[Yamagata Prefecture Shirataka Town] Can you eat delicious grilled fish at Ayu Chaya in Shirataka Town, Yamagata Prefecture, one of the largest Yanaba?

Do you know about Yanaba? (hereinafter referred to as Yanaba)

A yanaba is a place in a river where bamboo, stakes, stones, etc. are used to narrow the path for fish, creating a passageway in one spot for fishing.

There are places all over Japan where Yana fishing is carried out, but one of the largest Yana fishing grounds is Shirataka Yana Park (Ayu Chaya) .

This article provides basic information about Ayu Chaya and details about Yanaba.

We also introduce the highlights of Shirataka Ayu Park, which is also used as a roadside station, so please read until the end.

What is Yanaba?

Yanaba refers to the use of stakes, stones, etc. from both sides of the river to narrow the path for fish so that they can only pass through one spot, in order to catch fish that go up the river to spawn. .

A blind-shaped device is then placed along the path to catch the fish that wash up as they swim upstream. This type of fishing is called Yana fishing.

The fact that the sweetfish rises with the flow of nature can be said to be a fishing activity packed with the wisdom of our ancestors.

In addition to sweetfish, other well-known fish that can be caught at Yanaba include salmon and eel.

Ayu Chaya, one of the top-class Yana venues in Japan

Shirataka Yana Park (Ayu Chaya), located in Shirataka Town, Yamagata Prefecture, has one of the largest permanent Yana grounds in the country, and is characterized by its large catch volume.

In addition, Shirataka Yana Park, where Ayu Chaya is located, is located along National Route 287, and is an easy place to stop by as the roadside station ``Mogami River Ayutopia''

The tea house also has a restaurant where you can eat salt-grilled sweetfish, fried sweetfish, and sweetfish gozen, and it seems to be crowded with people on holidays.

The ayu that is raised in the Mogami River, which is famous for its rapids, and goes upstream to spawn, is said to have a good reputation for being fatty and delicious.

Ayu is a popular river fish that originally lives in clear streams and feeds on moss, so it has little odor and is easy to eat, so many people look forward to the opening of the fishing season.

The history of Yanaba in Shirataka Town and the pleasures of the four seasons

Until the early Showa period, Shirataka Town in Yamagata Prefecture had three yana fields along the Mogami River that ran through the town.

However, due to the turmoil during the war, all of them disappeared after the war.

After that, volunteers from Shirataka Town restored the Yanaba to liven up Shirataka and enjoy it.

Today, it has become a popular spot from both within and outside the prefecture, with many people visiting throughout the year, not just during the sweetfish season, and it has become a facility that Shirataka Town is proud of.

The ban on Yana fishing is lifted from early April to early May every year.

Yana fishing grounds are set up before the fishing season opens, and depending on climate conditions, Yana fishing is usually held from late April to early May, around Golden Week.

Coinciding with Children's Day on May 5th, the carp streamers hung across the width of the Mogami River, waving in the wind, seem to be full of joy at the arrival of full-fledged spring in the snowy country.

Sightseeing Yana tours are also held from April to November, and you can go right up to the installation site.

You can enjoy cherry blossoms and carp streamers swaying in the river breeze in spring, the safflower fields that represent Yamagata Prefecture in summer, the plump sweetfish in autumn, and the mysterious scenery of the silver world and hidden soba noodles in winter. can.

Shirataka Yana Park＜Information＞

• Name: Shirataka Yana Park
• Address: 661-1 Shimoyama, Shirataka-cho, Nishiokitama-gun, Yamagata 992-0862 
• Phone number: 0238-85-5577
• Official URL: https://www.ayuchaya.jp/

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What kind of fish is Ayu? Are they found in rivers across the country?

Ayu (sweetfish) lives in clear streams.

They used to be seen in rivers all over the country, but in many rivers they were no longer visible due to water pollution due to water pollution from factories and households not being able to purify the wastewater in time.

Recently, the water quality has improved, and there are many happy reports of sweetfish returning.

Ayu is a herbivorous freshwater fish, so it has no parasites in its internal organs and can be eaten whole when grilled or boiled.It is also a popular fish because it does not have any peculiar taste.

The ayu caught at Shirataka's Yanaba are plump and uniform in shape, and the catch is large, so it can be dried and eaten as a preserved food even outside the season.

Of course, it's best to grill fresh ayu with salt during the season!

summary

In Shirataka Town, Yamagata Prefecture, there is one of the largest Yanaba in Japan, which utilizes the Mogami River, which is said to be the mother river of Yamagata Prefecture.

Shirataka Yana Park also functions as a roadside station, and parking is free, making it an easy place to visit. In the upcoming season, it might be a good idea to go for a drive through the fresh greenery and eat some delicious ayu!