Shimizu Ward in Shizuoka Prefecture has flourished as a post town on the Tokaido road since the Edo period.
Shimizu Port was opened during the Meiji period, and the city is known as an international city with people coming and going from inside and outside the prefecture.

In this article, we will introduce you to its characteristics, taste, and the different serving styles at each restaurant.

What is Shimizu Motsu Curry?

Shimizu Motsu Curry is a local delicacy found in the Shimizu ward area, made by simmering chewy pork offal together with curry.

The flavors vary depending on the restaurant, with each shop's individuality shining through, such as spicy curry, sweet curry, or motsu curry packed with ingredients such as konjac and beef tendon.

The tenderly simmered offal has no unpleasant smell and is infused with the flavor of curry, making it the perfect snack to go with alcohol.

The history and origins of Shimizu Motsu Curry

The originator of Shimizu Motsu Curry is a restaurant in front of Shimizu Station that was founded in 1950.

The owner of this restaurant learned how to prepare curry in Manchuria, and he came up with the idea for motsu curry after being inspired by Nagoya's doteni.
While miso is the standard flavor for doteni, this restaurant started out by adding curry, hoping that it would be loved by all generations and popular all year round. Motsu curry, which combines skewered pork offal with a slightly bitter and spicy curry, is still sold today as "Motsu Curry Stew."

The taste of this restaurant became popular in the town of Shimizu, and other restaurants in the area started serving it. Now, it has been a staple on the izakaya menu in Shimizu for over 60 years.

In addition, Western food culture spread early on in Shimizu Port, which opened in the Meiji era, and curry dishes have long been popular in this area. It is said that this is one of the reasons why motsu curry became so popular in Shimizu.

Types of Shimizu Motsu Curry

From here, we will introduce the types of motsu curry in Shimizu. In the port town of Shimizu, there is a positive atmosphere for new things and a free spirit that does not stick to particular things, so each restaurant has introduced their own unique "motsu curry."

Skewer style

The skewered style is the same as that served at the original restaurant, and the well-cooked offal is infused with the rich flavor of curry.

You can taste the deliciousness of the motsu with every bite, and the texture is addictively delicious. It goes great with alcohol, and you'll find yourself eating several pieces before you know it. We also recommend adding chili pepper to taste.

Stew style

It is often served stewed with crispy white spring onions on top, which add a nice refreshing flavor to the dish.

It's a dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as eating one at a time with a drink in one hand, or putting it on rice. There is also a variety of motsu curry with lots of ingredients, such as beef tendon, burdock, and konjac.

Western Style

New and unique offal curries that are not bound by traditional styles are also appearing. There are elegant dishes stewed in red wine, ones that add cheese, and Western-style offal curries stewed with eggplant and tomatoes, and there are many more varieties to choose from.

In addition, around Shimizu Station, you can find original dishes derived from motsu curry. The combination of "motsu" and "curry" such as motsu cheese curry doria and curry rice is very popular in this area.

The deliciousness and appeal of Shimizu Motsu Curry

In recent years, "Shimizu Motsu Curry" has also been served at the station in the neighboring town. The rich flavor of the motsu curry goes well with refreshing alcoholic drinks such as beer and sake.

The secret to its deliciousness is the careful preparation of pork offal, which has a particular smell. It is rubbed with salt and boiled repeatedly to bring out its flavor.

The reason why motsu curry you eat at a restaurant is so delicious is because it is full of the ingenuity and attention to detail of the restaurant, who carefully prepares it and thinks first and foremost about how it pairs with curry.

Sightseeing spots around Shizuoka

From here, we will introduce some recommended sightseeing spots around Shizuoka. The first one is the Suruga Bay Ferry. This ferry connects Shimizu Port with Toi Port in Nishiizu, and from the boat you can get a spectacular view of the coastline to the summit of Mt. Fuji.

It's not just a means of transportation; you can sit back and relax as you enjoy views of Shimizu Port, the fragrant sea breeze, the Ferris wheel at S-Pulse Dream Plaza, and Miho no Matsubara, making it a treasure trove of scenic spots that you can't get on any other means of transportation.

The second one is Nihondaira Yume Terrace.
Nihon-daira is a hilly area with an elevation of 307m, and was chosen as the number one tourist spot in the Japan Top 100 Tourist Destinations Competition.

The observation corridor, which offers a 360-degree view of the view from the summit of Nihon-daira, Miho no Matsubara, Suruga Bay, and the cityscape of Shizuoka, is truly a spectacular sight. This facility opened in 2018, and you can also visit the national treasure Kunozan Toshogu Shrine by taking the ropeway just a minute's walk away. How about making it a memorable memory of your trip to Shizuoka?

Access to Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City

From here, we will introduce how to access Shimizu Ward. If you are going to Shimizu Ward from Tokyo, there are various ways to get there, such as the Shinkansen, conventional trains, express buses, and cars. If you want to save time, we recommend the Shinkansen, and if you want to save on transportation costs, we recommend traveling by express bus.

To get there by Shinkansen, take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shizuoka Station, then transfer to the JR Tokaido Main Line and head to Shimizu Station, which takes about an hour and a half. If you take the express bus, it will take about two and a half hours from Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit to Shimizu Station.

If you are heading to Shimizu from the Kansai area, it is convenient to use the Shinkansen. Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Shizuoka Station, then change to the JR Tokaido Main Line to Shimizu Station. It is a journey of about two and a half hours. Please use this as a reference.

Location of Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced Shimizu Motsu Curry, a local gourmet dish from Shizuoka Prefecture. Motsu Curry is a delicious local gourmet dish made by slowly simmering it in the shop's special curry, which requires repeated delicate work.

Enjoy the various styles of motsu curry, including grilled skewers, stewed, and Western-style.

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