Unagi no Eki (Eel Station)

Located in Shibushi City, eastern Kagoshima Prefecture, this commercial facility is operated by Yamada Suisan Co., Ltd., a company specializing in eel farming, production, and sales. In 2017, Yamada Suisan opened a new factory here named "Unagi no Eki," Japan's first facility dedicated entirely to eel, featuring an eel restaurant and a retail shop.

Kagoshima Prefecture is Japan's leading producer of farm-raised eel, and Shibushi City alone accounts for over 50% of the prefecture's total production, earning it the title of Japan’s top eel-producing area. Eel farmed in Shibushi benefits from the region’s abundant mineral-rich groundwater, resulting in eel with exceptionally clean flavor, free from muddy taste.

Branded as the "starting point for delicious eel," the facility’s restaurant offers carefully prepared eel dishes, including organic grilled eel served as "unaju" (eel served over rice), "hitsumabushi" (Nagoya-style eel dish), and "unadon" (eel rice bowl). Additionally, they serve house-made udon noodles.

The adjacent retail shop sells vacuum-packed grilled eel and eel gift sets, made from eels raised by the company without the use of medication. Also available are handmade eel lunch boxes from the restaurant and affordably priced daily bentos and side dishes.