YUI JUKU
Highlights of the Area: SATTA PASS, TOKAIDO HIROSHIGE MUSEUM, SAKURA SHRIMP, KURASAWA DISTRICT
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
The Old Tokaido Highway became firmly established in the early 17th century as the main thoroughfare for travelers between the new capital of Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto.
The 16th Post Town of Yui is a small fishing port, and it is said that the town was originally settled by the Yui family after fighting at the Battle of Okehazama as a vassal of the Imagawa Clan in the mid-1500s.
In its day Yui was said to have been a bustling little town during the peak of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Today Yui Port is most well known as ‘The Town of Sakura Shrimp’ which are caught by local fishermen in Suruga Bay and visitors come to Yui from all over Japan to enjoy them.
Some remnants of the small but bustling post station of Yui remain just to the West of Yui Station in an area called Kurasawa ,which was once dotted with inns.
Just to the West of the Kurasawa area is a winding path up to the iconic Satta Pass viewing deck which offers views of Mt. Fuji towering over Suruga Bay and the Tomei Highway winding along the coastline.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
It is possible to start your day at either Kambara or Yui Stations.
From either of these stations it is about a 25 minute walk (5 minute taxi ride) to the Yui Honjin Park and Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art – both open at 9am and are closed on Monday.
This is a great place to spend a couple of hours, especially if the weather is good, taking time to walk through the Japanese garden and enjoy a tea ceremony in the historic Miyukitei tearoom.
After a cup of tea stop in at the Tokaido Hiroshige Museum and learn about the process of creating ukiyo-e woodblock prints like the master Hiroshige did 200 years ago.
A visit to Yui Port is not complete without tasting the local Sakura Shrimp – Yui Sakura Ebi Kan has a local favorite restaurant just 5 minutes walk from the Hiroshige Museum.
After enjoying the meal it is about 75 minutes walk along the coast to Satta Pass.
On the way you will pass through the Kurasawa District which is a good place to take a break before the up hill section to the Satta Pass lookout area.
The view from Satta Pass looking out over Suruga Bay to Mt. Fuji is stunning and it is easy to see why Hiroshige chose this location for his iconic woodblock print.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on Tokaido related attractions in English check www.shizuoka-tokaido.biz
More Travel ideas around Yui
