Shizuoka's food cultureKnow

Toda, Numazu City, a peaceful port town overlooking Suruga Bay and Mt. Fuji(Heda)There is a special ingredient in Okinawa that some people travel to for. It is the largest crab in Japan.Spider crab.

The impact of the appearance is what catches your eye, but the charm of Toda spider crab is"Eat"But that's not all. We'll introduce the cuisine and lifestyle of Toda, including the culture that has been passed down as a talisman mask, and the efforts that children learn about, protect, and pass on to the future through spider crabs.

What is a spider crab?

Its size leads one to imagine a bold flavor, but in reality it is very delicate and refined, with a characteristic popping texture.

This crab pleasantly defies the image that "big = bland."
That is Toda's spider crab.

The surprising relationship between Toda in Numazu and spider crabs

Spider crabs in Toda, Numazu City"Food"It is not that long ago that it became known as bottom trawl fishing.(トロール漁)Although it was caught in the area, the flesh was considered watery and bland, and it did not take root in Japanese food culture.

1960(Showa35Around 2000, a turning point came when local chefs and inns began to devise new cooking methods.
It is known that steaming brings out the sweetness and flavor, and its deliciousness gained a reputation, gradually growing into a gourmet dish that represents Toda.

Furthermore, Toda is one of the few areas where you can enjoy the freshest spider crabs, freshly caught from the deep seas of Suruga Bay. Spider crabs lose their flavor over time, and the fishing season is limited to September through May, so it is only in Toda, where they are caught, that you can enjoy their original flavor.

Nowadays, people from all over Japan and even overseas come to eat spider crab.

A unique dining experience in Toda where you can encounter live spider crabs- Sakanaya Uosei -

"Sakanaya Uosei" is1940 Years(Showa15Years)Founded.
The large fish tank in the center of the store is sometimes filled with fish.100Nearly a dozen spider crabs swim by.

The seawater for the fish tanks is drawn directly from Toda Port, which is located just across the road.
It is close to the deep sea where spider crabs are particularly abundant.7~8The water is kept in good condition by maintaining a temperature of 20°C and circulating mineral-rich seawater containing plankton.

This location and facilities make it possible to prepare fresh spider crab.

Akihiko Sato, owner of Sakanaya Uosei(Akihiko)Mr. Mizuho.

The revolutionary idea of ​​creating a fish tank inside the store was conceived by Akihiko, and it has been used by about30This was realized during the store renovation a few years ago.

"Not only locals, but also tourists from outside the prefecture, and recently inbound customers from Singapore and Taiwan, have been coming to the restaurant to eat spider crab, and we even have some repeat customers who visit Toda just to eat spider crab," says Mizuho.

The second-generation owner, Akihiko Sato, recommends simply steaming it.
By steaming the fish instead of boiling it, the flavor is not lost and the sweetness of the flesh is brought out to the maximum.

"Recently, people have been enjoying it as sashimi or grilled, but the recommended way to cook spider crab is to steam it."(Akihiko)

"First, try eating it without any toppings," says Mizuho.

You'll be amazed by the natural saltiness and the bouncy texture. Crab vinegar is also available, but once you try it, you'll immediately understand why they recommend trying it as is.

After enjoying the legs, enjoy the rich and creamy crab miso.
You can mix it with fish or put it on rice, and it's fun until the very end.
With its large meat and refreshing aftertaste, you'll find yourself becoming addicted to eating it before you know it. This crab has a mysterious charm.

And Sakanaya Uosei offers a special service.
Even if you don't order spider crab, customers who dine at the restaurant can take a commemorative photo with it.

Holding a large spider crab is an experience you won't find anywhere else.
Taking a photo of this impressive sight will make a great memory of your trip and a great topic of conversation. It's an experience you can only have in Toda, where you'll realize that "crabs this big really exist in Suruga Bay."

Depending on the weather and fishing conditions, there may be days when spider crabs are not available, so if you want to try them,For Advance Reservations: .

A talismanic mask handed down in Toda, painted on a shell

This talisman mask was created because the bumps on the spider crab's shell resemble a human face.
Although there are no clear documents remaining to indicate when it first began, it is believed to have existed in the early Taisho period when bottom trawl fishing began in Toda.

In the days when people believed that epidemics and disasters were brought about by demons or demons, people would hang a shell with a strong, dignified expression at the entrance to their home and pray for the health and safety of their family.

A face that expresses not fear but strength to face the challenge.
It contains the wishes of the people of Toda.

At the Toda Shipbuilding Local History Museum and the adjacent Suruga Bay Deep Sea Life Museum, you can see stuffed spider crabs and talismanic masks.

In addition to the masks themselves, the museum also sells "original mask kits" that allow you to paint your own masks.

At the Matsushiro Residence, an Important Cultural Property in the Toda area, you can experience painting a spider crab mask."Shape"You can take it home as a gift.

(For inquiries, please contact: Important Cultural Property Matsushiro Family Residence/TEL : 0558-94-5150 Advance reservations are recommended.)

"Releasing spider crabs" to connect to the future

In recent years, the decline in fish catches has become an issue, and as an effort to connect local resources to the future, the Numazu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been holding a fishing ban every year since the beginning of the ban period.5We are releasing spider crabs into the wild at the end of the month.

Students from the local Numazu Municipal Toda Elementary and Junior High School also participate, checking the sex and whether or not there are eggs, attaching individual identification tags, measuring the fish, and then releasing them from a boat. This initiative, which allows students to experience not only eating but also protecting and learning about the fish, is an important foundation for passing on Toda's food culture to the next generation.

Spider crabs in children's daily lives

In Toda, spider crabs are a special local resource, and also a familiar learning subject for children.

Through visits to the Toda Shipbuilding Local History Museum and the Suruga Bay Deep Sea Life Museum, making spider crab talisman masks, and releasing spider crabs into the sea, the children develop an understanding of and attachment to their hometown.

"Spirit crabs and deep-sea fish are indispensable items for local learning, as they can be encountered up close only in Toda, Numazu City. In recent years, the catch has decreased and spider crabs are becoming harder to come by, but I believe that we have a mission to preserve and pass on the local culture of using the shells as talismans."(Kumiko Tsutsui, Director of the Toda Shipbuilding Local History Museum and Suruga Bay Deep Sea Life Museum)

Learn about Toda's food culture through spider crabs
Enjoy the bounty of the deep sea, experience the culture, and think about the future.
In this town where children learn and local prayers live on,"A drink unique to Toda"Please try it.

[Sakanaya Uosei]
Location: Toda, Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture580
TEL : 0558-94-2114
Hours:(Weekday)11:00-17:00
　　　　 (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)11:00-19:00
Closed: Thursday
*The store will close once all ingredients are used up. If you would like to order spider crab, please make a reservation in advance by phone.