Yui Sakura Shrimp: A Delicacy Found Only in Suruga Bay

Called the jewel of the sea, sakura shrimp are fished only in Suruga Bay. These small, semi-transparent shrimp with a cherry-blossom glow are superb raw, as kakiage fritters, or sun-dried. Yui in Shizuoka, home to the landing port, is the heart of sakura shrimp, and tasting freshly landed shrimp at a harbor eatery is an experience found nowhere else.

Yui Sakura Shrimp

As the name suggests, sakura shrimp are beautiful small shrimp with a translucent cherry-pink color. In Japan, fishing is permitted only in Suruga Bay, making them a very rare catch. Yui Port and Oigawa Port in Shizuoka are the main landing sites, and Yui in particular is known as the town of sakura shrimp. They are landed only during two fishing seasons a year, in spring and autumn, a seasonal taste unique to Suruga Bay.

Ways to Enjoy Them

Sakura shrimp can be savored in many forms. Fresh raw sakura shrimp offer a firm texture and refined sweetness, while crisp kakiage fritters concentrate their aroma and umami in a classic dish. Sun-dried shrimp release more flavor the more you chew, perfect with rice or as a companion to a drink, letting you enjoy a full spread of sakura shrimp dishes.

Sun-Drying the Shrimp

During the fishing season, the beach at Yui fills with sakura shrimp laid out to dry in the sun. On clear days, the cherry-pink shrimp spread across the ground in a scene sometimes called a carpet of cherry blossoms, a sight unique to Yui. The vivid pink stretching across the shore is beautiful and highly photogenic, seen only on clear days during the season.

Access and Basic Information

The base is Yui Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line, with the harbor and eateries reachable on foot or by car; by car, the area is accessible from Tomei Expressway interchanges. Fresh raw sakura shrimp can only be enjoyed on days when a catch is landed during the season, and availability depends on that day fishing. Restaurant hours, raw-shrimp availability, and season dates change, so check the Yui Port fishery cooperative, the local tourism association, or the official information of each eatery.

Best Season

Fishing generally opens from around March to June for the spring season and October to December for the autumn season. Freshly landed raw sakura shrimp can be enjoyed only during these seasons. Start and end dates shift from year to year.

Practical Travel Notes

Because freshness is essential, raw sakura shrimp often cannot be served except on the day of a catch, so if you want to be sure to try them, contact an eatery in advance. Kakiage and sun-dried shrimp are often available outside the season, and some shops let you enjoy the flavor year-round. Near Yui Station is Satta Pass, a scenic spot with views of Mt. Fuji, which pairs well with a stroll along the old Tokaido route.

One Piece of Advice

To protect the resource, fishing seasons and catch volumes are strictly managed, and this rarity is part of the appeal. To see the sun-drying carpet of cherry blossoms, aim for a clear day during the season, though weather and fishing conditions may mean it is not on view. Enjoy the region signature sakura shrimp together with scenery framed by Mt. Fuji. (TabiTabi JAPAN Editorial Team)

📚 Sources

This article is based on information published by local municipalities and tourism associations such as the city of Shizuoka, guidance from the Yui Port fisheries cooperative and on the fishing seasons, and introductions to eateries around the port. The availability of raw sakura shrimp, the fishing-season dates, and eatery business hours may change, so please check the official sources of the Yui Port fisheries cooperative and each eatery before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: 1 to 2 hours for a meal at a port eatery, or half a day including a walk over Satta Pass
• Access: From Yui Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line to the port and eateries, or via the Tomei Expressway by car
• How to enjoy: Try the many styles, from raw sakura shrimp to fritters and sun-dried
• Seasonal notes: Raw sakura shrimp is limited to the spring (around March to June) and autumn (around October to December) seasons
• Good to check: Raw sakura shrimp depends on the day's catch, so inquire with the eatery in advance
• Also enjoy: Satta Pass with its Mount Fuji view and a walk along the old Tokaido