends from the way western food was adopted into naval meals in the Meiji era to combat beriberi, and it is marked by the richness of wheat flour and a comforting, homestyle taste. Serving it with salad and milk is the traditional style, a lasting echo of menus that prized nutritional balance. In 1999 the city of Yokosuka declared itself a Curry Town, and the dish is widely loved as a local specialty.

Highlights

• The mellow, nostalgic flavor of a roux thickened with wheat flour
• The traditional serving style that pairs the dish with salad and milk
• The fun of comparing recipes and ingredients handed down at each shop
• A plate to savor while sensing the history unique to a naval port town

Enjoying the Seasons

Spiced curry is a summer staple that whets the appetite, and a plate eaten as you break a sweat is something special. In the cold season the hot roux warms you, and together with the accompanying milk it is enjoyed year round as a comforting taste.

Access and Basic Information

• Served at eateries around Keikyu Yokosuka Chuo Station and JR Yokosuka Station
• As a curry town, several shops offer their own distinct plates
• A set with salad and milk is the traditional makeup
• Retort and canned navy curry are also popular souvenirs
• Best visited together with a stroll around the harbor

Practical Travel Notes

• Budget in the thousand yen range for a plate, with the traditional salad and milk set as the standard
• Popular shops crowd at lunchtime, so shifting your timing lets you dine at leisure
• The area around Yokosuka Chuo Station has many eateries, handy for a post meal walk
• Sights that convey the port history, such as Verny Park and Mikasa Park, dot the walkable area
• For souvenirs, retort navy curry is easy to carry and recreates the port town taste at home

A Quick Tip

Pairing it with a harborside walk and enjoying the port view deepens the sense of travel. If you want to compare each shop character, it is fun to visit a few and seek out the roux that suits you best. Following tradition, try it first as a set with milk and salad to taste the menu of days past.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Origins: Yokosuka City declared itself the "City of Curry" on May 20, 1999. A promotion committee was launched jointly by Yokosuka City, the Yokosuka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Yokosuka District Headquarters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
• Serving rules: The dish recreates the recipe in the "Naval Culinary Reference Book" published in 1908 (Meiji 41), and the rule for serving it is that it must always come with salad and milk
• Public facility where you can try it: Ichigo Yokosuka Port Market (6 Shinko-cho, Yokosuka City) / 10:00-19:00. About an 11-minute walk from Yokosuka-Chuo Station on the Keikyu Line. It houses outlets serving navy curry
• Number of restaurants: More than 40 restaurants are certified, and 93 companies belong to the "Curry City Yokosuka Business Operators' Section" (as of January 2026)
• Inquiries: Tourism Division, Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, Yokosuka City, 046-822-8567

Note: Opening hours and prices vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Yokosuka City official website, "What is Yokosuka Navy Curry?"; Curry City Yokosuka official website (business operators' section and list of member shops); Ichigo Yokosuka Port Market official website)

Sources of Information

This article is compiled from Kanagawa Prefecture tourism information and information published by the individual shops. Prices, menus and seasonal offerings may change, so please check each shop's official information for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: Around 1,000 yen per plate, with retort pouches at reasonable prices
• Where to eat it: Restaurants and souvenir shops around Yokosuka City
• Best time of day: Mainly lunchtime
• Avoiding crowds: Popular restaurants get busy at lunchtime, so shift your timing
• Enjoy it with: Dobuita Street, the memorial ship Mikasa, and a tour of Yokosuka's harbor