Hashiguchiya

[Established in the Taisho era, the company stands out for its ingenuity in catering to foreign tourists]

The restaurant was founded in the Taisho era, and the current owner is the fourth generation. The building, which exudes a sense of history, has been partially renovated but remains essentially the same as when it first opened. Until the owner’s father’s generation, ramen and udon noodles were served. After the owner trained and returned to the restaurant, he started serving eel dishes. Nowadays, the restaurant serves not only eel but also set meals, katsudon, tendon, and other Japanese dishes in general. A popular tourist spot in Yanagawa is river boating. The canal in front of the restaurant is also the starting point, so tourists waiting for boats have been coming here to enjoy eel dishes for a long time. “At the peak of the Hakushu Festival, there was a time when as many as 180 boats filled the edge of the canal. It was a spectacular sight,” he said of those days.

This is probably due to its location, which is both the starting point and the final destination for sightseeing in Yanagawa. Before COVID-19, many foreign tourists visited the restaurant. The owner has devised a way to make it easy to order even if you don’t understand Japanese, so all the menu items are accompanied by pictures. Prices are also written in large letters for easy understanding. In addition, the menu has alphabets such as “A, B, C” written on it. “If you look at the picture and tell us the alphabet, we will immediately know what you have ordered,” he said, showing the shop’s consideration. Recommended dishes are the “eel bento” which comes with kabayaki, sashimi, and soup, and the “umaki”, which is eel wrapped in tamagoyaki with eel in the center. “Umaki” is the specialty of the restaurant, and many people order it.

Many locals visit on weekdays. The main attraction is the very reasonably priced “daily set meal.” This low price is “a sign of our gratitude to the locals.” It’s a wonderful hospitality that is filled with love not only for tourists but also for the locals.