Delicious grilled fish from Yanaba and Ayuchaya, one of Japan's largest! [Shirataka Town, Yamagata Prefecture]

Do you know what a Yanaba is? (hereinafter referred to as Yanaba)

A fishing strait is a place where fish are driven into a river using bamboo, stakes, stones, etc. to narrow the path for them to pass through, creating a single passageway for them to fish

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

This article provides basic information about Ayu Chaya and Yanaba in detail

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

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What is Yanaba?

A Yanaba is a trap used to catch fish that swim upstream to spawn. Stakes and stones are used on both sides of the river to narrow the fish's passage, leaving only one place for them to pass through

They then set up a bamboo blind-like trap along the path of the fish and catch the fish that wash up on the shore as they swim upstream. This type of fishing is called Yana fishing

The way the sweetfish are pulled up by the natural current could be said to be a type of fishing that embodies the wisdom of our ancestors

In addition to sweetfish, salmon and eels are also well known to be caught at the fishing grounds

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Ayu Chaya, one of the largest fishing grounds in Japan

Shirataka Yana Park (Ayu Chaya) in Shirataka Town, Yamagata Prefecture, is home to one of the largest permanent fishing ponds in the country, and its large size means it produces a large amount of fish

Additionally, Shirataka Yana Park, where the Ayu Teahouse is located, is located along National Route 287 and is an easy place to stop by as it serves as the roadside station "Mogamigawa Ayutopia."

The teahouse also has a restaurant where you can enjoy grilled sweetfish, deep-fried sweetfish, sweetfish meals, and more, and it seems to be bustling with people on weekends and holidays

The sweetfish that grow up in the Mogami River, which is famous for its rapids, and swim upstream to spawn are said to be rich in fat and have a reputation for being delicious

Ayu originally live in clear streams and feed mainly on moss, so they have little odor and are easy to eat, making them a popular river fish, and it seems that many people are eagerly awaiting the opening of the ayu fishing season

The history of Shirataka Town's Yanaba and the joys of the four seasons

Until the early Showa period, Shirataka Town in Yamagata Prefecture had three fishing sites along the Mogami River that flows through the town

However, due to the unrest during the war, they were all lost after the war

Later, volunteers from Shirataka Town restored the Yanaba in order to liven up and enjoy Shirataka

Nowadays, the place is visited by a constant stream of people throughout the year, not just during the sweetfish season, and has become a popular spot both within and outside the prefecture, becoming a facility that Shirataka Town is proud of

The fishing ban for the yana (yana opening) begins every year from early April to early May

The fishing straits are set up before the fishing season opens, and depending on weather conditions, the straits are usually opened between late April and early May, around Golden Week.

To coincide with Children's Day on May 5th, the carp streamers are hung across the width of the Mogami River, fluttering in the wind as they cross the river, expressing joy at the arrival of full-fledged spring in the snowy country

Tourists can also visit the Yana from April to November, and can get very close to the site

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

Shirataka Yana Park <Information>

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

Google Map

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

Ayu (sweetfish) live in clear, flowing streams

Ayu used to be able to be seen in rivers all over the country, but in many cases, the purification of wastewater from factories and households was not kept up with, and the water quality of the rivers became polluted, meaning that ayu could no longer be seen in them

Recently, the water quality has improved, and we have received many encouraging reports of the return of sweetfish

Ayu is a herbivorous freshwater fish, so it has no parasites in its internal organs and can be eaten whole by grilling or boiling.It also has a mild flavor, making it a popular fish

The sweetfish caught at Shirataka's fishing pond are plump and uniform in shape, and because the catch is so large, they can be dried and preserved to be eaten even outside of the season

Of course, the best way to eat fresh Ayu is to grill it with salt while it's in season!

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summary

Shirataka Town in Yamagata Prefecture is home to one of the largest fishing grounds in the country, which uses the Mogami River, known as the mother river of Yamagata Prefecture

Shirataka Yana Park also functions as a roadside station, so parking is free, making it an easy place to visit. With the coming season coming up, it might be a good idea to go for a drive in the fresh greenery and try some delicious sweetfish!

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