SHIZUOKA CITY KANKO NAVI

　People who were born and raised in Shizuoka City say they used to eat oden as a snack. They say they eat it not only during the cold season, but even in the heat of midsummer.

　In Shizuoka City, oden shops weren’t necessarily izakayas; in fact, the most common places to find them were candy stores where children gathered. Even today, there are many casual oden spots, and it’s common to find oden sold alongside other items at candy stores, bakeries, and rice ball shops.

　In Shizuoka City, many izakaya also feature oden as a staple on their menus, and the “Aoba Oden Street” and “Aoba Yokocho”—areas that evolved from food stalls—consist entirely of oden specialty shops. On a more unusual note, the concession stands inside the Shizuoka Keirin Velodrome are also highly regarded for their oden.

"Shizuoka Oden." It's pronounced "Shizu~ka Oden." It seems a little different from Tokyo-style oden.

(1) It contains black fish cake; (2) it has black broth; (3) it’s served on skewers; (4) it’s topped with green laver flakes and dashi powder; (5) you can find it at candy stores… These are said to be the “Five Rules of Shizuoka Oden.”

Actually, it’s not just at old-fashioned candy stores—you can find oden at all kinds of shops. This place is a bakery known for its delicious homemade bread, but its oden is also incredibly popular. It’s available year-round and is a hit even in the summer. That’s what makes it Shizuoka’s soul food.

One of the most iconic ingredients in Shizuoka oden is "kuro hanpen." In Shizuoka City, when people say "hanpen," they mean the black variety, not the white one. It is also called "hanbe."

In March, the "Shizuoka Oden Fair" will be held on "Aoba Symbol Road" in the downtown area.

"Black fish cake, naruto, konjac, offal, beef tendon, daikon radish, eggs, and satsuma-age" are some of the standard ingredients. If you ask someone from Shizuoka, "What about chikuwa-bu?" they'll likely reply, "I've never heard of such a thing."

Shizuoka oden is often considered "B-grade cuisine," but I think it’s fair to say the taste is "A-grade."

This is a favorite spot for drinkers: "Aoba Oden Street."

There are so many restaurants lined up side by side, all vying for the best taste. Why don’t we try a few and see which one we like best?

It’s also known as “green tea highball,” but since it’s shochu mixed with Shizuoka tea, it’s called “Shizuoka highball” in Shizuoka. In the name of the pride of the “Tea Capital,” when it comes to tea, they leave nothing to chance.

This is the oden sold at the concession stand inside the Shizuoka Keirin Track. Some people even come to the track just for this.

Where there’s oden, you’ll often find fried foods too. The classics are black fish cake and potatoes.

・Shizuoka Oden Society

・Aoba Oden Street